The Republican journal., 1907-08-08
..l!ncle Abner's" Birthday.

In the town of Hope August LIST, over
in Knox county, there was celebrated
the largest and most unique birthday
party ever held in Maine. 1t was moth
ing less than the celebration of the
Tooth birthday of ''Uncle Abner" Dun
ton, the towns oldest and best beloved
citizen, and everybody in Hope and
many in the adjoining towns for that
matter, Joined lin making the celebra
ton an unqualified success. The cele-
bration was held under the auspices of
the local grange, and the fact that
Uncle Abner became member of that
organization only few months ago is
sufficient evidence of the activity and
interest in public affairs which he
possesses as he rounds out a full cen
fury of life in the old town where he
was born and where most of his many
years have been spent. All the 10 sub
ordinate oranges of Knox county Joined
in honoring the oldest member of their
great order.
''Uncle Abner's" birthday. party was
made general town picnic and jubilee
in which everybody participated, and a
sort of Old Home gathering which
brought back Hopes long absent sons
and daughters from near and far.
There was long parade and appropri-
ate literary exercises at the church.
And what a happy thought it was to
have this reunion and celebration
center around the life of the towns
only centenarian, a man in whose long
and active career there has been moth.
ipg except what has made him honored
add respected by all who have known
him. For many years Mr.. Dunton has
been known throughout his section of
the State, and in more distant sections
also, for a remarkable mental acute
ness and physical agility which is ex-
, tremely rare i'll the few people who
live to such ripe old age. He was the
liveliest and jolliest figure at yester-
days birthday party and nobody among
all the hundreds present was younger
in spirit than he.
the Civil War broke out in 1861, no less
than 46 years ago; and speaking of war,
''Uncle Abner' remembers distinctly
when the British came into Camden
during the war of 1912. He was then a
youngster of six years, having been
born three years after his native town
was incorporated. For over 20 years in
early life he was a school teacher in
various towns in Maine and he has
survived most of those who were his
pupils. During his early life he served
Hope for many years as a town official,
having been town clerk as long ago as
1881 and in subsequent years selectman
and school committee man. For six
years he was commissioner of Waldo
county and for two terms, in 1S41 and
1915, he represented Hope in the Legis-
lature and is undoubtedly the sole sur
vivor of those who assembled at Au-
gusta during those winters to make
laws for the State of Maine. Thus he
has the distinction of being both the
oldest member of the Grange and the
oldest ex-member of the Maine Legis-
lature. His only failing seems to be
that he has always been a Democrat,
but there is yet time for him to out
grow this unfortunate habit.
Now, passing the Tooth milestone,
clear of mind and able to walk daily to
the postotfice for the newspapers of
which he is a constant reader, ''Uncle
Abner" Duntcn is a figure such as few
towns in Maine or elsewhere can boast
of, and the people of Hope honor them
selves in honoring him and in making
his birthday the occasion of general
picnic, celebration and reunion. August
l, 1907, will be day long remembered
by the people of Hope, and its sister
towns may well envy it the opportu-
nifty to participate in such birthday
party.-kennebec Journal.