Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1898 — Oldest Twins in the State. [ARTICLE]

Oldest Twins in the State.

Montgomery county boasts of the oldest twins in the state. Jacob and Isaac Schenck are seven-ty-nine years old. and neither has ever had a spell of sickness. They have resided in Montgomery county for seventy-seven years, and have lived all that time within a radius of three miles. They look alike, drefes alike, vote alike, and worship alike, and in their youth wished to marry the same girl, who, however, disappointed both by marrying their younger brother.—Attica Ledger.

All of which may be true, except the claim that the Schencks are the oldest twins in the state. That they are not, by any means. The only genuine “oldest twins” in Indiana, and we suppect in the whole county, are John and Richard McGriff, who live in the eastern part of the state, one in Randolph county, the other in Jay. They were jointly and severally 94 years old the 31st day of last August. They live 20 miles apart, but every birthday they celebrate together, one year at John’s residence, at Geneva, the next year at Richard’s, at Durfield. The old gentlemen are right lively yet, and can wais off as spry as anyone, for a half mile or so, or a good deal further than that, if occasion requires it. Neither of them ever played cards or tasted tobacco; but they do still follow a habit acquired in days before the growth of temperance, and every day they take two or-three moderate “drams” of liquor. Neither of them ever Walked with a cane or ever wore spectacles. Both still have teeth enough to do business with, and their hearing and seeing are remarkably well preserved. Both are slightly bald but not very gray. In truth they are a remarkably well preserved pair of old men and have excellent prospects of finishing a century together. They are first cousins to Uncle Simon Phillips of our town, himself 75 years old and the ablest, wittiest, spryest and straightest auctioneer of his age in Indiana. Uncle Simon has been going down every year, for several years past, to help the twins celebrate their birthday, and has promised them not to miss a year, until after they make it an even hundred.