The New York herald., 1876-08-02
A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
The Centennial Anniversary Of the Birth Of
Windsor Howe, Of Bolton, Mass.
AN INTERESTING FAMILY CELEBRATION


took pacu in this picturesque country town to-day,
the occasion of Mr. Windsor Howe having roaohed the
extraordinary age Of 100 years These occasions. al
ways full OF thoughtul incidents for reelection, seem
to be OF more than ordinary consequence at this par
ticular period Of the countrys existence The cele
braton took place In the ancient dwelling owned by
the late Dr. Bgeow grandson OF tho venerable Mr..
Howe and was participated in by about twenty five Of
the immediate descendants and relatives OF the DIS
tinsuished centenarian. The elder occupied the
at the head OF the table, and, while the nhrnitics Of
ago somewhat intercrcd with his performing the
honors Of host he was nevertheless able direct all
things in most proud and satisfactory manner. He
attended to hls own wants and was as cheerful and
talkative MS any throughout the hour or more which
spent at the festive board.
NAN
II Is true there striking events to chronicle in
reviewing his brilliant career; but that which has car
rcd hum TO this venerated day and vouchsa!cd to him
an unusually strong constitution aud a mind and
memory almost as vigorous as It was half century
ago give more than ordinary interest to his life For
his even, cheerful disposition, his constancy
friend, his generosity neighbor and his altogether
lovelness OF character carried into his later days with
all Its vigor and freshness, he 49, doubt largely
deptcd for the great age which ho has attained. To-
day he is agreeable companion, and. considering
hard OF hearing, it is still remarkable that no
should possess such faculties to render him viva
and entertain ing a social circle For the past
year he has bcen out IN uch but time he says does not
hang heavy on E:s hands, and no is quito content
spend another hundred years this mundane sphere
here below.
HIS EARLY
Mr.. Howe born in what now the town of Boy-
son, slst of July 1875 part OF Marlboro
.,
Boylston. The farm his la,hcr, John Howe an Eng
lish emisrant owned, subjected to all these
changes corporate name. HIS father died when he
four years Of age, years later his mother
took second husband IN the person of Mr.. John Tenn
pie In the next four years his mother died, and he
lived with his scpfaher until he thirteen years Of
age. Judge Howe lett some property and Judge Benja
min Haywood, of Worcester, an uncle of the lad,
made trustee and guardian. This occasioned removal
TO Worcester, whore ne fvcd for time with his uncle
and attended school. He was apprcntced
saddlcr in Maine. After he had reached his majority
he removed to Princeton, where no married
young lady whose parents among
the first settlers ard whose pilgrimage there
was quite romantic. They had lived in Natick
but concluded they would strike out the interior.
They journeycd hy country road TO ncerahorns, the
mark gushing ut this date tho upper four
in the town OF Lancaster and from there thcy
obliged TO continue their journey horseback
man tells the story ofvs iamily's
ADVENTURE INTO THE WILDERNESS
with spirit and 1t was adventure In those days for
before the Indian rad en- the town OF Lancaster
and there hostile foemcn about account ul
whom the immigrants had to so armed. The good
wi,e's mother carried her wardrobe, tho household
silver and all her personal property in panner; and
two pack horses, beside tue one the family and the
hired man rode, conveyed all their effects 1t was ihc
daughter OF this family whom this surviving
tenarian married He lived Princeton u
short me and then carried his wife of to Worcester
bprp Vclr rptu pd IN
Princeton, and dwelt there until about twenty .fve
years ago. In the meantime two children were born
to them, Rebecca and Richard u. Tho former is now
the widow Bartlett cher first husband being
a Mr.. Bgeow, latncr of the late DR.. Bisolow) and
Richard B. Howe, VINO lives in Princeton Is
sxty-nve years Of age, and both promise a
ind among those of her age more genial and spr,ght
ly lady than Mrs Bartlett Mr.. Windsor Howe visited
Boston, to make short stay, IN 1851, and while there
he purchased the estate upon which he lives and
where he resided with his grandson, Dr. Bigelow from
1854 until the attcrs DEATH about two years ago The
scnors family consists OF his daughter, Mrs Re.
bccca (Bscow) Bartlett, her son, Henry H. Bartlett
Miss Martha and Miss Mary r. Bigclow
Tirg cESTENAEIAS's FESTIVAL
The dinner party, before referred to, quite small
many OF the family living at long distances back in
the country and being kept away by violent rain
storm OF few days since, which badly damaged the
highways Among those present wcrc:--Mrs. Rebecca
Bartlett and Richard b. Howe, of tho second genera
tion; Albert G. Bigelow, Mrs. Abner &. Reed Mary L.
Bigelow, Henry ii. Bartlett and Martha A. Bartlett,
OF third generation; Miss Mary Alice Bgcow,
Abraham Gilbert Bigelow, Holm Albert Bigeow, Abbie
Blgclow, Addic H. Digclow, Flora Lucy Bigelow and
solon Allen Reed son OF Mrs Abbc o. Reed,
oil he iourtn generation or the great grandchildren
Miss Flora is the youngest, seventeen tho coming
month There great great grandchildren, so,
with but one exception Theodore H. Bartlett nearly
all the direct descendants living were gathered
under the parental tree. There was nothing mar
the enjoyment OF the day. and IL exceedingly pleas
ant them entertaining aud being entertained ty
the venerable man. Alter dinner the party adjourned
tho larger Of the two houses on the premises which
had been put order for the general reception OF the
neignbors and friends. The front Of the house was
decorated with centennial flags and bunting, aud from
the portal welcome to the hosplablc ireside
flowers and other decorations TO tell tho stranger
that this was no ordinary day even in the centennial
year.
TIL. LATER LIFE THE cENrESARrAS.
During the last two years the Old gentleman has not
been much, lattcrly giving up riding even he
desired join the party, and transferred IRON
one house tho other in easy chair He is very
sensitive about being waited upon, and did not at first
relish The idea of being carried and only consented be-
the ground was wet. After he had been dcpos
tied in the reception room he got up and started
another easy char, moving without cane, and only
being guided by toucn on the arm. He stands quite
erect and does not appear much over seventy HIS
voice strong, and he speaks quite uently HIS
hearing was narsd sG%ewh,. by second
and his hands were also slightly par
alyzcd at the time SIM he is far
from helpless ana makes very few mistakes at the
table When spoken to OF the loss of his cyesght ho
SAID his vision failed him all OF sudden about twenty
years ago. One morning he got up early, was his
custom. bu, thought he had risen before daylight
Hearing Others below he called 10 them and told
the rising. Then, he could not find all his
clothes hc made the sad discovery OF the loss OF sight
GIVEN TO orFlcE-uofDIyG.
when asked II he had held Office, local or federal no
replied, laughingly, that he had always boen able to
keep his neck out oi the Stll he man who
has held mportan, trusts, and been much sought after
accoun. OF hs sterling integrity and business capa
btcs. He has ever been temperate all things, winch
fact vouchcd for by his remarkable preservation In
speaking OF his diet he says Tor years he has eaten
but two meals per day taking early breakfast and
hearty dinner at noon or before two O'Clock. From
ls40 to 1874 he used tobacco, but he says II was bad
habit which dd not benefit him any and he dropped
IT, Liquors ne used only medicine, even when II
was the custom TO drink freely everywhere Some ono
remarked IN the OF conversation that his men
ory good, and he remarked that II was excellent
regarding all matters prior to the last twenty years
aud he told OF HIS experience in
TIE MILITIA WAR OF 1872
81 did not 20 out 10 hght" he said, "but tor year
stood ready with my company To move to the front"
Continuing the narrative told OF his enrolment IN