St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 89

El ections and Is Still Living Mrs. Samanlha Stanlon Net I is of Naples, New York, is the only surviving daughter of the American Revolution, the oldest living Methodist and the most venerable Red Cross member Honors visited on this remarkable woman in commemorating her 109th anniversary Her father was at Washington's side at Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware with the intrepid Continental Army Has Witnessed 27 Presidential WW transpired in her day and what It has been ordained for her to witness, you cannot help but wonder. There is not the slightest doubt that her age is accurately given. In the old Bible back in her home at Naples, yellow with age and ragged from constant use, you will find this entry standing out boldly in the family history of the Stantons: I i "Samantha Jan. 5th, "Just think that her father fought alongside George Washington, clasped his hands, camped in the same wretched quarters at Valley Forge and battled the ice in the historic crossing of the Delawaro.

How often did she hear her father 'fc jm wm i uwMivwviw vjuwe r- Mrs. Samantha Stanton Nellis. From a Photo taken in the early PERTINACITY in clinging to life has served to crowd remarkable honors on Mrs. Samantha Stanton Nellis, who has passed her 109th bMhday and who, next January, will be five score and ten. Mrs.

Nellis is the oldest living Methodist in the entire world and besides she is the only living daughter of the American Revolution at least, she is the only survivor so far as known. Two weeks ago all the Protestant churches of her home city of Naples, N. joined in a community service in her honor, and letters and telegrams carrying greetings and congratulations fairly dazed this remarkable woman, who has lived through every war that has engaged the United States since the American Revolution. These nave come regularly on her anniversary days, and she has become quite accustomed to the special attention shown her on these annual occasions. In her collection and among the highest-prized is the following, sent to her when she was 105 years of age: My Dear Mrs.

Nellis: It is with the greatest interest that I learn of your approaching 105th birthday. I want to send you Just a line of sincere congratulation and to express the hope that for years still to come you will be vouchsafed life and the power to enjoy it. Cordially yours, WOODROW WILSON. At the community service arranged in her honor by the people of Naples the Rev. Dr.

Frederick T. Kenny, executive secretary of the Centenary movement of the Methodist 'Episcopal Church for the Buffalo district, presided and delivered a most impressive sermon, In which he reviewed the church activities of Mrs. Nellis, which began in her childhood and extended over almost a complete century. The entire town turned out in her honor and the ordeal of the reception seemingly occasioned her very little fatigue. She was thoroughly at home in her role of honor guest and responded as appropriately as her condition would permit to every felicitation offered.

It was the opinion of the ministers who participated in the joint service that she was entitled also to the distinction of being the oldest white woman in the country. When she was 108 many of her friends who had formed a Red Cross chapter formally inducted her as a member and gave her still another honor in being the oldest member of that beloved organization. An old friend and former neighbor of this virile old lady who thus defies the ravages of time, is Mrs. Carolyn B. Parker, who resides at 5745 Helen avenue, on the outskirts of St.

Louis. Mrs. Parker has spent many days in the company of Mrs. Nellis and has furnished much of the material for this article. "Mrs.

Nellis," she wrote, "is well entitled to all the honor that has been shown her and I trust she will continue to enjoy the health that will permit her to acknowledge such attentions. When you stop to think what has her father speak of the stirring days of the war and she was proud to know that he was not only in the Continental army, speak of those days and how often has she repeated these thrilling narratives to her friends and neighbors! "It was my pleasure to spend many pleasant hours with Mrs. Nellis and enjoy her recitals. Her father was a Continental the term used to distinguish the regular soldiers of the Revolution from those drawn from the militia bodies. He was Elijah Stanton, and he came from illustrious stock which furnished its men most willingly to the great cause of American independence.

He entered the army at the age of 16 and was ready when the first gun was fired at Lexington. He remained with the army until the last gun was fired and the cause for which he so gladly fought was recognized and thus vindicated. He was at the Brandywine and was in the army that took part in the battle of Germantown, where he was wounded and had to be carried to the rear. It was on this occasion that Gen. Washington himself, according to a tradition in the family, assisted in taking him out of action.

When Samantha was a child she often heard but that he knew and loved Gen. Washington. "Mrs. Nellis is a D. A.

R. and her picture hangs among those entitled to special honor in the hall at Washington. She is a member of Astenoygan Chapter, which she joined in 1899. She is the possessor of two gold spoons given her on each passing half century in recognition of her father's services as one of Gen. Washington's body guards, in the early history of the colonies.

She lives in a large farmhouse and through her own choice sleeps in a cold room off from the kitchen. The house and grounds are neatly kept and the place has a homelike air. Her memory, the last time I saw her, was playing her pranks, but the big, impressive events were still fresh in her mind. All of her children have passed away, but she has her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who are a real comfort to her. When her memory begins its flights she makes very odd misstatements and In her chats with her callers tells some that slie is just 16 years old, while others are told that she is 1000.

Up to quite recently she always did, her little tasks about the place and took a pride in her chickens and saw to it that they were fed and given fresh water. Her appetite has always seemed good and she thoroughly enjoys her meals and the company at the table. She was the youngest, save one of a family of 10 children. Of her own children, three were boys and there was one girl, all of whom are survived by the wonderful mother. "When she was in a reminiscent mood she used to recall incidents of her childhood, and then she would let us all know about her father's part in the war that made the United States a reality.

A story she used to like to tell was about a girl who attended the same village school, and who for some slight Infraction o( the rules, was ordered to remain after the other children were dismissed. The girl waited until the master's back was turned and then she Jumped through the open window and ran to her home, Just as well as might be expected of any boy. Mrs. Nellis used to tell us this to illustrate her point that the girls of that day could very well take care of themselves. Her recollection of the bigger happenings was very keen up to a few years ago, but I gather from recent news from the old town that her memory is cracking under the strain of her 109 years.

When one Btops to think that she was here, though a very small child, when the battle of New Orleans was fought, when Napoleon met with his Waterloo and was able to read or the great speeches of -Webster, Clay, Quincy Adams' and Calhoun, we marvel indeed that she is still here here in person, though living in the past. "When Mrs. Nellis celebrated her 106th anniversary she assisted her daughter-in-law, Rhoda Wheeler Nel- Continued on Page Events of World-Wide Interest During Mrs. Nellis' 109 Years ADMISSION of 32 of the 48 states comprising the United States. Twenty-seven presidential elections.

Assassination of three Presidents of the United States. Invention of sewing machine, telephone, telegraph, electric light, anesthesia, wireless, automobiles, talking machines, typewriter, airplane, submarine, all modern farm machinery and hundreds of other devices without which the world could not well get along today. She was 9 years old when the Savannah, an American steamship, made the first transatlantic voyage with steam as the motive power in 1819. AH of the wars in which the United States took part since the Revolution. Napoleon's arrest and removal to Elba, his subsequent escape and return to France to reopen hostilities; his final defeat at Waterloo by the Duke of Wellington, his confinement at St.

Helena and his death in 1821. She was 15 years old when Lafayette visited the United States in 1825. She was 26 years oKl when the first American railroad was successfully operated in 1836. Was 28 years old when Queen Victoria was crowned in 1838. She was in her 38th year when the treaty of peace with Mexico gave the United States California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas in 1848.

Was 48 years old when first Atlantic cable was laid in 1858. Discovery of gold in California in 1849, when she was observing her thirty-ninth anniversary. Was in her fifty-first year when the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. Was in her sixtieth year at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War, which was followed by the formation of the Germanic empire by Prince Bismarck and the collapse of the French empire constructed by Louis Napoleon. Was 66 years old when the Centennial of the United States was celebrated at Philadelphia in 1876.

Was In her eighty-eighth year when the Spanish-American War began in 1898. Had celebrated her 104th birthday before the opening of the greatest of all wars in August, 1914. FAGE FOUR SUNDAY ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH JUNE 15, 1919,.