Amador ledger., 1906-04-06
OLDEST CITIZEN In CALIFORNIA.
Jacob Van Meter, Over the Gen.
tury mark, Passes away.

|
scenes Jacob Van Netter, the oldest
resident, as far as we have been able
to ascertain, in California. His lite
time spans over century. He sank
gently to his last sleep at the home
of his daughter, Mrs g. Richtmyer, in
Jackson as above stated. A stroke of
paralysis, which attacked him three
days before the end, and which
rendered him totally blind, and
obIivious of all surroundings, was
the direct cause of death.
The passing of this remarkable
example of longevity is deserving of
some extended notice. Jacob Van
Netter was born in Lowville, New
York, February %, 1904. His parents
we're of Dutch extraction. At the
time of his death he was therefore 1O2
years one month and 9 days Old He
was painter by trade, and followed
this business for many years during
the first half of his life. In 1868,
when nearly 60 years, old he started
for California, crossing the plains
accompanied by his wife and two
daughters, and G. M. Blair, his SON.
in-law. After staying some time he
returned to the east with his wife,
the latter dying in 1886, in Deleran,
Wisconsin: Shortly afterward, Mrs
10, ricit TO
in Wisconsin, and on her return
brought her father with her, for the
purpose of making his home with her
in jackson. He made three trips
across the continent since that time,
in May 1888, returning in September
following; and again in May, 1889,
and did not return until the spring
of 1890. His last trip to Wisconsin
was in 1893, when he was nearly 80
years of age, and he travelled un-
attended, which fact alone testifies
to the remarkable preservation of the
mental and physical forces in this
wonderful man. For nearly twenty
years he lived with his daughter, Mrs
Richtmyer in jackson. One notable
feature is that he retained his eye
sight, with very little impairment,
almost to the last. He never used
spectacles or eye glasses, and yet he
could read ordinary newspaper print
without any artificial aid. His dis
tant sight was equally keen. He
could recognize persons passing along
the street as quickly as one not half
his age.
For year or more he was not able
to move around much outside his
home, although up to within four
months of the end, he could walk
about the premises with ease. His
memory was retentlve and clear up
to the time of an accident which
befeIl him last fall, when he sus-
tained fall, striking his head against
book case. In youthful years such
mishap would be trifie, but for this
centenarian it was serious blow. He
failed in mind and body rapidly from
that time. Three days before death
he was seized with a stroke of paraly-
sis, which robbed him of his sight,
and also sealed his mental faculties.
He was of a kindly disposition,
honored and loved by all his rela
tives. and respected by all his &C
quaintances.
Deceased was a man of steady
habits, and temperate in all things.
70 his simple and even mode of living
is no doubt largely attributable
his unusual span of life. 1t was no
particular disease that snapped the
silver cord at last. The wheels of
life came to standstiII from sheer
exhaustion; the vital machinery was
worn out. Such a termination could
not be otherwise than painless and
peaceful. From his protracted earth
1y home he passed quietly to his
longer home in the grave.
So fades the summer cloud away,
are o'er;
So gently shuts the eye of day,
So dies wave along the shore.
The funeral took place yesterday
afternoon. Short services were held
at the residence, Rev. q. E. Winning
officiating. And from there the
cortege moved directly to the Protest
ant cemetery, where the remains we're
deposited IN the Richtmyer family
plot.
He was not identified with any
fraternaI organization. His two dau-
ghters, Mrs Richtmyer and Mrs Blair,
with granddaughter, Mrs Depew, we're
the chief mourners, followed by a
long procession of citizens generally.
The following acted as pail bearers:
b. f. Taylor, r. Webb, W. P. Peek,
A. Caminetti, W. M. Penry, and F.
M. Nhitmore.
Besides Mrs Richtmyer, he leaves
two daughters Mrs G. M. Blair of
Jackson, and Mrs II. M. Manlon, of
San Francisco, also son, James g.
Van Netter of Wisconsin.
% cents off on our entire stock of
new shirt waists, eight days. sale.