The sun., 1897-07-25
sKx woMkw WHosR coMBfxBD keEs
C0YER aef YEARS.
rHFA nEaFy Ahn Gretchen Gibsen, 90, "Keeps
Tavern0 In Maine - Granduan eooaFich
mas pter second sisht-Aunt Mary spocner
II Nearly 1Oa-sErs aai.y Hintcheiaer IL 1OB
--Slru. WHINE IL 1OO-Naru. Thonr pson II %.

FrOm the BOsfOn H6Tuid
In the little village of vassalboro on the
banks Of tho Kennobec River somo eight miles
from Waterville, there stands tavern which
In ante railroad days was tho regular stopping
place on the stage line between Boston and
Bangor
NaSsalboro was then known as Getcholls
Corner, a title which by many is still retained
and Is respected even by tho railroad officials
who, In calling tho stations, give preference to
the former namc, their call being "Gotchclls
Corner, vassalboroi'
Tho stages used to go up the river from Au.
gusta, and after stopping for refreshments
took tho road leading to tho cast, and tho old
signboard Just at tho corner of tho tavern used
to tell tho public 1t was fifty miles to Bangor
by that route.
This ancient tavern is Of much historic in
tcrest. But II is not tho house alone which
especially attracts the attention to-day, for bc.
neath its roof, bright and CHEEKY as girl,
dwells ono OF tho smnrtest old ladies of the
State. 1t is her hand which guides the routine
work Of tho day, and II Is also to her careful at
tention that the house receives q very liberal
patronage. especially from the summer guests.
Mrs. Mary Ann Getchel Gibson WAS an Of
spring from old Massachusetts stock. She was
born in 1904, and Is therefore in her 93d year.
She was the daughter OF Abal and Lctitia
Getchen and granddaughter of John Getchell,
one Of the first settlers of tho Kennebec
Even in tho earlier history of the country
Getchells Corner was favored with good schools
and Mrs. Gibson made tho most of her oppor-
tunity to obtain IN education. At the age Of 20
she commenced teaching and for several years
taught in hcr own town and that of Winslow.
In 1882 Samuel Gibson, young Engli ahman,
came to Gctchels Corner and opened shop
In the then fourshing village. His tailoring
business proved good and he at once gave en-
ployment to number of young women as
seamstresses Tho pay was much better than
hand to this employment.
1t was not long before her employer offered
her q life partnership and On March II, 1898,
Miss Getchcll became Mrs. Samuel Gibson. the
who was then prea ching in the old meeting house
known as the Beacon Light" for whom the
present Congregational Church was named: named:
children, four sons and daughter only two
of the boys being alive to-day. The oldest son,
George lives with his mother, and the youngest
Sone S AGa is in New &Spfp &5%ip'r00S SC" captain whose
A remarkable thing in Mrs. Gibsons life is
ty-three Of her life she has never been outside
her Getchells Corner home, and this trip WAS
taken in the earlier part of her married life,
when she made a trip to Anson. Me.
than seventy years have elapsed since her we'd
ding day; She is the oldest person now living
In Alfred, Me-, and she traces her ancestry
AlfFea, MTd, Nov: ,,, 1903. Her father, DAVID
maiden name Of her mother was Mason, name
familiar to The readers Of Maine history.
wife o Thomas Goodreh at the
Ten children were the result Of their union.
and OF these seven are now living. Charles,
the oldest, is 70; Jacob NJ, with whom Mrs.
Goodrich makes her home, is 6s. During he
was a member Of tho First Maine Cavalry; he
% IN Rs ss sssSS ss %: M4s
san Dawson, the eldest daughter, is now 66
resides ID sa IN M is the
q the family ni is % the VIE 8 George Ss Bryant
A{ter her marriage With Thomas Jefferson
Goodrich she came to live in Alfred, and with
and her esded IN
Goodrich has spent the whole OF her life since
that FsR The death M Of N sqGd
has twenty grandchildren, thirteen great grand.
children. and one great great grandchild;
Jefferson Goodrich, took up his abode at Alfred
in l775. being one of the earliest settlers Of
Mrs. Goodrich is yet able to walk mile with
out visible fatigue, and assists her daughter
in-lsW i with the honseTG5k; % Gs Her r, hearing is
Peiod Of forty years, but six years ago secured
her second sight and has had no use for specta-
| cles since.
| From the Boston Journal
| Aunt Mary Spooner will undoubtedly be the
| oldest person to attend the semi-centennial Of
| New Bedfords incorporation as city, Oct: To-
y: Aunt Mary will be 194 years old Feb 9.
she claims jokingly that she is the spryest CEN
was born in Acushnet and has lived on the same
farm practically all her life, she was at one time
old homestead has been taxed in Acushnet, New
Bedford, and Fairhaven.
daughter OF Micah Spooncr, one OF the settlers
of the region in which she lives. and soldier
OF eleven children, all of whom were born in
the primitive log cabin on the site Of the house
hfa sss now ye eF a deS
The best part of Aunt Mary's life Was spent
| In caring for her aged mother and II was a
severe blow TO her when death relieved her OF
the charge.
| with Aunt Marys life is the fact that she has
never ridden in steam cars or the eectrics.:
Mrs. Sally Batchclder of Peabody is without
question the oldest woman in Massachusetts
She was born in Chichester. n. V, Aug. <
native town to Loudon, n. H., and nix year,
later was marie married d to samuel Batchelder Foul
Of the bs n0 OF Whom n
Batchelder Of Concord. y. H., survive. She
WAS the third of n family of fourteen children
Of whom two sisters lived to be 81, while two
brothers who were twins lived TO the age Of 81
and SO years. Her father died when he was sc
years old.
In 1852 her husband died md five years later
she removed with her son Cyrus from L0udon
y. H., Ia Lawrence, and shortly after TO Salem
In 1868 she removed with Cyrus TO this town
aud has made her home here since. She is Il
remarkably well cprcservcd woman and car
readily rccal' events Of her early years. She
remembers the death of George Washington II
1899. She Is short in stature and her franc i
| full and hcr face void Of wrinkles Her last visit
TO Concord, \. H., was nineteen years ago.
| From the Troy Times.
The Tooth birthday OF Mrs Sophia WRlhridg'
Winne will be celebrated AT the 'Nalhridk,
homestead, bennington Falls. Vt, Tuesday AZ
tcrnoOn July ~, when u large circle of friend
and acquaintancos intend 10 call aud EXPIRES
their hearty congratulations and wish Mrs
Winnie many happy returns of tho Cay. Mrs
| Whine still retains her mental faculties TO
remarkable degree, and her bodily health 4
| quito good. She was born in Remington, Jul!
q, 1897, and is now the Oldest person in town
Che has been once married. Her husband
John Whine, wealthy resident of Albany,
y, died some years ago.