St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-06
wHIMs OF A CENrENARIAN.
He Wdsts Hts Spirit to Eater Horse
Other Eccentric Notions.

He Wdiits Hts Spirit to Eater a Horse
Other Eccentric Notionss
'When die want to turn into boss, be
CAD, sah" emphatically exclaimed Isaiah
Roberts, familiarity known as 'Boss," who is
conceded the honor Of being the Oldest in
habitant In this section, writes Wellsburg,
w. Va, correspondent to The Philadelphia
Record He is over 100 years old. He was
soldier in the war OF 1912 and served in the
union army during the rebellion. "Boss, F"
is character, and his peculiarities and great
age combine to make him an object of more
tnan ordinary interest. He smokes freely,
drinks liquor regularly but in moderation,
and swears accordingly as he thinks the &C.
casion demands. These habits have been q
| part OF his life ever since boyhood, and he
declares that he sees no good reason for civ
ing them up. Politically he has always been
Democrat, and no matter whether an cleo
itcn is for president of the United States or
for town constable, ''Boss' never misses be-
ing among the first voters at the polls. He
can neither read nor write, but he possesses
natural keenness growing out of : the lack
iEg trade be can always hold his own with
the shrewdest traders.
The old fellow had just alighted from the
back of a frisky bay mare, when he made the
remark to group OF bystanders that he de-
sired his spirit to assume the form of horse
when it left his body. 1t was an oft-ex-
pressed wish with him. His whole life was
spent in the raising, training, and the care
of horses generally. With the old veteran the
ruling passion seems TO grow stronger as he
nears the end of his earthly pilgrimage. He
rides horse with surprising ease, and to see
him in the saddle one not knowing his age
would unhesitatingly place his years at less
than half century. In appearance he is OF
medium stature, with snow-white hair,
slight stoop in his shoulders, wiry and we'll
knit, and not exceeding in pounds the num-
Der of years that he is old. His face shows
but few wrinkles and he is clean shaver. He
prides himself upon never having INDUCED
in the luxury of whiskers or mustache. He
has never worn spectacles, and his eyesight
gives no sign of failing. His activity is re-
markabe. A walk of several miles over
country roads he considers as simply little
exercise. He lives alone and depends upon
pension from the govern ment for support.
He has persistently refused he offers OF his
children to care for him.
Every Sunday for the past decade ''Boss"
has made it point to visit Brooke cemetery,
beautiful buryin g-ground situated upon q
sloping elevation overlooking the Ohio river,
about mile north of the town. In this
home of the dead he owns lot, and weekly
visit is made to the spot in winter and sum-
mer, no matter what the conditions of the
weather may be. The lot is inclosed by
in dc lob
placed there by the centenarian, containing
his name, date Of birth, the wars in which he
participated, and space left blank for the
date of his death. Years ago he decided to
buy coffin and keep it under his bed, ready
for use, but he was persuaded by the under
tsker to change his mind.
when go, sah," he has frequently said,
want to be put in plain box and hauled to
my grave on dray. The old man don't
want any preachin' or fixin's be CAD, sab ~
''Boss' is a native of Maryland, and was
born at Deer Creek, Hartford county. He
was in his early teens when he struck out
for Virginia. He settled at Wellsburg, the
Oldest, and at that time the most important
business point on the upper Ohio, where he
has lived ever since. He saw the town pros
porous and its citizens full of enterprise;
saw It begin to droop about the beginning Of
the railroad era, and finally sink into death
like sleep for third of a century, to be again
awakened into life and activity in the last
five years by the construction OF a railroad
and the discovery that the town Is in the
great natural gas belt Numerous wells are
now in operation, and the product is utilized
by several glass-factories. George Washing
ton honored the town with visit in early
days, and, as a mark of distinction, carved
his initials on huge rock that rises out of
the Ohio river In front of the town. The
letters are quite distinct. but they show that
the "father of his country had very little
artistic skill with the chisel and mallet.
The unusual circumstance of baptism by
immersion in the river of a man over 100
years old took place at Wellsburg few years
ago. Patrick Gass, who was then the sole
survivor Of the Lewis and Clark overland ex
petition to the Pacific coast, joined the Camp
belite church, which hold, that the only true
baptism is by immersion. The aged convert
was dipped on Sunday afternoon, in the
presence of vast assemblage. Among the
spectators was 'Boss" Roberts. A member
of the church remarked TO him that he should
profit by his old friends example by doing
likewise.
''Never, sab All d boshr' wickedly
replied Boss" bringing his cane down on
the pebbly beach with thump.
''Mr Gass having repented and being i'm
mersed," continued the church member,
''his sins will be washed away. and he will be
whittier than snow" The old veteran listened,
but did not utter a word. AS the dripping
con vert was led from the stream, Boss
got as near to him as he could. The skin of
the immersed centenarlan resembled
wrinkled yellow parchment.
''Whiter nor sn0w!'' muttered Boss"
with the most contemptuous curl of the lip;
"all lie. Old Pats yaller as ever, be CAD,
sah'' He turned on bis heel and walked
away.
Gorgeous Drinking Saloons.