Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1875-09-07
AGED ONE HUNDRED AND NINE.
A Queer Old Citizen Of Troy-His Habits and
Opinions.
From the Troy Prees, August 1871

From the Troy Prees. August 49,
He is right here in Troy and his
name is John Henry Blackwell, and
he has seen 108 summers (when Au.
gust is .out) and 100 winters. He
was therefore born in the spring
John Henry lives in little old house
in the hollow, beside babbling but
nasty little brook, just off Lincoln av.
enue, under the hill. The house is an
old-style frame, with wooden shutters
and has stood where it now stands
about forty-fivc years. Neither out
side nor in has ever been molested by
a painter. The house is weatherbeat.
en- like its owner (for Blackwell owns
it, and looks as if the ups and downs
of this world had had no effect upon
it. John Henry lives all alone in the
house. 1t cannot be called bachelors
hall, because John Henry is not bach
clor. He has been married, but it was
SO long ago that he has almost forgot
ten how it feels. His house is not a
hall either. 1t is more like den or a
hermitage. No one is ever invited in
to the place, and no m.c is ever al
lowed to look into i, unless he docs so
stealthily John keeps The doors and
windows securely fastened, and at
night he never uses IL light unless he
is looking for something that has been
mislaid in the cI,asm Of disorder that
exists there. Then he uses a tallow
candle. He is not very sociable. He
has lived so long that he ,nagines The
present generation is pack of fools,
and he a wise man. The first state
mcnt may be all right, but there is
room for debate on the 'a;,e~.
John Henry is IN lriSlHnan. and has
been in this country sixty years. He
lived in New York fifteen years, and
the CITY when it was. hc
says, no bigger than Troy. He has
lived in Troy forty-iivc years, and rec
ollects Troy rs small country vii
|agc. He lost his wife City years ago
He had three sons and one daughter
but they have all gone to tue other
world, and now the old man is alone
He has lived alone for twenty-five
years, ever since his daughter died,
who was years old. He has no rela-
lives now, having outlived the whole
,f them, grandchildren and all.
About ninety years ago he learned
he tailoring business, and has worked
n different cities, but within the last
hirty years he has lived in very
way. He does not work,
out goes away sometimes for weeks
It time, nobody knows where. He
'eturns as mysteriously as he goes,
md seems to have money. Of late
years he has turned his attention
to the study of medicine;
md not only the study, but the prac-
ice. He imagines that he can cure
my disease, and will always solicit a
rial of his skill on any one whom he
'ees sick or suffering. Instances
ave been known where he has re-
ieved pain and cured illness, but in
more cases an opposire effect has fol-
owed.
Blackwell seems as vigorous as a
nan Of SO. In fact, he is the type Of
J very lively old man. He can walk
mile without cane as fast as al
most any one Is years younger. He
,ever rides. He is thorough pc
lestrian. He was never on street
ar, and only once on a railroad.
Then he went to Albany on the cars,
rot lost there, and walked back. He|
links iackasses superior to horses