The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-16
A CENTENNIAL COUPLE.
sketch of the Life of George Fruits, 1f3
Years Old, and OF His Wife, 90 Years
Probably the Oldest Married CouNIe In
the World.

sketch of the Life of George Fruits, 113
Years Old, and OF His Wife, 90 Years
Probably the Oldest Married CouNIe In
the World. r8
tFrom the indianapolis Journail
In Ripley township, Montgomery
county, and about nine miles from
Crawfordsville, there lives an old man
named George Fruits, whom every evi-
dence goes to prove has passed the
18th milestone.
He was born in Baltimore, Nd, in the
early part of January, 1853. His par
ents were Germans, being emigrants
from the Fatherlapd to America. They
were poor and rather illiterate. The
boyhood of Mr.. Fruits was principally
spent in Maryland, where he was en-
gagged as q laborer. His education was
neglected, and as consequence he can
neither read nor write. He says he don't
believe he ever attended school to ex-
ceed month in his life. He is the last
one left of family of twelve children,
eight girls and four boys. Leaving
Maryland accompanied by his friends,
Mr.. Fruits went to Pennsylvania, where
he remained short time. When Ken
lucky was opened to settlers he went
there, where he took an active part in the
Indian wars. His comrades were Daniel
Boone and other well-known characters
in the colonial history of Kentucky. he
spent much of his time in the erection of
block-houses and other means of defense
for the settlers, and was well-hnown as
daring scout. He took part in all of the
principal battles of the Indians, and now
carries in one of his legs ball which
was shot there at the time of the battle
of Blue Licks, on Licking creek, abouty
eighty years since. After the settlements
in Kentucky were perfected, Mr.. Fruits
removed to Ohio, remaining there dur
ing the first years of the present century,
He was married near Hamilton, Butler
county, o., on the 4th of October, 1906,
to Miss Catherine S.onebraker, who still
survives. When Indiana was admitted
farm which is his present home, and
bringing with him his family, removed
TO Indiana. He showed me the deed for
his farm, which was given several years
after the purchase. It bore the name of
John Quincy Adams as President. In
his better days Mr.. Fruits was six feet
three inches high, and weighed about
225 pounds. He was rather slender for
one of that weight, his flesh being very
compact. His arms were long and sup
ported by powerful muscles. He had
the reputation of being one of the strong
est and most athletic men in his neigh
borhood. His hair was rather light in
his PALMER days, but is now dark gray.
The top of his head, few years since,
was entirely bald, but is now covered
with very fine coat of hair, similar to
that of an infant. His eyes are of light
blue. While the lid on the left has fall
len, completely closing it from view. the
sight of the other is good, and he can
readily distinguish objects with it. All
of the permanent set of his teeth are out,
with the exception of one, the eye-tooth
on the left side of the jaw, but in their
place new set, the third, ere making
their appearance. The most of them are
through cutting, and he tested their
strength sufficiently to satisfy me by Bit
ing my finger when / was feeling of them.
His forehead is high. and his other fea-
lures quite regular, and he was con-
sidered quite good looking man. One
rather strange feature. about his feet is
his toe-nails. They will at times almost
disappear, and then suddenly put forth
into thick, spongy growth. He has
met with several accidents during his
life, at one timeebreaking several of his
ribs, and at another mashing his ankle,
besides being wounded at the battle of
Blue Licks. But. everything considered,
he is as well preserved generally as most
persons that reach the age of eighty.
His habits have been good, generally,
and especially since his settlement in
Indiana. He has always been an early
riser, and regular in his eating. He used
tobacco good many years, and whisky
occasionally, but never to an excess.
With the exception of the time he wasa
soldier, and four years as tanner. and
six as distiller, he has been farmer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fruits together consti-
tute the Oldest couple in the State, per-
haps, and probably in the nation. Their
combined ages amount to over 202 years.
They are the last persons living of two
large families, and are outliving the fifth
generation. They are the parents of
thirteen children, twelve of whom are
living, and are the grand and great grand
parents of over eighty children.