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The Arkansas Independent
Dardanelle, Arkansas
April 9, 1875

A Second Methuselah

Last Wednesday a large crowd of Negroes were at the crossing awaiting a train. They were bound for ARKANSAS. Among the number was FORTUNE SNOW, perhaps the oldest man in America, and who could well be called a second Mathuselah. This old Negro was born in Georgetown, S.C., in the year 1748, and is consequently 127 years old. He was for 6 years a body servant of Capt. Snow in the Revolutionary War. At Capt. Snow's death, he became the property of Nicholas Johnson, who sold him to John A. Adams of Dallas County, Alabama, who at his death gave the old man his freedom. Since then he has resided with his children and grand-children in the 12th District of this county, near Milan, and in consequence of hard times they are emigrating to Arkansas, and take with them the "Old Man." His presence at the depot, attracted a large crowd of ladies and gentlemen, each of whom had something to ask him, and their questions were answered in an intelligible manner. He was in good health, and his faculties seemed perfect, especially those of seeing and hearing, although he has been almost totally blind. Accompaning him were two of his children, aged respectively 57 and 60 years, and a host of grandchildren, all of whom seemed very solicitous for his comfort. He has living 3 children, 43 grandchildren and a large number of great-grandchildren, who are so scattered that he and "his baby," (57 years old) were unable to tell the exact number. The old fellow chews tobacco incesently, loves a "dram" two or three times a day, and never saw Washington.

Humbolt Herald Pg. 1, col. 6 (of Yell County, Arkansas Newspaper Abstracts, 1875-1879" by Faye Greenwood Sandy)