Putnam County Missouri, News article Isaac Guffey, Revolution soldier

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From the files of June E. Tuck

GUFFEY, ISAAC, MR. - 
Death of an old soldier. At the age of 112 years, 9 months, 14 days, Mr.
Isaac Guffey, a soldier of the Revolution, died at his residence in Putnam
County, Missouri, on the 26th of February last. From the Glenwood (Putnam
County) Criterion, we learn some facts in regard to this venerable relic of
the past - Mr. Guffey was born May 13, 1762, in South Carolina, and was one
among the first to take up arms in defense of the colonies against the
aggressions of the home government. He continued to serve with the patriots
during the long struggle until its final close, and a grateful government
has annual recognized his services through the pension department. He was
the only Revolutionary pensioner in Missouri, and it is said there are but
three left in the United States. During the war he walked from South
Carolina to Washington barefooted, and for 18 days subsisted entirely upon
raw hide. Mr. Guffey died in possession of his faculties, and up to within
a short time before his demise, enjoyed good health. He frequently, by aid
of his cane, walked a mile or more at a time up to the present winter. He
was about five feet nine inches tall, spare and weighted about 140 pounds.
His teeth were perfectly sound to the last. At about 86 he lost his
eyesight entirely from the effects of age. In a few years it was restored
and could read fine print without glasses. At 103 his sight failed him
again, but restored and remained good till his death. He expressed a desire
to live until the celebration of the centennial of his country's birth, at
which time he would have been 114. Mr. Guffey was the great grandfather of
Mrs. Hoskins, the wife of D. Hoskins, Esq., of Glenwood, on her mother's
side, and for the last 30 years has lived where he died in Putnam County,
Missouri. (Galveston Daily News, Mar. 27, 1874)