Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1908-06-08
WORKS DAILY AT 90
Remarkable Life Story Of Mrs. Annie
PhiIpott.


Mrs. Annie E. Philpott is ninety
two summers young, and has been
in the employ of Uncle Sam for
thirty-two years. Everybody who
knows Mrs. Philpott calls her Gran
NY" because they think much of her.
She has been one of the most at
tractive features of the bureau of
engraving and printing for years.
Granny" is only a charwoman. She
receives the annual pittance OF $500.
and the government is the gamer by
far, for her smiles and loyalty are
worth many times that sum.
Mrs. Philpott was born December
II, 1915. in Hanover, Adams county,
Pa, the daughter of a good, old Key
stone state family. Her husband died
thirty three years ago, and not being
overly blessed with earthly goods, the
widow, then in her sixtieth year, had
to find employment in order to keep
up the little household. She found
work in the treasury department,
where she was on the pay roll for
more than a year, after which she
was transferred to the bureau of en-
craving and printing, where she has
worked, smiled and spread happiness
for the last thirty-two years.
Her employment at the bureau now
: is in making sacks for waste paper
! and rags, and she takes great pride
\ in seeing that the office of the di
rector of the bureau is kept clean
and is properly busted every morn
ing, at which time she places a big
bunch of flowers. which she grows
in her little garden in Georgetown,
on the desk.
Lives in Georgetown.
Mrs. Philpott lives in an old-fash7i
, toned, three story frame building in
Thirty sixth street. old Georgetown.
which is kept by Mrs. S. A. Finley,
the baby" daughter of Mrs Phil
pott. Mrs. Finley is sixty-one years
old, and is the mother of fifteen chill =
dren, eight of whom, seven boys and
one daughter, are living.
Notwithstanding her age, Mrs. Phil :
pott enjoys the best of health and
spirits, and her intellect is bright and
her conversation fascinating. She is
above medium height, walks erect,
though with measured little steps,
and her venerable head is crowned,
with a wealth of snow white hair.
Her eyes are blue and clear, and
their brightness is seldom hidden be-
hind spectacles. Granny" is happy,
because everybody is good to her,
black and white"
A reporter for the Washington Her
aid called on Mrs. Philpott recently.
and in answer to the bell, she slowly
opened a shutter on the second floor,
and, peering through, informed her
caller that she would be down di
rectly. Before many minutes she
came and invited the newspaper
man into the little family parlor. She
seated herself in an old-fashioned,
comfortable chair and told the story
of her daily life in a charming, sim
pie manner.
Spends Day at Home.
4 stayed at home today from
work." she said because / had
rheumatic pains in my right should
er; but it's getting better already. L
have been working at the bureau now
over thirty-two years. l like it, and
I am usetsto II and e5nIdn't 40 witff
out it, l miss my work very much
today. 1t makes me uneasy not to
be doing something"
Speaking of her routine of life,
Mrs. Philpott said she gets up at 4:30
o'clock every morning. and, after
saying her prayers, prepares for
breakfast, in order TO be at the bu-
reau at $50 o'clock. She is known
to every conductor on the line which
passes her home. and every morning
at a certain time there comes a
friendly knock at the door from one
lie 10 har
car is ready to start. Once inside
the bureau her work begins, and she
sees no let-up until o'clock, when
she prepares to go home.
An ordinary person, after working
all day in the government, would take
the balance of the day for rest and
recreation. Not so for Granny" She
says she 'stirs about" when she gets
home, does fancy work. or attends to
her flowers. When night falls, or an
hour or two later, about or
o'clock, she goes to bed and enjoys
a good nights rest until 80 o'clock
the next morning.
Mrs. Philpott has a good appetite
and is fond of good things to eat.
She said:
Il am from Pennsylvania, and
Pennsylvania people have good appe-
titles. and like good things to eat.
There is lots of everything there, and
then l like a change in my meals,
too"
Mrs. Philpott will spend her vaca-
ton this year in this city. Up to
two years ago she went to her home
in Pennsylvania every year, and her
friends and relatives there are anX
ious to have her spend a couple of
weeks with them.
Never Thinks of Dying.
Il am getting old, but 1 don't feel
old. l feel like living on and never
think of dying"
Capt Meredith was director of the
bureau up to a few years ago, and
under date of May 9, 1907, he wrote
of Mrs. Philpott as follows:
During the several years l had the
IN caYN-a chief and director