The herald., 1893-05-09

10 HERALD reporter yesterday he
showed paper in evidence of his great
age, of which the following is literal
copy:
Yn the saint CATHOLIC church of San
jose de Gracia, at the burth day of the
month Of May of the year one thousand
seven hundred and eighty one, the M.
r. P. FIR. Jose Pico solemnly baptized q
child of three days of age, to whom was
named, Ygnacio Francisco de Ia Criiz
Garcia, said children was the legitimate
son of Mr.. Jose Garcia and Mariana
Gonzalez Spanish people) the, God
father of said children were Mr.. Felipe
Carpena, and Seratina Carpena. and was
signed. FR. JOSE PIco
This is exact copy Of the original
faithfully written, in one sheet OF useful
paiper, with its correspondents stamps
faithfully chancelled, on the twenty
seventh day of April of the year one
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
seven. MATIAs MORAN, E, p. N.
| certify the above to be true and
correct & full translation OF the orig
inal in the possession of Sr. Garcia,
made by me. E. v. *PERoIN, YR.
Subscribed and sworn to before me,
May 2. 1898.
[sEAL.] FRIEND E. LACEY,
Notary Public.
The translation ia fearfully crude, but,
undoubtedly on the whole, gives an idea
OF the meaning of the original. II true,
Senior Garcia was born May 1, 1881. and
was, therefore, 112 years old on the Let
day of the present month. The docu-
ment appears to be a baptismal certifi-
cate given by the parish priest, Fray
Jose Pico of the church at San Jose de
Gracia. In turn the original appears to
be attested by one Matias Moran, a no.
tary public, seven years ago, Garcia says,
at Hermosillo. Ofcourse, if any one de-
sired to test the accuracy OF the doct-
ment, it could easily be done by tracing
1t up through Moran to the parish regis
ter of San Jose de Gracia. Then would
come the question OF Identification,
whether this Garcia was the very one,
who, liz years ago, was sprinkled with
holy water by Fray Jose Pico. Here is
a field for some curious historian, and
will take rank with the genealogical
question whether Samuel Carson OF this
city WAS son Of the famous scout Kit
Carson. But, like many other histor
ical questions, it may be taken as
true till proved to be otherwise
At least. no one Disputes Garcia's
claim. There was Sonora Eulalia de
Perez of San Gabriel, who lived Ill
years. Her age was verified beyond a
doubt at those figures, although it is
often, but erroneously, given at 139.
There are several centenarians among
the mestizoe of Tucson, whose ages are
verified by the parish register. There
were two in the procession during the
centennial celebration of Los Angeles in
1881.
Senior Garcia's memory Is poor, &C.
cording to his own statement, and it is
possible that few facts gathered from
him may not be strictly true
He says his birthplace was on ranch,
near river. AZ miles southwest of the
city of Hermosillo, in the Mexican state
of Sonora. He grew up on his fathers
farm. On becoming of age he served as
cavalryman under Commandante Mig
uel Peralta in the border wars against
the Apaches and Yaquis He worked in
the mines. Afterwards he learned the
trade of silversmith, and again that
of halter, which trades he followed
for many years. He says he came
to Los Angeles in the year 1926,
and has been a continuous resident of
this city for 6S years. He was married
three different times. His last wife
NASeA DO'Oi ~ Onib dkcs 1lc dIfNfcu az
the age of puberty when IL years old.
and was 92 years of age when "all be
came vanity" He claims only four
children as legitimate, but suggested
some 19 "contrabands," as he called
them. His descendants do not appear
to be very numerous, and from inquiry
it could not be sscertained that the de-
gree of his posterity reaches below that
of great grand children.
The old gentleman seems TO be COM
fortably fixed financially, and announces
his determination to visit the worlds
fair at Chicago not later than the 25th
OF next month.
He says Ills father died at the age OF
rs years, and his mother lived to be- past
80. OF his ancestors beyond them be
remembers nothing. He has a con
named Refugio, "a years old, living in
Hermosillo, whom he visited four years
ago. His youngest child, an unmarried
daughter, aged go years, lives with him.
When questioned as to the cause O
his great age, he said it was the result
of good care and certain medicine"
sit Is uncertain whether this letter IL 2