The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-03-03
THE OLDEST TWINS.
They are Hugh and Hector Mclean
Of Dickinson, Harnett County,
N. c.--Eighty-Eight
Years Old.
Special to the World.

Special to the World.
Raleigh, N. c., Neb. 13.-Ons of the
Oldest twins in the world drove in his
buggy twenty-eight miles the other day
to visit the World correspondent, who
hal requested an interview with him
He Is Hugh Mclean, of Dickinson
Harnett county. He and his brother
Hector, were born February 16, 1910.
In three days they will be S8 years OF
age. The World correspondent had in
tended to go to see these venerable
men, but Hugh said:
II fe:t so well and SO sprightly
thought would come to see you. l
did not mind the twenty-eight mile
drive. I am not egotistic, but l am
glad something will be published about
us so our kinsmen here and in Scot
| iin0, 100, Will see II.
Hugh and Hector are the fourth and
fifth sons Of Duncan Mclean and Mary
McAlister. The parents Of their moth
er came over from Scotland in 1876,
and one of them, Col. Alexander Meal
lister, Was Il notable figure in North
Carolina history. The paternal grand
| father OF the twins, John Mclean,
came over alter ''the '45s." The twins
were born on Upper Little River, IN
what was then Cum berland, but is now
Harnett county. The house in which
they were born is yet standing.
Hugh Mclean was asked it they had
any of the family heirlooms. He re-
piled: "None, except Col. McAhster's
mitted sword, which is claymore. :"
This ancestor was born in 1898, and
200 years are thus spanned by three
generations.
Hector and Hugh have spent most of
their lives together. They were when
quite young apprenticed to tailor at
Fayetteville and served five years. At
ter their time was out they went to
school at home, and when they we're
twenty-six studied English grammar
four months under Gen. Mclean.
Hugh, in speaking OF this added {:
Then we studied by ourselves for
years. In fact, still study, and so
does brother Hector" To hear Hugh
speak one would think him boyish and
that his brother and he we're lads to-
gether. He said /:
ave went to Fayetteville when we
we're sixteen, and were tailors there ten
years. Then we went to Alabama and
worked seven years. We made money
there We lost negroes and money by
| the war. We had much money lent in
Alabama, and after the war the people
who borrowed could not pay. We al
ways applied ourselves to our trade.
We studied it. We worked harder
than most people who are in trade, and
we got more money than most people
in our line"
Hugh was asked if he or his brother
had ever married He said
eve we're always social with the la
dies. Hector proposed marriage twice
but I didn't succeed. 1 never got to
the point where l thought could suit
myself. / was great hand to go tC
parties and enjoyed myself finely
Brother and l were always strictly tenn
perate. used to take glass of egg
nog at Christmas time. Liquor was
often offered us, but we never touched
lit. Brother used tobacco several years
but never chewed or smoked"
! The venerable man showed daguer
rotype of himself and his brother, the
inseparables, taken at Fayetteville when
they we're forty, and handsome pal,
of men they were, not looking day
over twenty-five. He said:
"I travel a good deal. I like it
Brother is now feeble and doesn't trave
much. We will be lightweight years
old on February 16. We were never ir