Aged Coventry People - 1881

Aged Coventry [Chenango Co., NY] People

 

Chenango Union, February 24, 1881

 

A pleasant company gathered at the home of Mr. W. Merritt, of this place [Coventry, Chenango Co., NY], on Wednesday, February 9th, to celebrate the 86th birthday of Mrs. Alma Miles, widow of Simeon Miles, and step-mother of Mrs. Warren, who recently died at Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY].  Those present were Hector and Daniel Beecher, with their families, also, Edward Porter and family, Mr. and Mrs. D. Scott, Mr. Russel Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Thorp, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Benedict, and Mrs. W. Ogden.  A very nice and bountiful dinner was prepared to which ample justice was done by the partakers.  There was a good deal of pleasant conversation, varied with singing, and the company bid good bye, leaving with their aged friend and relative substantial tokens of their visit.

 

The family of Mrs. M., whose maiden name was Porter, are remarkable for their longevity.  Six years ago her sister, Mrs. Margaret Beecher, died at Coventry, aged 91 years.  Little more than a year since a brother, Mr. Thomas Porter, of Binghamton, also died at the age of 88 years.  She has a sister still living at Hawleyville, Ct., Mrs. Minerva Adams, aged 98.  Mrs. Miles is an aunt of Dr. H.H. Beecher and Mr. W.D. Porter, of Norwich; also of Mrs. Sarah Yale, with whom she resides.  A number of years since, by a fall her hip was broken, and she pushes a chair before her in getting about the house; but with the energy and perseverance which is characteristic of all old Connecticut people, She maintains her independence, by taking car of her room, and doing much of her own work, though there are willing hearts and hands to do it for her.  Her health is at present good, and she may live to celebrate a number more as pleasant birthdays.

 

Chenango Union, December 1, 1881

H.H. Beecher of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] who formerly resided in Coventry, recently paid a visit to that town and writes to the Utica Herald concerning the many aged people who live there.

 

"During a recent visit to Coventry, to attend the funeral of an aged relative, Mrs. Alma Miles, in her 87th year, my attention was called to the number of elderly people in that town, most of whom I had known in other days and with several of them I an well acquainted at the present time.

 

The ancient family of Porters, to which Mrs. Miles belonged, came from Salem, now Nangatuck, Conn., and attained, most of them, to great age.  Mrs. Margaret Beecher, sister of Mrs. Miles, who was a Porter, died in Coventry a few years ago in her 91st year.  A year or two since Thomas Porter, a brother, died in Binghamton, aged 88.  A sister, Mrs. Minerva Porter Adams, is now living in Hawleyville, Conn., having reached her 94th year.

 

Of the old people in Coventry above 90, there are:  Ralph Johnson, aged 91; Mrs. Susie Warren, 91; Mrs. Clark Smith, 92; Hixon Jones, 94; Mrs. David Hungerford, 99.  Of those 80 and upwards, there are:  Mrs. Polly Spencer, 85; Romeo Warren, 83; Col. Rufus Chandler, 84; M.S. Manderville, 84; Mrs. G.D. Phillips, 85; Mrs. Adolphus Stiles, 86; Mrs. Jacob Kelly, 80; Mrs. Romeo Warren, 82; Mrs. Ingraham, 88; Mrs. Holdrige, 81; Loren B. Porter, 81; Miss Abigail Balis, 84; Mrs. Betsy Martin, 80, and Luman Miles, 80.  Probably there are several others in the town whose years are upwards of four score, and some above four score and ten whose names have not been given.  The number whose ages are above 70 would more than double the list.  I called upon the venerable Mrs. Hungerford and found her remarkably well preserved and possessed withal of a good degree of intelligence, and especially, when connected with names, incidents and memories of the past.

 

When questioned as to the inhabitants who were her neighbors, when with her husband she located in Coventry nearly 70 years ago, and her attention was called to the recurring events and associations of succeeding years, the failing eyes brightened and every lineament of that wrinkled and intelligent face seemed to be lighted as she told the story of the days when Madison, Monroe and their immediate successors were presidents of the United States, extending over a period a quarter of a century before there was a solitary railroad or a single telegraph line in all the land.  Mrs. Hungerford is the mother of nine children, eight of whom are living, the youngest son, who occupies the old homestead, being 51.  The old lady resides in happy contentment, in a cozy cottage in Coventry village, with two of her widowed daughters, Mrs. Hatch, aged 78, and Mrs. Judd, aged 74.  Where is there a rural town with like population, that can show a larger percentage of old people, or who retain as a whole their mental faculties in so remarkable degree?  Barbara Brookbanks, who died on Saturday last, in her 101st year, whose demise is mentioned in today's Herald, lived in the border of Coventry."