Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1919 — 96 TODAY; MAKES NO DIFFERENCE [ARTICLE]

96 TODAY; MAKES NO DIFFERENCE

UNCLE JOHN STIVELY PLANTS HIS CORN SAME AS ANY- * - ONE ELSE. “Queer thing how this path of least resistance, of which they speak, never seems to get any easier,” soliloquized the old man Tuesday as he dashed a seed of corn savagely into the tender young earth and covered it up with one of those back-saving hoes. “Yes, sir,” he continued, “seems as if something is alway coming up to prevent one doing what he mot desires. Here I was already to go fishing today, had the bait dug and everything, when they said if I wanted any roasting ears this summer I had better get busy and put the seed in the ground,” eyeing me aggressively as he spoke. “Does beat all how they’re always spoiling a young fellow’s time. Well,” he added, resignedly, “I’ll soon have my first hundred years finished and then I’ll bet I have a good time; they say the first century is the hardest, you know.” And the old man planted on, dreaming all the while of a shady nook along the river bank and the new fishing pole, the fat angleworms and the brilliantly colored “bobber” which were hidden in the wood-shed. The speaker was “Uncle” Johnny Stively, father of Mrs. Joseph Sharpe of this city, who reached his ninetysixth milestone today, May 14. There is not a cloud in the sky today for Mr. Stively, for the vexatious problems of yesterday have passed and he is free to go and do as he chooses. Mr. Stively wa born near Canton, Ohio, May 14 in the year 1823, which makes him the oldest person in Jasper county. The greater part of his fife was spent in Yelverton, Ohio, from which place he came to Rensselaer seventeen years ago to make his residence with his daughter. “Uncle” Johnny recalls many his-tory-making events and remembers them as well as if they had occurred only yesterday. It was his privilege to live during some of the most trying days of the nation. He recalls the election of some of the nation’s most nosed presidents and was a personal friend of many of the greatest statesmen of the early days. As a member of an Ohio company, he served his cause well during the Civil War days, being almost forty years of age at the time his country called. He took part in some of the greatest battles of the war and vividly recalls many interesting incidents of his soldier days. Despite his advanced age, Mr. Stively is able to speak fluently on many subjects and keeps himself well posted on the leading events qf the day. He is enjoying splendid health and is almost as active as a , man of fifty. His vision is clear and he finds that spectacles are only a handicap to him. He is pleasant and I affable and likes nothing better than to engage his juniors in a debate on the leading questions. And it must be a mighty well posted man who defeats him on any subject. Mr. Stively is the father of three living children, a son residing in Sandusky, Ohio; one daughter, a resident of Yelverton, Ohio, and Mrs. Joseph Sharpe of this city. The aged man attributes his longevity to the fact that he has for the most part lived an outdoor life, has had clean habits and has always remained loyal to the Democratic party. His many friends hope that he will live to, celebrate many more anniversaries sueh as he is celebrating today.