The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-17
''Father" Medearis Had Look.
ed Forward to Celebration
With Greatest Expectancy,
Causing a Breakdown.
HE AWOKE YESTERDAY
IN DAZED CONDITION
And He Remained in a Semi
Comatose State Up Until
The Time of His Death, Late
Yesterday Afternoon.

Greensboro. Ind, Nov. 17.-John
Fletcher Medcaris died yesterday aft
ernoon, on his one hundredth borth-
ernoon. on his one hundretth birth
Wickersham. celebrated his first birth.
day.
Mr.. Medearis died at $50 o'clock at
his home in Greensboro. after remain
ing in a semi-consoious condition dur
ing the entire day, and while the cen
tennial celebration. was being carried
on in honor of Indiana's oldest man.
The homage which was paid to Mr.
Medearis by the two hundred and fif-
ty visitors was only small represen-
tation of his hundreds Of friends
throughout the cCunty.
Carried Out Program.
Despite the cnfeebled condition OF
Mr.. Medearis. the centennial program.
which had been arranged. was carried
out in every particular. except one.
and that was the presence of Mr.. Me-
dearis himself at the church. Monday
Mr.. Medearis signified his intention OF
attending the church and making
short address. and also of having a
photograph taken OF himself and his
zreat-grandchiId on the front porch
Of his home. But yesterday morning
when Mr.. Meiearis awoke. a member
of the family mentioned the fact tn
him that he was one hundred years
of age. and he nodded his head. smilesl
and made some remark as to the cele-
bration. This was all the aged man
said during the entire day. However.
when members of the family entered
his room, he recognized them by
smile and then sank into a deep sleep
About two o'clock yesterday after
noon. G. B. Medearis. a son Of John
Fletcher Medearis said to a representa-
tive of the Palladium that the chances
for the recovery of the aged man were
very slight. ami asked him to enter the
room and see Mr.. Medearis. When
they were in the room he felt Of the
pulse of the dying man and stated
then that he doubted IL he would live
until morning He has taken no
nourishment since last evening and his
blood circulation is very poor" he
stated. At that time Mr.. Medearis
was gasping for breath. and three
hours later. after the celebration.
Father" Medearis, as he was known.
passed away
Cause of Death.
The cause Of the death OF Mr.. Me-
dearis is attributed to the excitement.
incident to the celebration OF his birth
day. He had been looking forward
with great expectation to the event
and Monday expressed a desire Of TAX
ing part in the exercises. But even
at that time 1t was noticed that his
emotion was SO great that he could
no longer talk without great difficult
ty. Tuesday morning. when q men,
ber of the family mentioned the cele-
bration to him a smile crept over his
face and IT is said tears came into his
eyes. After that he remained in
semi-conscious state until his death
N the evening.
The songs snng by the choir. which
.ongs had been selected by Father Me-
addresses at the celebration. followed
his dictates. Zach speaker expressed
he hope tha. ttey might again be
present and DO homage to another
birthday of John Fletcher Medearis.
The centennial exercises were held
IN the Methodist church In Green's
fork, and the programs consisted Of
short addresses by DIR. Milton Mahan.
the Rev NJ A. Harlan. the Rev T. ~
Guild. and Mrs. Ethel Wise. Several
selections were given by the choir and
Shannon Nen sang.
Or. Mah1n Spoke.
DR.. Mahan is the oldest member OF
the North Indiana conference and has
known Mr.. Nedearfs for fifty-two
years. His talk was reminiscent and
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