Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-02
THE OLD-TINIERS.

Doubtless the oldest active editor In the
east is Charles w. Palfray OF the Salem
(NIass) Register. lie Is now SO years of age.
The only living son OF a revolutionary sol
dier in New Hampshire is Samuel s. Green
OF Portsmouth, who was 81 years old last
week.
Henry Barnard, the we'll known educator
of Hartford Conn, who was the originator
OF the Connecticut reform school bill adopted
by the legislature in 1888, will be Sc years
old on January "a
Abram Thomson, editor OF The Delaware
(OO Gazette the oldest newspaper man in
the Buckeye state, will rotire at the fist
of the year. He was born in 1914, and has
been in newspaper life !or siXty-two Neats,
Dcs Moines has a venerable resident who
is almost centenarian. Father n. b. Bacon
recently celebrated his nnety-seventh birth
day. He was hale, hearty and in good
spirits, and mis- family about him cele-
brated the occasion with great pleasure.
Ex-Congressman Bingham Llncoln's judge
advocate general IS passing his decIinng
years in Cadiz, o., an old man OF 50. One
of his choicest rcrollections Is Of shaking
hands with lafayette. He was a schoolooy
in an Ohio village when the great French
man passed through tNe town.
The aged barkeeper of the Etruria,
George Peynter retired after the Cunarders
last trip to Liverpool. He was well known
ing made S04 trips across the Atlantic and
travelled nearly 100000 miles without an
accident, yet some people talk Of the perils
of the deep.
General William Culom, who has just died
at his home in Clinton, Tenn, at the age
of 81 years was for several terms a member
of congress from the Carthage district in
that state, and was once the clerk of the
house of representatives. He was at one
time prominently mentioned for the presi-
dency. He was an uncle Of Senator Shelby
NJ. Cullom of Illinois.
A. recent issue of a London paper men
tions the case of a pastor named Mathson
who has just died at the age OF 80, after
serving sixty years continuously as Church
of-England minister at Patterdale, West
moreand. For many years his living
brought him only SEQ a year, and the high
est ever got was 800 Among the duties
which he was called upon to perform as the
only available clergyman in the parish was
the reading OF the burial service over his
own mother and father.
The difference between the ocean voyage
of today and that of eighty years ago is
recalled by the recent death of Captain
John Watson of Westchestcr, Mass, aged
9S. He landed in England at the end OF
his first trip across the Atlantic, just as
the news of the battle of Waterloo had been
received, j. Fennimore Cooper being one
of his companions. He brought home the
French indemnity money. 1t was he also
who brought across the ocean the first cargo
of French mirrors for the capitol at Wash
ington.
John Rich. colored, living at Kinderhook
near Newland Va, is 1O9 years old. He
lives alone, does his own cooking, brings his
wood and water, milks his COW and performs
all the duties of home and farm. Last year
he made thirteen barrels of corn and meat
enough for home consumption. His only
constant associate is a large cat, which
seems to care nothing for the companion
ship of the feline tribe, but day or night
masters side. This cat seems to feel the
responsibility of guarding the old mans
home and person, and pounces with equal
ferociousness upon the intruding dogs and
unsuspecting rats.