The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-28
Ches1ey Heal, the Centenarian.
TScientiic American

gallery of centenarians. Chesley Heal
was born at Westport, Me-, on No
vember Is, l778, and died at Sears
mont, Me-, October 6, 1888, nearly COM
.pleting the almost unprecedented
term of 10 years. Of his fathers
family not much is known. His
mother came from England ct the
age of IA years, and he had three
brothers and one sister. He was
married twice, and had four sons and
one daughter by his first wife, none
by his second. His son Isaac died
ducing the rebellion, another died at
home, another was lost on whaling
voyage, and the remaining son is still
living. There are fourteen grand
children and fourteen greatrgrandchil-
dren, all living. The early part of
Heals career was very active one.
He was a soldier in the war Of 1912,
and served in the division stationed
along the coast Of Maine at Lincoln
vile, Northport, and Belfast. He was
at Belfast when the British forces,
under Major-General Gasselin, crossed
the Penobscot Bay from Castine and
captured the town. The English force
consisted of 700 picked men, of almost
equal height, who had served under
Wellington. The small American reg
iment was unable to cope with this
force, and no opposition was offered to
the landing of the troops. Owing to
this fact, the British commander gave
orders that the people should not be
molested, and thata provisions should
be paid for, which was accordingly
done. ....
In 1923, Heal purchased farm Of
several hundred acres, at Searsmont,
near Belfast, He determined upon
clearing and developing this land, and
turned all his energies to that end. He
took great interest in raising cattle, and
his farm was usually in good state Of
cultivation. He was very frugal, very
industrious, almost parsimonious in
his style of living, and he was consid-
cred a successful farmer, it was antici-
pated that during so long life his &C
cummulations would be considerable,
but at his deceased very little was
discovered, and what has become of
his wealth nobody knows. Some sus-
pect that he buried his money, and as
he never confded, it to any one, his
secret died with him.
He took quite an active interest in
politics, and was staunch Democrat,
having voted at every election from
1900 to 1880. His first vote was cast
for Thomas Jefferson. Possibly his
absolutely quiet life had something to
do with his longevity. He raiely left
his own neighborhood, and never, it is
said, travelled on steamer or on rail-
road train. He never saw anything
of the turmoil and bustle Of the world,
and his nerves were never disturbed.
He was quite unlettered, being unable
to read or write. He kept his accounts
by peculiar marks on his barn door,
which he alone understood. His mem
ory was highly cultivated, owing to
the constant calls made upon it on ac-
count of his being unable to read and
write, and this aided him in keeping
his accounts.
Physically, he was well proportioned
and strongly built. He was five feet
eight inches in height, and weighed
normally about 175 lb. He had a full,
well developed chest. He was great
talker, and had a loud voice. His
health was so perfect that during his
whole life he was only once visited by a
physician until his last illness. His
eyesight and hearing continued unim-
parted until the end. His hair did not
turn gray until he had experience the
frosts of a hundred winters. He was
a remarkably good sleeper, retiring
usually at sunset and rising at dawn.
He was good eater, living on fresh
meat during the autumn and early
winter when the farmers were slaught-
ering, but during the summer his diet
was principally salt pork cut into
slices and fried. The bread on his
table was made from wheat, rye, corn,
barley, and buckwheat from his own
farm. He used tobacco nearly his
whole life. He preferred to chew
rather than smoke the weed. When
young he was addicted to the use Of
spirituous liquors. He never had any
mental-labor of any kind, nor any care
OF worry. A curious feature Of his life
is that at the age of 105 he concluded to
remain indoors, and although being
quite strong and active in his move
ments be did not leave the house du&.
ing the last five years of his life. He
did not use cane, and at times was as
active as boy. he said he could move
about the country as we'll as ever, and
would give no reason for his voluntary
seclusion. He retained his faculties to
the end, and died quietly, and was
buried in field in his own farm.
1t is interesting for moment to look
at the remarkable changes that have
| taken place during the lifetime of a
single human being. Heal was born in
the midst of the revolutionary war, and
was nearly three years old when the
| surrender of CORVALLIS marked the
close Of the struggle. He was in his
| nineteenth year when Washington re-
tired from the presidency, and during
his life all the presidents were NOM
| mated to their high Offices He was