The New York herald., 1876-07-11
A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
CELEBRATION OF HANNAH Cox's CENTENNIAL
BIRTHDAY.


Centennial times in the observance Of such svcnt a.
The one hundredh anniversary OF birthday, and New
England probably boast Of who have reachod
such an extraordinary than almost any other sec
ton OF the country Already the HERALD has recorded
the biographies and given interviews with large num-
Der Of those who have lived along with the century Of
tho nations existence tho OF has been
more interesting than that of MIRA Hannah Cox Of this
town, Who hos just survived . hundred summers, and
who to-day ovial and lively than many Of more
youthful years
SKETCH cESrEsARIAS.
Before marriage this remarkable and venerable woman
was lbs Hannah Stanton She was born 10 Preston,
Conn. June 20, l776 1885 her parents removed
to Fairee VT, and lew years later thcy removed to
this town. which has since been hcr home. AT tho
age Of twenty two years she married to Robert
Cox Of Hoderness, the ceremony being performed by
Rev. Robert Fowie, of this town, who one OF the
most celebrated Episcopal ministers Of the olden time
in New EngInud Her husband died in 1922 and Mrs
Cox has ever since remained widow, and It Ia proper
to add that she still adheres TO her never
to marry again. Of tho children she has borne
only Two arc lving-Russell Cox, seventy-seven
years old. and Of the respected citizens In
town, and Mrs. Collcy. OF Holderncss.
A BgLLg IN HER YOUNGER DAYS
When young Mrs. Cox was q slender woman
ana tno Ietutus ucT eoou iOOhs huu nental laCutcS
to u remarkable degree. She conversss easily and
intelgentiy. and reads very clearly and distinctly.
She has bcen very active, temperate and regular
woman, and Mt the age Of ninety-seven she gave up
daily labor, she says 'ust TO please the children
She has experie but very little sickness and she
retires early and is cup with tho lark" and break
lasts with the family As she takes her food at the
table there is not the slightest indication OF trembling
She sat for her picture at Plymouth the other
day, and she left the artists room there
stairs 70 descend, and her son offered
to assist her, but she politely declined tho
courtesy and remarked "And now Russell, you think
can't so down stairs a]one.'' and in momcnt, as It
were she made the descent safely, and greatly to the
OF the spectators. She INDUCED IN little
joking the expense OF the photographer for thinking
that he little slow his work, she said to him,
in funny way--'Tf you don't work faster shall bs
two hundred years old bcforc get the pictures.
Mrs Cox's brothers and sisters, who dead,
all lived to be aged people Her father, Mr.. Stanton,
and three OF his brothers all alive when the
youngest OF the family eighty years old She is OF
Welsh descent and her father, Isaac W. Stanton,
OF Stonington, and alterward Of Preston,
Conn, was captain IN regiment OF
Connecticut volunteers IN tho Revolutionary
War; Mrs. Cox herself remembers how, at the ago of
I'VE years she knit pair OF socks for Revolutionary
colder. look into Mrs Cox's bedroom in the pleas
ant southwest Of the house. revealed the fact
that the furniture is kept scrupulousy neat by her own
hands The snowy linen sheets On the bed were woven
by herself before she married. and nov bear the
initials that she wrought on them than three
quarters Of n century ago
HER HOMESTEAD
is about one aud half miles from the Pcmgewassett
House. IN Plymouth, to the well-known Homestead OF
Russell Cox in Holdcrness The way Is through
the pemgewasset. Valley, widely celebrated as tue
and fha Pima
Biuiis past the ancient Episcopal cnurcn which II
said be the Oldest New England The Cox homo ID
and shade trees many evidences OF thrift and
comfort that Indicate II " be the abode of AN indus
trious successful tiller Of the soil
BIRTHDAY WAS CELEDRArKD.
The event Oi the nundrcth birthday or Mrs. Cox was
mado the occasion OF general and entertaining cee
bration, and the exercises were OF such an unusual
character &c merit an elaborate report The vcner-
able lady attended the afternoon services Mt the ancient
Trinity church. near her home ard the
scat that she used occupy when Fowle
minister. The eN ent called out an immense crowd OF
people, only few Of whom could yet inside the .dhce
The others gathered in the churchyard and under the
and pressed forward to Mrs. Cox as she en-
tered and came OF tho house Tho Rev. Howard +.
Trinity OF Hodernoss, conducted he services. The
very able and timely discourse which he gave report
in full-
..She OF great age'-St Luke, H., part Of verse
80 How reverence for the aged shines forth In The
Scriptures II begins At their beginning and ends only
with their ending, orin or another Under Tho
OLD covenant oi power Il 10 the bright thing how
over fallen the estate Of Goa Himself, through
that prophet whom He 'knew lace 10 lace" forcbiy
commands it-"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary
head and honor the face OF the Old man. and lear The
Lord thy God: am the Lord. +" And the wisest Of
mortals declared, The beauty OF old men Is the gray
head"
FORTH by example, IN the story OF the gentle cItd OF
Nazareth, who ''subject unto" His parents, aud
who upon the 'orturins cross said to the beloved DIS
cipc, ''Bchold thy mother. THIS Is what St. Paul
snJoins, In its practical form, "Chidren, obey your
parents all things Tor this Is wc pleasing unto tho
Lord"
Does the inspired page depict tho dire ferocty OF
or the merc,ess vengeance OF AN cnemyY Its most
dismal scenes arc Expressed by those who
are at the helpless extremes Of lie
IL IS chief weakness OF our nature TO count upon
opg lie The active desires II that he may accom-.
psn something mors the der sees in II protractcd
OF leisure the spiritual considers AS further
time given mercy Tor preparation, to advance his
higher nature, his true SELL toward the lofty likeness
of His Makcr and the perfect example OF His Master;
the sensuaist regards IL fresh lease OF pleasure
aud worldly minded chance to exercise acute
aud experience IN gaining honor place or wealth.
In Brief living SOUL from the bcnefactor OF his race
to The county charge Is ever quite roAdy to give up
dear Lie, but wouia do something yet before he go
Part Of the inborn veneration We bear the aged IS
founded upon presumptve parentage Honor ior our
parents naturally extends Itself 10 hearty regard
the shadow Of that love bear those
breasts nave sucked Says Proverbs, "childrens
children are the crown OF tue old man" Tho only
commandments with promise ~ that OF "honof thy
father and thy mother,n to which IS joined by the
hand of the Great An the prospecs OF long life in the
land which He has given us
And this respect urthcr founded Ia conscious
ness of superior wisdom and rIchsr experience. As
beauty departs, look Tor cruces TO bedeck tho
mind From this arises the thought that u serene and
bright age bcspcaks quict, domestic love tho pure
Joys OF home. deeprooted harmony and peace, and
that sense OF security which can be buded, buiIdcd
cndurirgy only, In the love OF Him 'who first
loved us. "
How much OF life, especially OF wonan's life, is
wrapped up such unobrusive joysy The thoughtful
injunction To Titus sums this tho decent conduct OF
hfe the sound doctrine that tho aged men be- sober,
grave, temperate, sound In faith in charity. in pa
ieucc The aged women hkowlsc, that they be in be-
havior becomelh holiness Teachers Of
good things; that they may teach the young women
be sober love their husbands TO love their children,
be Discreet chasic Keepers home. good obedient
to their own husbands, that the word Of God DO not
blasphemed."
This much OF the past What OF the present. II
must be that Its mental spiritual gifts. though
dued are continued that by reason OF exercise they
have become second nature, and instnctively may
anfu