Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-07-10
CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY CELE.
BRATIoN.

"lt mas Deen many years slbce an
event of SO great interest has occurred
in the quiet town of HOlderness, N. H.,
as the one hundredth birthday of Mrs.
Hannah Cox, which transpired Monday,
June &c.
The head of the household. Hon. Rus
sell Cox, Is nearly seventy-seven years
old and is one of the best known and
most respected citizens of the town. He
has been member of the Legislature
and of the Governors Council. and has
filled many other important public posi-
tions. We met him at the door per-
feet stranger, but we had no sooner an
nounced our mission than he gave us a
good, hearty, farmers shake of the hand
and said "COme right in, glad to see
you-the more the better" And of
course we went in and we found the
house crowded with relatives and friends
including not only large delegation of
the solid people of Holderness and Ply
mouth, but representatives of culture
and wealth, from Vermont, Massacku-
sets, Iowa and other states.
Before marriage Mrs. Cox was Miss
Hannah Stanton, and she was born in
Preston, Conn, June %, 1776, and con-
sequently Sunday, June 25, made her
just century old. In 1885, her par
ents removed to Fairlee, VT. while few
years later they came to this town which
has since been her home. At the age of
% years she was married to Robert Cox
of Holderness, the ceremony being per-
formed by Rev. Robert Fowle of Holder
ness, who was one of the most celebrated
of the Episcopal ministers of the Olden
times in New England. Her husband
died in 1922, and she did not marry a
second time. Of the seven children she
has borne only two are now living-Rus-
sell, above mentioned, and Mrs. Colley
of Holderness.
When young, Mrs. Cox was slender
and graceful woman, and she retains her
good looks and mental faculties to a very
remarkable degree. She cOnverses east
ly and intelligently, and reads very dis
tinctly and clearly. She has been very
active and temperate woman, and at the
age of ninety-seven she gave up daily
labor, as she says, 'just to please the
children" ;" She has experienced but very
little sickness. and she now retires early
and is 'up with the lark" and break
fasts with the family. AS she takes her
food at the table there is not the slight
est indication of trembling nerves.
She sat for her picture Monday, al
Plymouth, and as she left the artists
room there were stairs to descend, and
her son offered to assist her, but she po
litely declined the courtesy. and said
"And now, Russell, you think | can
90 down stairs alone" and in minute
as it were, she made the descent safely
and greatly to the amusement of th'
spectators.
Mrs. Cox's brothers and sisters, wht
are now dead, all lived to be aged peo
pie. Her father, Mr.. Stanton, and thret
of his brothers, were all alive when the
youngest was 80 years old. She is O.
Welsh descent, and her father. Isaac w
Stanton of Stonington, and afterward Of
Preston, Conn, was captain in regi
ment of Connecticut volunteers in th'
Revolutionary war. Mrs. Cox hersel
remembers how at the age Of five year
she knit pair of socks for a Revolution
ary soldier. | looked into Mrs. Cox
bedroom in the pleasant southwest cor
ner of the house, where many Of the ar
tieles of furniture are kept with scrupu
lous neatness with her own hands. Th
snowy linen sheets on her bed were wov
en- by herself before she was married
. and now bear the initials that she pu
on more than three-fourths Of eentur
ago.
Mrs. Cox attended the afternoon ser
vices at the ancient Trinity church nea
her home. Sunday, and sat in the sam
; seat that she used to occupy when Rec
, tor Fowle was the minister. The even
called out an immense crowd Of people
only very few Of whom could get il
, side of the edifce. The others gathere
( in the church-yar aud under the tree
and pressed forward TO see Mrs. Cox a
e she entered and as she came out Of th
house.
Rev. Howard +. Hill. rector Of s
D Marks church Of Ashland. and Of Trir
ity Of Holderness, conducted the seryi'
t es. He gave very able discourse. b
0 theme from a Scripture text being ''Ol
Z Age" In closing be gave brief hi
4 tory Of Mrs. Cox and made some remarl
d appropriate TO the remarkable occasion
The commemorative exercises at h
q old homestead occurred. last Monda,
q and there was large attendance Of re
: atiyes, connections and friends. Flor
presents we're made in great profusion.
/ The old fashioned dinner came Of {
; Monday afternoon, and the great kitcl
a en- was packed With tables, which We
: literally heaped with tempting Wand
The foral decorations On the fessi'
kn~~3 wvera worv 6ne Mrs. Cox had Il