Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-25

~. VAC0ell.
SURROUNDED by his children, grandchil-
dren and Observation-Disclosures and many
of his friends, Capt. Jonathan Dennis
Cathell. for seventy years a resident Of
the District and vice president Of the
Association Of Oldest Inhabitants, yes
| terday celebrated his ninetythird birth
day anniversary at his home, 1854 o
street northwest. During the afternoon
and up to 9 o'clock last night many men,
bers Of the Association Of Oldest Inhab-
itants dropped in to shake hands with
Capt. Cathell and offer him their con-
gratulations.
With. q physical strength and a clear
ness of mind quite remarkable in q man
| of his age, Capt. Cathell entered enthusi-
astically into the spirit Of the occasion
and furnished most of the fun himself.
Capt. Cathell. was born in Sussex
county, Del, September "a, 1917. He at
tended school only occasionally. and
when he was seventeen years old went to
sea in a merchantmen. Most of his serv-
ice was in the coastwise trade, but he
| made many trips across the Atlantic to
European ports. In 1S41 he sailed out of
| st. Johns river. Florida, for Washington
| on the Climax, vessel of which he was
| the owner, carrying a cargo of lumber.
When he arrived in Washington he sold
the vessel and Der cargo outright to the
father of Gov. Shepherd.
Makes Home in Washington.
At that time coastwise packet service
was being operated by a combination of
shipowners, represented in Washington
by F. and A. II. Dodge and in New York
by Sturgis, Chairman Co., and in May,
1874, Capt. Cathell became connected with
this service in Washington. In the fol-
lowing month he brought his family here
and made Washington his home.
In 1852 Capt: Cathell gave up all con-
for eighteen years. Investing his money
| in horses and wagons, he engaged in the
hauling business.
Il made expenses at that for two
years" said Capt. Cathell last night, but
did not accomplish much; SO when, two
years later, / was offered the position
of superintendent of the Georgetown Gas
light Company. I accepted it and sold my
horses and wagons. ! was with the gas
company for forty years.
While he was at sea Capt. Cathell held
every post on from able seaman to cap
tain, and his life on the water built up
for him powerful constitution, which.
| coupled with temperate life. brought
him to his present age in a state of mind
and body that most men twenty years
younger than he would be exceedingly
proud Of But Capt. Cathell takes it a..
as matter of course.
The members of Capt. Cathelrs family
living in Washington are his wife and
three daughters. Mrs. s. L. Brewer, Mrs.
w. j. Fuller and Mrs. Hedley Connolly.
His only son. the Rev. j. h. Cathell, lives
children and great-grandchildren live in
Washington and were at his birthday cell
are B. Frank Fuller. Mrs. Henry White.
Edwin Connolly, T. H. Brewer and NJ C.
Brewer. The great-srandchildren are
Edna White. John White. Louis White,
Grace White, J. Hammond Brewer. jr.,
and Mary c. Brewer.
Floral and Other Tributes.
During the festivities poems written by
Col. John A. Joyce and dedicated to Capt.
Cathell were read. The house was dec
grated with q profusion OF flowers sent by
friends. One of the handsomest floral de-
signs was that sent by the Association of
Oldest Inhabitants.
Among Capt. Cathell's guests were Mr..
and Mrs Luker. Mrs. Bowen, Willard D.
| Son. H. w. Ragan, the Rev. A. n. Ward.
j. P. Dodge. the Rev. ]. M. Gill, Mrs j.
Edward Libby Mrs. Offott, Miss Offott.
| Mss NJ Shoemaker. Mr.. Boyce. Mrs.
FISCHER, Mr. and Mrs. Harth, John ".
Walker, Mrs. Charles WEIGH, Miss e.
WEIGH, Mrs. ]. Barnes. Judge c.. s..
| Bundy, DR.. and Mrs Chote, Mr.. and Mrs.
Harrison. Miss Hoffnagel, Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilson. William r. Smith. William A.
Clarke, Mr.. and Mrs. H. v. Cotton. S.
| Norris Thone. L. w. Steake. w. A. Lin
| ton, Mrs and Miss Walker. S. Thomas
| Brown, Miss Mcknight, H. T. TARGET,
A, p. Copper. Capt. Swindell, the Rev
e. D. Stone. Mr.. and Mrs James Hays,
Mr.. and Mrs. Sheele. William F. Ballard
Miss Ray Ballard. J. F. Wallace. ]. s.
Blackford. w. Glide Grimes. Mrs. Grimes
Miss May Grimes, Mrs. James Crosons
Miss Jennie Gaskins. Mrs. Richard Gas,
kins. BENJAMIN w: Reiss. silas Bogee. B.
D. Drane, DIR. J. T. Howard, J. l. Keefer.
Benjamin F. Kloffer. Charles Behrens
Louis A. Dellwtg, William A. Linton, J.
Richard Riggles, william G. Spottswood.
George A. Shutter, Dr.. B. w. sunny.
| James F. Oyster, e. c. McNerhaney.
William H. Martin. William B Marche
Mrs; Marche, Harry K. Willard, Harry
| a: Willard, John NJ. Walker. John O.
Walker and James p Tolman.
Mrs. Mary c. Bowles, elghty-four years
old. died at Everett, Pa. She was one of
the Oldest members of the Presbyterian
Church, Bedford. where her funeral oc-