New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-30
OLD, BIG AND IOUGH.
PHYSICAL TRAITS OF SOME PIKE COUNTY
PEOPLE.

PHYSICAL TRAITS OF SOME PIKE COUNTY
PEOPLE.
IRON Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.
PORT JERvIs March 24-rhe death at Mil
ford Pennsylvania Of Henry Barnes at the Age OF nearly
ninety years. recalls to the residents Of the Delaware
Valley the history OF the most remarkable families
In the country. Mr. Barnes related 10 the Wells
Rockwell Cornelius families OF Pike County famous
for their longevity. Lewis Rockwell died last summer
age lO2 years. leaving eight brothers and sisors whose
ages range follows Abraham Rockwell, age ninety
six; Mrs. Anne Wells, OF Milford, ago eghtysr; Miss
| sale Rockwell, OF HOnosdalc Wayne County, age
eighty-one; Eliza Rockwell, OF New-Yerk age seventy
| ulne Mrs PhGbc Ga HsiOrd, OF Pennsylvania. age
scyenty-seVeu; Mrs Katherine Bowen, OF StroudsburS
Monroe County age seventy-lye Mrs. Lucinda Valen
tine OF Hawley. age sevcnty-three; and Mrs. Dagld
Wells of Milford. age eighty three. Tho total age OF
these members Of family. including Lewis Rockwell
and Mr. Barnes, sl2 years, average OF eighty
four years each Many OF the ROokwoliS rose to ahu-
ence but the eldest member OF the family old Lewis
Rockwell died town charge The Cornelius family re
ferred to was Instantly connected with the Rockwells
Mrs Cornelius died In 1850 at the age OF eighty five
Her husband Lewis Cornelius. the largest man in
America. being considerably bigger than the famous
Daniel Lambert. p. T. Barnum once offered Mr.. Corne
us large salary travel with his circus, but the oer
WAS refused. AT time Mr. Cornelius was an officer
OF the county OF PIKE and his dimensions recorded III
the Prothonotary's Office in Milford rs follows: Lewis
below waist feet inches; circumference above waist
feet 2l2 inches; circumference Of arm above elbow,
feet lnches circumference OF arm below elbow foot
90 inches; circumference OF wrist foot inches; cir
cunfcIence OF thigh feet inches circumference OF
calf OF Leg feet III nches circumference OF ankle,
foot inches; weight without clothing 6i5l2 pounds"
This authentic record OF the great mans size He
was proprietor OF the Sawl House at Milford and all
the In the lower part OF the house made Of
double width He not weighed until after his death,
which occurred n 1859 and he had been sick several
weeks physicians thought he had lost NIFTY pounds OF
the scales nj 700 pounds His wife a small woman
weighed than ninety eight pounds in her
life. They had number OF children al d all the girls
were small and delicate while the boys large Three
OF the weighed SO pounds, an average OF 272
pounds each John Cornelius, the youngest died
last fall and weighed 80 pounds, having gained flesh In
later years.
In the reading room at the eawk House hangs o pic
ture by WieT representing old Squire Brink, also DIS
relative OF the Cornelius family who died In 1875 at
tho age OF ninety after meeting with an experience
which illustrates what constitutions possessed
by the family When Brink was boy OF seventeen he
fell of the Cliffs" high ragged peak near Milford
distance OF 81 feet and landed in the top Of tree from
whence he fell the ground distance OF twenty feet
and then rolled down the side hill fifteen feet further
His friends fastened TO the spot expecting 10 hnd him
dead There ID largo hole In his head. and several
bones broken The doctors said he could n0t get
from the hole in hs head aud inserted Mexican
silver dollar IN the skull The hoy better In spite
Of all predictions and eventually recovered married,
raised family OF nine Children oil OF whom are alive.
and died OF the ripe old of ninety five His family
too was noted for It's longevity. Arch Brink, OF
his sons Ia character In Pike County known TO hun
dreds Of NewYorkors who summer there, and Is sixty
six. Mrs Solomon Newman, ono OF tho SQnre's dauBh-