Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1908 — ALMOST A CENTENARIAN. [ARTICLE]

ALMOST A CENTENARIAN.

John Bislosky, Sr., BMs Fair to Reach the Ceotny Mark. John Bislosky, who is year, was in town Thursday to see his son John E. Blslatflcy, Jr., on business connected with his farm in Kewton tp. Mr. Blsloisky is in reasonably good health notwithstanding his great age, and while he suffers a great deal from rheutaatism and is suffering now from that painful disease, he came to town unattended, and hobbled about the streets for an hour in a vain attempt to find his son, also to do a little trading.

More than a half century ago Mr. Bislosky and his wife, together with three daughters, Sarah, Mary and Jocie, left their homes in Bohemia and came to the United States to make a new one. They came to Cleveland. Ohio, and lived there ten years, after which time with what little money hy the closest kind of econemy had been •accumulated, the family moved to this county and stopped at the old Dunlap the first night after their arrival. Washington street at that time was in an awful condition after every spell of wet weather, and on one of Mr. Bislosky’s visits to town he got “stuck” in front of what is now the State bank building. One of the Citizens of the town offered to pull him out for 51> cents, showing that even in those days there were people who were looking out for the main chance. Mr. Bislosky soon bought a 40acre tract in Newton tp., and established a modest home thereon. Since that time he has acquired a large tract of land and erected good buildings on it. Until very recent years, or fiince he has lived on a little three acre tract on the old Bunckum road on the line between Newton and Marion tps., he might be seen daily working on his place, grubbing or cutting cord wood. He has always been a very industrious man and upright in his daily walk.

John E., Emma —now Mrs. Wilson Shaeffer of this city—and Anna, who died some 10 years ago the wife of James Shlndelar of Washington, now of Newton county, were born while the family lived at Cleveland. „ v , Mrs. Mary Bislosky, Mr. Bislosky’B wife, died about two years ago at the ripe old age of 85, having been a constant sufferer from rheumatism for many years. Mr. Bislosky does not look* older than many men do at 60, and despite his afflictions will no doubt live to reach more than 100 years.