Milford chronicle., 1903-09-25


N6R. Charles Fl. Booth. of Euglewood. N. J.
vi one hundred years old September l.
1908 is the worlds oldest policy y-holdei
Ie was insured in The Mutual Life Insurand
company Of New York. February 7, 1888, IT,
lrst week OF the cor 0any's existence.
On the thirteenth day OF this month there
will be celebrated by a family reunion at
Englewood, n. j., the hundredth birthday of
one of the most remarkable old men this
country has ever produced. Charles Il. Booth,
the most aged man in this district, possesses
also the unique distinction of being not only
the oldest man that ever held a life insurance
policy in this country, but also-the oldest
living pOiicy-holder in the wOrld,a fact which
correspondence with some ffty-six countries
has brought to light.
Mr. Booth was born in Stratford, Conn
September l3, 1903, during Jetferson's admin
istration. At the present day he still likes to
work about the house, rake leaves or walk up
and down the street, presenting, in spite Of
shoulders bowed with years, strikiu exam
pie of well-preservtd extreme old age.
This policy, No. p, in The Mutual Life In
surance Company of New York, was takeT
out just a week after the founding OF the
Company ard is still in force, sixty years
after its issue-a most remarkable record II
read for $1,000. which was at that time, the
maximum permitted. The growth ofthe pol
lev, No. 2S, and its steady increase in valuetO
sI76822 in event of death, had no additions
been surrendered through the varieus flnan-
cial ups and downs of sixty years forms an
instructive object lesson in support of the
theory, ,as well as the practice, ,oflife insurance
with additions amounting TO Sli9S2.3O surren
d red the policy in event OF death would be
worth S, ,SsO02 to-day. Ths increase in Y alIe
has been over 2CO per cent, while had there
been no additions surrendered, the growth in
value would have exceeded 8SS per cent.
tits a curious fact that 1.-TWO others OF the
original policy y-holders in the Mutual Life
are still living, viz Charles lockwood, OF
Newark, n. j., and William E. Shepard, Of
Englewood, who holds the oldest policy, No
Taken out few hours prior to Mr.. Booths,
from which It appeers that Jersey must be
after all, despite its many and bitter calum-
niators, a highly salubriOus locality.
| In recognition of MIR. Booths remarkable
old age and In gratitude for his long connec-
ton with life insurance,as well as for his sup
port at the beginning Of the business, sixty
years ago, The Mutual Life has prepared foT
him a handsome testimonial, hand engrOssed
upon parchment, bound in the finest leather
and in all ways made as valuable and as beau
tiful a souvenir Of great occasion as money
and skill can produce. This testimonial reads
as follows:
THE OLDEST AMERICAN COMPANY
to the
OLDEST PoLICY-HOLDER
GREETING:
CHARLES HENRY BOOTH.
- of Englewood, New Jersey,
twas born in Stratford, Connecticut,
September Thirteenth, ,lls0S,
and insured in this Company
February Seventh, 1913,
Sixty years ago,
by Policy Number Twenty-Five,
| which has been kept in force until this day
THE MUTUAL LIFE
| INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
lnis Thirteenth day of September. 1908,
in behalf Of the hundreds of thousands VINO
| are his associates in its mem beTship,
and Of the millions of the insured thrOughou
tue world, of all OF whom he is the senior
and dean, tenders its
CONGRATULATIONS
on the completion of his hundreth year of
serene and happy life.
RICHARD A. MCCURDY, President.
WILLIAM j. EASToNi Secretary.
1t is sincerely to be hoped that MI BoOti
will prosper greatly and live long to put t'
rOuJ the nice calculations of aetuaries, Stats
ticians and all others who predict for us how
why and wien we ought to shuttle of thl
mortal coil.