The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-12-14
DEVOUTLY PRAISES GOD
FOR HIS IS YEARS OF LIFE
John Joseph Michael Attributes
Longevity to Trust In Maker

Racing with life for nearly CEN
Jury, John joseph Michael, a resident
Of Garrett county, but who is residing
during the winter months with his
daughter, Miss Angie Michael, at "a
Loo street, Frostburg, passed his 98th
milestone on last Tuesday. He is re-
garded as the oldest male resident of
Aucgany\ and Garrett counties. AL
though feeble, he is in good health
and eats three meals a day. He at
tributes his long life to an implicit
trust in God" An interesting his
tory surrounds his life.
He was born in an old house three
miles from Westernport, December
3, 1924. He was the first child born
to Philip Michael and Catherine Pot
ter Michael. The section in which
they lived was thickly wooded and
was then known as Allegany county
Recalling his boyhood he relates
his particular interest in townball
and said that he was regarded as one
OF the best players in the "Darts."
The game was then known as town
ball"
His schooling was limited. having
had but three days OF 'ciphering," as
he called it, and the rest of his edu-
cation was made up in the school of
hard knocks. At a very early age he
began hiring out to neighboring far
mers to make few odd dollars and
at the age CT eighteen years became
d WoOdsman and sawyer.
in the capacity Of a sawyer he be-
came famous as the timberman of the
county. lie was a pioneer woodsman
and was listed among he men who
opened up rOadWays in almost every
section in what is now known as Al
legany and Garrett counties. Most of
the timber at saw mills wa scut with
straight cut saws, the circular saw
then being unknown.
Regarding the speed, he stated he
was fortunate enough to beat an Irish
Iumberjack, who cut 5000 feet of pine
one day by cutting one thousand feet
more. This feat established Mr.. Mi
chaeIS reputation among the lumber
men as the champion sawyer of the
State.
In November, 1914, he married Miss
Elizabeth Wiley, q resident of sec
ton near Grantsville. She was the
daughter of John Wiley, an innkeeper
and owner of large stage coach line
plying between Grantsyille and Cum
berland. To this union were born II
children, nine of whom. are living.
They are two sons, S. X. Michael, of
Dayton, Ohio; J. C. Michael, Orlando.
Fla; and seven daughters, Mrs. Sam
uel c. Robson, Aviiton, Md; Mrs.
Mary A. Pope, Mountain Lake Park,
Md; Mrs. Rebecca burst, Lonacon-
ing, Nd; Mrs. B. F. Michael, near
Frostburg, on the National Road:
Mrs. Lulu G. Friend, Morgantown, W.
Va; Mrs. Emma Kitching, Stewart,
Fla, and Miss Angie Michael. Frost
burg. He has one brother and one
sister living, Charles Michael, aged
80 years, and Mrs. Shaw, aged so
years, who live on the National Road
west of Frostburg.
Mr.. Michael has been Sunday school
superintendent Of the SAMSON Metho-
dist Episcopal church, Fayette coun-
ty, Pa, and the Mt. Zion Methodist
Episcopal church in Garrett county.
lie also filled other offices in church.
such as stewart and exhorter and on
many occasions has supplied as pastor
in the absence of the church preacher.
He is loved by all who know him and
the undeniable light of a warm and
tender love for all mankid is manifest
in two sparkling blue eyes which do
not yet need spectaces. He has snow
white hair and his face is unwrinkIed.
He IS unable to walk around a great
deal at a time, but as he sits on a
char and watches the school children
that pass the house each day, a youth
tul smile fills his cOuntenance and riS