The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-15
HEZEKIAH
IS 1O4 YEARS OLD
Takes His Tea and Takes His
Ioddy, and Always Speaks
Out in Meeting.
MIND is WELL PRESERVED
Proudly Wears Prince Albert,
the Gift Of Ills Sunday
School Class.

or y iHS III the world on the morn
Ing of March Is, 1901 2oogyears after
the founding of the English colony
AT jamestown. Iiezekah Morton, an
ancient colorcd man, who looks as If
ho mad just stepped out OF the pages
OF history. not long ago cele braIei
MS l0ith birthday. and is living in
hopes of being here when the next
month of March falls upon the calen-
dar.
Tho story of his life. or rather SO
much Of IL as he can remember and
recall. was told by Uncle Hezckiuh
himself when he was interviewed yes
terday by reporter for Tho Times
Dispatch. At the time the reporter.
called with Il friend The old man was
enjoying Il glass of Iced ten and a
slice of bread. which he followed with
drink of iced water. Though his
hands trembled and passage TO his
mouth was very slow, he was able Ia
eat and drink without aid. and APP
rfared rather proud Of the feat His
mind wandered occasionally, and lie
found II difficult to speak along one
strain. But he had no doubt as to his
age. and he looks The part.
Like Old Uncle Ned.
Like the well-known picture of OLD
Uncle Ned. his head Is white as snow.
aud long white whiskers depend from
his checks and chin, -Four teeth re-
main. and there are but few wrinkles.
His face is black as ebony, and he Is
typical Of the oldtme southern
darby dt 3H.
Uncle Hezekiah, between bites. said
lie was born in Buckingham county,
and raised in Prince Edward. a slave
IN the household of Thomas S. Jones.
whom he vividly recalled. He rcmcn-
bercd we'll, having often heard OF Gen
eral Washington and Thomas Jcner-
son, though he never saw either, and
he recalled that Washington was
elected the first President of the United
States.
al never seed en-" he said, "'cause
i lived way up In de country, an dere
want no trains In dem days" lie
remembered. too. that the British sol
diers once overran the country, and
the Civil War seems to him as a matter
of only yesterday.
Employed as house cleaner, Uncle
tIczckiah says he worked until he
was hundred years. when he retired
with his daughter. al sol East Preston
Street
Member of Jnsncr's Church.
81 was a young man at seventy" he
said, an feel kinder pcart still /
could DO a little work now, but Use
tiluhln .pOul lily Jesus OM an Wdltln
for de day when shall cross de river
to Zion" lie Is the proud father.
grandfather. great grandfather and
great-great grandfather OF sixty de :
scendants. Many years ago there
were as many more, but death leaving
the old man, took his children away
and of his own children there Is only
one--his daughtcr--now living. His
wife died twenty-eight years ago. and.
Ia ~. AZ,
where he has always since lived. FIf
The one-time slave is a member OF
the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church.
once the church of old John Jasper,
some times called The Sun DO Move
Church" because OF Jasper's unalter-
able belief that the sun moved around
the earth. He IS a regular attendant
at Sundayschool. and was formerly
teacher In one OF the classes. lie
has the freedom OF every home he
visits and Of the church. of which he
is an officer IT Is his right, and one
that has never been questioned. to
rise up i'm the congregation on any
and all occasions to deliver himself Of
an opinion or a prayer. All listen.
for he is the recognized leader of the
flock. and whittier he points tho way
they follow
Wenrs Prince Albert
Last Christmas his Sunday school
children raised large purse and pre-
scented him with a handsome Prince
Albert suit as their yuletide gift. He
proudly dons 1t every Sunday, and
carefully packs II away during the
week.
With the exception OF mind prone
TO wandering. the old negro is In full
possession OF all his faculties. lie
takes his toddy as he does his cold
tea. whenever he feels the need of 1t.
and he never suffers with indigestion
or the other srndry Ills which flesh
Is heir too. He goes and comes at
will. and there is always a chair and
cup of tea ready for him wherever
| he deigns to call. Some regard him ms
! n sort OF prophet. and all view him
| with awe and wonder. On him his
| hundred and more years hang lightly
| though the SHOWS OF many winters
have left their mark. Life is TO hin,
now but a season of waiting for thai
! fairer cline, and when the call comes
| lie Is ready TO answer and give ur
| his spirit TO the Zion Of his hopes.