Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-18
Utmost 4 CENTURY OF LIFE.
Mrs. Elizabeth Powell Claimed TO BE the
Oldest Woman in Wilmington,


If Mrs. Elizabeth Powell of South
Wilmington lives until the 23d of next
February, she will be 80 years of age.
There is every indication that her life
will not only be spared that long, but
that she will live to see two or three
birthdays beyond her one hundredth.
She is remarkably well preserved old
lady and enjoys splendid health. Mrs.
Powell, SO far as known, has the dis
tinction of being the oldest woman in
Wilmington.
She was born in Monmouth, Mon
mouthshire, England, in 1899. Her
early education was meagre. AT the
age of 2l she was married, and has
borne 16 children, of whom seven, it is
believed, are living. Her husband died
many years ago. Mrs. Powell lived in
her native town until 10 years ago, when
she came to this country. In spite of
her so years, she crossed the Atlantic
alone and went to live with a married
daughter in Philadelphia She came to
this country at the urgent and repeated
requests of her son, George, who sent
for her. This dutiful son has since died.
Three years ago Mrs. Powell came to
Wilmington to live with her son, Arthur,
L
South Wilmington. Mrs. Powell thinks
she has at least so grandchildren and
knows of six REORGANIZATION She
has a married daughter in Richmond,
Va, another in Philadelphia, a son in
Australia and two sons in this city.
The latter are Arthur, who is fish
merchant in the Third street market;
and David A., who was formerly in the
same business in the Madison street mar
ket. The son who lives in Australia
has not been heard from in a long while
and the other children who are believed
TO be living, have not been heard from
for several years. Mrs. Powell comes
of long lived family. Her father lived
102 years.
Mrs. Powell eats three hearty meals a
day and does not know what dyspepsia
is. She sleeps well, hears and sees we'll
and is much stouter than people at an
advanced age usually are. In short she
is remarkably well preserved woman.
One of her eyes is little weak, and for
this reason she sometimes wears glasses,
but her daughter-in-law declares that
her eyesight is better than hers. The
old lady said she was slightly deaf, but
she heard ordinary conversation with
out the slightest difficulty.
For many years Mrs. Powell has been
a member of the Methodist church, and
is now a commitment of Madeley
Church, in South Wilmington. The
church is little over block from her
sons house, and every Sunday she at
tends service there twice day, walking
alone On Wednesday evening she at
tends prayer meeting and on Saturday
evening class meeting
Nearly every day she goes out and
makes calls on the neighbors in the
vicinity, but cannot walk very far with
out becoming pretty tired. In her youth
and until recent years, Mrs. Powell was
vigorous, energetic, hard working
woman. Her children will not now per-
nit her to work, desiring to prolong her
life as long as possible.
If there are any persons in Whining
ton who dispute the claim that Mrs.
Powell is the oldest woman, if not the
oldest person in the city, EVERY EVEN
ING will be glad to hear from them.