The Washington times., 1911-07-31
Oldest of "Oldest Inhabi-
tans" Began Long Career
Before the Mast.
FROM CABIN BOY TO
MASTER OF VESSELS
Forty Years Superintendent of
Georgetown Gas Works, Never
Has Voted.

Virile and strong, looking a quarter
OF century younger than he is, Capt.
Jonathan D. Cathell, 3254 o street north
west, ex-sailor, oldest Of the oldest
Inhabitants" who was superintendent
of the Georgetown Gas Company for
forty years. and the man who first
brought anthracite coal into the Dis
uict of Columbia, is soon to pass the
ninety-fourth milestone in his varied ca
reer. Sea-rover and trader, captain or
mate of vessels in the days when ships
were propelled by sails, he travelled
from zone to zone, and weathered every
climate and many gales.
Born in Sussex county, Del, during
the first year of President Monroe's ad-
mtnistration, he is now a whitened wit
ness of the growth Of the nation, being
one of the few remaining who know,
from observation, what has happened
in nearly a century.
Nurtured as a youth In the rugged
days when the country was forgetting
the ravages of the last war with Eng
land. and when the attention of all was
turned toward the development of inter
nal resources and the building up Of
commerce, he was caught in the popu-
lar whirl, and. at the age of fourteen
years, made his first sea voyage. He
embarked on the vessel of which his
father was captain, the brig Arago, from
the old port at Vienna, Md. Serving as
ships cook until the port of New York
was reached, he was there made an
ordinary seaman, with which commits
sion he sailed to Marseilles, France.
Nineteen Years Afoat.
Then for nineteen years, as mate or
captain of full-rigged vessels, he fol-
lowed the paths Of the deep, sometimes
on the coastwise trade, often to the
Indies. In the trade on the Atlantic
coast he has made every port from
Galveston, Tex, to the Merimac river,
with the lone exception of Wilmington,
N. c.
For the last six years of the time he
followed the sea Captain Cathell was
master of the schooner Statesman, be-
longing to packet line which for
long time had Offices in Georgetown and
in New York. Early in the COS Cap
tain Cathells ship made what was said
TO be the record trip for the time from
the Georgetown port to the Barbados
islands. The ship was laden with -four
to be delivered on a time contract for
the British government from the port
at Georgetown to the islands, In forty
dock at Georgetown she was moored
there again, a record speed for those
days.
Captain Cathell believes his iron con-
stitution and long life are due to the
years of service on the sea-
Captain Cathell has made Washington
his home since 1874. Between following
the sea and living in the District OF
Columbia, he never has voted. For
forty years he was superintendent of
the Georgetown Gas Company.
On his maternal side Captain Cathell
is One-eighth Delaware Indian, his
great-grandmother being a full-blooded
member of the old Delaware tribe
The recent death of Mrs. Elizabeth
Welch leaves Captain Catlell the oldest
Street Methodist Protestant Church Of
Georgetown. He Joined the Methodist
Protestant Church in Sussex county,
Del. when that denomination was only
three years old. Captain Cathell said
the old Congress Street Methodist Prot
estant Church in Georgetown is the
''mother church of that orfshoot Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. founded in
December. 1928.
The first political fight Captain Cathell
remembers was tho one between John
Quincy Adams and Andrew jackson, for
the Presidency Of the United States
Political fights then were about the
same as now. he says. except that more
personalities were dragged into the con-
test then.
Captain Cathell has teen a member of
the Odd Fellows Lodge sixty-three years
and IS vice president of the Oldest In
habitants' Club. He has been married
twice. and has four children. Mrs s. E.
q. Brewer. 207 Seventh street southwest;
Mrs. n. J. Fuller. 1474 Monroe street
northwest: the Rev. J. Everst Catheil,
Richmond. Ind. and Mrs John Schmitt,
Sixth street northeast