The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-28
German Couple Have Been
Married a Full Century and
Are Still Hearty.
HAVE MANY DESCENDANTS.
EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH SENT
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
AND PRESENT OF MONEY TO
AGED COUPLE AT ISOMBoLG.

Berlin, June 21.-Wedded in 1908
and bride and bridegroom still alive.
This, the most remarkable married
couple in all the world, have just cele-
brated their hundredth matrimonial
anniversary in the village of Isom-
bolg, Hungary.
The Emperor Francis Joseph sent a
congratulatory message and present
of money, which was handed out to
husband and wife by the local officials,
in from persons interested in the
couple.
The long-wedded couple are named
Szarthmari. The village record still
contains authentic entries relating to
their births and marriage. The hus-
band was born March >, 17SS. and the
wife Feb. u, 1892. Their marriage
took place at the village church in
March, 1SGS.
Szarthmari's father had been a farm
er living on his own land and Szarth-
mari inherited tn family property,
and titled 1t as his ancestors had done
before him. His wife, who was also
the daughter of farmer, assisted him
in his work, churned butter, baked
bread, and fed the poultry.
Szarthmari lived and worked as
farmer until he retired at the age of
ninety, when he handed over the man.
agement of the farm to one of his
grandsons. When he reached his
hundredth birthday, twenty years ago,
several residents of Isompolg appealed
to Emperor Francis Joseph to grant
the old man a pension FOR the remain
der of his life in order that he should
be rendered independent of his rela-
tives and descendants. such depend
ence being repulsive to him. The en-
peror sent an agent to Isombolg to ex-
anime the official registers and find
out whether SZarthmari was really as
old as was stated. The records being
verified, the emperor granted Szath-
mari an annual pension of $500 Four
years later, when Mrs. Szarthmari
too, was granted a pension of 500 per
annum.
Until recently old Szarthmari used to
delight visitors by relating stories of
his childhood, when the world looked
so different from its present appear
ance. In his childhood, Hungary was
an inaccessible country. emerging from
~ 80 IL
and serfdom was not abolished around
his home until 1913, when he was sixty
years of age.
The first child was born in 1909, and
the first grandchild in 1880 Two sons
are still living, one being ninety-five
and the other ninety-two years of age.
Ten other children are dead. Alto
gether the aged couple have had more
than eighty grandchildren. more than
400 great-grandchildren and more
than 1000 great great-great- grand
children, and one great-great-g great
great -grandchild alive.
Their descendants have gone forth
from the remote village into all parts
of the world. Observation-Disclosures and
younger descendants are living in var
ious parts of America, including Cleve-
land, Cincinnati, ST. Louis, San Fran
CISCO Los Angeles, Chicago. Milwaukee
and Louisville Other descendants are
in Australia, but the majority have
continued to live in Hungary.
Neither Szarthmari nor his wife has
ever been far away from their home
at Isombolg which has a population
of 1.200 people. Neither of them has
ever set foot in city. The extent of
their travels has been a distance of
agricultural country.
The aged couple now live in Il four
roomed cottage and two of their great
great grandchildren live with them and
watch over their needs. Szarthmari is
deaf and almost blind, but otherwise
comparatively hale and hearty He
wears the old-time Hungarian national
costume. consisting of a long coat
which reaches the knees. a motley
waisteoat of many colors, an embroid-
cred belt, knee breeches and wooden
stockings.
He can walk about alone, supporting
himself with a stout stick. He drinks
three or four glasses of heavy Hun
garian wine every day, ana smokes his
pipe almost necessarily from morning
till night. His wife is also deaf. but
otherwise she is in good health. Both
of them enjoy a hearty meal and both
delight to see their descendants
around them.