The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-29
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
The Daily Chronicle Of Happenings Of
All Kinds in the Two States.
hrs. BenneEan Celebrates Her One Hundred
and Seventeenth Birthday Family
Fight in Howard County-Gleanings.
INDIANA.
Mrss Mary Benneman Celebrates Her One
Hundred and Seventeenth Birthday.

Mxss Mary Benneman Celebrates Her One
Hundred and Seventeenth Birthday.
Decial to the Indianapolis journal
RUssIAvILLE, April 81 One of the most won
serful events in the history of our town occurred
Feeterday-the celebration of the birthday ami
bersary of Mrs. Mary Benneman, the oldest
woman in the United States, and probably the
oldest person in the world, it being her one
hundred and seventeenth birthday. It was also
HE anniversary of the birthday Of her Oldest
Jon, Peter Coulter, with whom she resides, and
sho has to day reached his eighty-fourth year,
making their combined ages over two hundred
PEARS.
The chief features Of the celebration were
shout the same that are usually observed at an
pld-fashioned birthday surprise party except
hat the family were appraised of the matter
through the local papers, At not being thought
best TO take the good old lady and her 'boy" un-
swares. At P. NJ. procession consisting OF
about three hundred persons, and headed by the
Russiaville cornet band, was formed on the
street and marched to the residence
Of Peter Coulter, about one mile
north OF Main street. On arriving there the
band played a selection before the door Of the
little residence which contained the old people
The old lady asked the members Of the band to
pass through the room in which she was seated,
% that she might see the instruments She
stopped the drummer as he passed. and sienified
20 him, by motioning with her hand, to beat his
drum, and when he complied she laughed
heartily. Being very hard of hearing she
barely heard the music Of the band. She
seemed to enjoy the occasion as much
as any present, making several remarks
about the ladies not being able to skip around so
briskly when they arrived at her age; on being
asked by her son, "Old Uncle Peter if she was
getting weary of the scene, fairly hooted at him
and infosmed him promptly that she could .Iook
at EN- week without getting tired" She
talked more freely than she has ever talked be-
fore concerning her early life, of which the
journal has heretofore contained several
sketches
There were several children present, and
Grandma Benneman did not let one escape her
aotice. She paid more attention to them and
alked to them more than to the older folks.
Beverai fond mothers with infants iE arms pre-
Iented them to be kissed and took record Of
Ehs fact, with day and date. The old lady re-
lains her faculties, except hearing and memory.
In the latter she is very deficient. especially
concerning recent events. She had been
Informed several times of her birthday,
and also of the occurrences of yesterday, but
failed to remember anything about it. She
seems to be very persistent in thinking and
claiming that she 10 100 years old, but the rec
cords prove her three years younger.
At4P NJ. a bountiful repast was served, one
liable being spread in the house for the old peo-
pie. The young folks and members of the band
we're served in regular picnic style on the green
Dward in an adjoining grove.