The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-02-13
AN IMMORTAL : MAN
THE POOR HOUSE RECEIVES
ONE OF THE MOSTQUEER
AND INTERESTING
CHARACTERS.
Was an Infant Phenomenon but for
Fifty Years Has Lived as the
Birds live-Had Life Pas
ses Over All Leading
Railroads.


ses Over All Leading
Railroads.
Bucyrus, Ohio, Feb. 10.-When
the doors of the Crawford county
poor houae closed the other day be-
hind J. N. Free, the Immortal J.
NJ" the curtain was rung down on
one of the most unique and inter
esting characters this country has
ever known. Tn r. are few people
in the coantry, at least in the mid
die west, who have not seen or
heard of tbs "Immortal J. n"
Eighty years ago Jacob Newman
Free was bofu 10 TiHin, Ohio, the
eldest son Of a Presby teriau minis
ter. Half century ago he became
known as the Immortal J. N"
and ever since be has bI:n living
as the birds live, but il a much
greater condition Of luxury. When
he was admitted to the county in
Urinary the other day he proudly
displayed to the officials of the in
stitution an old pocketbook contain
ing more than 100 slips of paper
reading "Good for J. NJ" being life
passes signed by officials of the
railroads Of the country. By means
of these passes -. NJ" travelled
wherever he pleased. He visited
every state and territory and in ev-
cry city of more than 1000 inhab.
itants be bad friends. He claims
and his claim is generally believed
that be knows more people person
ally than any other living man.
Everywhere he went be stayed a
the best hotels and for half a centu
ry no landlord was found bo.c
enough to even present him, with {
bill.
In his youth j. N" was on ir
fant phenomenon. At 4 years o
aga be read almost all of the Bible
and during his teens be acquired t
reading and speaking knowledge 0
no less than 13 languages. DurinI
the gold craz4 of '49 he went we.
and started stage line. Within
two years he accumulated fortun
of $4,000. A partner robbed bin
aud u. N" returned to Ohio an
began the study of law.
Within few years be was prom
i,ent at the bar in Cincinnati. On
day, 80 the story goes,E he was de
Tending a murderer, in whose inno
cence he strongly believed. AS
result aof his eloqueneet the man wa
acquitted The came, day his ellen
confessed that be was guilty |" )
NJ" rushed back to the courtroom
: and started to, explain, but th
strain and excitement had been to
much for him. He was stricke
with apoplexy. Within a shor
time he recovered. bis physica
health, but I ever his mental poist
He became the" Immortal J. N.
and started on the wandering lif
which be has followed for fft
years. He was the apostle Of "preE
sure" mysterious force, whic
but for him would crush out of ex
istepce all the inhabitants of th
United States. He was we'll az
quainted with President Lincol
and numbered many distinguishe
men among his friends. Durin
the war be even started out to f.
Jefferson Davis and cave the uni }
by putting the pressure" on th
leader of the confederacy. He ge
we'll within the confederate line
when he was arrested and given 3
minutes to leave the country. 81
NJ" says he still has twenty min
and a half minutes of the time con
ing to him.
Oakland, Cal. Feb. 1O.-I.
Small, formerly an Oregon farmer
is likely to spend term in the ia
because Of hostility toward the ma
who stole the affections of his wife
The family affairs of the Small
| and the part which John Grar
played in their domestic drama, ha
| caused them much notoriety durin
several years.
Small was a rancher near Osw'
60, Oregon, until Grant appeare
and carried off Mrs. Small. Sma
pursued the runaway pair throug
several states and finally locate
them near this city. Grant was a.
rested, charged with adultery an
convicted, but Governor Parde
cOmmuted the sentenca se1ar.