The Monitor-register., 1896-04-24
ssAuut Hannah" Cnardss I0z birthday
-AmnlHaEA8rR.

ssAunt HANNAH Cnard,s IO7 birthday
Anniversary.
The quaint, old. fashioned farm house,
at the cross roads, in Terrell, was the
scene on Monday of a large assemblage
of descendants and friends of "Aunt
Hannah" Chard, on the occasion of the
celebration of the venerable woman's
10th birthday.
The weather was all that could have
been desired to attract a great throng of
visitors and, as "Aunt Hannah" arose 10
the morning with the sun, she remarked
to one of her attendants in an impressive
manner 4: swell, the Lord has willed that
sunshine shall greet what, no doubt, will
be the last of these enjoyable occasions"
About Q O'Clock the roads leading
towards the old homestead were dotted
with teams, bearing relatives from the
adjacent districts, and from that hour
until 4 O'Clock in the afternoon vehicles
of all descriptions drew up before the yard
gates, crowded with people eager to gaze
on the tranquil face Of this remarkable
oma and offer congratulatory words.
At the noon hour the lawn and yard re-
sembled very much the days of the old
fashioned quilting parties, which were
characteristic of early life on the farm.
Horses were turned loose in the yard and
carriages, buggies and carry-alls were
crowded together like sardines in a box.
"Aunt Hannah was seated in the big
arm chair, which for nearly four,score
years has been the resting place of this
venerable and honored woman. She was
attired as usual In a dark wrapper
with a white hood for a head covering,
and a pretty bouquet of white carnations
was pinned on her breast.
While the guests were being received
by "Aunt Hannah" her only two living
sons, Joel, a sturdy and sunburned far
mer of II years, with whom she resides,
and William, an active and strong soil
tiller, living at Port Norris. who is 81
years of age, stood on either side of their
venerable mother, the trio making a pic
turesque group. The death of "Aunt
Hannah's" son jackson, last fall, has
caused the old lady great sorrow, aud
several times during the reception of
guests she sobbed audibly when reference
was made to the deceased member of the
miniature army of young. middle. aged
and old, that comprise the Chard family.
After nearly one hundred relatives had
shaken the trembling and enfeebled hand
of "Aunt Hannah" she seemed much
fatigued, and, taking hold of her open
Bible, she made her way to the front YER
andah, where the grandchildren. great
grandchildren and great.great- grand
children, to the number of about three
score, were gathered and, at the request
of the hostess, an impromptu song SER
vice, participated in by the entire assem-
blage, was commenced. In the midst of
the singing of an OLD. fashioned Lyman
gtAunk Harnoht5 h,chad tha haul of .io
gers 10y raising her hands, and when she
had restored quite. she sang Justify one
verse of her favorite, "When l can Read
My Title Clear"
One of "Aunt Hannah's" delights is to
get several listeners around her, and for
hours she will sit and recall incidents of
war times and national events of rs years
ago. Her eyesight, memory and hearing
are still good, and she weighs about ITO
pounds.
According to the records of the family,
she was born April 20, 1889, in a small
town in Pennsylvania, her. father being
John Mildenburg. He died when she
was a child, and at Z years of age she
was bound out to a farmer, with whom
she remained until she was 18 years old.
Soon afterward she came to New Jer-
sey and met VIM. Chard, to whom she
was married. He died IA years ago, in
his 92d year. She has been a devout
Christian for over over SO years. and has
two sons living-Joel and William-be-
sides nearly 100 grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
She was a sturdy little maid in pima
fores when Louis XVI and Marie An
~toinette fell victims to the French Revol- |
utioD. The War of 1912 and Napoleon's
overthrow at Waterloo found her a mar
ried woman, and when jackson, the hero,
became President, she had reached mid
die age. She was getting to be an old
woman when the Mexican War broke out,
and when the Rebellion commenced she
had passed three-score and ten years.
Among the visitors other than relatives
were John Pierson, of Swedesboro, who
is now in his Dist year, and who is the
Oldest man in Gloucester comfy; George
Horner, Allen Moore, Barclay Edwards,
Edwin Colson, Clifford Flitcraft and Jas.
Gilmore and others, of Woodstown; John
Beckett, Mays Landing; Justice Ellis
Paulin, Joseph Higgins and others from
Glassboro; Surrogate Dubois. B. T. Du-
Bots, of Clayton; E. L. Stratton, Mullica
Hill, and many more from all the sur
rounding country.