Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-05-06
100 YEARS OLD.
Gardner Upham
Of Windham.

May "a wonderfully Preserved
Man-Saw Lafayette Review Troops
at Boston.
The public celebration of Mr.. Gardner
Upham's Tooth birthday occurred May 2
at Windham. About noon people began
to gather in from all parts of the town
and number from out of town were pres
ems.
They met in the church in a social way
until refreshments were served, to which
all did justice
The public services were held in the
audience room soon after
Mr. Asahel Upham, nephew of the hon
ored guest of the day, was master of cere-
monies.
Music was given by large choir of
young people under the direction of Mr..
Chapman.
Appropriate remarks were made by +. H.
Jones, Rev. Mr.. Roger, S. NJ. Holden of
South Londonderry. Mr.. Upham also
read an interesting genealogical sketch of
the Upham family.
He also read interesting letters from
Abel Upham of Chicago, ILL.,, and Rev.
Geo. Foster Prentiss of Hartford, Conn.
1t was thought best that the aged man
should remain in his house, so after the
exercises at the church people went there
| to shake hands and converse with him,
and congratulate him upon this notable an
niversary.
Among the out of town people were no.
ticed Mrs. Eugenia +. Dodge and daugh-
ter of Malta, Ill.,; Mr.. and Mrs Carter
Miller of Ovid, Iowa; Samuel Pettengll
| formerly an editor in Portland, Oregon
and two sons; n. w. Wood and daughter,
Mrs. Frank Barber of West Townshend
Mrs. l.. f. Starkey and Edwin Bank of
Brattleboro; A. n. Chandler and w. II.
Wellman of Chester; +. w. Melendy, S.
M. Holden and family, Rev. Mr.. Frazer,
Charles Slate and wife and Herman Girls
void of Londonderry; Mr.. and Mrs Da-
vid Styles and Mr.. and Mrs. Sherman
Sherwin of Grafton; c. A. Hastings and
family of Springfield
sary was thus properly celebrated was
born in Guiford. He is the son Of
Jonathan and Mary whitney Upham and
one of II children, six boys and five girls.
In 1904 Jonathan moved to Windham
and in lS0S moved to Chester and back to
| Windham in 1913. Gardner moved to
Grafton in 1850 and moved back to Wind
ham in 1871, where he has lived since.
He has been married three times. His
first wife was Eunice Emery of Windham
whom he married in 1927. BY this mar
rage there were four children-Mrs Fran
Gina n. Bemis and Miss Hannah Upham
of Windham, Mrs. Eugenia Dodge of
Malta, ILL.,, and James Upham, who died
while preparing for the ministry.
His second wife was Marilla (Stoddard)
Wyman, sister of the late Judge Abishai
Stoddard. They were married in 1850.
He was last married to Mrs. Elizabeth
(Moore) Abbott in 1872. She died in
| 1879.
This remarkably well-preserved centen-
arian has always been busy man, useful
in church and society work, a farmer most
of his life, and has held the various offices
of the town in Windham and at Grafton.
When a young man he worked at the
brickmaker's trade in Boston summers,
and used to make the journey on foot,
with his pack upon his back.
He belonged to the Boston militia and
he saw Lafayette in 1924 when the noted
Frenchman reviewed the troops with Gov.
Brooks.
His memory is remarkably clear and he
relates today many interesting incidents
in connection with many noted men and
things.
He has always been well read in the af-
fairs of the world. In politics he was
an old time Wing. He belonged to the
abolition party, and has been a Republi-
can ever since that party was organized.
He took great interest in the campaign OF
1910 and was prominent in carrying out
the program for the great rally on Stratton
Mountain, where Daniel Webster made the
address to which thousands listened
He never has been seriously ILL. He has
been attended by physician but very lit.
tie and when asked what was the princi
pal thing that conducPd to his living tc
such great age with all his faculties sc
we'll preserved, he replied it was by keep
ing cool" and being regular in all his hab
its.
He is as buoyant in spirit and as conf
dent of life as one other centenarian, who
when asked how old she was, said, 81 an
100 years old going on 200"