The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-20
THE OLDEST TWINS IN AMERICA.
TWO Sisters Living In Portland Who
ere IS Years Old.
a Press Reporter Calls Upon and is
Entertained by Them.

Messrs. Moses Young of Searsmont, Me-,
and Aaron Young of Lynn, Mass, who were
born twins April 14th, 1908, claim they are
the Oldest twins now living in America, be-
ing 81 years of age. Their claim, however,
is not a just one. We know twin sisters who
were born and now live in this city, who
were bright young girls before the Messrs.
Young were born. We refer to Mrs. Mary
M. Hademan, who lives at p Chestnut
street, and her twin sister, Mrs. Martha w.
Cumpst'n, who lives at IS Chestnut street.
Their maiden names were Powell, their ia
Their being an Englishman, named John Pow
ell. They were born during the memorable
snow storm of Jan. 9th, 1906, in house
that stood on what is now the corner of Lo-
Gust and Cumberland streets, and will be 81
years old next January. They are both to-
day as smart as most women are when they
reach an age of twenty-five years younger
than these ladies have attained. Yesterday
afternoon the writer had the pleasure of
calling upon Mrs. Cumpston and also upon
her sister, both of whom told interesting
stories of their lives and the early days Of
Portland. Calling first upon Mrs. Cumpston
the reporter was very gracously received.
Mrs. CuiDpston informed the writer that she
was one of family of seven children.
Three brothers, Henry, who was lost at sea,
when only II years of age, Jesse aud John,
all of whom were sailors, are dead
Then, besides Mrs. Hademan, her twin
sister. she has two other sisters, both widows,
now living. They are Mrs. Lucy A. Griffin
and Mrs. Sarah Elder. the first three years
and the latter eight years younger than her
SELF Mrs. Cumpston married John Cump-
ston, who died August 26, 1887, and she has
has been a widow for 50 years. For % years
she taught school in this city and has had
but little sickness. Mrs. Cumpston is remark
ably strong and active, mentally and physic-
ally, for one of her years. The last man
who served on the school committee when
she was teacher in the Portland public
schools was the late Oliver Gerrish. As the
result Of her marriage Mrs. Cumpston had
five children, only two of whom, Mrs. Martha
Jane Head. with whom she now lives, and
John Cumpston, snow survive. With the
early history of Portland Mrs. Cumpston is
very familiar. She well remembers the IA
nous naval battle of Sept s., 1918, between
the lucky American brig Enterprise, COM
manded by Lieut. VIM. Barrows, and the
British brig Boxer, commanded by Capt.
Samuel Blyth. Her father was well &C.
quainted with Blyth and the other officers of
the Boxer, having known the captain when
boy in old England. From time to time
Blyth and his merry officers visited at the
Powells, the girls, who, in their younger
days, were decidedly good looking. proving
an Irresistible attraction. So charmed with
them was one of the officers that on one oc-
casiol he presented all four of the girls with
handsome earrings. Mr.. John Powell owned
the house that stood on Cumberland street
in the vicinity of where now stands the Ca
thedral, into which the hostile Mowatt fired
when he bombarded the city in its early
days.
Some of the oldest men now living in this
city went to Mrs. Cumpston's school. Mrs.
Cumpst0n when girl looked precisely like
her twin sister, and it was difficult for
friends even to distinguish one from the
other. They hold their resemblance in
marked degree, but Mrs. Hademan appears
today somewhat older than her sister, four
score years having left their impress more
plainly upon her brow. In speaking of the
battle OF. the Enterprise and Boxer the
writer asked Mrs. Cumpston about it.
"Oh yes" she said, 81 remember it."
"The next you sent your Boxer to box us all
We had an Enterpris ing brig that beat your
Boxer out!"
Those wereltwo lines," said she, ''of
long piece Of poetry we delighted to repeat
in those old days."
The PRESS reporter was as pleasantly en-
tertained by Mrs Mrs, Hadeeman; II went to
returned in Co. co. 1 rode on I the
backs of mules a part Of the
way, and lady companion in fording a
stream was washed off her mule and drown
ed before my eyes. taught school seven
about 80 years. So far as we know my
husband built the first school house ever
built in Ell Dorado county, California, and
also the first MILL Soon after our return the
war broke out. Then came call to save
Washington. A meeting was held in this
city and a paper presented for those who
would to sign their names as volunteers to 60
to the front to save Washington from falling
into the hands of the rebels. f. o. j. Smith
was present at the meeting. My husband
paper as volunteer. As soon as he signed
his name Mr.. Smith looked at it, recognized
the handwriting of my husband and paid
him high tribute before all present. He
then gave him 500 bill for his signature.
ME- Mr.; Smith It'll then said; II will give the
their signatures under Mr.. Hademan's as vol
unteers, 800 each. Five men signed their
names and Mr.. Smith kept his promise. Be-
fore this my husband kept store and was
undecided about going to:war. But his meat
man, milkman, iceman and baker all said
that if he would go to the war they would
and they did. My husband enlisted in the
25th Maine Regiment in 1862 He served in
the army several months and then passed an
examination and was transferred to the
navy. He served on the United States
steamer Conemaugh which was one of Rear
Admiral Farraguts fleet that ran past the
rebel fleet and worked such destruction in
Mobile Bay on August 9TH. My husband
was an invalid from the close of the war and
died April 6, 1868"
Mrs. Hademan never had any children.
Such in brief is the biography of Mrs.
COmpston and Hademan twin sisters living
in this city, who will be "a years old next
January. So far as we know they are the
Oldest living twins in America.