Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-06-17
TWO CENTENARIANS
Living in Cumberland Who Remem.
Der George Washington.
Shaking Hands With the First President
Personal "reminiscences Old
Woman Interviewed by
Register Correspondent.

Special Correspondence Of the RcoGtr.
CUMBERLAND, Nd, June l5.-Cum.
berland has probably two Of the oldest
citizens in the country. Both are women
one colored and the other white. The
colored lady is 100 years old and the
white lady Is l03. Both are able to
walk about the house and enjoy fair
health. Strange to say the colored lady
Is enjoying much the best health, not
withstanding the fact that she Is 10
years old-seventeen years older than
the very aged white lady.
The colored lady Is known a. "Aunt
Susan" or "Aunt Sookey" Johnson.
and resides with her son, Robert Ward,
in what is known as "Frog Eye" In
the west end of town, where she was
found by your correspondent and o
friend. "Grand ma" here's some gen.
tlemen who wants TO see YOU" re-
marked her granddaughter, when we
called. The words were scarcely out
Of her mouth till
"Aunf sookey"
came in the front room at a rather lively
rate, surprising us. "Good morning,
gen'mens, nice morning." she remarked.
After telling her the object Of the call,
she said, "Well, / have seen q good
deal of this country" She continued
by giving complete history OF her
life, and certainly showed remark.
able memory. She talks sensible and
recited many incidents during her long
career. She was born in Montgomery,
Maryland, IN 1853, belonging to Capt.
Washington Owens, who was under
Gen. George wsshipgtsn
during the early war. She lived with
him until matured womanhood, when
she after being married, was sold to Isaac
Ward, OF Allegagy county, with whom
she resided with until the emancipation
OF 1858, when she became free woman.
She came from Montgomery county
with Ward in April. They came in o
sleigh and were one week and one day
making the trip. No railroads then,
and In her language, "the ground was
as smooth ~ this floor" pointing to the
floor. She lived with Ward about
twenty years, and since slavery was
abolished she has lived with different
persons hereabouts. In 1850 she re-
turned to Montgomery county and re-
turned here In the mex. year. She hiss
since lived with her grandson, Ward.
heremembers.
The Battle Of BisAeasbaSH.
She says her "massas horses and wagon
were captured and taken clear to Balti.
more, where. he rode all de way after
them.n This was thirty miles. She
seen his barn full Of soldiers. She 70.
members both Centennials, has seen
Washington, Harrison, Jackson, Lin
coin, and remembers OF the great Cum.
berland fire. She seen Jackson when
he passed through here on bis way "a
Washington TO take his seat She re
members q political poem about 80
get along old Governor Pope, Henry
Clay will run surprising. Dallas viii
never do to run Freeland and Harri.
son." She remembers the poisoning Of
Clay and Van Duran. She heard DR..
Reeds grandfather preach in Mont.
gomery. Knew Henry Shriver when
an infant. Lots Of Indians and
Few Houses In CaaberisnA
when che came, ALDO only thrse
churches. NOpaIer money then. Hei
father died when about Che age oI