The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-27
Or. Wood Thinks Hes the Old
est Working Physician.
HIS POWERS ARE UNlMPAIRED.
Has Never Used SpsstacIss, His Digestion
Is Coed and He Wants 10 Live
Another Century.

Coffeeville Kan, Jan. 27.-Dr. John T..
Wood, OF this place, celebrated his one
hundredth birthday on Jan. 4. lie asserts
that he is the oldest practising physician
IN the world. and no one has appeared TO
dispute his claim. lie has been In the
practice OF medicine continuously for
seventy-eight years.
lie was born in Dublin, ireland. Jana,
1902. When he was eight years old his
parents emlgrsted to America, setting at
Lexington. KY. where he grew TO man
hood. He graduated from Transylvahia
Medical college, at Lexington. in 1924
and at once began the practice OF mcdi-
cine.
In 1Si5 he removed to Dsnville. ILL.,.
where ne lived until 1854 when he re-
moved TO the territory OF Kansas, settling
at Lawrence. lie at one time owned
large part OF the land on which the city
of Lawrence is built, and assisted IN
laying out the city. He was the first
Probate Judge Of Douglas county, Kan,
under the territorial government and was
serving as United States commissioner
when Kansas was admitted into the
Union.
While filing the office OF Commissioned
John Brown was twice brought before
him for trial, once on a charge of murder,
and the other time charged with harbor-
ing fugitive slaves. Both times he ac-
quilted the old man.
The doctor was an ardent Douglas
Democrat and took an active part in the
stirring events OF Kansas from ls5i TO
1861. lie is a veteran OF the Mexican war.
lie served under Gen. Taylor, and was IN
the battle of Buena Vista and a number
r.FaFa Ia a
number OF years as surgeon in tho regu-
lar army.
Dr. Wood has always affiliated with the
Democratic party and during the recent
presidential campaign attended all the
cauouses and rallies OF the party. He
cast his first vote for Andrew jackson In
1924 and from that day TO the present
time has never missed an election, either
state or national lie has seen all the
presidents. except one, from Jackson To
Roosevelt. lie was never member of
any secret order and never belonged TO
any church. He is a Universalst in be-
lief, but often attends one OF the city
churches.
The doctor belongs 10 a family noted
| for it's longevity. His father lived TO be
| ninety-seven years old and his mother
] died in her ninety-flfth year. One OF his
| brothers, the late Judge Wood of Texas.
| lacked but nine days Of being 100 years
1 old at the tllne Oh MS utdths pllt VI MS
| sisters died in her ninety-eighth year. He
| has two sisters still living, one l02 years
old and the other eighty-fve.
He also has two brothers still living,
! one ninety-four and the other eighty
seven. Major Gen. Wood. Of the Union
army, and Brig. Gen. Wood, OF the Con-
federate army, were his brothers. He
has been married three times. The first
time i'm 1924, the second time In 1882 and
the third i'm 1852. His last wife is stll liv-
ing. He is the father of eight children,
six of whom are living.
The doctor can be seen on the streets
! of Coffeyvine every day, moving about as
vigorously as a well-preserved man OF
/ seventy. His face IS almost entirely free
| from the wrinkles that are common to old
age, and there is nothing about his bear
/ ing 10 indicate TO a stranger his great
! age.
He does not carry a cane, and reads
7 the newspapers without spectacles, Just
| as he did in his youth. The most remark
| able thing about his eyesight is the fact
! that he never has used glasses TO read
He was never confined 10 his bed from
/ sickness more than three weeks in all his
! long life. His digestion Is still good and
| he eats and sleeps just as he did nearly
| a century ago. His hearing Is also as
acute as IL ever was. His mental facul-
/ ties are as remarkably well-preserVed as
! his physical powers lie reads the daily
| papers and takes deep interest in pass
| ing events. lie says he is not a bit tired
/ Of life and would like TO live another
| century.
! lie possesses a great fund OF nforma-
| tion about the stirring events OF the past
| and of the famous men Of the early days
! Of the republic. All OF his early associates
| have long since passed away. The doctor
| attributes his long life and wonderful
| mental and physical vigor TO the fact
! that while young man In college he
| entered into a compact with seven OF his
| classmates 60 live In a plain, temperate
| manner. and never use tobacco nor
| whiskey.
All but one lived TO be over seventy
| five. five lived to be over eighty and three
| passed their uinetieth year, DR. Wood be
| ing one OF this number and cN-Gov. Brad
| bury, OF Maine, another.
| DR. Wood spent his one hundredth
| birthday fcasting and having n good time
with his fellow practitioners At an elab'
| orate dinner given i'm his honor by Mrs
| Walter Davis. prominent and well
I known woman OF this city. who promised
| tho venerable doctor fifteen years axe
| that n he should live Co be 100 years ole
she would give him a fine birthday din
| ncr. little thinking at the time That she
would ever have the pleasure OF carrying
| ont her promise. The citizens or COneN
| vile gaVc the venerable doctor hand
some purse OF money as a birthday pres
cnt.