The Washington times., 1905-07-11
Cultivates Turnip Patch.

Cultivates Turnip Patch.
When seen by an interviewer Phlpps
was leading two horses and three colts
to turnip patch which he is eultivatins
II one hand he held rope and a neck
yoke, in the other a bride strap, neck
yoke and clevis The old man halted
as the correspondents carriage wheeled
irto his premises unannoCnced-
Great elm trees planted by the alleged
Rockefeller sentineled the place. which
vas picturesque in its sheltered quietuue.
The Phipps farm looks prosperous, al
though it does not bear evidences OF
modern improvements.
When Phipps was accosted Tor "ora
of expiana lion as to who he Is and
where he has been for ninety-three
years the interviewer figured, he would 10
drop the clevis and the neckyokes, lie
I'D the horses and sit down.
True Rockefeller Nerve.
Not So On the contrary he remained
standing during the entire interview
and when the correspondent insisted on
shaking the hand of a man who had
seen nInetystnree years and who still
managed farm the venerable mystery
placed the halter strings. neckyoke and
clevis In his left hand and then ex-
tended his right.
1t was firm handshake. The big
brown member was not palsied and the
duicerless lips that spoke ,good-by
were as nerveless as the hanks OF me
horses which the veteran led;
What is the matter WITH thls man
Rockefeller" queried Phipps with a
show of genuine solicitude. Cant he
find his fatherI
There was no response.
rs he sending men out here at his
own expense
Still no response. :.
"And how much do you get OUT Oh II
If you find him.
Phipps Talks Freely.
With this volley of questions the field
looked tillable and the old man fell q
victim to the more serious phase OF the
interview. Although reputed TO be ii
man of few words and dtsinclined to
talk about himself, Phipps chatted with
out reserve.
There is said TO be period in your
life between 1875 and 1885 respecting
which you refuse to talk. How about
it?" the old man was asked
Il do not refuse TO tell all / remen-
ber.' was the diplomatic reply. Il may
no. remember all. but sixty-seven years
ago ] came TO this State with my wife
families to settle in Iowa. In the party
were the Wellses, Williamses, Hicken-
loopers, Tates. Gillespies Nolans. two
of my brothers-in-law. and lot of 9th
erS."
When his attention was called TO the
fact that William Avery Rockefeller
moved from Oswego, y. y, to Cleve-
land. Ohio, In 1853, Pnipps asserted
We'll my oldest son, Mathew NJ, was
born In Iowa sixtysix years ago, and
did not go 10 Cleveland.
When we came here Iowa was a
Territory and we settled in Kishkush
IS an Indian name. I left Virginia when
/ was eighteen years old. That was In
1896 l went TO Indiana. where l mar
ried my wife, who was Miss Mary Long
and / spent about four months in San
CANON county Illinois Then We wen1
to Iowa and lived eight OF nine years in
Kishkush county. From Kishkush We
went to Decatur county, where I bought
500 acres OF land, and then we went tC
jackson county. Missouri.
After / had sold my Decatur county
land located about eighteen miles from
Kansas City. but did not take part ii
the civil war and as things got pretty
hot down there / returned 10 Iowa. set,
ting liz Harrison county After the wa,
L returned TO Missouri and traded of
my land there to q man named Casper
| got 800 acres and s.. 90 TO boot
The land l obtained in the trade Is
part Of the farm l now own here
have been in this place thirty-odd years
and ] had 800 or 800 acres of land once
children with the exception of about 20
acres
Phipps says he has six children liv
| ing. Four dead. His Oldest son who
he says, Is siXty-siX years of age live
| in Poncha City, Okla, and is worth be
tween $4,000 and $4,000. He also has an
other son. who is ffty-one years old
and twin brother. who also lives il
Oklahoma.
Flow old Is your twin brother?" wa
asked
He will be nfnety-four years old tn,
18th of February" was the solemn reply
You see. he is just as old as l am
| Never Used Stimulants.
Phipps is a remarkable character H
works daily and appears to be in per
feet health. He attributes his longevit,
TO the fact that he never used whisk.
| or tobacco. 1t is popularity supposed
in this community that Phipps was