St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-04
A PA FOR % CHILDREN.
Mr.. Disney Has Lived Eighty-Five Years
and Had Twenty Two Sons and
Six Daughters.
The Oldest is sixty-0ns Years Old and the
Youngest Of the Lot Only
Eight
He Walks Twenty Miles Day and IS
Still a Dead Shot, His Other
Peculiarities.
The Youngest Old Man in the WorId--
His First Vote Cast For James
Monroe.


probably lay claim to having been the
father of more children than any other man
in this section of the country. He has had
the qualification of having twenty-eight
children call him father-twenty-t sons
and six daughters. There are now living
fourteen, nine sons and five daughters.
Mr. Disney is fne-looking, intelligent
gentleman, straight as an arrow and power
fully built His eyes are black and still
sharp. His face is entirely covered with a
long. white beard. He is very pleasant and
courteous, and there is not bit of old
fogyism about him. Advancement is one
of his hobbies. He is great favorite with
all the young people. He lives about
four miles from Baltimore, ON the
Hookstown road. The grounds around
the house are very tastefully arranged,
and the house itself is one of those large,
rambling, oldfashoned, typical country
houses. Mr.. Disney has been married
twice. His second wife is much younger
than he. When first approached Mr.. Dis
ney seemed somewhat loath to give sketch
of his life, but after little persuasion he
consented.
81 was born" he said, SIN Anne Arundel
county, this state, on Oct. 5, 1902, which
makes me nearly IS years of age. l mar
ried my first wife when l was 10. by whom
| had fourteen children. She died at the
age of SO. About two years after her death
l made my first and only trip outside the
state of Maryland to Harrisburg, Pa,
where married my second wife, who is
now living and who has also borne me
fourteen children. My only regret is that
| cannot say that am the father of an
even three Dozen"
s'Have l had much trouble in raising such
large family? Bless you, no; they have
never given me one moments uneasineSs.
OF course l fully understand what the
Group, measles chicken-pox, collie and the
troublesomeness of child cutting teeth are.
but outside of these infantile troubles
cannot complain. All my children lived to
be at least five or six years old. but after
reaching that age one after another seemed
to drop off, until now | have but fourteen
living, My Oldest child is sixty one years
old and my youngest eight. Both are now
living. Neither of MY wives ever had
twins. AS near as I can remember l have
seventy-fve grandchildren, twenty great
grandchildren and five great-great- grand
children. Some day am going to have
them all come home. and | guess l will
then be able to say that there never was
larger family gathered under one roof
"When was 10 years old l witnessed
the engagement between Fort McHenry and
three English men-Of-war. | stood on top
of what is now known as Lookout HILL in
Druid Hill park, and saw the engagement
quite plainly. My father and brother par
ticipated in that fight.
Il was not engaged in any way in the
l. fO frxr 70
fruit and crops from the hands of the SOL
diers but l might as well have spared my
self the pains, for they encamped in this
stripped the farm of everything they could
lay their hands on.
81 have never smoked or chewed to-
bacco in my life. and never drank any kind
of liquor but once, and that was when 1
was about four years old Father, together
with some hands, was working in the
field and sent me to bring them jug of
whisky, but thought l would try some
before taking it to the field. so when [
reached an old tree short way from the
house | sat down and took drink; after a
while / took another. and the next thing l
knew was father waking me up. He says
when he found me the jug was half empty
and | was drunken than any one he had
ever seen. Well, it took me SIX weeks to
get over that drunk, and to this day the
smell of whisky makes me very sick. |
have never tasted drop from that day to
this
In politics l have been Democrat all
my life. l cast my first presidential vote
for James Monroe and my last for Grover
Cleveland. have not missed single cleo
ton since | was Of age.
with the exception of slight attacks of
rheumatism | don't know what a sick day
is. l frequently walk twenty miles day
and feel able to do big days work in the
bargain. A few years ago the railroad laid
their tracks through the center of my place.
Invent to law with them, but they beat
me, and then made VOW that l would
not put my foot on their cussed cars as long
as l lived, and l have kept my word.
Whenever | want to go into town | walk
both ways. Twenty years ago this place
was dense woods, and have cleared it all
myself / have about twenty acres and do
all the work without any outside help. Of
course | only raise enough for my family
and stock, but you can see it requires no
little work to keep this place in trim.
Il have always been considered a good
shot, and last winter was ON several
hunting expeditions and hope to go on as
many more next winter. | honestly believe
[ can now stand more hardship than nine
tenths of the young men. My eyesight is
almost as good as ever.
Il have only the six youngest children
home with HE now, but all the rest live
close and | make frequent visits to see
them. l wish they were all home, for [
think there is nothing like house full of
children"
There is not resident for miles around
who does not know Mir. Disney. They all
speak well of him and consider him WON
derful man.