The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-14
AFTER 81 YEARS.
Mrs. NJ. f. Andrews
Celebrates Her
Birthday.
OF A LONG LIVED FAMILY.
Six Brothers and Sisters
Whose Average
Age is IS.
OF A LONG LIVED FAMILY.

Westboro, Oct. 13.-Mrs. Mary F.
Andrews, the oldest woman in West
boro, observed her oath birthday today.
Mrs. Andrews lives with her two
daughters-NIisses Ellen and Mary An
drews, on Charles street. She passed
the day quietly, but received many of
her friends and relatives who called to
tender their congratulations and to ask
after her health.
Among the callers were two sisters
of Mrs. Anniversaries Hamilton Fay
of Worcester, who is Sc years of age,
and Mrs. Abbie Hubbard, also of Wor-
cester, who lacks five years of four
score.
Mrs. Andrews was born in 1905, her
birthplace being the country village of
Harvard There she lived for over 20
years. Her parents were Joseph and
Betsy Fairbanks and her father was a
Well-to-do farmer. Both died before
the age of go, but they came of long
lived family. They had seven children,
six of whom survive. OF these, Mrs.
Andrews is the oldest and the others
are Joseph Fairbanks Of Northboro, 80;
Mrs. Elizabeth Haskell of Harvard,
So; Mrs. Hamilton Fay of Worcester,
Sc; Josiah Fairbanks of Dubuque, Ia,
81, and Mrs. Abbie Hubbard of Wor-
cester, rs. The average age of the six
children is So years and a fraction, and
1t is stated on authority that no other
family in the state can show such an
instance of longevity. The family be-
longs to that known as the Dedham
Fairbanks, from whom the Fairbanks
of Harvard were direct descendants
Mrs. Andrews passed the greater part
of her life in Shrewsbury, marrying a
well known citizen of that town. They
lived on the old Adams place, now
known as Highland house. There were
six children, six of whom are living.
Besides her two daughters, with whom
she resides, there is a son, Daniel An
drews, of Dubuque, Ia. There are five
grandchildren.
For a"woman 81 years of age, Mrs.
Andrews is a most remarkable person.
Her health of late has been very good.
and for several years she has found it
necessary to call a doctor only once,
and then because of an accidental fall.
She is somewhat hard of hearing. With
the use of glasses, she does a great
deal of reading, including the daily
newspapers. She is well UP on the
events of the day, and discusses with
interest the Dewey celebration and 9TH
er happenings of present Importance
Mrs. Andrews does considerable sew
ing and knitting, and last year knit SIX
pairs of mittens for her children and
some friends. Nearly every pleasant
day she takes an outdoor walk and
makes calls through the neighbO1 hood
Her daughters say they have never
seen their mothers temper ruffied, and
this, together with a quiet disposition,
is probably one reason for her pro-
longed life.
She never once alludes to her past
life unless questioned concerning it. and
then she displays wonderful memory
She remembers distinctly events during
the war of 1872, although only seven
years old then. In the little town of
Harvard she went to the Congregations
al church, the pastor of which, Rev.
Mr.. Bemis, was tory. A well known
member of the church, named Broom
held, used to wear red cloak fl
church, In order to show his affilia lions.
Mrs. Andrews recollects when peace
was declared that a man on horseback
rode from town to town, telling the peo-
pie the good news. Her eldest brother
was captain of the militia company in
Harvard, and they drilled Oh the VIII
lage common.
She recollects when she was a little
girl, that a cyclone did considerable
damage in Harvard and vicinity. At her
fathers farm small outbuildings were
moved, trees uprooted and blown 60
pieces, and the air was filled with fying
branches. Fruit trees We're stripped of
their limbs, and did not bear for several
years afterward.
She attended the first Sunday schoo!
in Harvard, which was organized In
1917. In 1922 she joined the Congrcga-
tional church, and is still a member o.
that denomination in Westboro, where
she has lived for more than 20 years.
In Harvard and Shrewsbury she took
a leading part in church work.