The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-24
FOURTH EDITION
Her Ninet Ninth B.rthday.


Mrs, Elizabeth Powell, residing with
South Wilmington. reached her GOTH
birthday yesterday and last night the
event was celebrated by between fifty
and sixty OF her friends In a manner
highly appropriate for the occasion.
Being a great church goer, Mother
Powell went to her class meeting at
Madeley NJ. L. Church as usual last
evening, not dreaming OF the surprise
in store for her, though she knew 1t
was her Goth birthday, and rather re-
quest I'd OF her children that no demon
stration should be made In her honor.
In the class meeting she was In very
happy state of mind and told how
wonderfully the Lord had blessed her
during all ner long life.
She told how that, 81 year5 ago, she
was converted, when SHE was IS years
OF age, how she had given her hand to
the church, of the trials and Affections
she had.met with as the mother of six.
teen children, of the death OF her hus-
band In the triumphs of faith, OF hei
children scattering to different parts
of the world, and OF her coming to
America and settling down in VIII
mington among her children IL years
goodness of God, she INDUCED In @
good, old-fashioned Methodist shout
and prayed that the Lord would keel
her to the end. At the close of the
class meeting, which was somewhat
hurried on account of the surprise II
store, the aged mother in Israel, will
a few friends who always flock around
her, wendell her way homeward, only
| to find the house filled with friends x
greet her with royal welcome.
She wns very much surprised, but al
once BECAME genial and happy ane
praised the Lord for the blessing o
good friends. A pleasant evening
spent In singing, addresses and u boun
teous collation. OF cake, fruit ant
cream followed. After refreshment,
had been served, Rev. L. O. Atkins
made very fine address, In which h
alluded to the great age of Mothe
Powell, her long life in the church, tn
great amount Of good she had don,
and the reward that awaits her.
8. Hersey being present, said tina
the occasion was no ordinary one. Blu
few had the opportunity of being hon
ored by congratulating a lady VIII,
had reached her Goth year, 81 OF whicl
she had spent in the church. 1t was
remarkable incident that Mother Pow
ell had lived under three European
sovereigns and six Presidents of tn
United States-king George the III.
King George the. w, and good Queel
Victoria of England, and in the Unite,
States under Presidents Grant, Hayes
4 Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harri
Bon. She lived when The United State
had 10000 of inhabitants until sh
made one Of its present 62,000,000. Sh
lived long before the days OF railroads
steamboats,, telegraphs and telt
phones, and when the old lumberin
stage coach was the only means q
hasty travel
II these 30 years OF life could be re
versed, and all these friends be Twin
in the early days OF Mother Powell
what different surroundings the
would have. Other addresses wef
Powell's class leader; Arthur, Davi
A. and Mrs. Alice Powell, and Brother
Dunbracco, Toner and Smith, un
Mother Powell herself made few n
marks, calling for the Divine benedi
ton to rest upon her friends. A nun
Der of useful presents were left wit
Mother Powell.
Des pite Mrs. Powell's great age 81
is always bright, happy and cheerful
Her Two sons, Arthur and David, an
her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Alice Powell
bes ido5 II great rUt.nue of grandrhi
dren and great grandchildren, almoi
idolize her; indeed the people of IL
: whole neighborhood do the san
thing.
She has most excellent health, an
would like to work and help aroun
thu house, but her children will NJ
permit her to do more than make III
own bed. She attends church regl
larly, and is always exhorting HI
neighbors, old and young, to go |
church and Sunday school.
Mrs, Powell was born in Monmouth
Monmouthshir, England. When
. years Of age she married. and is q
= mother of sixteen children, seven
whom are believed to he living. 81
came to this city eighteen years ,lt
and resided here ever since, with Il
exception of two or three years with
daughter in Philadelphia. She has
least thirty grandchildren and s.
great grandchildren. Two OF her son
Arthur aud David A., are Wilmln
tunians. One son, who is in AuStrali
has not been heard from for years, al
the whereabouts of the other SONS
not known. A married daughter liv
In Philadelphia and another in Rie
mond.
Mother Powell loves Madeley NJ.
Church, and has been leader of Il
Sunday evening prayer meetings,
Mother Powell lengthens out anoth
year of life, 1t is proposed to have
grand demonstration in her honor
the church.