Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-07
oLAIms TO BE.11o.

CLAIMS TO BE E1Io.
 Aunt Katie Holden, . Happy ola Col- l 0red WOma", Living in Comfort at the Town Farm-ssOne of she Wise i
 Girls Who Never Got marrled,,-She ' Remembers the Celebration Of Wash. ingson's Election to she Presidency.
 Living happily and comfortably in pleas- ant south room at the Hartford town house is an old colored woman whose age is soms- thing of mystery. She claims to be no and "wouldn't be surprised if she could safely add six or eight more years" That she is in her second century is certain.
 The Hartford Times yesterday says of her: Catherine Holden, or "Aunt Katie," as she is now called. was born in Ellington, the daughter of George and Nancy Holden. A Times reporter, with First Selectman George W. Fowler, called on the oentenarian in her cozy room at the town houss . day or two ago and from her learned the story of her life, which is here given.
 s'My father and mother were not slaves. They removed from Rhode Island to Con- necticut and settled in Ellington. My mother died shortly after was born, leave ing four children and myself, Q babe of few days. Aunt Sylvia Thompson came to keep house for father and was a mother to me. When was seven years old was put out to work at the home of Martin Ellsworth in Old Windsor.
 sI don't remember anything about the years, but do remember the time when George Washington was elected president and the great celebration that followed in Old Windsor. don't know whether it was the first or second time he was elected or whether the big time was when he was in- augurated. At this time had been living with Martin Ellsworth for about seven years and was therefore about fourteen years old. The celebration in Old Windsor was kept up all day and in the evening the houses were illuminated. At MT. Ellsworth's there was ball and grand time by the best people of the town. remember the candles in the windows, one for every pane of glass; and the reception and ball, that is all fresh in my mind: -.,.., .o... ,. s..u u.... ago, and after living their a few years I went to Amherst, Mass, and for two years did the washing for the college. then came back to Hartford and have since lived here and in this vicinity. When came to Hart- ford joined the Methodist church ,on Trum- bull street, having brought my letter from | the Ellerton churh, where experienced re- | ligion' and became soldier of the lord. | remained member of the church until the | colored people started church, when cast | my lot with them. We first held services in | a building in the rear of Main street, the | gangway being somewhere nearly opposite
 the Center church. Old Father Spywood was the first pastor. was never out of the
 state of Connecticut except when was in | Amherst.
 1T have been living in the town house for
 a little over year and find 1t very pleasant.
 I think it great blessing to find so good q
 home when I am old and have no other place | to live. I have but four relatives living
 two nephews and two nieces. am not hers
 for doing anything bad and do not feel that
 it is disgrace to be here. have $67 ir l good hands to bury mo when die, 90 am not entirely destitute. never married.
 think I am one of the wise ones, as there il
 not much happiness with man who would carry on as many of the husbands do nova days. have been sick moro or less all my life and was never strong or well. It wal
 my resolution that has kept me up all thes' years."
 Aunt Katie occupies pleasant room or
 the second floor on the south front of ths
 monster building. The white painted walll
 are hung with large Sunday school pictures in colors The window Is full of blossomine
 flowers, in the best possible condition in thu
 bright sunlight that streams into the room
 Tho happy old woman spends her time fl
 sewing, kitting and reading. especially en
 toying the perussl of her Bible and religiou papers, and also the secular papers taken t. her by her friends, of whom she has mor' callers than any other person in the institu tion. She speaks in the highest words O
 praise of her treatment by Superintendent Govt and the matroB, Mrs. Upton.
 Miss Holden has the skin of mulatto. He hair is almost white, bristling and straight On the occasion of the visit of the Times re ! porter the old lady was invited to have he picture taken, which was most agreeable t her. She was ''spruced up" by the puttinl on of . clean handkerchief around her necl and the smoothing down of her hair, whel she was carried to the chapel and faced tn camera. She is able to walk about the COT :. rider, but on the day of the reporters visi she was suffering from au attack of rheuma ! tism and was therefore placed in her rockin chair and carried to the chapel by @ couple c attendants. Returning to her room . rsquee was made for her autograph. This, ,she said
 was out of the question, as she was so ner vous she could not write. She, however
 presented ths reporter with her signature written some time before.
 Aunt Katie is still . well-preaerved ol
 woman. She converses in good Euglish, !, not hard of hearing and readily understand the run of general conversation. Being quel tioned as to the exact time of the Windsc celebration she was of the opinion that 1t ws at the second inauguration of Washington this week, and if Aunt Katie was then foul teen years old her age is now III, or abor
 what she claims when nAe places 1t at II D just for round numbers. She Is rather shol
 in stature, but quite stout, weighing abor 16O pounds,