The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-25
BEL1ErED no BE 1e4 YEARS OLD
A Colored Woman Who Shows a Birth
Record in support of That Assertion.
From he Cincinnati Enquirer.

From IA, Cincinnati Enquirer.
The recent death Of Robert Taylor. the oldest
person in Great Britain or ireland. whose age
was 134 years, has caused considerable COM
ment In all parts Of America. Last April
Queen Victoria sent him a picture Of herself as
q birthday gift.
The death Of Taylor recalls the fact that Ohio
has a resident who has long since passed the
century mark in life. The person referred to
s Aunt Mirah Davis. She il reputed to be
124 years old. and she lives about four miles
from Swiss Elm. Highland county. o. Mrs.
Davis lives with her great-grandson. who is
himself an old Eray-haired man. The aged
woman is colored. and she is known TO most
OF the residents Of Highland county. For a
woman who has attained such n remarkable
age. Aunt Mirah is spry and manages to get
around and do her share Of homework. Ac.
cording to residents Of Swiss Elm. the aged
woman can still do a days, washing without
reared in Alabama. but for the past 100 years
she has, lived IN various parts OF the North.
dent OF Highland county. She delights in tell
ing stories and anecdotes OF the cotton fields
before the. rebellion. and she says, that she in
tends to visit the place OF her birth before she
ends her. earthly existence. Aunt Mirah ap-
pears to be perfectly well. with the exception
Of q slight attack Of asthma now and then.
An account OF the death Of Robert Taylor
was read to the aged woman. Of Highland
county the other day ana she displayed great
interest In the history Of the Irish PoStmaS-
ter. Taylor was appointed Postmaster at
Scarva, County Down. Just after the introduce
tion of penny postage. and he held that office
to within a few days OF his death. attending to
the many little details Of the place. Accord
ing to the WpStminStPr GGzPtp he was born in
17B4: others put his age at only l1H. At any
rate 1t Is on record that he served as u hfer for
the British troops during the rebellion in
1893 In Ireland. He was a Methodist aud had
built a large hall back Of his residence for re-
liRious purposes. Aunt Mirnh Davis is also Il
Methodist. and she attends services regularly.
Her appetite Is good and she thinks she will
live to q greater age than that attained by
Robert Taylor.
great age attained by Aunt Mirah have called
cordial manner. The residence Of the aged
Petersburg and HillsbOro pike. In the case
OF most aged colOred people there IL no rec
ord to show in reference to their birth. In the
case OF Aunt Mirah. however. there is an in
s~cription in an old. time-worn Bible which
shows that she was born on April %. IVA.
This book is yellow with are and most Of the
leaves are worn away until they are now az
thin as tissue paper. The relatives OF the
aged woman are very careful about showing
the book. as they do not care to have it han
died unnecessarily and thereby incur chances
OF having 1t mutilated. Aunt Mirah never in
dulges In the use 81 stimulants. but occa-
sionally smokes q cob pipe. She IL u familiar
picture seated in front Of her little cabin.
which is surrounded by Il cluster Of shade
trees.