Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-01-24
WORKING AT NINETY.THREE.
Many Years Cut Little Figure In
Actual Age.

Actual Age.
I'm just the age of that half dol
lar" said S. ~ Hendricks to Los
Angeles Times representative as he
held out worn 50.Cunt piece bearing
the date 1907 Nlnetythroo years Of
age and laying bricks as fast as 4
man OF half his years! How many
men are there in Los Angeles who are
los years old, and how many of them
arc working eight hours a day at such
back-brcuking business as bnCklay.
ing?
Mr.. Hendricks was found at work
laying a brick wall on Boyle Heights,
The old gentleman smiled when asked
his age
Yes" he remarked. that piece cf
money was given mo by my father
when ! was born, and have carried It
ever since became of age"
Then the old man got down on his
hands aud knees again and resumed
his work as swiftly and dcxtcrously as
though no were but 25 instead of 90,
NO, hard work don't bother me
any" ne remarked as he drftIy finish.
led off corner 81 believe moro
people are killed by worry than by
hard work | am pretty old. that's a
fact, but | don't let anything worry me
in rho least. ! don't have to run for n
job possibly that's got something to
do about IT, I'm pretty well known
here, and have all the work can pos.
Giblc do"
And at % years Of age!
- was born in Pulaski county. Ken
lucky. April %, 1907" continued the
old gentleman as he drew a iacltkniro
and plug Of tobacco from the depths
.of his oycralls and cut off generous
chew, "and | lived on my fathers
farm until after 1928, when started
natboating on the Mississippi river.
There was an immense business done
between Louisville and New Orleans
in that line Of work. and we used TO
build big natboats about 1875 feet
long, load them with gupploR--dricd
fruits, hams, bacon ana tho Ike and
run them down to New Orleans.
This was before the days OF the
steamboat II used to take MS about
three weeks TO make n trip. Indians?
No, we never had any bother with
them. We used 10 stand guard nights
and keep a mighty sharp lookout for
them. More than one boat was ROb.
blcd up, run 10 New Orleans and sold
by these chaps
What was done with the boats
when you arrived thcrc?'
"Oh, we always used TO sell them at
n big profit. The timbers, especially
the gunwaIcs, were made from wood
which commanded a nigh price, and
were cut up into ioIsts, etc, for build.
ing material.
Kentucky In those days" said Mr.
Hendricks, as he deity throw a
.trowelful Of mortar along the wall,
was q place where we didn't have
much use for money. Everybody
had a fine farm, raised big crops,
plenty Of cattle and hogs and made
their own whisky too" he added, with
a laugh, Whenever we wanted a
little whiskcy we would take bushel
Of corn to the distIllcry and get our
liquor We always calculated that q
bushcl Of corn would make gallon Of
whisky, AMI that the refuse from tho
distllliug process would pay for the
run. Everybody had whisky In those
days, as well as peach brandy. and I've
seen peach brandy as thick and heavy
as strained honey, which would tickle
any mans palate, whoever be was.
"All up and down the Mississippi
river was some Of the finest land
ever laid eyes on and We never had
to suffer for anything to eat. We
raised our own cotton and flax and
made Ir own clothing.