Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-10-01
ONE HUNDRED
Years Of ACE

Seated in his comfortable home, No.
112 East Center street, Michael Powers
manner celebrated his one hundredth
birthday.
Mr.. Powers affords most remark
able instance of longevity. To say that
time has dealt kindly with him hard
ly expresses it; if appearances were
relied on no one would place him in
the centenarian class. At eighty five
the average man is more feeble, has
more ills and infrmities than Michael
Powers has at one hundred. The pres
ervatiou Of the man is phenomenal.
His mind is perfectly clear and his
memory good, not only as relates to
the events of early life but also to the
events of middle life and all that has
occurred between that period and the
present. His eyesight and his hearing
are good.
In conversing with him one is not
Obliged to raise his voice; one forgets
that he is talking to an old man, so
ready. so clear and so thoroughly to
the point are all the replies.
Under the burden OF one hundred
years Mr.. Powers robust and hardy
frame is only slightly bent and when
it comes to bodily ailments. he simply
has none to complain Of AS he himself
explains it he leafs we'll" and he
"sleeps we'll. ="
This summer the aged man spaded
and attended to his garden, raising
plenty of truck for his own use. 1t is
quite evident that life is by no means
a burden to the centenarian. Indeed,
nearly every sentence he utters is ting
ed with humor and his venerable face
is almost constantly wreathed in
smiles. There are no doubt many more
birthdays in store for him.
Michael Powers was born in County
Armagh, Ireland, on st. Michael's day,
September 30, 1905 He came to Am
erica IS years ago, sailing from Glas-
gov, Scotland, in the ship Mary Nor
ris, which was a sailing vessel of the
tpye common at that day. He embark
ed on his birthday. The voyage was a
memorable one. Outside of the harbor
of Greenock the ship struck rock.
The keel was damaged and the vessel
had to be lightened and repairs made.
Out on the ocean there were long
periods of calm weather and the ship
made slow progress. Ten weeks and
three days were occupied by the voy-
age.
Mr.. Powers landed at New York.
H went first to Geneva, n. Y. thence
20 Corning and finally crossed the
mountains into Pennsylvania. He
spent some time at Willismsport, later
coming to Danville, where he has since
resided.
Mr.. Powers father died when rho
former was a boy. After his father.
death Michael went TO Scotland, " he re
he remained is years. While in the
latter country he worked at a blast
furnace. Arriving at Danvllle he ad.
opted the same employment that Of
furnace filling For five or six year.
he worked at Groves furnace under
Michael Grimes as boss. He then went
into the rolling MILL where for many
years he ran the buggy. Twenty and
odd years ago he retired from active
pursuits. His last employment was in
the cooperative mill, " in which i'll
starred concern he invested one thou
sand dollars.
| AS soon as he became established in
this country Mr.. Powers sent for hi'
mother, his brother, James Powers anC
! his sister, who became Mrs. Rosa Gal
/ livan. He took good care Of his moth
er until her death, some 80 years ago.
| He has lived in his present home, tC
use his expression "since Lincoln tooh
/ his seat. He possesses a competency
and all his comforts seem supplied
Some twenty years ago he revisited
his old home in Ireland, On that oc
/ casiou he verified the record of hii
birth, concerning which previously he
was in some doubt.
Mr.. Powers yesterday seemed TO en-
joy the newsman's visit and he in
dulged in many "reminiscences.
He is bachelor His niece, Mis-.
Mary Powers, lives with him. He use!
tobacco and he wished the fact known
that he is no total abstainer from
liquor. He has used the latter al
through life, he says, but it is quite
evident that he never carried the in
dulgenoe to excess.
Struck by Locomotive.