The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-19
A Woman's heath at the Age Of One
Hundred and Five.
[From the Burlington Free Press and Time

From the Burlington Free Press ana Ilmes.J
The death OF Mrs. Phebe Haley, which oc-
Cured recently at North Pownal, and which
has been referred to in this paper, ended O
msrvellously long life. She was born in Pow.
nal, June 8, 1774, and consequently reached
the one hundred and fifth year OF her exist.
ence. All those years she has lived IN the
one town, county. and State. Her maiden
name was Cummings. AT the age OF six
teen, ir the year 1890, she Professed rell,
gion, united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church. and has ever since remained 0
steadfast member OF that denomination. AT
the time she became identified with the
church., as will be readily imagined, the so.
ciety was in very crude condition In the
Green. Mountain State. When seventeen
years old she married Benjamin Haley. II
is also singular that both should have en-.
dured so remarkably long, and neither. in
such an exceptionally long life, married
again. The husband died only fourteen
years ago. and was upward OF ninety years
old. This presents the phenomenon OF an
unbroken married mpanionship extend
ing seyenty-tliree years, and almost reaching
three-quarters Of q century. Mr.. Haley
seems to have been u physical wonder. be-
cause he is described as always addicted to
drinking since youth, and was accustomed
to indulging in all sorts OF dissipations, be-
sides possessing very ugly temperament
There were fifteen children born to the
couple, OF whom ten are now living, named
Ruth, James, Eunicc, Lucinda, Reuben,
Henry, Josiah. Sabrina, Nelson, and
Thomas. Nearly all the boys are intem
perate, ye: some OF them seem likely to al
tain great age, and three have already
passed 7our-score. Thus it will be seen
that. Mrs. Haley's domestic life must have
been replete with veXations and tribula.
tions, while drudging along with a disso-
lutte husband and q batch OF almost dozer
unruly boys. Despite all that she succeeded
in retaining her faculties to an astonishing
degree, so to the last she could threaG
fine needle without glasses, and her hear
ing was not oil impaired. Her face wa
plump. without any signs Of wrinkles there
on. Many OF her grandchildren looked old
er than she did at her one hundred and fttl
birthday. The direct living descendants o.
Mrs. Haley extend through five generations
reaching through the children, grandchll
dren, great-grandchildren, greatgreat
children. Three OF her own children dice
from old age. None of this wonderfully
numerous and long-lived family eve
amounted to anything noteworthy 10 an in
telectual sense. Their only success in thu
life seemed to consist of wonderful vital
ity that enabled them to attain old age, bu
their brain-power appears to have been 40
sorbed by toughened muscles. This VII
account for the death OF the mother In tn
county almshouse, because when her olt
are compelled rel lance on others, OF all tn
ten living children none were capable o.
offering her home, and she was forced OF
the populaee. Some OF the children live al
Pownal now, others in North Adams, ant
others still out West.