Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-07

1t is quite unusual in these times
to live 100 years, but more unusual
still is 1t to be in such excellent ply
steal trim that when about to attain
the century mark little trouble Is ex-
perienced in carrying 100-pound
bag OF sugar across the street, or
five gallon can of kerosene up a long
steep hill.
Both of these feats have been per-
formed within the past four or five
months by James d. Cameron Of this
city who will celebrate his Tooth
birthday upon April 10 of this year.
Mr.. Cameron who has spent much
of his life in the woods, has always
been in fine health until short time
ago. when he suffered a slight shock.
This shock has not incapacitated him
however, and he still keeps the paths
cleaned after snow storms and does
other things about the store and
hou&c on Gage street where he re-
sides with his son V. E. Cameron.
Mr.. Cameron was born in Fred
erickton. n b.. and was one of 16
children, ali boys but one. When
he was about five years Of age the
family moved to Bridgton, Me. When
Mr.. Cameron was about % years of
age he married and became the ia
Their of four children. OF these four
the, oldest James ID. Cameron, Jr.,
of Yarmo. California, is now rs years
old; " r.. Cameron of Augusta, the
youngest boy, now 50; and Mrs.
Tressa Taylor of Auburn, 81. Mrs.
Cameron died about 1895 and in 1908
Mr.. Cameron again married. His
second wife now lives with him at
the home of his son V. f. Cameron.
Mi. Cameron also has 13 grandchil-
dren, 10 great grandchildren and
one great great grand child. But
one of his brothers and sisters now
lives, this being Stair Cameron of
Houlton, the next youngest of the
sixteen children.
For forty years Mr.. Cameron was
q woods foreman for r. Shaw and
Brothers. and worked on their bark
peeling operations in the woods of
Maine. In 1911 he went west and
worked at Ri!l Lake, Wisconsin and
at Flagstaff, Arizona for the same
company. He worked for about six
years in those two places, still in the
woods, and then went to Maytown,
Wash where he accepted q position
as night watc!.man with the Service
mill He continued at that work until
turned to Augusta to make his home
with his sen. In his journeying dur
ing the past 10 years Mr.. Cameron
has crossed the Rockies four times.
Mr.. Cameron believes that he would
not have suffered the slight shock II
he had not worked rs night watch
man, but said that the night work
and so much of it lowered his vitality
great deal. The mill in which he
worked at that time was what he
describes as Il small one. He said
that it only sawed out about $4,000
feet day. and beside his work as
night Waterman he was required to
clean up the entire mill each night
Since he has been in this city he
has assisted his son about the store
which he conducts on Gage street and
has insisted upon doing many things
such as delivering groceries to the
peoply nearby. packing the ice cream
and work of a similar nature. 1T was
while delivering groceries that he
carried the large bag of sugar across
the street with apparent ease.
Mr.. Cameron, unlike many people
who have attained ripe age. does
not boast of his years. In fact he
does not refer to them in any way eX-
Cept to say that he is Yet u young
evening, preferring to stay at home
with his wife and children. When
questioned with regard to his liking
of the moving pictures he said that
he found the Pickering of the light
bothered his eyes.
TO illustrate the difference be-
tween conditions now and in his
boyhortl. he tells of the way in which
his brothers and he were forced to
split wood in the winter. Having
neither stockings nor shoes, the boys
would first secure some large chips,
which one of their number would
place upon the stove until they were
heated through. then he would hurry
outside and place them in front of the
pile for the others to stand upon
while they split the wood.
The picture of Mr.. Cameron which
accompani 5 this article was taken
several we ,rs ago while he was work
ing in the state of Washington. 1t is.
however. an excellent likeness as he
is today. Few people seeing him
about the store would realize that he
had already exceeded three score and
ten years by over a score more
years. and fewer yet would believe
that he would shortly celebrate his
Tooth birthday.