The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-15

have been searching every nook
and Granny Of the land for those living
Americans who can boast of being our
nearest link to independence, writes
Eldreth watkins.
soon found that. although the last
surviving signer of the declaration was
with us until 1882, no sons or daugh-
tiers Of signers are now alive. In as
much, however, as the last revolution
airy veteran remained among us until
1859, and the last widow of revo-
lutionary hero until only five years ago
--1906-there doomed a more promis-
ing prospect of locating some surviving
sons and daughters of men who, under
the banner of Washington, shared in
the contamination Of independence.
But at the outset this quest appeared
most discouraging. A magazine writer
who two years ago made census of
surviving children OF revolutionary
patriots was able to locate but two, one
Of whom has since died. So there APP
peared to be extant but one interesting
person Of this category.
During recent weeks, however, sew
eral national officers OF both the Sons
and Daughters of the American Revo-
luton have aided me In locating 1872
venerable Americans variously desig-
mated on the rolls of these patriotic
societies as actual sons" and real
daughters children of men who risk
ed their lives and fortunes for liberty
in the thrilling days of 1775-17S1.
Sentiment has impelled the d. A. r.
organization to provide each real
daughter with an enduring souvenir
to be handed down to posterity and
this memento takes the form of a solid
gold spoon, properly inscribed. No
dues or fees are accepted by either So
ciety from these honor members.
That longevity which the scriptures
promise to those who honor their
fathers and mothers, is and has been
enjoyed by many of these children of
patriots.
Thus in the 109th year of his age,
there died last year at Newport, N. H,
James Bellows McGregor, son Of Priv.
Joel McGregor, who enlisted in the
Third Connecticut regiment, continent
al line, in ITS, and who was honor
ably discharged in 1880, after having
been held a prisoner of war in the New
York "sugarhouse."
A real daughter Of 106, Mrs. Re-
bekah r. Packard Of Covington. Pa.
was admitted to the D. A. r. in 1901,
but the date Of her death is not re-
corded. When enrolled she had, liv-
ing, thirty-two grandchildren, forty
nine great grandchildren and several
great-great- grandchildren. And two
other remarkable centenarian real
daughters" were Mrs. Mary McNeely of
Sugar Valley, Ca, who lived to be
1O4, and whose father saw CORVALLIS
hand his sword to Washington; also
Miss Fannie Meeker Of Newark. N. J.,
who was 103 when she breathed her
last.
There are five centenarian real
daughters" and actual sons" whose
dates Of birth have been definitely re-
corded and whose deaths have not been
reported up to the present writing.
The oldest living child of a revolu-
tionary patriot is, according to these
records, Mrs. Hey Lawson Hill of
Lakeport, Cal, who is over 103, hav-
ing been born in Adams county, o.,
May 8, 1903. Her patriot father, James
Lawson, born in 1850, was II when he
enlisted in the war for independence,
and after that struggle was over he
fought in the Indian wars.
On her one hundredth birthday, Mrs
Hills home in California was decorat-
ed with flags, bunting and flowers and
she presided at the dinner table wear
ing her grandmother's cap, which was
over 100 years old. One hundred neigh
bors, who called to offer their congra-
tulations, formally presented her with
platter on which lay 100 silver dol
lars.
One citizen of this venerable cate
CORY, who can perhaps boast Of being
the surviving link nearest to George
Washington, is the next Oldest real
child" Mrs. Samantha Stanton Nellis
of Staples, N. Y, whose father, Elijah
Stanton, was one of the great gem
erals bodyguards. She also traces her
descent directly from Thorfin, the
Dane who is in the celebrated Domes-
day Book. The 101st anniversary Of
her birth occurred Jan. 5, last.
The oldest actual son" of the revo-
luton not yet Cancelled from the rolls is
Edward Joslin of Keene, NJ H, born
in the town of Stoddard, that state,
April IA, 1910, and therefore over 101.
His father was corporal and his