Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14
TO be continued
THE OLDEST INHABTTANT,
Philadelphia Woman Who is 112 Year
Old and Remembers Washington

L.
Old and Remembers Washington
Philadelphia may not be the largest city
in the United States accorair g to the cen
Gus figures, says the Philadelphia Press,
but she has the oldest living lady in the
the country among her residents. The
SHOWS of 112 winters have fallen upon her
head, until her once brown curis have be-
come as white as Parian marble. The
sunshine of as many summers have lighted
up her countenence, yet now in the last
cycle of her li1time her cheeks yet bear the
bloom of youth
Mrs Catharine Sharp of 1926 Fleetwood
street, at the age of ll2 years, forms the
apex Of family five generations long.
This remarkable family all live in the
Fleetwood street house, and what is
still more remarkable is that her direct
descendants are with one exception wo-
men. The centenarian has one daughter.
Mrs. Mary H. Smith, 70 years old. Then
there is a granddaughter who is Mrs.
Annie E. Wilson, 40 years old. Next on
the genealogical tree is a young MAJ ried
great granddaughter. Mrs. Mamie
Wetherill, aged 20, daughter of Mrs. Will
son. Mrs. Wetherill' S two baby daughters
are the great-great- granddaughter. They
are so young they are unable to realize
their greatness. From The great greatgrand-
mamma down to the toddling chubby
checked great -granddaugh
there was not the slightest hesita-
tion about telling the CEN
sus man everything. Great Great
Grar dnlamma Sharp is a widow, so is
Great -Grandmother Wilson, too. Mother
Wetherill's husband alone is living, and
he, with Grandfather jeremiah Smith, the
only men in the house.
Great-Great-G Grandmother Catharine
Sharp, was born on Feb. Is, 1770, in the
birthplace was two-story stone structure,
member when Philadelphia was scarcely
longer than a kites string.
At her house recently she wildly re-
counted to Press reporter the closing
incidents of the revolutionary struggle
and the war of 1912, as we'll as many of the
great builders of this republic long since
Bronger, who lived to be centenarian,
works now stand.
MY uSou w supply Otu.
Washington's soldiers with milk and veg
etables, . recalled the old lady, as she sat
knitting in an antique arm chair. As she
talked her dark gray eyes showed more
| luster, and from her well-preserved appear
ance one would not have judged her to be
far beyond the allotted life of three-s score
and ten. Several days ago the old lady
sprained one of her ankles while coming
down stairs and frequently the pain of the
injury would compel her to stop talking
for few moments.
Yes, remember seeing Washington, y"
said she, Il saw the great good man after
be became the president of the United
States. One day saw John Jay, and |
am quite sure saw Thomas Jefferson |
was just 26 years old when Alexander
Hamilton and Aaron Burr fought their
duel at Weehawkin.
The tragic affair created great commo-
| ton throughout the country.
Another incident | distinctly recolect
was Fulton steamboat going up the Hud-
ron river. | was then in my 28th year.
These occurrences as well as the naval
| fights in the war of 1912, seem to me as if
they had taken place within the past few
years.
In my younger DAYS was dress-mak-
er. When | became well along in years.
| also did considerable nursing of the sick
My husband died forty-one years ago and
yet 1t does not seem so long. | can hard
ly realize that | can be so old. Let me see;
| have lived in this house for the past 80
years. Here have seen all my children
grow up. But | know that my end is
drawing near
The lady's eyes filed with tears, and the
interview was closed. Supervisor of the
Census Beattie was much pleased on re-
ceiving the schedule containing the old
lady's name, with those of the rest of the
family.