Smyrna times., 1881-02-09
For the Smyrna Times.
For the Smyrna Times.
"reminiscences of Smyrna so Years
Ago.
BY ONE WHO LIVED THERE.
(CoNTINuED.)


In a recent number Of the SMYRNA TINES,
| noticed that Mrs. Ann Denney celebrated
her l03rd anniversary. Fifty years ago
often saw Mrs. Dennsy at the Friends
Meeting. Though then more than half
centenarian, her face wore the bloom of
youth and her complexion was as smooth
and fair as an infants. have had the
pleasure to meet her few times only since
then, and at long intervals, and always
regarded her as a most estiMable and re.
markable woman. ! wish for her health
and happiness and that she may live to
celebrate her Sesqui-centennial birth. day.
Mrs. Denney could doubtless give very
many intensely interesting and most valua.
lie incidents of Smyrna and its citizens as
far back as from so to 100 years ago. Infor.
nation that will probably be lost to poster.
ity, unless such memorials Of our fathers
and mothers Of those by gone times are
not soon gathered from her store house of
recollections. Will not her intelligent and
cultivated daughter, Mrs. Evalina Cummins,
or her grand daughters, the Misses Cum.
Minis, enter at once on the pleasant office
Of an amanuensis to Mrs. Denney and garner
the fruits and .tao,eers Of a century. IN. B. /
respectfully suggest that for its title. J
Byron says: Writing grows habit like
woman's gallantry;* v. So there
are millions Of men who have never written
hook. but few who have written only ONE .
Writing not only "grows habit" but
becomes pleasure. and l am quite sure
the ladies referred to will find it so, If they
will act on this suggestion. Mrs. Denney
may not live $50 years, and yet know Of nc
reason why she may not. According tc
the census of the U. s. in 1860, there were
$500 persons then living between the ages
of 100 and l40, and there are now about
10000 persons living in the U. S. who were
living when the Declaration of Independ
was signed in l7T6. The census Of Russis
shows quite a large number Of persons
living, aged from 10 to $50. The Rover
family Of Hungary, attained extraordinary
long life; the father lived to be l72, anc
the mother 1914. They celebrated ID:
marriage anniversaries, and when they diet
their youngest child was lis. Halter hal
noted 1000 cases ranging from 100 to $50
One of them, Henry Jenkins, Of Yorkshire
lived TO be l69. Another, Thomas Parr
who married first at the age of so, and
second time at the age OF 100, died ages
l52. He was a farmer and for 100 year
was able to dig, plow. and thrash. Prichard
Whitehurst, Bailey and Others, have giver
names of persons whose ages ranged from
100 to 1855. Enoeh was not translated
until he was 365, Lamach lived to be III
Mahalaleel sos, Seth, Enos, Jared, NoaI
and Canaan all lived from 900 to $50 years
and old Methuselah celebrated his 969 birth
day., The statistics of the world show al
increase in1ths longevity of human life, an
who can tell to what age the people ma
live, in the year Of our Lord 5000. But
will not speculate on things unknown, an
now return'to my "Reminiscences.
From " Flat Iron Point" to Union stree
there was hut one (small) house on th
South side and but three or four on tn
North side Of Commerce street. Fror
Union street to Benz. Coombe's store heus
there were several frame houses painte
red. In one Of these lived Mason Basil
long farmer for Mr.. Coombe. In anothe
lived Pennell Coonbe. He had mar
called "Lady Jane Gray" very fin
animal and remarkably docils. was pc
mittcd to ride and drive her and coul
handle her with impunity. One day whe
riding near the head Of the mill ponC
some gunner shot buzzard that was hove
ing over me and as no one appeared |
claim the prize, | concluded TO dismour
and amputate the wings Of the "Fowl
SHOULD be spelt FOUL for fans or buster
having eften seen the wings Of the dome
tic turkey appropriated 20 such useful pu
poses. After hard work with my Barlow,
succeeded in DESIGNATING the wings, but Q
returning to where had htchsd Il
, mare, she began snorting and paving an
set back on her hitch rein, so that / dare
not approach her with my fragrant trophy
and even after had thrown them ava
, it was with great ddiculty succeeded
mounting, and before | was fairly in II
/, saddle, she started 1T full run. On resc
+, ing ths stable lane noticed that the do
Of the stable stood vide open, and instant
q realized that must slip off or be kille
She gave me a parting kick and new
afterwards allowed me to approach be
From these houses to Mr. Coombs
store, there were no buildings of any kin
2 Opposite these houses was the large sri.
Z dwelling Of Benz. Benson and the shopu
|. Benson & Cats Mr.. Benson lived to
m old man, well known and highly esteel