Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-15
AGED WOMAN OF SOUTH oTTuM-
WA CENTER OF ATTRAcTioNlN
HAPPY GATHERING YESTERDAY
At HOME OF GRANDDAUeHT
SAYS SHE WILL WALK
A MILEIN THE SPRING
VENERABLE PIONEERS FAcuL-
TIES ARE AS KEEN AS MANY
MUCH HER JUNIOR; YouTHFuL-
NESS SHOWN IN SPEECH.

group of relatives and friends making
up party that represented several
generations, Mrs. Nancy Miller Surber
sat and talked yesterday afternoon
with her friends at reception given
in her honor at the home Of her grand
daughter, Mrs w. e. Hammersley, 232
South Moore street. The occasion was
the observance of the passing of the
hundredth milestone in the life of the
venerable woman, whose most start
ling characteristic is her ability to talk
and laugh as easily and enjoyably as
one forty years her junior.
II II reckon I've talked on now for a
hundred years and my tongue is no
shorter nor is it showing signs Of
wearing out, and reckon if the Lord
Is willing will just keep on talking
for another hundred years. Thus
does this youthful centenarian tell Of
her powers.
She walked a block and a half this
morning, J" said one Of her grandsons.
That Is not all I'm going to walk,
sonny" was the quick response from
Mrs Surber in the rocking chairs
which swayed to and fro in the corner
Of the room. Y ou just wait until
spring comes and the first warm day
Is here, and then I'm going to walk a
mile. reckon I'll easily be able to
walk down to the meeting house,
though i don't suppose that's quite a
mile Mrs. Surber had in mind the
Moore Street Brethren church, few
blocks distant from the house. "Just
don't you think that I can't walk a
mile, for I'm going to do it the first
warm day in spring If I'm here, and
don't think of dying as long as the
good Lord Is a.minded to let me live
no, indeed not. | am willing and anx-
ious to live another hundred years.
reckon I've seen heap of happy days
and heap that were not so happy, but
L never did let my troubles worry 9TH
ers nor myself either In the past, and
Iwant all to be happy
Faculties are Alert.
Her handclasp, although that of
centenarian, was not that of an in
valid. True, it was somewhat less ag-
gressive than one might expect in a
buxom lass of eighteen, but none the
less hearty, and the tremor of such an
advanced age was not apparent in the
clasp or shaking of the hand. Not a
gray hair is perceptible on that head
that has bowed to the will Of its mas.
ter for hundred years, nor IS there
gray hair in the head of her seventy
four year old daughter. Mrs Sally
Young, who was with her mother at
the reception. The eyes have dimmed
but little in the many years that she
has looked out upon life and her hear
Ing is keener than manv half her age.
Her faculties are practically undimin-
lshed by the weight of years she has
lived and her very nature radiated
happiness and good cheer to those
about her. Her fund of reminiscence
and tales of customs and practices of
The days wheE even this country was
young are numerous and highly enter
tanning.
Not Always Robust.
Mrs Surber was not always a
healthy, robust woman, although her
great age would lead one to so think.
IN fact quite the contrary is the case.
For. many years, when she was con-
siderable younger than she is, she suf-
sered a great deal from illness and
more than once has been given up for
lead. She recalled yesterday to her
friends how many years ago she was
aiken Ill, and for years had been al
most an invalid, and one occasion her
life was despaired of no less than five
times during one NIGHT. Her doctor
remarked that it would be the last time
hat Grandma would ever take a dose
~ medicine. when she spoke up and
asked him how he knew. She rallied
Ind as she says Am still here and
not thinking Of dying till the good
Lord is willing to take me. and I'm
aot In any hurry to 60"
Mother Lived 115 Years.
Nancy Miller Surber says she comes
81 stock that needs someone toshoot
ihem in order to have funeral in the
family. Her father lived seventy-sfx
years. and died seventy-four years ago.
Her mother was not inclined to give I'D
the struggle at SO young an age as
seventy-six and continued living until
she reached the 115th milestone when
she died. Mrs. Surber has lost track ,,
Of the numbers of her grand and great
grandchildren. saying: 1.-TWO years
ago couniSs 160 in all and the Lord |