The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-29
OLDEST MAN IN AMERICA.
Abraham Elmer. of Utica. Is On,
Hundred and Seventeen
rrOm the New York Herald.)

(FTom the New York HersldJ
In white painted two-story frame
dwelling in Henry Street. Utica. Iesid 8
/ with his son and daughter-in-iaw ABA
ham Elmer, who. if he lives Until next
/! Thursday will be III years of age.
He is the oldest person in the State
possibly in the United States He is Ger
tainly the oldest of the survivors OF The
war OF 1872. of whom there are at present
according to the official records. about
eight. Hiram Cronk, veteran of the
war of 1872. aged ninsty-eight years, lives
on farm in the town of Lee. Oneida
county, the county in which Mr. Elmtr
lives.
! When l called at the Elmer house 1 was
greeted by Mrs. William II. Elmer. the
daughter-in-law OF the centenarian She
said: Grandpa is Just getting up; he
/ takes two maps day, just like a baby.
ard we have to handle him just ike
baby, tOo-dress and wash and feed him
The venerable soldier has been ind
thirteen years. He had his second eye
sight some fifteen years ago. but it was
OF short duration. Cataracts have caused
the blindness. He never wore glasses Thu
I door of the chamber opened, and, gently
led by one OF the men folks OF the house
in came the aged gentleman. He was
wrapped in n comfortable looking house
robe He seated himself in a large chair
! in front of which stood a small portable
/ oil stove. He felt cold. and after Mrs.
Elmer held his hands over the heater for
. Il while he said, I'm beginning TO thaW
out"
Then Mrs. Elmer began to rub his back.
when the old man said. oh how good
that feels
The only affection which has befallen
Mr.. Elmer is blindness. His hearing is
slightly affected, but those who are con-
stantly round him he understands quite
readily. He eats heartily, sleeps soundiy
and is cheerful and contented. His hair
is iron gray. Aside from the fact that his
face is heavily wrinkled, he does NOT look
older than so years. The picture presented
with this sketch was taken five years ago
As soon as Mr.. Elmer felt warm he took
from his pocket 4 tobacco box and put 4
big chew IN his mouth His daughter in
law said he chews cents worth of to-
bacco day; he has used tobacco all his
life.
Mrs. Elmer told me that the family rec
ords show that Abraham Elmer vas horn
! in the town of Warren, Herkimer county.
january ~, 1882. He was born and
! brought up on farm, though he learned
The trade OF a shoemaker. He lived in
( Warren about eight years. Here Mr. Ell
mer took a hand in the conversation and
told OF things concerning his war record
He said, in answer to questions:
When l was thirty years old | went To
Sackett S HarbOr to enlist for the War OF
I ISL l Joined the Fourth regiment I'M
/ der Colonel Bellinger. l served two years
But l wasn't the only one o. my family
to go to war. Ny brothers Thomas ami
Martin went, too, my brother Solomon
wanted to go, but he was rejected because
! the doctors discovered that Soils toes were
cut OF. He was cutting wood some wears
he fora and h.
MS toes oil. | spoke to Sol at the time
about holding the AK. but he didn't listen
to me Well, they wouldn't let him go
along"
Here the daughter-in-law took up the
narrative After grandpa came back from
the war he worked at his trade. and when
he was thirty-siX years old he married Miss
Eva Cluss, aged seventeen, of Black River.
" \. The ceremony was performed by
Squire Ackert, of Cranes Corners. Her
kimer county. She bore him eleven chill
dren. eight boys and three girls. She died
soon after the last child was born. OF the
children six boys and one girl are still
living
The oldest son is Sc years old and the
youngest II. Two sons were killed in the
war of 81. They were David and Chris
tian. They were fighting side By side
During Il skirmish Christian stood directly
behind his brother, when a Confederate
bullet struck and killed David. and passing
through him. lodged in Christian who fell
and was captured and was thrown into
Libby Prison
Mr. Elmer's people have tried for years
to obtain Il pension FOR him but so far all
efforts have been in vain, He believes he
is the only soldier OF the war 1872 who
does not draw 4 pension He is in needy
circumstances.
Mr. Elmer has always voted the Demo
cratic ticket. He had never lost a vote I'M
I'll Mckinley was elected, when he was too
weak to venture out of The house. At
present Mr. Elmer bids fair 20 celebrate
his Nth birthday. the 18th OF this month
Conferences With Students