The morning call., 1891-08-30

"From Boston. They brought it on horse
back; everyone was excited. l remember
we'll"
"Dd they go to Boston on the stages
then?"
"Oh. no; they drove with their own
horses. Mr.. Ingraham (Berah Ingraham)
used 20 go to Boston in his chaise to get his
goods. IT'S pretty long ways"
Did they 60 to Boston on steamboats, ?"
mo, no; they went in vessels. When 1
was little girl my folks moved from Bow
doin to Litchtield, All our things were put
right on board vessel and we came up the
river; Twas quite ways to Lrtchfeld. l
was born in Bowdoin, always lived in Litch-
field till went to Bolton Bill."
short time since Mrs. Kennedy moved
from her farm at Bolton Hill to Halo well.
During her drive she was accompanied by
one of her great grandchildren, who said
that the old lady told her that they were on
the wrong road. 1t is nearly seventy wears
since the old Halowel road was changed.
Something was said about her first hus-
band, Mr. Tibbetts, and after several aues-
tions 1T was found that he had enlisted for
the war of 1872. but had died before he
helped build the "0ld South Church in
Hallowell-then called The Hook" She
said that she remembered well Parson
Gillet, and had heard him preach often and
often.
Reference to "North's History" shows that
Mrs Kennedy said: 'There was another
meeting-house-a big white one-on what
we called the Plains; il hadn't any steeple
and all the poor folks went there. There
was only one Westinghouse in Augusta"
Something then started Mrs. Kennedy on
the subject of dark weather.
You should have seen the Dark Day."
she said. II remember 1t well. The hens
went to roost All the cattle came home
1t Was just like night We had to light the
candles. On, it was awful, was s or Z.
was awful frightened. There hasn't been
anything like it since. No. don't remem-
Der what year it was. Twas while father
was away"
Upon his arrival home the reporter looked
up the Dark Day in the encyclopedia and
found that 1t was on May 19, 1880.
Finally, after they had had long CONVEX
saton, Rev. Mr.. Griffin and the reporter
left for they felt that the old lady was get
ting tired. Mr.. Griffin said that in all his
experience he had never seen such an abso-
lutely truthful and conscientious old person.
She was very careful not to give false i'm
preston. weighing and amending her words.
Mrs. kennedy is woman slightly below
medium height. When in chair she sits
up as straight as young woman. Her
pleasant face is covered with deep wrinkles,
as are her hands. Her hair is still quite
dark.
She was attired yesterday in becoming
black waist and skirt of some dark color
with red markings. About her neck was
most neatly arranged black lace kerchief.
She has few teeth left and talks very
plainly. So keen is her eyesight that she
can recognize photograph of familiar
face.
According to the family, she dresses, un-
dresses and feeds herself. She is very in
dependent and always comes to the table
with the family. She objects to being
helped when she moves from room to room.
According to careful calculations, made
Independently by three persons, she will be
1l9 years old on her next birthday, which
falls on the 9th of April, 1892
Sixty years ago w. H. Libby boarded with
her. She was then considered pretty old
woman. A number of people report that
for years upon years she has made the same
statement that she was orr at the time of
the dark day. Investigation only adds to
the conviction that her age is not over
stated
Mr.. Kennedy, her second husband died
last year at the ordinarily ripe old age of
80. According to all accounts he was him.
self a remarkable character. Only short
time before his death he planted large gar
den and took care of it. Mrs. Kennedy lived
with him in perfect peace and happiness,
doing all the housework herself.
Owing to her busy life Mrs. Kennedy
was not known among her neiGho0rs on
Bolton Hill as a very old woman. 1t was
not until her return to her old surroundings
that her case attracted attention.
Another remarkable thing is that, with
herself as head, there are living five genera
tions. The chain is as follows:
Her daughter, Sarah Anderson a child of
Mr.. Kennedy's, had a daughter Lizzie, who
married a Mr.. Bryant and afterward Mr.
Mcfarland. Mrs. Bryants son, George
Bryant, the proprietor OF Franklin House,
in this city, has daughter Myrtle E., who
Is Is. This girl completes the long chain,
all of whom are living.
Mrs. Kennedy has lived life of hard
work. Until she was unable to do so she
made her own medicines from garden and
field herbs. She is always willing to see
visitors who take a sincere interest In her.
Mrs. Kennedy gives every indication of
eaualling. If not excelling, the record Of
John Gilley.
Mrs. Kennedy was one of the oldest of
very large family of children. Every one.
except one who was drowned. lived to an
old age. They were a famous family of
long-livers. But they all died from % to 80
years ago Any of the older residents will
remember his statement
Her much younger brother, Jacob Britt,
lived on the plateau at the foot of BTitt's
Gully. He died the first year of the war,
1861, at the age OF 50; that was thirty yea,s
ago. Add those thirty years to his age and
the result is liz. Mrs. Kennedy was several
years older.
Captain Jacob Britt, who now lives on
Grove street, is Jacobs son. He is ad-
mitted to be in his eighty-seventh year. He
was the second child Of the old man. II