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Pennsylvania * New Oxford * New Oxford Item * 1920-08-05
 

How Old Is John???

What is the Truth about Old Uncle John Shell of
Greasy Creek, KY? Is he " The Oldest Living Man" or
Only a Youngster of 95 to 100 Summers?

The age-old puzzle, " How old is Ann," is now put into the shade by the 
question lately agitated in the public press as to " How old is John?"
Old "Uncle" Johnny Shell, the Kentucky mountaineer, who paid a visit to 
the Kentucky State Fair at Louisville last fall, has become famous over 
night as a result of this controversy.
Such papers as the "New your Herald" the "Literary Digest" and other 
periodicals of national circulation, have printed his picture with 
comments on the question of the issue.
So much interest has been shown in the matter, that a special 
investigator was sent to Greasy Creek, Kentucky, by The Chattanooga 
Medicine Company (whose medicine --Thedford's Black Draught Liver 
medicine--had been used in the Shell family for many years.) in order to 
get more information on the subject.
The investigator's report is given on another column of this page.  The 
result of this investigation seems to show, on testimony of friends and 
neighbors that John Shell is about 112 yrs old, that his health is good 
for a man of his age and that his mind is clearer than that of the 
average centenarian.
A statement from his grandson (A.H. Shell) regarding the age of 
Thedford's Black Draught, by John Shell, is given at the foot of this page.

Fact vs. Fiction

"John Shell is without a doubt the most remarkable centenarian I have 
seen, and he is about the eighth I've met," says our investigator. " His 
memory is wonderful.  The nearest that he and his family can come to his 
age is 112 years.  His family has never claimed him to be over that age. 
The tax records that were burned in the court house at Harlan gave the 
date of his birth, as near as they make it out, as September 1808.  He 
also counts from the age of his first wife, who died at the age of 107.
John Shell cannot read or write, but for many years he was an expert 
maker of flint-lock rifles. John Shell rifles are marked with his 
private mark just behind the lock, are prized by collectors.
"In order to get a consensus of opinion as to his probable age, I 
thought it best to secure statements and affidavits from members of the 
family and neighbors, who have known him for many years.  I therefore 
secured such statements from Judge A.B. Cornett, T. H. Howard, 
attorney-at-law, and W. B. Kelly, ex-United States marshal, and others. 
These are among the most substantial and reliable men of Kentucky."

Extracts from their statements are given below:

Over 100 says W.B. Kelly
I have known " Uncle Johnny" Shell for years, in fact, stayed with him 
for a good deal, about 16 yrs ago.  From the age Mr. Shell claimed to 
be, when I stayed with him and the time that has elapsed since, would 
judge him to be a good deal over 100 years old. W.B. Kelly Ex United 
States Marshal Subscribed and sworn to before me this April 21th, 1920 
E. F. Boggen, Notary Public, Harlan County, KY

Shell Family Record Says 112

My aunt, Mrs. Martha Garrison says that the date in her Bible containing 
grandpa's age was September 15, 1808. I have every reason to believe 
that she speaks the truth. My father, W.C. Shell says this is the truth 
so far as he has ever known, also my Uncle A.B. Shell. 
A. H. Shell subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of April, 1920
G.W. Howard, County Court Clerk.

At Least 110 says T. S. Ward
I will be 81 yrs old the 10th of July, 1920. I was born and raised in 
Harlan County, Kentucky. In 1863, I met Johnny Shell, who was called " 
Uncle Johnny" then.  I was dodging the Confederate Army and met " Uncle 
Johnny".  He was too old then for service in the civil war. I am 
satisfied he is at least 110 years old, as he is a much older man than I 
am. Most everyone in Harlan County knows me and will take my word for 
anything I say. I would not make a statement unless I believed it to be 
true.
T.S. Howard
subscribed and sworn to before me this 23th day of April, 1920
M.G. Smith, Notary Public, Harlan County, KY

Attorney Howard says over 100
In different conversations with John Shell, he often told about coming 
to Kentucky with his father in the summer of 1816, and that they camped 
where the town of Harlan , Ky is now located and that at that time he 
was 12 yrs old.  In abstracting old land papers, I found one where an 
entry was made by S.Shell, (John's father) in the year 1816, in the 
neighborhood where he now lives.  I have every reason to believe John 
Shell is a good deal over 100 yrs old.
T. H.Howard, Attorney at Law
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 23 day of April, 1920.
M.G. Smith, Notary Public, Harlan Co. Ky

Over 100 And An Honest Man
I have known Johnny Shell for about 60 years. I have sold him goods for 
40 years. W. B. Kelly told of a man Smith.  He had grew up together, 
about the same age.  If Smith had lived he would be a little over a 
hundred now.  Richard Wilson who was raised a few miles from Shell says 
Shell has turned 100.  I talked to Shell last year. he know me and 
talked to me intelligently as I ever heard him. I have always found John 
Shell an honest man.
S. C. Howard

Judge Cornett Says All of 108
I have known "Uncle Johnny" Shell for 30 or more years. I have known him 
as an old, old man. From all reports, from the few who lived here when 
he said he came here at the age of 12, he is now at least 108 years old, 
and I believe older. I have talked with him in the last year and he 
seemed to be intelligent, and just as rational as I ever saw.
(Judge) A. B. Cornett, Harlan , Ky

Older Than My Mother, 104
I have known " Uncle Johnny" Shell all my life.  I am almost 68.  I 
would place his age at 106.  Johnny Shell was older than my mother, and 
she would have been 104, had she lived till now.-----F.G. Lewis

In justice to John Shell and his family, it should be said that neither 
he nor they have ever claimed the extreme old age that was given in some 
of the reports published in the daily press.  A story of the kind grows 
in the telling, and the desire for something startling to make good 
reading, is no doubt the cause for the interesting fiction (founded on 
fact) that has been published about old " Uncle" Johnny Shell.
Facts, however, in many cases, are just as interesting as fiction, and 
we have endeavored in this article to give the facts as we have been 
able to find them.
THE CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO.
 

Statement By John Shell's Grandson

A. H. Shell, aged 45, of Chappell, Kentucky, grandson of John Shell, 
who's picture is shown in the group at top of this page, authorized 
publication of the following statement.
"My grandfather has lived to a remarkable age.  When a young man, he 
took very little medicine. Of late years, he has needed medicine and my 
wife has looked after it for him.  He needed something as a laxative and 
to keep his liver acting, so she sends to the store for
Thedford's Black-Draught
and makes him a tea that keeps him in splendid shape."