NEWS: Elizabeth (HORN) CAMERER Turns 100, 1920, Native of Waynesboro, Franklin 
County, PA

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/franklin/
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HAS BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE AGE OF 100

An event of more than passing interest took place at Martinsburg on Friday last, 
indeed it was an event but few people have the privilege of sharing in.  On the 
day mentioned Mrs. Elizabeth Camerer, Martinsburg's grand old lady, was 100 
years old.  To do honor to the occasion was most fitting.

A community celebration was planned for the day and several hundred neighbors 
and friends gathered at the Camerer homestead to extend their congratulations 
and spend a portion of the day at least in the presence of this remarkable lady.  
Of all who were present none seemed to enjoy themselves more than Mrs. Camerer 
herself.  Gifts were also extended to her as a token of esteem.  Two fine 
birthday cakes, one presented by Mrs. C. P. Ashcom and the other by Mrs. Homer 
B. Camerer, each had one hundred candles to represent the years she was 
permitted to tarry here.

At the noon hour dinner was served to the assembled guests, the tables being 
placed on the lawn and porch and in the house.  The good things of the season 
were served and all together with Mrs. Camerer, enjoyed a hearty meal.  In the 
afternoon Rev. F. R. Zook of this place, and Prof. L. B. Stoudnour, of Roaring 
Spring, each gave a talk.  Several hymns were sung by those present and a duet, 
"Tell Mother I'll Be There" was rendered by two great granddaughters of Mrs. 
Camerer, Miss Virginia Smith of Piney Creek, and Miss Elda Stayer, of 
Curryville.  In the evening the Martinsburg band entertained with a number of 
selections, all of which was greatly enjoyed by Mrs. Camerer.

Naturally time has left its mark and years have bent her body, yet Mrs. Camerer 
is in excellent health.  She is able to go about and takes an interest in 
affairs about the farm and house, though compelled to use a came because of a 
broken him she sustained on Sunday, September 1, 1012, when she was in her 92nd 
year.  She seldom uses glasses and her memory is as good as ever.  Affairs 
outside of the home life are to her in her advanced years as interesting as 
ever.

No set rule was followed by Mrs. Camerer in hope of obtaining a long lease on 
life.  She lived the simple life.  She has always been busy, though contentment 
with the affairs of life and not worry about them seems to have been her motto 
as worked out in her life.  Being the wife of one of the pioneer farmers of this 
section of the state and bringing up a large family, she was acquainted with all 
the hardships that attended the lives of the women who worked and saved when 
there were none of the improvements which now so much adds to the comfort of 
living.  She says:

"People live too fast these days.  They hurry too much.  They always seem to be 
after something and they want everything at once.  If people would only learn to 
wait, the good Lord will give them everything they need."

In her youth Mrs. Camerer had no schooling and was never able to read.  Being 
forced to either lie in bed or sit on a chair for months following the accident, 
eight years ago, she whiled away the time by looking at the pictures in books.  
One was an old first reader used by one of her great-grandchildren.  Not only 
the pictures by the type fascinated her and by the help of others she was soon 
spelling out the letters of short and simple words and later was able to read 
short sentences.  By keeping at it she improved until she was able to read in 
the Bible, her greatest treasure.

Mrs. Camerer is a native of Franklin county.  Her maiden name was Elizabeth 
Horn.  She was born a short distance from Waynesboro along little Antietam 
creek.  She came to Morrison Cove when but a girl and has lived in the same 
house for a period of almost ninety years.  She inherits her longevity, her 
parents and some of her more remote ancestors attaining to advanced ages.

When quite young she was married to James Camerer.  She is the mother of eight 
children, and all except one are living.  Her oldest daughter, Mrs. Sarah Stayer 
of Woodbury, Bedford county, is a woman not far from the four score mark.  Her 
oldest grandson, James Wineland of Martinsburg, is past the half century mark.  
Her oldest great-grandson, Mahlon Wineland of Martinsburg, is a man with a 
family and is 31 years of age.  Her oldest great-great-grandson, James Wineland, 
Jr., is 6 years of age.  Two other great-great-grandchildren are Harold and 
Mable Wineland, children of Jesse Wineland of Martinsburg.

The children of the aged woman in addition to Mrs. Stayer are Mrs. Susan 
Wineland of Martinsburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Kochendarfer and James Camerer who 
reside with their mother, Samuel Camerer and Mrs. Jane Miller, both of Pullman, 
Wash., and Joseph Camerer, a resident of Kansas, at present of Martinsburg.


Martinsburg Herald, Handwritten date of May 28, 1920