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Daniel F Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics

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Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 66 Number 2994

Date January 29 1887
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper The Daily Telegraph

info The language of the text is the original used in the newspaper entry and as transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson. Records acquired by the Provincial Archives are not translated from the language in which they originate.

Cornelius DRISCOLL of this City starts on his second hundred years of life's journey. 'Yes, thank God, I've a good son!' said Cornelius Driscoll to a Telegraph reporter. Mr. Driscoll, who sat by the stove, chatting with his daughter-in-law and playing with the children had risen as the reporter entered and had taken his hand with a firm and hearty grasp. Nothing in his appearance or manner bespoke very advanced age; and as the reporter talked with him and found him as quick of comprehension and more at repartee than many a young man, it was hard to believe that Mr. Driscoll had completed his first century of life and was entering in sound health and strong courage upon the second. Mr. Driscoll was born in Baltimore, Ireland only three miles from Cape Clear. His grandfather died at the age of 104 and his father passed beyond the limit of three score and ten. Our centenarian was a fisherman during his youth and early manhood and in that occupation stored up the physical vigor which sustains him now. He was known far and wide as the strongest man in the neighborhood. In rowing races, which was a favorite amusement of the Baltimore fishermen, he was accustomed to row with one man on the side of the boat, while on the other side were three oarsmen. He was a prosperous man in the old country and it was not until he had passed fifty that he resolved to try his fortune in America. He came to St. John, and with the exception of three months spent in Boston, here he has remained. For twenty years or more, he has been in the employ of Master Stevedore FINN. Thirty years ago, while discharging one of his vessels, Mr. Driscoll was struck by a heavy timber and all his ribs on one side were crushed in. The doctor on that occasion said that he could live but a few hours. Mr. Driscoll though differently and disappointed the undertaker. His wife died two years after. They had reared six children, three of whom, daughters, are in the United States.; two have died and the one son, Mr. Florence DRISCOLL, of whose family the old gentleman is a member, is the good son of whom he spoke. Mr. Driscoll, like many older people, is an early riser. Four o'clock usually finds him out of bed in the summer time and it is seldom he is not up at 5 o'clock in the winter. He takes great pride in the fact that he always kindles the fire in the kitchen stove. He never used tobacco nor liquor. He retires early and never, as he says, to gadding about the streets after dark. Latterly, Mr. Driscoll has, to some extent, lost the use of his lower limbs. Otherwise his physical vigor seems almost unimpaired. His voice is strong; his ear as keen as ever and, to all appearance, there is no reason why he should not live well into his second century.

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