The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-22
REMARKABLE LONGEVITY.

REMAfhABLE LONGEVl11 To
HEADQUARTERS OF A CENTURY OF MARRIED
LLFE-THE OLDEST COUPLE IN CONNECTICUT
TO CELEBRATE THEIR DIAMOND WEDDING.
wEsrPoRT, Conn., March 90 1879.
With the arrival Of the nations centennial year
pleasant strife sprang up among certain Journals TO
see which should bring to the notice OF its readers
the Oldest person This strife was incited no DOUBT
by almost universal desire expressed at that time
by our people to indulge III "reminiscences OF the
country's early history and by personal associa-
ton with the tow living links connecting the present
with the remote past to realize in some sense the
importance of the work which fathers goriously
began the trials they endured and privatons suffered
and. profting by the narration. be the better
qualified to begin with the nations entrance upon
its second century OF existence that greater work
the perpetuation of American liberty At first octo-
genarans and those among tho nineties brought
forward then centenarians each brimful of interest
ing histories Presently gentleman, aged 103, was
interviewed. He remembered hearing almost the
actual reverberations of the first cry for American
liberty, and everybody enthusiastic and happy.
His story was ere long eclipsed by that OF q
lady residing in Greenwich. Conn. aged LOG. who
had General Israel Putnam ride down the Horse
Neck declivity. and could remember when indie
pendence declared Soon New York man. 100
years old. with memory longer than them all.
stepped forward to assert his claim to the place of
honor. He held it but brief period. Within the
past few weeks Western man. aged ia years, pos
sessed of u marvellousy clear memory of events
decade before the first nusket OF the RevoIution
fired. has been discovered.
Discouraged in the endeavor to produce a still
older specimen of humanity, your correspondent
abandons the enterprise and quietly turns In tho
direction Of another and. to large class far
pleasanter field OF exploration connubial-within
the bounds OF which he has found what is embodied
in the following:
an ANCIENT COUPLE
In tho town Of Weston. Fairfeld county, Conn,
four miles north of Westport, in house whose
great stone chimney and siding of long weather
beaten shingles indicate that 1t built be-
fore the Revolution, reside in pleasant conju-
gality Mr. Zalmon Sturges. aged nearly ninety
eight years. and Ann his wife, in her ninety-fourth
year--unquestionably the Oldest married couple in
New England. and probably the Oldest in the United
States. Twelve months hence should nothing
niversary OF their marriage. and it is proposed by
their friends that they celebrate it, Silver weddings
lively SO. but that rarest of nuptials . diamond
wedding. in this part of the world especially. has
The n aged couple and their friends are therefore
waiting with impatient interest the arrival of tho
happy day. The house in which Mr. and Mrs.
what is known rs the eleven O'Clock
Highway-one OF number Of similar roads
northward from the Sound, and laid out by early
settlers when clocks as well as houses were scarce
time guide for men working in the fields,
abling them to note by the suns shadow the APP
proach of the dinner hour. From it the eye trav-
erses vast expanse of country, extends across Long
Island Sound. and under favorable circumstances
of weather rests upon Eaton's Neck light, twenty
Ave miles away. Everything about the house indi-
Gates age ana % decay Wroag 6 Sy times
round it, showing upon their surfaces moss Of half
. century's growth.
AN oLD-TrxE HOUSE.
Entering tho house by low door at tho north
gable the foot presses ponderous oaken floor boards
fastened in their places by nails of wrought iron
made by hand long before machinery driven by
steam had been thought Of Like most old FASH
toned houses fully one-thrd Of the space within is
theory being that stanch masonry is indispensable
as o means to prevent house tumbling or blowing
the frames for three houses such are now con-
structed, support the house, the traditional Isum-
seat" or so-called great beam" on the second
story, cut from solid oak two feet square, MAIN
tanning place in the double capacity OF shelf and
chimney auxiliary. Passing from room to
currents of air which enter the house, through
assures in the walls and siding forced there by decay
and the lack OF proper repairs during nearly two
south side of the house, serves tho purpose OF bed
room, parlor and dining room for tho aged couple
seen elsewhere. In it are table. bed. sidoboard
lounge three chairs and stove of ancient pattern
for burning wood quaint clock, in dingy case
which has licked through more years than fall to the
lot of most men. rests upon tho mantel Bible and
Middlebrook's Almanac the only books In the room.
A vIsrr TO THE OLD PEOPLE.
Mr.. sturges. a physically well preserved gentle
man. who. when erect. stands over six feet high in
his stockings was found seated near the stove while
opposite him Mrs. Sturges, who Is in good health
and the enjoyment OF all her senses except that Of
sight which sho lost about year ago. The two
main together constantly their only attendant being
q of some seventy summers. The picture which
these aged persons and their peculiar surroundings
presented was suggestive and calculated to carry
the thoughts Of the visitor far back among tho
of another century. Second sight has overtaken Mr.
sturges. and he is able to discern objects about him
and read his Bible unassisted by spectacles. His
hearing. however. is impaired. and the visitor
must speak in loud tones to be heard. At
first the aged couple after receiving their inter-
viewer were reticent and held themselves in re-
stralnt. fearing as it would seem, no had como to
create q disturbance in their household by asking
impertinent questions; but when told that his
mission was simply to hear what they might please
to impart as to- their recollcctons Of Washington.
the period following the Revolution and events
curing In that part of the eighteenth century
and conversed freely upon all subjects introduced
MIR. Sturges born in Wilton. February 1882. and
is now in his his M 1s year His
his sixty-third birthday. and his grandfather,
Jabez Sturges. Of Weston. reached the age
tors on his mothers side also attained
to great age. Mr.. sturges spoke at length of the
pride as noted for their longevity and playfuy re-
married. admitting ut tho Same time the chances
against him. that ',if any man could feel war.
raned in the belief that no should live to celebrate
his centennial 1t himself; and yet" said he,
chow fcw--not ono In hundred thousand-live to
be as old as L None Of my early Associates now
in tho land Of tho living. To that extent am alono
in the world"
When asked If he had ever tho "Eathor of his
Country" he replied:--
81 was nearly eighteen years old when Washington
died, but never him, for tho reason that did
not leave my homo till after the year 1900. There
wero then steamboats, railroads to quickly
take ono to the metropolis, where Wishing
ton could sometimes be seen. To accom-
plsh the journey one had either TO walk.
take o stuge coach embark some one OF
the packet soops plying between tho harbors of
bridgeport, Norwalk Westport then Saugatuckl.
and be week making the round trip. The expense
OF travelling in those days great, especially to
a young man commencing life like myself. aud these
things deferred mo from taking the STEP"
He had heard his father speak of seeing Washington
while on his way from New York to take command of
the federal army Boston of his magnificent boar
ing AZ soldier and OF tho love expressed for him by