The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-01-12
THE LAST OF THE MouAwKs.


ley, whom the iconoclasts Of this old
burg have dubbed "Jim Cuff" When or
why no one knows, for Jim is nearly
as old as the oldest inhabitant Jim 10
q remarkable character. He was born
on the outskirts of Schenectady, near
where the electric car barns now stand
on upper State Street, and his sense of
locality must be strong, for his cabin
Is now within a short distance from
the spot where he first saw the light.
His father, James, who died about half
a century ago, was magnificent
specimen of physical manhood, but he
did not compare with his son when the
latter was in his prime. Just how old
Jim Is no one knows; he does not know
himself. Old residents estimate his
age from s5 to 90 years. William II.
Helmer Of Schenectady says he first
became acquainted with him forty
FIVE years ago. He was then nearly
seven feet high; he Is now six
feet six or seven inches, and his hair,
which now is iron gray, at the Same
time hung long and glistening black
over his shoulders Long after Jim
had passed his prime no man in Sche-
nectady County could compare with
him in feats of strength. Mr. Hell
mer's son, William, who, twenty years
ago weighed two hundred pounds and
was one of the best athletes in the
valley, used TO boast that he had never
met man who could throw him.
CHANGING in Helrner's grocery one
day, Jim overheard the boast and
offered to try conclusions. He was
then more than sixty-dve years old,
but Mr.. Helmer says he found himself
on his back almost instantly.
Jim has had q varied career. AS a
young man he wandered to the At
lantie coast, and after some expert
euce us sailor he shipped on the
whaler Jopan from Nantucket. 1t
was a prosperous trip, and nearly a
thousand barrels of oil were taken,
but Jim got lost, and was left on
Barnes Island to be rescued by another
whaler after exposure and privation
that would have killed any but a man
of his wonderful constitution. When
the civil war broke out Jim enlisted in
the One Hundred and Fifteenth New
York Infantry at DunlSirk, and as in
fantryman and cavalryman served
throughout the war.
Since that time Jime has made Sche.
nectady his home. His cabin, rough
board structure in the midst of an old
apple orchard, is in size to him what q
mastiff's kennel would be to the aver
age man. The ground beneath him in
summer and u blanket around him in
winter are all that he wants. Time
| and time again comfortable, warm
| rooms have been offered TO him, but he
has declined them all. Although his
life is almost as unconventional as that
of his widest ancestor, it has been n
peaceable one in Schenectady. 1t
must be confessed that he hns u weak
ness for the red extract of grain, and
occasionally when under it's influence
he amuses himself by shooting throu h
the roof of his cabin, to the alarm of
timid neighbors, but no complaint
has ever been made against
him, and his name has never heen
written on the blotter OF the police.
OALl 10 hOo puuPOti hSi 10 AS q bSs Buls
He has never applied to the city for a
dollar. He supports himself in his
simple needs by fishing and by selling
roots, herbs and barles. Some years
ago an enterprising liquor dealer com
pounded drink after Jim's receipt
that became very popular. Whisky
wns the basis of 1t, and the other in.
gradients were black cherry bark, sas.
safras, prickly ash bark, and sarsa-
parilln.
No zone has ever seen Jim wear an
overcoat or carry au umbrella. No one
has ever seen Jim laugh, and few have
seen him smile. With long and roll
ing gait, indicative of great power, he
walks tho streets with his basket OF
herbs, seldom speaking, unless first
addressed, oven 10 those who have
known him for years OF ono thing
only Is he proud, Although white and
perhaps diifuse negro blood Is In his
yoins, the Indian Ia above all, and this
he glories in,
jim has never boon known 10 be
frightened. Some time ago. Ia his
search through the wooda foF staples