Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
The Wonder of the Age is Reub Fields,
Who Can Neither Read Nor
Write.
He Performs the Hardest Mathemati-
cal Problems with Unparalleled
Ease and Accuracy,
He Expects on the Judgment Day to
Keep Account of the Saved and
Lost.


wonder Of this age is Reub Fields, TIE
greatest mathematical prodigy in the
world, says a Warrenburg (M0) cores
pondent of the st. Louis Republic.
Though he can neither read nor write, nor
has the least conception Of the form of 7
figure, his reputation as a master Of
mathematics has extended to every state
In The Union. Those who have not seen
an exhibition Of MS mathematical powers
arc slow to believe he possesses the won
derful and seemingly miraculous ability
that has made him famous throughout the
whole country.
He is Al years of age, and is native of
the state of Kentucky. In person he is
above the average height, rather heavy
sluggish In movement, and somewhat I'M
gainly in appearance. He is often seen
standing on the streets of Warrensburg,
with his hands in his pockets, appearing
indifferent to every one and everything
around him. He is at times monrose and
very unsociable, often wholly ignoring
his friends who address him. 1t is more
difficult to secure an interview with him
than with the president of the United
States. He is very superstitious, and
claims to be under the especial guidance
of the Almighty.
Prior to year ago a dram of whisky
would induce him to talk, but now he says
God has directed him to use no lntoxicants
whatever, and so far he had obeyed this
visionary command. When disposed he
will now talk and calculate for a pocuni-
airy condition, but if he noticed any levity
or increduity manifested on the part of
those with whom he is conversing he in
stantly becomes as silent as the tomb and
no consideration however great, could In
duce him to say another word,
Fields strange feats seem as wonderful
and mysterious to his relatives as to stran-
gers. In an interview with the writer re-
Gently he said: "God sent into the world
but one Moses, one Samson, one Savior,
and one Reub Fields" Indeed, Samson s
strength Is no more wonderful than Fields'
mathematical ability.
He believes that God created him for a
special purpose, and If his mission be not
filled here on earth it will be when he sits
at the final judgment on the day of resur-
rectiOn and keeps account of the souls
saved and damned in all the ages of the
past.
There is no problem in any branch of
mathematics that he can not correctly
answer as soon as the problem is stated
Problems that have taken expert mathe-
maticians days to solve Reub has correctly
answered in less than fifteen seconds
Though this may seem incredible to many
of the readers OF the Republic it neverthe-
less has been verified hundreds of times
When asked to add 784 675 676 to $780,
534 ,671 and multiply the answer by Ga he
instantly replied 11,060, 1862. He can
add a column of any number of figures as
fast tCpy ha caIiaI r. doaC not
matter how complicated or full of simple
or complex fractions the problems may be,
he will solve them as readily is If they
were simple sums in addition. While in
voicing goods he sits like a statue, keep
ing many as twelve clerks busy, and at the
close of the day he will give correctly the
invoice of the day. He has never been
known to make Il mistake.
He also possesses the peculiar ability of
telling the standard and local time of the
day or night without consulting any time
piece. He not only can tell the correct
time, but without seeing ones watch
will tell exactly how far it is from being
correct.
The reporter of the Republic made an
agreement with him for one hours inter
view, and when the time was up Reub
stopped suddenly while telling an anec
dote about himself, and said: I've talked
an hour"
mo, Prof Fields Che takes great delight
In being called professor) you said it was
l O'Clock when we commenced talking.
and it is not yet clock by my watch. :"
Without having any possible means cf
seeing the watch he replied: Your watch
Is three minutes and half slow This
proved to be the case. Travelling east or
west he Is conscious of how many degrees
of longitude he has passed through, and
of the difference of time between the
place of starting and where he is at that
time. When given the year and day Of
ones birth he will with lightn1ng-like
rapidity tell the day of the week on which
the person was born.
Notwithstanding he can do all these
wonderful things he acknowledges bis
utter inability to explain the process of
reasoning by which he arrives always at
correct answers.
In his early youth he showed no signs
of this remarkable talent. Just before his
father died he called all the family around
him and gave each parting and farewell
word. To his son Reub he said: my
poor, foolish son, I'm afraid you will
come to some bad end" Reub in refer
ring to this yesterday, said: That shows
what a fool my father was. but you see he
went to school and if | had gone to school
| would have been as big a fool as the rest
of you.
The only characteristics peculiarly no.
ticed in his boyhood was his absolute
power over venomous reptiles and vicious
animals A mad bull would not notice
him, and d wild and unbroken colt would
be tame and doclle in bis hands, and ready
to obey his every command. Gentle per-
suaslons Or severe cbastisement could not
get him to attend school: but he would
often stroll into the woods. capture num-
Der of rattesnakos, put them into his
pockets, where they would lie quietly coil
ed, and just before noon would make his
appearance at the schoolhouse and, with
out moments warning, turn the poison
Gus reptiles loose IN the schoUlrOom. This
never failed to brighten the teachers and
pupils away, leaving Reub in full posses
sion of their midday meals, which, having
an Unsuitable appetite, he never lefJ until
all was consumed. When he was between
the age of and "a his appetite was
never satisfied. He would often eat raw
rabbits, squirrels, chickens, or anything
else he could devour.
Since he has grown up TO manhood he
has travelled extensively, but never pays
any railroad fare. When the conductor
asks Reub for his ticket he says: Il am
Reub Fields; dom you know me?" The
conductor passes on only to return and give
Reub some knotty problems or listen to
him converse about his wonderful gift.
He fares equally as we'll at the hotels
wherever he travels.