Submitted
by member:
Russ
Kenyon
REMARKABLE
GROUP OF AGED MEN "One
of the most interesting “group” pictures on record, taken recently
(12 August 1902) in the village of Ashaway, R.I., affords evidence that
“Little Rhody” is doing her utmost to raise the average of longevity
in the country. At the celebration of the birthday of Deacon
George T. Collins, at the place named, the following seven men, each
more than eighty years old, sat for a collective photograph: Deacon
Matthew S. Kenyon, aged ninety-one years; Silas C. Wells, aged
eighty-eight years nine months; George A. Babcock, aged eighty-eight
years eight months; Christopher C. Lewis, aged eighty-seven years seven
months; Thomas R. Wells eighty-six years; Deacon Gardiner S. Kenyon aged
eighty-five years nine months; Deacon George T. Collins, aged
eighty-three years. The average age of the sitters was thus
eighty-seven years three months, a record which would be hard to beat
anywhere. All these aged gentlemen were hale, active and enjoying
life at the time. Since then Mr. Babcock has died, but as a result
of an accident, not of old age. Four callers whose ages averaged
nearly eighty years were among those who congratulated Deacon Collins.
This suggests the thought that if Ponce de Leon were still alive he
would make his search for the “Fountain of Life” in
Rhode Island
instead of directing it toward fabled El Dorado."
Source:
"This "Remarkable Group of Aged Men" is something
that was passed down through the generations. The text looks like it
came from The Sabbath Recorder. This will take a little research (time)
to find the citation. Their headquarters is in Janesville, WI. I was
able to date it by another article that was pasted to the write-up
regarding the birthday of Deacon George T. Collins. The gentleman in
center, rear is my great-great grandfather, Gardiner Simon Kenyon."
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