Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-06
TWO CENTENNARIANs
Move from Walker County, Ga, to
Arkansaw.
Ezekiel Chaddfclz, Aged IOe
Years, 8 Months, and His
Wife. Telitha Chaddick,
Aged IO2 Years, s
Months.

Sllas Chaddlcs, OF Rogers Station,
Ark, arrived 10 the city yesterday
from Walker county, Ga, accompanied
by his parents, aged respectively 1O2
years and three months and 102 years
and eight months. A Times reporter
visited the aged couple in the waiting
room of the passenger depot and found
them busily engaged in aisposing of
their dinner. Both ate heartily, and
with evident relish, at least twice as
much as is generally eaten by old
people. and fully as much as a person
in his prime would need.
The old man is considerably stopped,
and his skin is dry and parched. His
snow-white locks fall to his shoulders,
and he wears snow-white beard. His
eyes have lost their luster and are
considerably blood shotten. He trem.
bles greatly, but walks with a remark
ably vigorous gait. His voice is low
and husky, but easily understood, and
he speaks in a very agreeable manner,
but has the North Carolina twang very
peroeptibly. His wife, while FIVE
months older than he to day, speaks
more plainly and her eyes are brighter,
and she looks stronger, but her skin is
discolored, not unlike the color of
walnut, and thick, and the wrinkles on
her face have drawn it out of shape,
giving her very disagreeable appear
ance. Both have very acute hearing
and plainly hear every word that is
spoken.
The old mans memory on recent
matters is quite defective, but he
recollects quite we'll many incidents of
his boybood, and says that even now,
when he thinks of what good times
he had. the very thought tickles him
50 that he bursts out laughing.
The couple was born in Chatham
county, North Carolina, the woman in
May, 1879, and the man in October,
l779, both on the same day of the
month. They married in Chatham
county in 1913, and lived there until
1850, and then removed to Walker
county, Georgia, where they have since
resided. Seventeen children we're
born to them, twelve boys and five
girls, the oldest sixty.seven years of
age. They have not seen her for forty
years, and do not know whether she
is alive. They have trace of but nine
children, FIVE of whom are dead, and
the remaining eight are missing. The
children they have trace of have sixty
children, and some have grand
children. The old man says he was a
ifer in the Greek war under jackson
and held in reserve at New Orleans in
the war of 1872 under General Cotton,
who was killed in the American war.
Ue never went to school in his life,
but after educating his children re.
ceised instructions from them, and
many years ago wrote a history of the
Indians Of this locality. His wife can
neither read nor wlite.
The old man had the yellow fever
fifty EIGHT years ago, and since then
has been deaf in one ear. lie ssys he
never wore spectacles in his life, and
up to 1864 could read without them
but now can only read large letters
His wife never wore spectacles, anC
says she can knit a single thread witt
the greatest of ease. The old man is
lizard SHELF Baptist. having ioineC
that church in 1925. His wife became
member in 1915. He has Travelled
very little, having been in New Or
leans and Canada seventy years ago
/ but since then has only been in Nortl
Carolina and North Georgia.
We asked him if be had any proc
of his age. He stated that he had al
the records, but his house was burned
ia 1852, and the only proof now to b.
had was in the family Bible, which i
now in Arkausaw.
The old man was very facetious, ant
frequently made very funny remarks
We asked il he used tobacco:
WAL, stranger" he replied, Il he
bin usin' the weed since 1894, but
haint got nary chaw to give We meow.
What was your protession2"
wall, | was a farmer purity nea
all my life, but I'm jack at all trade
and good at none" he remarked, wit
a chuckle.
From what nation are you de
scended?"
"Wall, my dad was Scotch Irish, tn
meanest mixture in the world. H
| lived to be SO years old. My mothc
died when she was 49,"
How was your left eye injured2"
wall, Stranger, [ kin tell you SON
things, but amt obleeged to tell 20
everything"
Later on he whispered to us that
was arrested for some trivial ofens
and in a fight with the Sheriff his e!
was injured.
The old lady was not quite go con
panionable, and while occasionally 81
volunteered some odd side remark
she related instances far from elegan
butin her quaintstylc, which wreathC
our diminutive mouth in smile
Neither has been sick for twenty yea
J and say they are good for several yea
more, but are ready to go when Gale
When we bid the old gent adieu an
wished him many years of peace, |
blessed us with bis palsied hands, ar
tears streaming from his eyes said
would pray for us at all times.