Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-20
TIL OLD EST MAN.
A Missourian 116 Years Old, With
t-Grandchildren

"Acoh ino'J huPupiie"us
Nine miles southwest of Macon,
Mo-, two miles northeast of MCGEE
college, on the west bank of the east
fork Of the Charlton river, In Charlton
township, In Macon county, Mo-, In q
neat story and a half house, resides
Hesikiah Gibson; with him lives his
father, now over 116 years old, whose
name 10 Robert.
Nj. Gibson says: I was born In
Randolph county, N. O.. In 1867,
from thence my father (while I was
very young and do not remember the
date) moved to Burks county, N U,
In 1898 I was first married and moved
to Wayne county, KY. Afterwards
In 1909 I moved TO what was then the
western territory of Louisiana, after
wards the territory of Missouri, ST..
Charles county, Mo Ten years later
I moved to what Is now Macon county,
No., In the peighborhood of which
place I now reside with my youngest
son, Hesikiah, now aged A years.
My recollection of revolutionary
scenes are very imperfect, but I re-
member some of the "Swsmp Angel"
Gen. Marion, the surrender of Corn.
wallis, the declaration of peace, and of
Washington's presidency. When 1
came to this country 1t was In its
widest state, 1t being inhabited by
many Indians and q few whites.
Among the latter Catholicism reigned
supreme. The country swarmed with
a CREST variety of wild game. Venison
hams, when sold Mt all, were worth
81 cents apiece. I have often seen
fifty deer In q herd. I attended a. q
delegate with . Brother Summers, of
Ksutucky, tie Old Baptist assoc,ation,
near M5htitello, In that stately. Af
this time . split occurred In the Old
Baptist church on account of the ques.
tion of communion. Having boon o
member Of that church for some years
I became . believer and follower of
what were then known a. the Separate
Baptists-sinoe Christians, Reformers
or Campbellites Ito which church I
now belong. For many years, up to
ten years since, I have preached In
that church, having tried to be an
earnest worker In my masters great
cause for ninety years.
My first wife died at the age of 55
years In Macon county, Mo-, In 1910.
In 1858 I was married to 10 widow
Howe; she died In 1876 near where I
am now living. My children are all
by my first wife, OF whom there were
sixteen, thirteen Of whom still survive,
Stephen, the oldest, born In North
Carolina, Is now 81 years old. Ann,
the second child, has great graudclil.
dren and Stephen has of his own nine.
teen children living and one dead. My
grandchildren number nearly AGO,
reaching to the fifth generation. My
family of children consists of five
daughters and eleven boys. I have
been q constant and inveterate user Of
tobacco for eighty-6ve years and have
been q moderate drinker of ardent
spirits ever since re collection.
Mentally, Mr.. Gibson is In q re.
markable state Of preservation, is un-
educated but learned to read after
marriage with his frat wife. Has
Qfrom the best information attainable)
been an earnest Christian gentleman
nearly q century.
Physically, althoughsmall In stature
he presents the appearance of having
been q man of wonderful physical
strength and endurance, his height
having been five feet, two inches,
weight 145 pounds. Is now hearty
but decrepid as the writer saw, and Il
nearly blind.