Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-07
MRS. ANN ALEXANDER POUDER.

at NOTtn OaTeS street, SaIIlTlOTe, en-
joys the unique distinction of being one
of the oldest women in the state Of
Maryland, and in all of the United States
for that matter. Today she will celebrate
the 1o4th anniversary of her birthday.
surrounded by flowers and the gifts of
relatives and friends. Although suffer-
ing from blindness. which has come to
her within the past year she possesses
clear mind and is able to converse
freely with those who minister to her
wants.
Mrs. Pouder was born in England, but
came to this country when about fifteen
years of age. She is the daughter of
Thomas and Mary Alexander. who To-
Gated in Maryland upon settling in this
country. She was married to Leonard
Pouder of Baltimore In 1877. He died
in the sixties. They had no children.
Local interest in Mrs. Pouder attaches
to the fact that she has relatives In
Washington in Mrs. Mary Hines Sey-
mour. Perry Seymour. Mrs. Inez Sey
mour Milton and Miss A. Lee Pouder,
who are cousins and great cousins OF
the remarkable woman.
Celebrated Hundredth Anniversary.
Mrs. Pouder's age was first brought to
the attention Of the public In May. 1907.
when her nieces, nephews anu cousins
arranged a celebration In honor of her
Tooth birthday anniversary at the Union
Protestant Infirmary in Baltimore,
where she was convalescing at that time
from a broken thigh, which came from
fall in December 1906 Until this acct
dent Mrs. Pouder was constantly attend
ing to her affairs daily, boar ding the
street cars in Baltimore and going down
town without assistance
Mrs, Pouder has been a member of st.
Marks Lutheran Church in Baltimore for
nearly sixty-ffve years and is more than
| likely the oldest church member, both in
years and attendance, in either the city
or the state.
Mrs. Pouder's hair is snowy white, and
many woman half her wears nigh
reasonably envy her looks. She can con-
Verse as tiuently on incidents of eighty
five years ago as on the topics Of today. A
most remarkable feature OF the woman
who has lived beyond the life Of cen
tenarian is the preserved condition Of her
mind, which is notably clear, her voice
steady and her ideas comprehensive as
| those of the average man or woman Of
| today.
Mrs. Pouder said in response TO q query
that she did not really desire TO live in
this world much longer. for she had out
lived so many of her relatives and init
mate friends and associates that she felt
quite alone.
"Of course" she added. Il have many
near and dear friends. Vet the harmony
of thought and feeling between us IS
bound to be lacking, as none can quite
understand the feelings Of one SO much
older.
Up to few years ago Mrs. Pouder was
able to sew, read and do embr oidery
. 10 i.,ty a.
particularly clever.
An Entertaining Talker.
| Today Mrs. Pouder is still most en-
PERTAINING conversationalist. One of the
| greatest impressions on her mind when
| in youth was the sight of Gen. MARQUIS
| de Lafayette as he passed along the
streets of Baltimore. She recalls his
| brilliant uniform, resplendent with gold
| en- braid and taSsels. and remembers quite
| we'll the enthusiastic reception accorded
| the noted French general upon the coca
sion of his memorable visit TO the United
/ States in lS-4-2J.
| Sueaking of her first impressions of tho
| United States when she reached Baltimore
| in 1s22. Mrs Pouder recalls distinctly
| that Washington's monumcn' was in
/ course of erection. The sacf' * was
| built up around the structure and the site
| was then In the center OF a large stretch
Of woods. This location il now Charles
! and Monument streets.
! baltimore was not much OF a city in
| those days" she said. and while II was
! larger than village. some idea of its
! extent may be gathered wher- | tell you
| that from where the Academy OF Music
! stands in the downtown district as far as
| Madison street there was large apple
orchard.
/ Although Mrs. Ponder is the last of her
( inned ate family there are now four
! generations Of nephewS and nleces. There
/ are a host of great-great nephews and
/ nieces and their children. Mrs Pouder is
a niece of Polly Boone and a cousin of
! Daniel Boone of old Kentucky fame.
/ During her long life Mrs Pouder was
/ never i'll enough to require the attendance
| Of a physician. and 1t was not until her
/ accident in 1907 that she was ever con-
fined to her bed on account of illness
! The picture of Mrs. Pouder accompany
ing this sketch was taken upon the occa-
sion of her Tooth birthday anniversary
four years ago. which shows her sur
/ rounded with the floral tokens OF regard
! from her host of friends. and the birth
day cake, which was surmounted by Loo
4