The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-04-21

I from Butcher to WELLINGTON.
> There is no doubt that Loonar,
: Roedel, as he is known in Quincy. j
over 100. In Europe birth records ar,
carefully kept. At certain age al
the youth III Germany are called upoI
to serve in the army. and at the time
> each receives paSSbOOk, in which tht
date and the place Of birth are in
Scribed.
The writer has seen the passbook of
Leonard R0cdcr. III very fine. old.
fashioned German script it sets forth
that Johann Leonard ROcder was born
ut Nandcrbuch Wurttemburg) an der
Dauber, Germany, January y, 1900.
This book served Mr.. Roeder all
through his army life and was slammed
at different towns and garrisOnS, when
ever a change was made, with more re-
marks and specifications added in
Script each time. His Identification is
| marked thus in the book: Stature,
I'VE feet eight inches; face, oval; nose.
straight: hair, black; eyes. cray.
The last time he was called upon to
use the little book-it is primer size.
with paSteboard back, covered with
blue paper and bound on the back with
strip of white-was when he emf
grated to America in 1913. People
who have lived in Quincy All their lives
say that they remember Mr.. ROeder |
as an Old, gray-haired man thirty wears
ago. He is still remarkably well pre-
served, and were it not for his total |
loss of sight, which occurred last year.
he would still he active.
Excepting sight, the old man is nos
sessed Of every one of his senses.
Though he sits in his chair at the win
dow in repOse, with hands folded in his
lap and eyes closed, he is ever alert
when spoken to. He is neat and clean
~. with a singularly clear lInk and
white complexion and snow white hair.
Although his hair is little thin on top.
his head is covered as well as that of
a man Of fifty.
The writer found him in his rocking
chair by the window. When spoken to
he was instantly reused and color came
INTO his face, which filled with express
ion rs his memory kndlcd. He speaks
)ut little English despite the fact that {
le was we'll verSed in it during his t
earlier days, but now, living in the
Dast again, his mother tongue, German.
S the language quickest on his lips. q
Yes, | remember it all he saws.
but it was a long time ago. Yet | d
just as well as if these II
hings had all happened yesterday. L
ave lived in three centuries, but now u
| sit so much and think it is Ger 0
many that comes back thu most. G.
Il was born in Wulttemberg. As
Dung man l learned the sh0emaker's -
'ade, but as all young men in my coun- Il
~ were called on to serve the King :"
Or three years my service came lust -
t the time when Napoleon was fight. ~
lg all Europe.
III
AT Waterloo The Lieutenant under .,
HON | served was commanded by =,
eneral Butcher and it was my duty =
" while to carry messages. On the fl
re of the Battle of Waterloo carried M
message from General Butcher to the r.,
IKE of Wellington, and saw Napoleon .,
my return. 1t was a wonderful day
I'd a wonderful battle, but Napoleon Of
dn't win. / was very young at the do
me, but I remember it and often 20 h,
'er it again in my mind. ~,
Until about fifteen years ago had "a
me comrades who were in the same 10.
airs. They, too, lived in Quincy, and HI,
e used to talk it over. We all came
America together. They are all
ad now, and | am the only one left"
The old man is always visibly grieved
bringing up these "reminiscences. His ST.
mly say that after. talking over the ella
| days he often becomes respondent ma
days at time, even to refusing es,
meals. lig
When my comrades and I came here w
.ty-tWO years ago. said the old man. 0o'
lere was no town here ut ali. just y"
tie place. | lived a while at Pitts 'n'
Id, then settled here with my wife. '' u
anna to America in 1913.
After settling here l took up nv so'
de as a shoemaker. but in 1883 | W
ired from active work. | was then IN
hty-eisht years old. w
When Governor John Wood of H. III
o!s lived in Quincy knew him and VIZ
de all of his shoes. lie was q big VII
n in this State" 81
Did you ever know Abraham Lin eAe e
~" was asked.
he old man smiled sweetly. loo,
Yes, he was another big man. he 'Sts
u, nodding his head slowly. HE and
ne around here sometimes. yes. One the
our citizens here: Mr.. Bushnell. was off
law partner. Yes, Abraham Lin
came from this State, but that was
'ng While ago, too. l cannot count A
k how long. just remember" prjr
'heR asked about his health, the
ether he followed any laws of living, ma,