The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1886-12-18
GRENADA MISS, SATURDAY. DECEMBER l8. 1886
I'm HIS 10TH YEAR,
A Hearty Old Man who DErnF1s, CEsews
and Smokes.

A facar'y Vta Man who DfrnEzs, Chcws
and Smokes.
On my way up the Frisco road I met
up with a remarkably old man who lives
up in the Boston mountains near the
head of Frog bayou, about ten miles
above Mountainburg, in Crawford county.
He had been to Fort Smith on business
and was returning to his home. His
name is George Washington Sims. He
informed me that he was born in Vir.
ginia near Mecklinburg on the 14th day
of January, 1777, and will sbe ITO years
old, if he lives until the 18th of next
month. His parents went to North Caro-
lima from Virginia in an early day and
his childhood was spent there in Warren
and Montgomery counties. From there
they moved to Bedford county, Tennes~
see, and settled on Duck river, and from
there to Green county, Mo-, settling
within ten miles of where Springfield,
No.. now is, Ir 1850 he went across the
plains to California, remaining there
three years, when he returned to Missou-
ri, but came from there to Crawford
county about twenty>six years ago and
has continued to reside there. He has
been twice married, his second wife dying
about twelve years ago. He can yet see
to shoot his rifle accurate enough to kill
a squirrel, and says one year ago he killed
a large buck with his rifle. He has been
great hunter. He has full head OF
hair, but not a tooth in his head. He
informed me that he never tasted, or, at
least never drank a cup of coffee until
the day he was married to his second
wife, which was in 1854, or about thirtys
three years ago. He was chewing tobac
co all the time was talking to him, and
upon being asked how long he had used
the weed he said he had chewed and
smoked tobacco ninety.four years, or
ever since he was boy of fifteen years
of age. Icould help not but think what
a pity that this man had ruind his con>
stitutiou by the use of tobacco. There
ie no telling how long yet he might live
had he let tobacco alone. I inquired OF
him if he had used intoxicating liquors.
and he said he had made it a practice al
his life to take Just one dram of whisky
before breakfast and no more. That is
when he wasUh re he could get it, and
that he was never intoxicated in his lite.
Our friend, Colonel Gunter, was present
and asked him if he thought it was good
for ones health to take toddy before
breakfast, aud he said it had always
agreed with him. When Colonel Guntar
replied that doctors disagreed on this
subject; some said before eating and
some said just after meal was tho best
time to take it, and to be sure he was
right he followed the advice of both and
took it just before and after breakfas'
He informed me that he had never had
any severe illness and never took any
strong medicine. l inquired after his re-
ligious belief and be It'd me he had
belonged to the old regular Baptist
church for sixty years and that he had
always voted for Gen. Jackson for Presi-
dent when be was candidate and since
Jackson had quit running he had voted
the ticket that Jackson would have voted
il living, and that the last time he voted
in Presidential election was 1876 when
he cast his ballot for Tilden. He has
bad looking scar on his forehead which
was caused by blow struck by a man
who tried to murder him for his money
as he came home from California in 1858.
He can ride on horseback eight or ten
miles a day, which he frequently does
when going down to trade, Northwest
Arkansas is still ahead in the way of
active old people. He has promised me
more minute account Of his long and
eventful life and intend to 10 and rec
him and take q day to interview him.
He says if all his life experience of ex-
citing scenes was written it would make
a "great big book."-Little Rock Demo-
crat.
Activo pusl,unx and Reliable.