The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-08-22
A Centenarian's Life and Death.

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some extent, identical. Influences
which kill the weak, strengthen the
strong, and in the mutual reaction of q
perfect constitution and q mode of life
free from those lethal influences which
no strength of constitution can resist
may be found the secret of extreme
longevity. The history of centenarians
often illustrates this, but it is not often
that the conditions of their existence can
be accurately known. Not long ago
the death was announced, at the age of
102, of the Rev. Canon Beadon, of
Stoneham, the particulars of whose life
are in this respect of some interest.
Born in the year 1777, he succeeded his
father in the living of Stoneham in 1872,
the living having been held by the two,
father and son, for more than 100 years.
His ancestors presented examples of
moderate, but not extreme longevity,
his father having died at 80 and his
mother at sc. Canon Beadon was prob
ably the last person living who remem-
bered the Lord George Gordon riots.
At the time (1780) he was 8 years of
age, and he distinctly recollected hav-
ing been held up to the window by his
nurse to see the soldiers in the streets.
His good health was almost uninter-
rupted; in early manhood he had
slight illness, the exact nature of
which is difficult to ascertain, since it
occurred in the year 1898. He was about
five feet nine inches in height, broad
shouldered and deep-chested, with very
long arms and large hands. In early
r., ~
which was well indicated by his frame.
Even when long past 20 his strength of
wrist was remarkable. He was fond of
shooting and fishing; the former amuse-
ment he kept up till "a, the latter till SO.
When middle-aged he could walk out
shooting from morning till night, ex-
posed to any amount of cold and wet,
and completely knock up many younger
men. He seemed quite imperviOus to
the ailments to which ordinary men are
subjected. He never knew what head
ache or rheumatism was. His digestion
appeared perfect, and he could eat any
thing with IMMUNITY. He not only ate
heartily at every meal, but used often to
eat biscuits, ETC., between meals. He
was q "moderate drinker by no
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last extremely fond of sweet things. As
he grew older his step became slower,
but he never tottered in his gait. To the
last his complexion was ruddy in tint,
never showing the parch1ient-like ap-
pearance so often an accompar iment of
extreme old age. His condition remain
ed as in middle age up to his death.
neither stouter nor thinner. At 81
he had his first severe illness-an attack
of bronchitis, contracted through going
out on very cold day, and he was
never afterwards quite the same. Up to
this date he had taken service in his
church every Sunday and his three
months duty in Wells Cathedral, his
voice continuing distinct and powerful;
but after the attack of bronchitis he was
more or less of an invalid. Neverthe-
less, he was able to answer, himself, 20
ceived on his Tooth birthday. Tie late
severe winter tried him very much, and
he had several colds and slight attacks
of bronchitis, from all of which he re.
covered, and he died at last, peacea5ly
and painlessly, from mere /" decay of ma
ture." Daring the last year or two. of
his life, if fatigued or out Of health in
any way, his mind was not perfectly
clear, but he never lapsed into any
thing like second childishness." He
was possessed of most imperturbable
temper and singularly even spirits, and
would not allow any thing to worry him.
The two places where he passed almost
the whole of his life-Wells and Stone
ham-are relaxing in climate. One of
his nephews is now living aged Sc, two
died last year aged IS and SO respect
lively, and at the time of his death Canon
Beadon had NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
and nieces living.-Lond0n Lancet.