The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-23
HAPPY AND
WELL AT 100.
Banker LlysTmors Receives
Hundreds Of Guests.
EXTENDS A CHEEKY WELCOME
-Four Generations Present He Makes His
OWa Wine and Drink; Il eVsrI Day.
hIWlys Worked Hard
EXTENDS A CHEEKY WELCOME

Camden. \ T., April 23.-T am loo
years old and l thank God that my life
was pitched Just where il is. l firmly be-
lieve that I am good for ten or twenty
years more.
standing upon the veranda of his fine
old residence in the old-fashioned, pict-
uresque village OF Blackwood, y. j, it-
teen miles from Camden, Jonas Liver
more, banker and the most remarkable
man in America IN a way. made this
statement yesterday as he shook the
hands OF Children, grandchildren, great
grandchildren and hundreds OF friends. III
was almost like pilgrimage.
Jonas Livermore had for the past dec
ade looked forward TO the celebration OF
the one hundredth anniversary OF his
birth. For ten years he has been saying
TO his countless friends. "You must all
come TO my house on my Tooth birth
day"
Did they go? Well. rather!
Every train during the day landed
dozens OF friends and relatives i'm Black
wood Many who lived far In the coun-
Try, away from railroads. started the
night before and came in wagons, bug
gies and vehicles OF all sorts and sizes
Some brought tokens os esteem; little
children. flowers and other gifts TO sig
nifty their almost reverential respect for
the centenarian widely reckoned as the
most generous man I'm southern New Jer-
sey.
Those who gathered at the stately old
mansion early I'm the morning found him
at work I'm his garden with hoe; those
who appeared later found him shaving
himself or shining his shoes, for even
though he is a hundred years old he has
always done so
IL has only been five years ago that he
gave up the active daily duties of Presi-
dent OF the First National Bank of Cam
den, and even now he doesn't really have
TO wear glasses TO read.
Heavens knows / am glad to see you
all here this day" said the centenarian
as he greeted half hundred on the spa
cious veranda yesterday. The old gen.
tleman stood erect. smiling and bowling
now and then as some old friend or rela-
tive grasped his hand. His face. not too
much wrinkeld by the burrows OF time,
was radiant with unspeakable joy. and his
manner was as courtly and cordial as
Chesterfields.
ISN'T GOING TO DIE JUST YET.
Happy and healthy at one hundred"
he went on gliby: "and hopeful OF hav-
ing few more years TO spare beyond
the one-hundred mark"
Among the guests were bankers and
brokers and wealthy business men from
Philadelphia, Trenton. Camden and vari-
GUS towns. farmers from the country all
around and machinists and factory opera
tors from the little village mill. where
the wealthy banker was once a humble
weaver in the days when most of the
work had TO ne done by hand.
Late 1 nthe afternoon the directors OF
his bank called in a body for dinner. He
presided
Mr. f.ivermore was born in Leicester.
Mass, April 22 1902. He learned the trade
OF weaver and was thrifty. He began 10
save money and never wasted his earn
ings. He came from Massachusetts TO
Backwood. n. j.. I'm 1880 and secured work
in the woollen mills OF Garrett Newkirk
at Good Intent. small village near
Blackwood. Being Industrious and perse-
vering and OF temperate habits, he ad-
vanced until he became boss weaver
Next he became proprietor of the MILL
and soon afterward a director i'm the
Farmers and Mechanics Bank. in Cam
den. When this became the First Nation
al Bank OF Camden. Mr. Livermore was
elected president, which position he held
until recently.
What is the secret OF my longevity?"
he said yesterday why. regular habits
hard work plenty of exercise. simple
food. good grape wine and no tobacco
Il have always worked hard. This
makes a man sleep good at night. I have
aiWd9S eaten SlIlplt loout EoOb meats,
bread and vegetables. | have always
drank little pure grape wine every day
OF my life, but never drank 20 excess.
MAKES AND DRINKS WINE.
This wine have always made myself
from grapes grown I'm my own garden. |
let IL get old before using ii. | have never
used tobacco. and / think its use wears
out many a heart before its day, and
wears out many eyes.
II believe In early rising. ] go 10 bed
about or o'clock at night and get up
at or 5 o'clock in the morning 1 have
no patience with man or woman who lies
in bed after the sun is up in the morn
ing"
Four generations were represented at
the one hundredth celebration OF Mr. Lfv-
ermore's birth yesterday. Besides himself
there was his daughter. Mrs w. L. VIII
COX; his grandchildren. Mrs. r. Beneget.
W, y. Wilcox. Miss Ida a. Wilcox. and
his great-graudchildren Mabel ana VIII
bert Beneget.