Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
COMES HERE At 80
SEEKING PENSION
Man, Hale, Hearty and Full of
Humor Says U. S. Owes
Him $66.67.

due him for 60 years by the Federal
Government. John Luther Skinner,
who boasts 80 years of life, adventure
and history yarns galore, as well as a
spry and active constitution. packed
up his things and descended on Wash
ington a few days ago to see whether
he had any chance of getting the
money
He wired his son. George W. Skin
ner of Normal. H., near Bloomington.
Of his decision. and George came on
20 Fairmont. w. Va. his fathers
home. met tho parent and accom-
panied him here. George is a boy of
IS years. He is married, has a grown
family and grandchildren. But he's
lust a YOungSter in the eyes of his
dad.
George said yesterday, however
that this is the last time he'll have
the temerity to attempt a sightseeing
or business trip with Mr.. Skinner.
Finds Father Too Active.
Hes too active for me-" George
said. "Why, do you know he walked
al the way from the Union Station
down TO the Seventh street wharves
the other day and when 1 wanted to
take a street car back-it was a broil-
ing hot day--he just laughed at me
and asked what made me so tired so
quickly"
The near centenarian is Of rather
slight frame; healthily tanned. with
keen blue eyes which have never
needed glasses. He became n bit
Eportive last Sunday. he admitted
haltingly, however, and started carry
ing a cane to celebrate his Goth birth
day. His hearing is the only faculty
That has become impaired. His sense
"f humor SENS to have developed
with his years. The only wrinkles
that seam his face arc of those around
the corners of the mouth, imbedded
there from smiles and laughter. He
Is quick in his talk He's an expert
at spelling and can throw out a few
tests Of words he remembers learn
ing at school.
One Of the outstanding events of
his trip to this city--he is stopping
with Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Lerch,
friends. at SIT Second street. north
caSt-Was a meeting with an old girl
school chum, mo, she wasn't
sweetheart" he protested
Went to School Together.
She was little Ann Golden, back in
the thriving thiI-ties and the booming
forties of the nineteenth century.
when Johnny Skinner, chubby and
mischievous. was wont to trudge to
school and home again with her over
the roads and lanes of Charles
County, Md, near Port Tobacco. then
the county seat.
She's in her nineties now. When
Mr.. Skinner arrived in Washington
with all the Zest and zipp which close
:" a century of residence on this
globe seems to have given him, he
looked her up. At 1904 e. street
southwest he found her. Her name
is now Carter.
They laughed together. these two
folks on the sunny side of 100; they
cried together and reminiSced, throw
ing memOry'S tentacles back scores
and scores of years, recalling that of
the 100 youngsters who once marched
up the hill to a little brown school
house--it was not a red one-in
charles County. in the days before
talifornias name was scarcely heard
in the East, they were the only two
surviving
Were Merely Friends.
Indeed not indeed not" exclaimed
MI. Skinner when the prying reporter
attempted TO uncloak I; romance.
I'VE were just friends, boy and
girl. We used to walk to school to-
gether and to walk home together
from school. We We're just good
friends. Don't you go trying to make
this love story. for it's not so, now,
MIR. Skinner has not had a path Of
roses in his dealing with Uncle Sam
II took 10 years strenuous effort in
The seventies and eighties before he
could get his pension.
"Finally," he said, Il wrote to Ben
Harrison and he sent his secretary
down to the Pension Office to see what
was the matter. 1t got fixed uD all
right and Ben Harrison wrote me
a letter a couple of times about it
hut ! lost those letters when my house
burned down."
The claim that is occupying his at
tention now. however, arose when the
Federal Government promised
bounty of 800 for volunteers when
Lincoln called for another 100, 900 mon
IN 1864. Mr.. Skinner enlisted in Co
G, 18th Maryland Infantry and col.
leCted 1898 as the first inStalln1ent
At Baltimore before the troops moved
down into Virginia. That was the
last he got.
Wants the Other $685..
II came here to get the rest, see. :"
he said. and / told them at the Pen.
. sion Bureau that if l didn't get il
now Ia come back in 20 or % years
when they'd have some new faces
there and try again.
There's a quiet, sober sort of a look
that CreepS into the twinkling eyes
of this upernonagenarian when one
asks him To what does he credit his
long life. He gives one of the best
answers yet received.
Surely. know why I've lived 80
long he says, quietly. "Anyhody
knows. It's only the goodness of God
II YOU read the Bible you can see for
yourself. The wicked shah not live
out half their days. That's what
long life comes from, SON and let no
one tell YOU Otherwise. It's the good
ness OF God.
Did he drink? He laughs again. for
he went on the wagon 35 years ago.
Mr.. Skinner has lived most OF his
life in the open; he helped lay the
y. and q. tracks between Baltimore
and Washington in 1862; he worked
IN machine shops: he farmed He has
been married three times. taking his
last wife. who still lives. on his
IIinetieth birthday. nine years ago.
She IS now approaching her seventy
seventh year.
iii ~r~ ~~F7yY iii