The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-03
I've SCORE AND FOUR.
MARION coUNTVs OLDEST RESIDENT
James Hubbartt, Hale and Hearty, Cele-
brates His One Hundred and Fourth
Birthday, Surrounded by Host of
Descendants-An Eventful Life.
Thursdays Daily Sentinel. |

Descendants-An Eventful Life.
Thursdays Daily Sentinel
A good old age and hearty laugh are two
jewels of brightness in LIES casket of SORROWS
to be priced above all. Happy is the man who
possesses one of them, and doubly happy is
the man who possesses them both. And il was
a jolly and spry old fellow (for his age) who
celebrated his one hundred and fourth birth
day yesterday at Napoleon. His name is James
Hubbartt and he is well known to many resi-
dents of Marion county. He is almost as old
as the United States and is chock full of
"reminiscences of early days. The many de-
scendants and friends of the centenarian de-
termined to hold a reunion yester-
mans birthday with regular ovation.
Accordingly all day long could be seen a stream
of vehicles vending their way along Michigan
pike, coming from the north, south, east and
west. So a rather unusual sight greeted the
eyes of the reporter as he turned around lit
tie side road running off Michigan pike about
a half mile north of Crown Hill cemetery
Standing in front of q little two-story frame
house. very nice and white and clean, stood
motley array of vehicles-buggies and farm
wagons, hansoms and spring wagons.
A cool country breeze bOwled along over the
fields, giving a "cabby" who was lounging
against a rail fence case of the "iraseibles"
as he vainly endeayored to peruse a newspaper
which shook violently from each gust
When the reporter stepped inside the door
he found the two lower rooms packed with peO-
pie of all ages and sizes. There were big men
with boards, and little boys in kneebreeches,
and matronly looking women with kindly
faces, and young ladies of susceptible age, not
forgetting two or three babies, which, how
ever, were to be heard and not seen.
But the central figure of all was little old
man who sat on nice easy chair, taking the
greatest interest in all that was going on. His
head was almost bald and his face was adorned
with those little chOppy chin whiskers com
mon in the survivors OF three or four genera
tons ago.
Quite involuntarily the reporter smiled as
the almost forgotten words of a poem ran
through his mind
know it is a sin
For me TO sit and grin
At dm sitting there,
But his old three-cOrnered hat
And his breaches and all that
Are so queer.
"How do you do" Mr.. Hubbartt, said the re-
porter in loud tone. the old gentleman being
rather deaf
"Oh pretty well, thankee, for an old man
like me-" chuckled the old gentleman, as he
glowered over an immense pair Of spectacles at
the speaker.
"He's pretty jolly old fellow, isn't he?"
said Mrs. Berry, his granddaughter. "But he's
kind of deaf and everybody has to speak loud
to him, you know"
Four years ago Mr. Hubbartts one-hun-
dredth anniversary was celebrated by family
reunion, and those present little expected that
he would be alive four years from that day.
He was born in Delaware on the27th of March,
1875. His parents were Of Irish extraction.
When child his parents moved to North
Carolina, afterward removing to Lebanon, o.,
in 1906. He remained there two years and
then returned to Carolina where he married
Mics Nancy Thomas Of (ruilford n
1911 he again removed to Ohio, settling in
Hamilton county, and from there went 10
Dearborn county, Indiana. In 1882 he re-
moved TO Marion county, entering three
quarter section of land in Washington town.
ship, 100 acres of which he retains to-day. His
wife has been dead for twenty-five years. He
has always been engaged more or less in farm
ing though he at one time owned a sawmilL
His temperate habits no doubt account for his
length of years, as he has always been ex-
tremely moderate in his indulgences. When a
young man he used tobacco more or less, but
of late years has almost given up the habit.
For four years Mr.. Hubbartt was totally
blind from cataract, which obscured both eyes,
but when eighty-seven years Of age his eyes
were successfully operated upon by DIR; Ihomp-
son of this city. Mr.. Hubbartts family relate
good story in this connection.
After the doctor had finished the operation
and the old gentleman was allowed to take the
bandage off his eyes, the doctor asked him:
"Well, do you see me nOwY
"Yes," replied the old gentleman, delight
eddy. But you amt a very good looking
Teller"
AT the present time Mr.. Hubbartt is liable
of reading the finest print, and whites away
whole days in reading. AS has been said, his
hearing is quite bad, but his only serious COM
plant is neuralgia, which bothers him very
much at times. He has a very retentive
memory and keeps well informed on the affairs
of the times. He has been a life long repub-
lican, casting his first presidential vote for
Monroe, and recently became q member of the
methodist church. He is a member of the
Tippecanoe club, and visited Harrison durin
the campaign. The president sent him a letter
in recognition of the call, and the old gentle
man at once became an enthusiastic Har-
risonite.
Mr. Hubbartt has been the father of ten
children, all of whom attained their majority,
though only three are living now. His de-
scendants are legion, there being forty-seven
grandchildren, over one hundred great-grand-
children, and seven or eight great-great-grand-
children. A great many OF his descendants
now spell their names Hubbard, and this led to
considerable trouble, when the old gentleman
applied for pension for serving in the war OF
1872 a minute man. Three of his own
children were present yesterday, Rich
ard Hubbard, aged seventy-seyen,
and Jane Berry. aged seventy-three.
The grandchildren present were Nancy Utter
back, Virginia Davenport, LYDIA Berry, Sally
Allen, John Sheppard and wife and Ella Wan
derby and husband. Great grandchildren pres
ent: Charles Miller, Cora Davenport, Nancy
Davenport and Ezra Miller. Great-great grand
child, Luther Lee Grand nephew and son,
James NJ. Glenn and Wilmer Glenn of Gin
cinnati.
A hundred or so visitors called during the
day who brought their baskets filed with good
things. Among the number were John Bowers,
Mrs. Elizabeth Guion, A Myers, wife, son and
daughter, S. A. Howard and wife, Henry
wt@yeF D MfDO and ana Tl nSn inc heE
and daughter, Mrs. Hollingsworth and daugh-
ter, Charles Benson and Miss Jane Brunson,
Florence and Josie Blue, Miss Cora Bradley,
Mrs. Butler and daughter and Mrs. G. w. Lam
caster.
Altogether, the day was happy one. and it
was the only wish that the old gentleman may
live to see many more such anniversaries.
Was it Murder Accident.
MUNCIE, March 27.-[Speciall-A train