Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-07
MANY weLL-KNowN ceNTeNARlANs.
Longevity predoninatcs Among the Col
ored Racc-Long-Llvcd whites.
60. .... - /, 49,, uf.b,,ort Dtaratchl


Longevity Prodoninatcs Among tho Col
ored Raoe-Long-L!ved whites.
tCorrespondencs Of tho Richmond Dspatch.l
ScoTTsyrLLE, Va, Dec. 6, 1890.
In your Thursdays issue you express
doubt as TO NlIginia's having a single
ccntenarian. am not prepared at tins
iuncture upon proper vouchers to correct
your opinion. but / am reliably informed
that there are two colored centenarlans
in Cumberland county, one OF them
considerably over an hundred years OF
age.
II is a fact, think, that can he sub
etantiated that longevity predominates
among the colorcd race.
oSE HUNDRED AVID TIN.
Old Uncle John Webb, free-born
negro, died in this place several years
ago. 1t was a law. you know, IN ante
bellum days, certainly at one time, that
free-born negroes should have their
names. ages, &C., recorded, and If they
removed from their native counties the
same should be recorded in their newly
adopted counties. Uncle Johns age was
first OF record in Henrico county. When
he moved into tluyanna he brought his
age with him by clerks certificate, and 1t
was there placed on record sud clearly
showed him at the time of his death TO
have been one hundred and ten years OF
age.
ONE HUNDRED ASD SEVEN.
Again. cold Aunt Sookey," slave in
slavery days, was taken from this place
several yeers ago 70 the county poor
house and there died. She was Ivy the
computation Of her former owners one
hundred and seven years OF age.
ONE HUNDRED AND THREE.
Mrs. Jane Graves was a pensioner for
services rendered by her husband IN the
Revolutionary war, and lived about
three miles below this place. She died
but several years ago, aged one hundred
and threo years. Shortly before her
death the writer visited her. and was
pressed 20 dine with her, which he did.
The old lady was Of vigorous mind and
body ana moved nimbly about.
NEARLY THE CENTURY.
An aunt of Your correspondent died in
Buckingham county with la grippe last
year, aged ninety-slx.
merely mention these instances to
show what has unquestionably been the
case in our community, and when so
many other precincts are to be heard
from it would seem reasonable that some
ofthose centenarians may now exist.
JOvIAL SEASON.
n. l.1i..o, t;,-a ~ ola Vluvonna
"the persimmon State, is loylal sea-
son. The good people have ground hog
(more Familiarity known pc sausage),
spare-ribs and ribs TO spare, chine and
gatherings in profusion, and any one
but confirmed dyspeptic IS bound to
feast upon such good things, with per
simmon pudding as side dish. But
down in the lower end OF Old Fin. q
dastardly theft has been com
mitted upon a good old farmer
who killed his fatted swine IN the after
noon and hung them mp TO drip and dry,
finishing up about twilight, when he and
his hired help went in to supper IN the
house not thirty steps distant from the
hogs. The amazement OF the party
NAV be imagined when they came out
from supper and found one OF the fine
hogs wholly taken away. Tho closest
search developed not the whereabouts
of his hogship. and tho worthy old
farmer mourneth upon the bold depray-
ily of man. 80,
Scottsyille has three new stores within
the past month or two, all run by colored
people. 1t is Hoped that the good peo-
ple Of the town are not going TO wait on
their colored friends to boost the place
10 "A boom.