Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-02-16
THE OLDEST MAN In MEXICO.
He Celebrates His Ninetieth Birth
day Surrounded by His Children--
A Happy Reunion.

Uncle Billie West was ninety
years old yesterday. He Is the old
est man in Mexico If not in Audrain
county. Ii he had made a mark
upon a piece of paper every Sab.
bath morning since he first saw the
light OF day, four thousand, six hum
dred and eighty Sundays would be
represented. Probably none were
happier spent than yesterday, when
his children gathered around him,
coming from far and near, and
enjoyed thu celebration of his birth
day. 1t was the first reunion he
has ever he'd and elaborate prep
arations were made. One of the
best dinners tfst experienced hands
could prepare was a feature of the
day, and it was highly appreciated.
1t was interesting 10 hear the hale
and hearty old manatell about olden
times and the difference in Mexico
now and when he drose to this Sec
ton in 1884 and locatsd on a little
place he bought from Judge Cum
ningham. Mexico was then a wild
prairie, a vast hazel-patch-bear,
elk, wolves and deer were here in
large numbers. MI. West says he
has seen fifty deer at one time right
where the town now lies. He drove
the first stake when Mexico was
laid off in the spring Of 1886.
Harvey Smith and a man named
Downing were the surveyors and
Mr.. West assisted. 1t was in the
winter Of SO that Audrain was made
a county, having been taken from
portionso of Monroe, Boone, Galloway
and Pike counties. When Mr..
West first came here there were not
more than twenty-five people living
in this section, among whom were
Frank Kilgore, George Boomer, Ac-
ley Day, a Nh. Lewis, Chas. McIn-
tyre, R. Mcintyre, VIM. Levaugh and
VIM. Mcdaniel. Mr.. West says they
are all dead, lie believes, except Mr..
Kilgore and himself.
"Uncle" Billie West was born in
Roam county, Tennessee, February
II, 1903. He was raised a country
boy without any educational adj
vantages. In 1927 he married Miss
Polly Mullinax and in 1884 came
to Missouri and settled in this coun-
ty, as above stated. His occupa-
ton was buying and selling stock.
He would buy around this section
and drive to st. Louis. From there
he would ship to New Orleans and
other southern points, having sold
lots of stock to the mortal and i'm
mortal Jefferson Davis, also sold to
Col. VOORHEES,, Neal VOORHEES, faith
er. Mr.. West accumulated a great
deal of wealth in this way, but when
the war broke out about $50 1000
was lost in various ways, he having
been taken a prisoner to st. Louis
and kept in a cold tent until his
health was impaired and he never
entirely recovered until a few years
ago. He moved his family to Mer-
Ger county and Remained eight years
and returned to Mexico, bought the
Judge John B. Morris place, whe re
he now resides. He had $500 acres
of land in Mercer county that he
was offered $40 acre for, but when
the war was over he sold it for half
that amount.
MIR. Vests children by his first
wife are William E. West, Mexico;
John West, st Louis; Mrs. George
Kabrich, Mexico; F. M. West,
Bradford, Colorado; Mrs. C. G.
Mills, Newton, Kas. He never had
any children by his last wife, who
was Mrs. SaIlie Mcconnell before
Mr.. West welded her. The only
one of the children absent was John
West, st. Louis. The following
grand children were present: Mrs.
c. C. Longley, Mrs. WV. Shelley,
C. L. West, Misses Cora and Linnie
West, st. Louis. The only great
grandchild is William Leslie Long
ley who was present in all his glory.
Mr. Eli Mullinax, Princeton, Mo-,
and Mr.. Jerry Freels, Laddonia,
nephews of Mr.. West, attended the
reunion. Mr.. Mullinax's parents
were each married twice and raised
a family of seventeen children.
seUncle" Billie West has an old
oven which was brought from Ger
many by Daniel Mullinax about
$50 years ago and it is quite a GU
riosity. Mrs. Kabrich says she has
cooked in it many times.
1t is the wish of the LEDGER that
"Uncle" Billie may live to enjoy
his one hundredth birthday and
spend many happy Sabbaths like
that of his ninetieth birthday eele-
bration. The only af1iction that
bothers him is a rising behind his
right ear, something like a tumor.
Lewis Found Guilty.
The jury in the Lewis murder
case, brought to Audrain county from
Pike county on a change OF venue,
was out four hours and brought in
a verdict of guilty and assessed his
punishment at ten years in the PEN
itentiary. Two of the jurymen