NEWS: Elizabeth (HORN) CAMERER 100th Birthday, 1920, Martinsburg, Blair County, PA

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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