Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-20


Seated in a comfortable chair in his
room al 1011 M street northwest and
holding In his hands a volume Of popu-
lar fiction which he had been reading,
Austin Winslow, who will tomorrow cele-
brate the ninety-eighth anniversary Of
his birth, yesterday afternoon told a Star
reporter of his great disappointment,
when, at the outbreak Of the civil war,
he was told he was too old to enlist as a
soldier in the Union army, and recited
some of the incidents of his eventful life
Mr.. Winslow did not have the appearance
of a man who has almost reached the
century mark His rudy complexion,
bright eyes and hearty laugh were those
OF a man many years his Junior. The
only things that spoke of great age were
his flowing silvery white beard and hair
and the fact that his hearing was slightly
impaired.
Yes, It's true I am ninety-eight years
DID," said Mr.. Winslow, but as l have
no ailments worth while mentioning
hope to reach the one-hundred mark If
/ fail to do SO. however. 1 will not be
disappointed, for I have been blessed
with a long life already and stand pre-
pared to take the long journey at any
time
Born in Vermont.
Mr.. Winslow was born in the town of
Barnard, in Windsor county, VT, March
q, 1916. His father Hezekiah Winslow,
fought at the battle of Bunker Hill dur
Ing the revolutionary war. His mother
was Miss Martha Sampson before mar
riage. She was an aunt of the late Rear
Admiral Sampson of Spanish war fame.
At the age of eight years he moved with
his parents to Pierpont, st. Lawrence
county, N. Y. He received his early ed
ucation at the ST. Lawrence Academy
N rcd M L.
Syracuse, N. Y, and the following year
went to Utica to live. While living in
that city he cast his first vote for Presi-
dent for William Henry Harrison.
As a young man still in his early teens
Mr.. Winslow showed remarkable ability
as a carpenter and before long he had
branched forth into the contracting busi-
ness. After pursuing this trade in Al
bany for two or three years he went to
Troy, having been awarded a contract to
build home there for Russell Sage. 1t
was during his residence in Troy that
Mr.. Winslow first took a hand in further
Ing the underground system by means
of which runaway slaves were ena bled to
make their way to Canada and escape
their masters. On one occasion Mr. Win
slow was indicted along with a number
of his townsfolk for his participation in
the systems activities, but the cases
never came to trial.
First Visit to Washington.
Mr.. Winslow first visited Washington
in 1915, when, in the capacity of deputy
United States marshal, he came here to
confer with the postal authorities regard
ing post office robbery which had taken
place at Troy
Il will never forget my first impress
sions upon seeing the National Capital"
said Mr.. Winslow. 81 had expected to see
a magnificent city, but to my utter dis
gust | beheld the worst city imaginable
The dirt streets were knee deep with
mud IN many places Cows. horses, pigs,
sheep and geese wandered about the
streets and across lots. There were no
sewers and every one depended upon wells
Tor drinking water. l was greatly dis
appointed. | went back to Troy with
the feeling that / never wanted to see
Washington again.
During the same year he visited Wash
ingtop Mr. Winslow was first married.
ms wife dying a few years later. Three
children were born to them. Austin Win
slow, jr, son. now lives in Waterloo,
Iowa. His two daughters have been
dead number of years
Mr. Winslow did not come to Washing
ton to live permanently until about 1860.
when he was married to DR.. Caroline
Brown, one of the city's first woman
doctors. Mr.. Winslow had become &C
quainted with her several years before in
Albany.
At that time Salmon p. Chase. then
Secretary of the Treasury, was having
residence built near the corner of 18th
and III streets, and Mr.. Winslow obtained
employment under the contractor in
had purchased a lot on Grant place near
the corner OF 9th street on which he
hoped TO have home built. The con-
tractor in charge of the erection of the
Chase house was anxious to get the lob.
u told him | would not be able to
build until l could get steady employ
ment somewhere said Mr.. Winslow yes
terday during the course of The Star
reporters visit with him. 1.-The con-
tractor, whose name was Meyers, said he
would look around and endeavor to get
me government appointment. A few
| days later Secretary Chase called me
from my work and told me an extra car
penter was needed at the Treasury which
was then being finished. / got the job
and Meyers the contract to build my
house"
Mr.. Winslow was employed at the
Treasury for six years. He afterward
was employed at the navy yard and in
the census office. In 1875. accompanied
by his wife, Mr.. Winslow went abroad
and spent nearly 4 year travelling about
Europe and the Holy Lands. Mrs Wins
low died in 1878.
Mr.. Winslow said he believes Wash
ington has the finest government Of any
city in the United States. He also spoke
of the citys beauty, ana declared that
the present-day magnlf1cence of Wash
ington is largely due to the efforts OF
Alexander Shepherd.
Knew Gov. Shepherd.
II knew Mr. Shepherd Intimately"
said Mr.. Winslow, and believed he was
a great man. 1t was his gnod deeds
that made enemies for him. I remember
the night the old market house on the
square now occupied % the Public