The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-27
OLDEST MAN
in Ohio.
Is liz Years Old And Lives
In Crawford County
And Is Preparing To Do His
Usual Spring Work
He Is Very Temperate In All
Of His Habits
And Is Out Of Doors Greater
Part Of The Time
he Eats No Bread And Takes
No Medicine

Perhaps the Oldest person in Ohio
at the present time is Ferdinand Han
duken, an inmate of the Crawford
county infirmary, writes the Bucyrus
Telegraph. He was born on April 27,
1900, and If he lives until that month
he will be 112 years of age. He was
born two years after the death of
George Washington and nine years be.
He is Polander by birth, being born
in Poland, Germany, which is now
division of Germany. When he was
born King Frederick was Emperor ov-
or Germany and king over Prussia.
He remembers the king very distinctly
and tells wonderful stories of his own
adventures in the old country.
Mr.. Handunken came to America in
the year 1862, being the second year
of the civil was. He lived one year
in Philadelphia from which place he
came to Crestline. He was a profes.
sional grape and tree pruner and
worked at that occupation for many
years. He travelled extensively and
did considerable work for the farm
ers in the vicinity of Crestline. He
was very successful along these lines
and made considerable money at the
business.
He was admitted to the county in
firmary from MILESTONE township on
October 23, 1901, and since that time
he has been we'll satisfied at that in
stitution. He is very temperate in all
of his habits and his health Is very
good. He Is out of doors the greater
part of his time. He eats no bread,
takes no medicine and eats nothing
but fat meat, which he claims is very
nourishing to the body
Last fall he gathered five bushels of
hickory nuts from the woods near the
infirmary. One evening he did not re-
turn home as early as usual, and Mr..
Siebel, the superintendent of the in
firmary, became worried as to his
whereabouts and after searching the
premises thoroughly for him, he de-
cided to go to the woods, where he
found the aged gentleman up in a
large hickory nut tree, shaking the
nuts to the ground. Mr.. Seibel called
to him and asked him why he did not
return home, and his reply was that
he was not lost, and wanted to get the
nuts before someone else did. He had
very difficult time in getting him out
of the tree, but he finally climbed
down as spry as young boy.
The records at the infirmary show
his age as stated above to be correct.
He was married in his native coun
try and his wife died several years be-
fore he came to America He has no
relatives in this country that he knows
of and Is left alone in the immediate
care of Mr.. and Mrs. Seibel at the in.
fnfirmary. He takes two months of
German and his voice Is very strong
considering his advanced age. His
health has been very good and he has
only been sick few days since he has
been at the infirmary.
When spring opens up Mr.. Hand
uken will again canvass the vicinity
and prune the grape vines and apple
trees This has been his regular Gus
tom since he has been at the county
infirmary, He takes two months of
every year which he calls his annua
vacation, and all the farmers in east
ern Crawford county who are preson
ally acquainted with him delight II
having him about the home because o
his iovial disposition.
Mr.. Handuken is a fair reader an,
his eyesight is very good. He write
a fair hand and is well posted in his
torioal as we'll as current events. II
formerly belonged to the Lutheran
church and he states that he was yer
active in church work while he live
In the old country. He is well know
in the eastern part of the country an
1t is his wish that he may live severa
years longer.