The Portland daily press., 1895-03-08
NINETY-SIX YEARS OLD.
Mrs. Mary A. Henry, Oldest Resident
of Portland.

Remembers Her Brother Filing in the
Street in Ireland to Celebrate the Victo-
ry of Waterloo-Came to America 70
Years Ago-She Says the Fashions Now
Are Coming Around to Those She Re
calls of 80 Years Ago-she Made Eight
sLog Cabin" Quilts When 81 Years Old
She Still Retains Her Teeth-Goes Up
Night.
There was time when the burden of four
score years was regarded as being almost
too much for the strength of men. and
man or woman of eighty then seemed to
have lived to the uttermost limit of human
life, but now, especially in Maine. eighty
does not seem old at all SO many having
passed 'the four barred gate" of which DR..
Holmes sung.
One venerable woman in Portland but re-
Gently celebrated in a quiet way her Goth
birthday Mrs. Mary Ann Henry. widow OF
MI JOHN Henry. was born in Ireland in
1893, and yet lives to talk in a bright way OF
past events. and of men and women win 0
long SlIC6 cedS6u IL 10 luOIo buoA 0ilu
memory.
AT 96, Mrs. Henry is remarkably vigorous.
Her hearing is not in the least affected, al
though as she said in half pathetic way
yesterday my sight is ling rapidly. !
wonder if couldn't get pair of glasses
that would help me some.'' She has been
forced TO give up reading on account of
failing sight, but still likes TO listen to
others. Her range of reading has not been
very wide one. my father never allowed
us to have work of fiction in the house"
she said yesterday, "and / never read a
nov eli in my life.''
Mrs. Henry was born in the seaport town
OF Court Mastery, Ireland, and was still in
her childhood home when the news OF the
battle Of Waterloo was received. Tier older
brother was an expert performer on the fife
and she said yesterday when recalling that
time of joy and excitement, 1T seems to
me that can hear him fling in the street
YETI She spoke of pathetic incident that
occurred after peace was declared and
when the soldiers were being brought home.
Two transports full of soldiers landed in
safety at her home, but three others caught
out in great storm Off the Irish coast were
wrecked. and all on board were lost.
Her brother, William Harley, left home
first and settled in New Brunswick She
was his prime favorite, and he soon sent her
strong invitation to join him there. She
thought 1T over and in 1922 left Ireland for
ever. "Only seyenty-three years ago. that
isn't SO vely long timer she saia yester-
day, with smile. and when asked
Doesn't it, seem a loIg time?" replied
half sadly, Not to me.'.s ..s1
Once in New Brunswick she met and
married John Henry, an Ulster man. and a
Presbyterian. She had been brought up in
the Church of England, but accepted the
faith of her husband. I'VE went together"
was the way she put it. He died twenty
four years ago in New Brunswick, and she
removed to Portland fifteen years ago and
Joined the Disciples of Christ, of which
church she is still a member. One of the
sisters OF her husband was the grandmother
of the late Canadian statesman Sill John
Thompson, and she spoke with interest of
having had read TO her tile account of his
funeral as published in the Canadian
papers.
MIS-. Henry has lived to see five genera
lions. and her lease of life seems to yet
have long time to ruu. She has a very
u16dSdut HULK WIN q bAoAodouS Hooi 1hA ..
George 4. Masters, Ill Lincoln street, and
seems especially fond of their little chill
dren. her special pet. one of whom was
sheltered in her arms during the greater
part of her talk yesterday. and the picture
of youth and age was very pleasant to see.
Ninety-two years of life separated the two.
but both were young, for the heart of the
venerable woman lis that Of little child"
NJ. IL "a. ,,ofI II +ho
her descendants, and they are scattered
from British Columbia to California. Mr..
and Mrs. II enry had nine children and
seven of them grew to manhood and
womanhood. Four of them are now living,
one son. William Henry. Living where the
Pilgrims landed" as Mrs. Henry expressed
it. Another son is Maine farmer, and her
daughters. Mrs. Knowles and Mrs. Stevens,
reside in this city.
| When Mrs. Henry was ninety, she made
her last trip 10 New Brunswick. and to her
first home on this side of the Atlantic.
There she saw for probably the last time
the gravs of her husband. my last wish.''
she said, sis that ! may be buried beside
him. Her married life was very happy.
and she still speaks tenderly of the husband
| of her youth.
| Her father died very suddenly in Ireland,
and her mother then followed her children
over the water, and died in New Bruins
wick William Harley was land surveyor
and died in Toronto. Another brother,
| John Harley, was a noted New Brunswick
shipbnilder, and the proprietor of Harley IS
| island on the New Brunswick coast.
| Mrs. Henry spoke yesterday of the many
changes i'll ways of living she has seen. In
her youth the ladies all wore Irish fabrics,
| land tie fashion now seem to 10 coming
around to those recall eighty years ago.
| she said with smile when asked regarding
| costumes of those distant days. The men
| then dressed in Irish homespun.
| OF late her failing sight has obliged her
10 give up the many little lines of household
| industry that once made life brighter for
her. She hopes TO be able to help out her
| sight by the use of glasses better adapted
| to her age, yet A few months ago she
went to an occulist to have her eyes tested
| Come back in about six months and we may
| be- able to fit you better" he said, and
wheL the warm spring weather comes she
| proposes to go back. and is not without
hope that her sight may be measurapiy re-