Harford County MD Archives News.....Ezekiel West - The Oldest Man In Pennsylvania February 16, 1873 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Green Kerr mmkerr@wideopenwest.com January 17, 2008, 12:41 am Baltimore County Union February 16, 1873 On Wednesday morning of last week, when the thermometer was below zero, Ezekiel West, aged one hundred and eighteen years, came sleighing into our town, and after warming himself awhile at the hotel, he proceeded to the art gallery of A. McCormick for the purpose of having his photograph taken. In the meantime we obtained the following synopsis of the life of this remarkabel case of longevity from his son-in-law, Benj. F. Davis, who accompanied him, and with whom he resides: Ezekiel West is of Irish descent, was born in Harford co., Md., in March, 1755. He was brought up to out-door physical labor, never learned any trade or mechanical business, did not marry until a gay young man of between fifty and sixty, that he was the father of fourteen children, four of whom died in a single day from dysentery and four of who still survive. About sixty-five years ago he moved to this State, and for many years past has lived with Mr. Davis, in New London township, Chester county, about six or seven miles from this borough. Mr. West is regular in his habits, rises before the sun in the morning, takes a good degree of exercise during the day, enjoys a good appetite, is plain in his diet, retires about seven o'clock in the evening. He is cheerful and talkative, delights in relating the incidents and hardships of his earlier life, was never in any military service; and, as his opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited, has little recollection of the revolutionary periods and early histor of government. He does not exhibit that appearance of extraordinary age that would be supposed. It is true his hair and beard rival the snow for whiteness, and his form is stooped when walking, yet there is a nap of elasticity in his step that men of fifty years his junior seldom exhibit. It is not more than five or six years since he would take out his gun and bring home a creditable amount of squirrels and other game. He is a regular attendant in favorable weather at the Elkridge M. E. Church. Oxford (Chester Co.) Press. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mdfiles/ File size: 2.6 Kb This file is located at http://files.usgwarchives.net/md/harford/newspapers/west-e.txt