The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-01
KENTUCKY'S OLDEST MAN.
He Nlarries His Fourth Wife at The
Age of no Years, and Lives Fiji
teen Years After That.

| have Just learned from a residen
of Harlan county, Kentucky, the his
tory of man whose longevity re
minds one of the great Thomas Parr
whose remains lie buried in England
famous charnel house, Westminste
Abbey, for no other reason than tina
he was the oldest man Great Britain
had ever produced, and there was nc
cause to think the Old World would
ever look upon his like again.
The aged Kentuckian in question
was George Burkhart, and one of the
most remarkable things in connection
with his history is that it has never
been published But Harlan county is
| in the mountains. and does not possess
one of those professional news-gather-
ers, newspaper. Burkhart was born
in Germany in the year 1925. Soon
thereafter he proceeded to Virginia,
where he married. This union pro-
duced him five children, and his wife
died. He married again, and in the
year 1900 removed to Kentucky. He
settled on Crank's fork of Cumber.
land river, fourteen miles south OF
Harlan court house, and with his fam.
lily took shelter in an enormous hollow
sycamore tree. By the way, Harlan
county is not wholly unlike the big
tree district of California. This tree
was forty-fve feet in circumference,
and necessarily fifteen feet in dame
ter. In this romantic abode he and
his wife and the five children had beds,
tables, chests, and such other furniture
and things as a wild mountain home
usually contains. Although the frosts
of seventy-five winters rested on his
ample brow, he did not neglect that
part of the divine injunction which
says, 'Be ye fruitful, multiply and re-
plenish the earth" for when the re-
quisite years had flown he was found
to possess by the second wife eight
children. In the meantime he had
built cabin and acquired !, 400 acres
of good land, and was one of the solid
men of the county.
His second wife died and after a
short period of mourning he went to
Virginia, that generous old state that
had already furnished him two help
meets, and he married third time.
Her name was Elizabeth Grabill, and
she resided in Lee county. Mr.. Burk- |
hart was now a centenarian. He re-
paired to his cabin beside the faithful |
old tree, where they lived happily for
five years, and, it is said, child OF
two were born. This third "better
half of the old man died at the good
age of 20. The grief stricken husband
oewailed her loss even more bitterly
han those who had gone before her.
But his days of sorrow were not many.
He soon turned out to the ''log roll
ngs' and cuttings, which fashionable
,astimes were frequent in their occur
'ence, and danced with the girls, en-
ertained them with his comic songs,
md was regular gay old deceiver, as
,iddy as a girl of fifteen.
In the year 1910, at the great age OF
10 years, he married a fourth time.
he name of his last wife was Lavenia
1orris. and her age was 3d. The i'm
nense disparity of age, seventy-iive
ears, worked harm. Discussions
rose and a separation followed. Nc
hildren blessed this union, and as all
is others had become grown or died,
he patriarch was left alone in the cold. I
old world. His days of frivolity he
ow considered over. He was too old
} trudge about his vast mountain
arm, so he applied more closely than
yer to his favorite pursuit, that of
)rcerer. For miles and miles around 4
is powers were recognized. Even in
ir-away Tennessee and Virginia, peo-
lie who were troubled with witches
nd other unseen and direful enemies
pplied to him for relief. His magic
4 IL. 4 4
nd dogs and cats, as well as human
sings, were made whole through his
fluence. Diagnosis was but matter
a moments glance with him. DC.
case was so stubborn that
sroic treatment became necessary.
his treatment consisted in drawing a
cture of the particular witch that
as ruling over the patient. This pic.
re was pasted on tree at ten PAGES,
i'd with an old-fashioned long SPUR.
rifle he would send a bullet crash.
g through it. The shot destroyed
e witch and the patient was free.
'rcery was a considerable source of
venue to the old man.
Mr.. Burkhart spoke German to his
ildren and bad English to others.
s education was slight. He was a
an whose word was as good as his
nd, and who never tired in doing
nd acts.
The wonderful old man died in the U
ar 1850, at the great age of 125 Ii
airs. He had son who lived to be
Judge Noble Smith, Mr.. G. B.
rner, and other good citizens OF
lrlan, knew Burkhart, and testify to
, facts in this statement.
Two persons recently died in that
unity aged SO and 100 years respect
ly. Several more reside there who
, equally as old. 1t is thus seen -
1t the late DR.. Graham, of Louis =
lie, who celebrated the anniversary
his one hundredth birthday, was not
, only centenarian in Kentucky.
Women in the Departments. Hi