The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-03-26
LIFE A LONG STORY OF USCEAS.
ING Toll.

Especial Dispatch to The Globe.)
Richmond Hill, Ontario. March a.
Sarah Maxwell, Canada's oldest cit
izen. celebrated her 116 birthday
March 10. She has outliyed her
child and is now all alone. Though
frail, she Is still able TO move about.
She eats heartily, sleeps soundly and
still seems 10 get enjoyment out OF
life. Her memory has gone alto
gether within the last year.
To-day a representative OF The
Globe visited the old lady and chatted
with her for a few minutes Mrs.
Maxwell was quite able to talk. but
had forgotten all the facts about her
self. She sat UP in her rocking chair,
with a picturesque shawl draped
about her shoulders, flne-looking
old lady Though her hair was per-
fectly white, one could scarcely be-
lleve that she had lived through five
scores and sixteen years
y Village Historian Speaks.
Mrs. Maxwell's lack of knowledge
OF herself was supplied by several Of
the older residents of the village.
Mr.. William Harrison. who himself
has passed the four-score mark, had
many tales to tell OF the old lady.
He IS the village historian. and from
HIS notes Mrs. MaxwelI's curious his-
tory was obtained.
II Mrs. Maxwell could give re-
cipe for Longevity II would be hard
work" Her life is a story Of many
hardships. She has had several mar
row escapes from death. Once she
was overcome In a blizzard, and res
cued after having lost consciousness.
She participated in fight with kid
nappers, In which a white man and
c0lored woman were slain, and then,
after many hardships, reached
by tho Underground Railway From
first to last her life has been one
Of continuous toll.
Life Of Struggle.
Left an orphan at an early age
widowed some years after marriags,
with five young children TO care for,
Mrs. Maxwell Is now chdldIess, and
dependent ON the charity OF her for
mcr employers Her brave struggles
10 earn a living for herself and her
children won from the people Of
Richmond Hill unbounded admiration.
On March TO- 1906, Mrs. Maxwell
was born in Lancaster county, Penn
syIvania. Years before slavery was
abolished In the United States, and
when there still were serfs in Cam
ada. she was born free woman.
Until recently Mrs. Maxwell had
vivid recollections Of her eal1y days.
~ vents of her m4dde lie has
betl forgotten. Two or three years
ago she told Mr. Harrison: Il learn.
cd 10 work when little girl and
I've worked hard all my life. could
work now just as well as ever II the
doctor had not said must not work .
Shortly before the American Civil
War event the free-born Colored peo-
pie across the End were subjected to
outrages Gangs Il kidnappers were
at work. The Little colony IN which
Mrs Maxwell and her husband lived
discovered that the kldnapDers were
on their track They prepared to
defend themselves In the struggle
one white man and q Colored woman
were killed Frightened at the con
diIions existing. the Maxwell's decid-
cd to seek safety n Canada.
After many narrow escapes they
arrived in Toronto some time IN the
Mites. But work was scarce an Tor
onto and they moved to Richmond
HIN. Mr.. Maxwell was a charcoal
burner, He diad IN Hamilton shortly
after the family moved to Richmond
Htll.
The five Maxwell childre were
ali delicate Mrs. Maxwell e.ruggled
horoically to support them. For Al
days work at Richmond Hin she
could earn only a york smiling
IL IL cents but at Markham, six orr
seven miles away. wages were higher.
Acre she sometimes got as much
IS SO cents day.
Rescued From Blizzard.
On Jne of her tramps back ifom
ork she eas overcome in snow
stnrIn. A dos discovered her lFing
Ia TIE snow. The ami
NAL rushed hack TO his matters
sDrDe end arc ased a rescue par vi
One BY cne our OF Mrs Maxwell's