Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-27

Mrs. Betsey Thompson Slocum, wid- ow of Thomas Simeon Slocum, is the oldest person in this section, and is in good health and of remarkably cheerful disposition. She was born in North StoningtOn, near the Ledyard line, Nov 27, 1872, and therefore reaches her 101Et birthday today Mrs Slocum is the daughter of Thomas and Abigail (Main) Thompson, and was married in North Stonington Jan g. 1343 by FL der Avery. Her husband died Aug. 15, 1902, and was buried at River Bend. They had three daughters and four sons, and of these two sons survive Peleg l. Slocum of 12 Moss street, with whom his venerable mother resides, and Simeon Thomson Slocum, of Scot land Conn.
 Mrs. Slocum was the eldest of a fam lily of seven girls and three boys. Be- sides Mrs. Slocuni the only other sur H1vor Is Charles Dwight, now in his 18th year. next to the youngest of the children.
 T'S5rcas Simecu Slocun, the husband of BrtSey Slocunl, WAS farmer frugal and industrious and bought and sold farms as huE3cszs. He did not con buy farm and work it for a while and then dispose of 1t at a profit, if possible. This meant hard work for Mir. Siccum and his faithful helpmate
 hnIS. ESlNCAE1 says they moved rom farm to farm Is different times before finally settling in Pawcatuck, and that she was ever ready to work with her husband on the farm and to make & change when he considered such to be to their advantage. This meant much hard work and priv0tion for her, as 1t was up to her to do the housework for hired men, and at times that meant considerable, aS large gangs were em- ployed on some of the farms that were made up in the main of woodland. On one farm in North Stonington 209 cords of wood were marketed. Mr. Slocum would buy small farms, give mortgage on same, and then they would work together, clear off the mortgage and then sell out and commence all over again. improving their holdings with each change.
 Mrs Slocum says that for 10 years they lived in upholstered houses, and they endured real suffering in cold weather, as they were ambitious to make life success. so that when age came on they would have a. few pen nies set aside for rainy days. In order to do this they deprived themselves of some of the pleasures that most people class as happiness but she and her husband were happy in making their undertakings successful, with the hope of providing for the future.
 Mrs. Slocum says that the last farm they owued was located on the Mill town road; this they sold for $6000 then came to Pawcatuck and pur- chased the house in Moss street in which she and her son Paieg reside That was A years ago, and she has seen great changes in that section since Mess street was not then open cd and since then there have been several streets opened in that section and what was sparsely settled is now denEelT populated.
 Mrs. Slocum iS in possession of not cniy the first little leather shoes she ever wore but also the last upon which they were made by her grand father. She said her mother had care fully preserved the little shoes and last end gne has done likewise and cher iStes her only reminder of her own childhood days. Pretty good stuff in them shoes, I guess" laughingly re- TnariSed Mrs. Slocum, for they were made ever a century ago, and the soles are not worn through yet; must be better stock than they put in shoes nopvadays!f
 Mrs. Slocum was in fine spirits when visited Wednesday and said 1t gave her great pleasure to have a good talk wheTs her talk interested. She said: 'T tsii you plainly I believe I have led fife to be proud of. although I have