Omaha daily bee., 1884-10-08
THE OLDEST MAN In MISSOURI.
Reccollections of q Man Who Was
Born Before the Declaration of
Independence Was Signed.

At a point two miles north of Indie
pendence on the Wayne City road stand!
a one-story weather beaten frame hous,
formerly owned by Col. Gilpin, the mar
who is credited with first ~prophesyint
the greatness of Kansas City. From
here an unobstructed view is obtained Of
Independence on the south, and Wyan,
dotte on the west, and Liberty on the
north. Here resides Christopher Mann,
who is undoubtedly the oldest person In
Missouri, and one of the Oldest In the
United States. A Times reporter Wis
tied the aged patriarch recently, the
occasion being the celebration of his
10th birthday. "Uncle Chris" as he
is Familiarity called by his neighbors and
acquaintance, has a mind well-6lled witt
the happenings of ''other days long
gone" and nothing gives him more
pleasure than the presence of a good
listener. Having bean born at a time
when the American colonies were
struggling for freedom from a tyrranica.
power, his early training inBtillod into
his mind a deeper love of independence
many men who first saw light in ''decla.
ration days" he claims no personal &C.
quaintanue with the father of his coun.
try, although born within a few miles 81
the Washington homestead.
While yeC a boy he removed with his
father to Kentucky, and never tires re-,
lating anecdotes OF Daniel Boone, tae
great hunter and trapper. He describes
Boone as being of medium height. mus
cular build, keen gray eyes, small nose
n thin lips. He was a man who dealt
only with the realities of life, and when
he smiled, which was seldom, his face
lighted up with q very singular and
striking expression. Boone held yery
little intercourse with the few white
people IT that section, preferring the
solitude OF the forest or society of his
wife to that of the outside world.
MIR. Mann claims with pride that he
never was whipped in a personal en-
counter, and cites an incident in his life
in Kentucky when he had O severe fight
with a noted ''bul'y" named L ons.
This man Lyons had on one occasion
chas.ised Mr.. MAINS father in a manner
which fired the blood of the young man,
aud DO determined to whip Lyons on
sight. One day Lyons approached the
house through the orchard and young
Mann met him half way and
told him of his purpose. Both men
stripped to the waist and proceeded to
spar in a ann that showed they were
well matched. Finally Mann struck
Lyons a powerful blow in the face, which
dlslocatsd his thumb, and he was imme-
diately clinched by Lyons. The bully,
eIpecting an encounter with the young
giant, had previously had his hair cut
very short, and had CREASED his head
with bears oil, making it so slick that
Lam could not gain any advantage In
that direction, but, getting a hold on his
throat, he soon checked the breathing of
HIS opponent to such an extent that he
readily consented to say enough. During
the scutfls Mann received a powerful
blow in the side, which swelled to such
sizs that his father produced a lance and
performed a surgical operation on his son
which caused him to lose considerable
blood but Afforded 10 relief.
Later on In life MIR. Mann passed
through Indiana on his way to a home in
the far west and stopped ono nigth at D
tavern kept by General William Henry
Harrison, afterward president of this
United States. Mr.. Mann says the house
was crowded aud no was compelled q
sleep on the floor, for which accommoda.
ton the landlord charged him full rate.
"Nover since thep," observed Nj. Mann,
"hsye / liked Bill Harrison" He 70,