Born With Uncle Sam

The following account of the oldest man in this section of the country, is taken from the Ypsilanti page of the Daily Times: There is a queer character on Norris street, in the fourth ward of this city, in the person of a man who is probably the oldest person in Washtenaw county, if not in the state of Michigan. For the past five or six years he lias been maintaining that he was past the century mark and often surprised his acquaintance when he would ask: "How old do you suppose I am," by an answer to their reply which invariably was "Well, I am over a hundred years old," and the oldest settlers by counting back are convinced of the truth of his statements. "You can reckon it up for yourself - I was 23 years old when the war of 1812 broke out," says Jonathan McGee, who lives at 618 Norris street, as soon as the question was asked of him as to his exact age. This makes the old man 108 years of age, he being usliered into the world about the same time the United States was bom, and thus came very near being a twin to his native country. He bas lived under every president the United States ever had and Washington had only served about a year of his first term when Jonathan McGee looked out for the first time at this strange world. As old a settler as O. E. Thompson, who is a man of undoubted integrity and the last man in the world to be taken by fairy tale, firmly believes in McGee's claim, and Mr. Thompson, who is a man of undoubted integrity and the last man in the world to be taken by a fairy tale, firmly believes in McGee's claim, and Mr. Thompton says: "1 was bom here in Ypsilanti in 1838 and I can remember back 55 years ago when I was a little bit of a tot seeing Mr. McGee working at an engine he was running and he was an old man then. I am sure he is over 105 years old." Mr. McGee was seen at his home by The Times man and Mr. Thompson one bright day this week and Mr. McGee, notwithstanding his very advanced age was busy raking up his yard. Mr. Thompson says that he is always busy about his yard oi cutting wood. Consequently he is not very feeble. His black eyes sparkle brightly and gives hifi contenance a look that makes one almost doubt his years. Besides liis hearing is as good as anybody's in one ear and he does not use eye glasses. In fact he threaded a needie for The Times man to show how good bis eyesight is. "I guess I could make all you young fellows feel ashamed if you would try to beat me at rifle shooting," said he very proudly. His hair is long and curly and his beard, which is straggly, is iron gray. His features are more those of in Iudiau than a xNegro, to which race he is supposed to belong but he gives his breeding as half-Indian. He has a good set of teetli left yet, and attribütes this good fortune to have nevér eaten rich food nor used tobáceo. Mr. McGee is stocky in build, his body being bent about like a man of 70, but the muscles of his arms and legs seem firffl and knotty. He invariably tells the history of his life in the same way, but sometimes contradicting himself on minor details. When questioned about things which occured during his early days he is bothered much to remember exact details but these defects in his memory are not marked for a man of his great age. His story in his own words is as follows : "In the war of 1812 I was a 'lookout' and was 23 years old. A lookout is a man who goes ahead of a general like a scout. I do not know just what day I was bom, for my mother never told me that I remember of. I was born 25 miles from Knoxville, Ala. My mother was a fullblooded Indian woman who my father ki'dnaped in Pennsylvania and took into slavery. My father was a Scotch-Irishman and he was my owner as well as father. When the boats came up into Peunslyvania my mother and her two brothers were hired to help load the boat. When they had finished the captain gave them an invitatiou to take a short boat ride. They went aboard and were taken down below in the afterpart. The wheels were started up and that is the way my mother was stolen into slavery. My father, who was an owner in the boat, chose my mother for a servaut in the family because she was handy at needie work. She was taken down on his big plantation in Alabama and lived there four years before I was born. My father was Major-General McGee in the war of 1812 and I was his look-out. I was with him at the time General Jackson defeated Packingham at New Orleans and that was a big battle. The fighting was below New Orleans. I reeollect when I was put on the mule to go ahead of General Mciiee we were told that the enemy was 70 miles away. Early in the morning jiist after I had blown the Jugle tliat everything was all rijjht, we ran into the enemy and my mule was shot down from under me. I saw jeneral Jackson many times. In my 24th year I asked the man who was ín partnership with my father in the 3oiler and engine works to try and buy me my liberty. I was a good workman and Mr. Robinson (that was his name), offered $1,800 for me and got me my freedom. I then went with tiim as a paid workman to St. Louis and then to where Chicago is now. ' Then I went to Norwalk, Ohio. I was also in the Mexican war and saw Gen. Taylor, Gen. Scott, and all the big fellows. I have got a scar over my eye which I received from a saber cut in this war. Then I was in the last war too. That mukes me a soldier in three wars. Why, Ardon H. Ballard, who came here to Ypsilanti 60 years ago, I knew in Norfork, Ohio, and worked for him there 18 years before he carne here. As a proof that I was in the war of 1812, here is an oíd pistol I carried then, Mr. McGee showed an old flint-lock pistol and he seemed to prize it as highly as anything in his possession). "Ever drank any whiskey, Mr. McGee?" was asked. "I have tasted whiskey, but would not let it ever go down my throat, I would always spit it out." "Do you smoke?" "Well, I can smoke if I want to, but I don't want to. I never smoked as much as two cigars in my life." "Ever chew tobáceo?" "I can, but I don't, and never have." "Ever been sick?" "Never was sick but twice in my life and I had what they cali the grip both times, and all tïie doctors' medicine I ever took was four years ago when I swallowed a few pills. I get my own roots for niy bitters, which I make every fa.ll. I am very caref ui about prepared foods. I wont have these ready made foods you get in butcher shops and groceries. Twothirds of my eating is raw meat. The sun makes about all my flre for cooking my food that I want." Mr. "McGee has had two wives and seven children, three of the latter being still alive. He looks as if he was good for quite a few years vet and the chances are if he keeps up his good habits he will live to be an old man.