The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-04
OLDEST MAN IN COUNTRY.
ThOs. Norris of Nebraska is Nearly
100 Years Old and Is PrOnounc.
ed Halter of Women.

Probably the oldest person in the
United States today is Thomas Nor
ris of Custer county, Nebraska. Chas.
Mytton, with whom the aged man
lives, declares that Morris will have
reached his 12Oth year the 18th OF
next January. 1t appears that some
years ago records of his birth were
destroyed by fire., and, it is largely
through memory that the present
facts are retained.
Morris was born in the year 1894,
at Berrey, Montgomeryshire, North
Wales, and if he lives until the 18th
of next January he will have reached
the wonderful age of 1870 years. 1t is
not unlikely that the centenarian
can claim the distinction Of being
the oldest living man in the United
States. Considering the great age
he has reached, Morris life has been
rather uneventful and he has. always
been a hard worker up to the time
old age incapacitated him.
The old man is a shoe maker by
trade, but at one time he served as
a game-keeper to a large estate in
England. He came to America in
1871 and passed through Chicago the
Sunday after the big fire. Locating at
Blackstone, ILL.,, he quietly followed
his trade in that town for ten years.
Later on he moved to Harrison coun-
ty, Missouri, where he lived for four
years.
He reached Custer county in 1886
and resided there since that time.
Morris can justly be numbered with
the pioneers of the west. He is able
to walk about although considerably
hampered by a club foot, and he thor
oughly enjoys basking in the sun
light.
He talks but little at the present
time, but generally manages to make
himself understood. Tobacco is his
constant companion, and he appears
to derive much nourishment from
large quantities of coffee, which he
drinks at all hours of the day and
night.
Thomas Morris is unable to read
or write. consequently has. never
been able to take notes of any inter-
esting experiences that may have
come his way. 1t is hardly likely,
however, that he has had any start
ling adventures, as his life, accord
luS W tliUSC w llO hlo" hin oCol, 1Auo
been a remarkably quiet one; al
though it would appear that one who
has passed over such a great number
of years and has lived in I'VE olden
times that we read about, must
necessarily have bumped against
something during his career that was
worth chronicling.
Morris is a bachelor and con-
firmed woman hater, and right here
is where a grain Of romance inserts
itself. In his young days, it is said,
many years before he came to this
country, he was engaged to buxom
English girl. The wedding day had
been fixed, but before it's arrival the
girl sickened and died. Morris so
cherished the memory of his beloved
that he could never be brought to
look with favor upon any other wo-
man.
AS the years passed, his antipathy
toward the fair sex increased until,
at the present day, with 1870 years
to his credit, he stands forth, an
openly avowed woman hater. Who
knows, but what this aged man, as
he dreams in the sunlight, has visions
of that long-ago face and that it
gradually draws nearer and becomes
more distinct as he himself approach
es the goal.-Nebraska Exchange.