Newspapers / The News & Observer … / July 1, 1920, edition 1 / Page 8
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KAVS AND CwZilV'LR, RwLLIGH, 11. 'C, 1 i L . r T, 1 v. 7 -WMbfizTiirtliabSal Old IJ::c?3t2jinv 3 ft 7 hi facts vs. Fiction 1 - -!-- a GS3f liviijg-MGr " ,'.' uuobmL ' ' ' ' njVESTIWS REPORT yi CD ilHTTTTTTTl IHITTTTTTT , John Shell turning a grindstone for his fivej year-old ton, Albert, to sharpen a Jack-knife. I jobs mat akd tamut HE age-old puzzle, MHow old It Ana. is now put into the shade by the question lately agitated In the public press as to "How old is John?" , Old "Uncle Johnny Shell, the Kentucky moun- talneer, who paid a visit to the Kentucky State Fair ' at Louisville last fan, has become famous ore;- 11 tght as a result of this controversy.'. , Such papers as the "New York Herald", the "Literary Digest", and other periodicals of national circulation, have printed his picture, wilh comments cm the question at Issue. So much interest has been shown In the matter, that a special investigator was sent to Greasy Creek, Kentucky, by J' -Tfc8 Chattanooga Medicine Company (whose medicine ' Thedford's Black-Draught liver Medidne had been used ; in the Shell family tor many years) in order to get more in- formation on the tublecL r V ' " l " ' ffif:: r Tbe investieator's reoort is eiven on another column VnCUNODD -i ,;. n,. M,,it. r.1 eM tminiAa t. ' UlAfDWODA " y . IWlllll v. W WIMH(imWI ffVbUt Ml vuuw, uu ujo icsumvny ut menus uu ncignoon, mat . ' Joba Shell is about 112 years old, that lusoeal&hfoodO ' for a man of his age, and that bis mind is clearer thaa) that of foe average centenarian.' ; tTr V t 1 A statment from his grandson (A. H. Shell) regard ' fag the toe of Thedford's Black-Draught, by John Shea himself, hi glvenat the foot el th - j. page. rCopyr.WKIM)0aWDflwgo IOHPTSHELL is without doubt Die most remarkable centenarian 1 have sewvanrL he fa about the ' z-'. T eighth I have met," says our Investigator. "Ills memory Is won-, derful The nearest that he and his famifv can cams in hi mam i is 112 vears. His famil has never claimed him in h nv.r that am. The tax record, that were burned in the court house at Harlan gave the date of his birth, as near as they could make it out, as September, 1808. He also counts from the age of his first wife, who died at the age of 107. ; ' "John Shell cannot read or write, but for manjr years he was an . expert maker of flint-lock rifles. John Shell rifles; marked with his private mark Just behind the lock, are prized by collectors. . "In order to get a consensus of opinion as to his probable age, I " thought it best to secure statements and affidavits from members of the family .and neighbors, who have known him for many years. 1 therefore secured ,uS!I!uJlcm,ents from Judge A. a Cornett, T. H. Howard, attorney-at-law, and w. a Kelly, ex-United States Marshal, and others. These are among the most substantial and reliable men of Kentucky." Extracts from their statements are given below. ' . Over 100, Says W. B. Xdly Tl ;1 n 1 5r if i4 - i v . ic. i TS. WMlMl rfM. IUi fk. !--(- kniJ,ti hit fint wilt (lc4 Urt. at Um 2i 551 r - r: lis bout IS years agK- From the age Mr. Shell claimed to be, when 1 stayed with him, and thd bme that has elapsed since, I would Judge him to be a good deal over I0O years old. ' - - W. B. KELLY, Ex-unltcd States MarshaL Subscribed and sworn 1o before me this April 24th, 1930. ' E. Fs BOOQEN, Notary Public, Harlan Ccv, Ky. Shell ramllj Record Saya 112 My Aunt, Mrs. Martha Garrison, says that the date in her Bible, containing trandoa'a JW. was September 15, 1808. I have every reason to believe that she speaks the truth. M hther, W. C. Shell, syt this is the truth so far as he has ever known; alto my uncle, A. B. Shcu. - T : , j 1 , ' 'SHELL. Subscribed and sworn to before me'thls 26th day of April, 1920. "ttW. HOWARD, County Court Clerk. ": in.rt ha c.m r e ttr.i 'A 1 win be 81 vears old the 10th of tulv. 1920. nenrucicy, in lan i mei jonnny aneu, wno was ins the Confederate armv and met "Uncle Johnnv", uvu wir. i ra saiisnea ne is icasi uu vears old. as ne is a much older man than I am.-r-s - I. I was born and raised in Harlaa County, called "Uncle Johnny" then. 1 was dodl . He was too eld then for service in the Copynjht. IftOfOWMO 6 uHOUwOOO: Nw tora, ' Most every erne ia Harlaa County knows me and will take my word, tor anything 1 tar. , . , . "' f, S. WARDL- Subscribedu4sworn-to.beforeme,thls23rddayof April,'ra30. ; M. Q. SMITH, Notary Public, Harlaa Co., Ky. Mom with loin SlMa.liset'.M nld ihirf mm kiriw. im. u. ---- !! c."Tli?l tt? 01 "rt" K- locatwt u4 ht .1 thai time ImwmiI la atmractint aid U4 apcn I lound om wImt, u mtrr tn mad bv ft. Sh.il lb.-. i.ih..k i. Vi i?,1?- J2."Sfl,S! "T P?"M 1 rn VS" u tTT n ml b 8, Shell (JoHa't t.iht " ! ta " "1hl,',x ", 1 ktn avtn ruM la iHv lolui &xu U aVa ikil Attorney Howard Says Over 100 In flUefwd cwiTtfMtto.it wllh Joha Shro. twofm W lata, ana inu mry camma wticra in lowa ..l,.-- - a If "... -r.i Subaortbei aa4 nrora to Mm thi XM dt? t Apia. IWL " ' , J4aSMnUr4otaafVflarlMCo,K. I Orer 100 sad an Honest Maa 1' . - -- J feTJ !kw2 lot"v6JS Jot J 9 VMr, I fcav aold kirn tdt lor 4t WOT. W. B. Kellr toU el a aua Smth. He and Shell mf up fna erhrr, about The urn. ac M Smith had hired he would be a bttla ever a hundred bow. Kidurd Wiltua, who waa raiui law taile Iroai SitU, wra Shell liaa turned IUQ. I talked to Shell but i-ear. Haknewn audtaikedto ana aa taklUteml t hcardW I hart alwan ImmuI )oha bbtS M - - - : : " a C HOWAKTX Jndie Cornett Says All of 108 . I "I'nrf Johrmr" SMI ke S9 or twt etan. limhituiiiHi H an eld. eld nun. Proai U report, kora the few ho liwJT hera whe he Vid kt vum hen at the an tl about 11 be U aow at leatt lu yrmrt old. and I bete7oJdr. I Ibarauiked with lua in ttu laat rear aad ha teemed to ot uteLceai aodWat unZmlim!t "Older Than My Mother. 104 l " t W Vnw Itnd Johnnr" Sh.lt ad mr lie. am ohnnat St, f ruld rmrm - 1 - In Justice to John Shell and his family, it should be said that ne' "The nor they have ever claimed the extreme old age thatws dven in some of the reports published in the daily press. -A story of the kind grows in the telling, and the, desire .lor something startling to make good reading! no doubt the cause for the Interesting fiction (founded on Uct) that"has been published about old "Uncle-Johnny ShelL r Z Facts, however, in many cases, are Just as Interesting as fiction, and we have endeavored In this article to give the lacts as we have been able to find them. '1 THE CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO. OLD "UlICLE" JOHN SHEU, A Remarkable Old Monntalneer. Now Uvlnd; at Greasy Creek, Eentncky. Wm thought by some to be 131 years old, but a fufl IrrvesfieaHoa does not disclose any reliable records going back so tar. ..w-.-.!'v': i we falnrfi'ujV V i i i Stafcmcnt by John Shell's Grandson f- A. H. Shell, aged 45, of ; Chappell, Kentucky, grandson of John Shell, .whose picture is shown in the group at top of this page, authorized publication - of the following statement: ' , ? vV.',. '; '...''r, f'My grandfather has lived to a remarkable age. When a young man, he . look very little medicine. Of late years fit has needed medicine and my 'wife has looked afte a laxative and to' 'keep his'iiyer acting,"so she Bends to the store fof7 ? ' . - THEDIJO'S BIACK-DEAUGHT and makes him a tea from that and it keeps hira in 'splendid shape." AM 3
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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July 1, 1920, edition 1
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