Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1920-03-05
Born February 81, 1920.

Born L eD1'us
Last Friday Feb. 9th, marked the
contamination of much desired event
in the life of Cresco's Oldest citizen,
George v. Punteney, the attainment of
the centenary anniversary of his birth.
In celebration of the event, the M. E.
congregation of which MIR. Punteney is
. member. under the energetic leader
ship of their pastor Rev. Nye, srrsng.
ed for = reception in the church par
lors, the serving Of refreshments and
. short program of music by the
church choir, the reading of . .biog-
raphical sketch of Mr.. sPunteney by
bis pastor and addresses by old time
neighbors of Mr.. Punteney. 49,
Mayor Barker, the first speaker,
congratulated Mr.. Punteney on his At
tanning 100 years Of age, and conveyed
to him tho congratulations and respect
Of the entire community. He follow
ed with . number Of personal reminis-
cences Of Mr.. Punteney and his saw.
mill Of early days, and with an sppre-
citation II Mr.. Punteney's high charac-
ter - . c:,urchman and . citizen.
DR.. Kessel followed and put the -.
semblsge in good humor by telling Mr..
Punteney that 10 he had distanced al
competitors in his 100 years Of life,
that he saw no good reason for his not
attaining another century. $ Then in
serious vein he briefly epumSratedo the
progress and great milsstones in the
nations lite since Mr.. Pontsqey's
birth. gave several personal recollec-
tions of Mr.. Punteney during the doc
tors boyhood days, and in . tribute to
ths personal character Of Mr.. Punte-
neS quoted from Micah Go % follows:
He bath showed thee, o, man, that
what 10 good; and what doth the Lord
require ofIthee but to do justly. and to
love mercy and to walk humbly with
thy Cod" and stated that those with
. knowledge .of Mr.. Puntsney's life
knew that oil these requirements, to
do justly, to love mercy and to walk
humbly with God had been met by the
man when centenary was being cele-
brated. 4, X. o.
Mr.. Punteney next. without anaouce-
ment, rose to bis feet, and in aifirm,
clear voice distinctly audible 10 oil
parts Of the church auditorium. thank
cd the assemblsge for the reception
rendered him, and in . logical aud con-
nected talk Of ten minutes proved that
years had not affected his mentality
and that his physicrl, condition was
certainly remarkable. Az was to be
expected from . man Of 30 decidedly .
religious trend. bis talk spoke Of his
love for the Bible. the goodness of God
and the blessings Of Christian life,
spitomizing his remarks At the last
vi h the remark that if all would OBJ
serve the Golden Rule, what glori-
Gus world this would be. -
John Murtha, another old time neigh
Dor, followed with q tribute of appre-
citation to Mr.. Punteney % . neighbor
and citizen, giving several anecdotes of
early days when they participated in
debates on questions of public policy,
and made reference to Mr.. Punte;
ney's intense loyalty. telling the
incident Of the latter making . flag
for . 4th of July celebration at Co.
noe twp. in Winneshiek Co, using
strips torn from his red flannel I'M
dershirt to make stripes for the flag.
A number Of family relics are
exhibited. among them . clock
bought in 1864, . woven coverlet made
in ls4l, . piece of linen made from flax
grown. spun and woven into cloth BY
Thomae Truman, ST., in Csnsds in 1850.
. patchwork quilt made BY Mr.. Punten-
ey's mothsr in 1854 being . wedding
gift, = family Bible printed in 1911. I
book entitled English Gentlemen and
English Gentlevomen'' printed in l64l,
and . chair bought by Mr.. Punteney's
father in 1880. =, T.,
The Ladies of the M. E. church pre.
sented Ar. Punteney with = most ap-
propriate gift of one hundred beautiful
roses. and Master George Champlin,
whose 9Th birthday conceded with the
centenary of Mr.. Punteney. gave = fine
birthday cake ornamented With hun
bred candles. An attack of measles
neosapfod MssR>, (yonp,,. &c. l.:.-