Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-01-19
c. P. BLAIR.
Still Active Although More Than
100 Years Old.

PENDLEToN, Ore, Jan. o.
Everyone will get old If he
lives long enough" was the
aphorism framed by centenarian
Colbert P. Blair to The Spokes.
man-Review correspondent upon
being interviewed as to how it
feels to be 100 years old. The
aged man continued speaking in
rambling manner, trying to re-
call the past when he was a lad
in North Carolina, then passing
swiftly to the events so years
later, when, after living for vary
ing periods in Kentucky, Illinois,
Missouri and Iowa, he ''emigrat-
ed" to "the Oregon country" ar
irving in the Willamette Valley
in 1858.
Mr.. Blair's chief pleasure is to
relate experiences with the In
dians. He has no sympathy
with the red man, and even now
grows enthusiastic when telling
of the Indian wars in which he
served and recounting the num-
Der of warriors he ''fetched
down." He served through the
Black Hawk war in 1894 and
escaped unharmed. He was in
the battle of the meadows of the
Rogue river Indian war in 1883
So, one of the fercest fights with
the red men on record. In this
battle he acquitted himself with
great bravery, rsceiving high
commendation from the com
manding officer.
''In those days I would sooner
fight than eat" said he. "Some-
how never liked Indians. They
were never fair, and for treach-
cry, well, they had a monopoly
on that. They are only good
when dead" sm1lingly concluded
Mr.. Blair.
Mr.. Blair was one of the first
friends that the late Senator
Mitchell had in Oregon. While
in Benton county Mr.. Blair was
active in politics, having been
elected to the state legislature in
1862. Later when Mitchell
commenced to become factor in
Oregon politics, he found no
truer friend and no stronger sup
porter than Mr.. eBliar.
''Senator Mitchell is one of
the few great men of Oregon,
said he. He has done more for
the state than any other man.
He is sincere and conscientious"
Mr.. Blair referred to the late
senator in the present tense, not
knowing of his recent death nor
of his conviction in the federal
court of conspiracy to defraud
the government of public lands.
MI. Blair still believes that
Mitchell is alive and attendant
upon his duties at Washington.
If apprised of the disgrace and
death of the senator it is believed
the aged man would be unable
to endure the shock, so deeply
has he been wrapped up in the
life of Senator Mitchell.
Mr.. Blair is no burden to his grand
daughter, Sawtell, at whole home he has
lived for fifteen years. He occupies an
upstairs room and walks up anI down
stairs from six to ten times each DAY.
He takes care of the room himself declar-
ing that "no one can make his bed to
suit him." He eats heartily and says
he is always hungry. He has never been
i'll day in his life.
eff person wants to live long," he
says, che must be regular in bis habits
and get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.
Irregular living and dissipation are sure
suicide.' He has spent an active, vigor-
GUS life, his occupation having been
farming.
One week ago last Friday he celebrated
the centenary of his birth. having been
born in North Carolina, December 90,
1895, the year of the Lewis and Clark
expedition. He says he expects to live
many more years. bdt as soon as he be-
comes care to his family he will be
ready to die.
He is the father of eight children, four
of whom are dead. The living are:
James II. Blair and Mrs. Neeky Clapp,
of Lincoln county; T. J. Blair, of Pen