Oldest Official
Montgomery’s City Treasurer Re-elected at the Age of 94.

Hon. John Berryman Bilbro, probably the oldest office holder in the United States, and who was reelected Tuesday as treasurer of Macon County, was born near Petersburg, Va., December 14, 1811, where he resided and received his early education, afterwards moving to Columbus, Ga., in 1833.

At the age of 23 he was married to Miss Annie Rutledge, great-granddaughter of Governor Rutledge of South Carolina, and four years later moved with his family to Tuskegee, Ala., where he has lived since 1841.

In 1850 Mr. Bilbro was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Macon County, which office he held with scarcely any opposition or interruption until reconstruction days, when he was removed from office by Federal authority in 1865.  From 1865 to 1884 his life was that of a useful and upright citizen in private life, the head of a large family, honored and revered by all who knew him.

Elected to the office of Treasurer of Macon County in 1884 so faithful has he been in the discharge of his duty, that he has been permitted to hold office without interruption for the past twenty-eight years, being very rarely opposed either in the primary or general election, during the entire time, and in the election on Tuesday he was re-elected for the eighth time to devote four more years of life to public service.

For well nigh half a century Mr. Bilbro was the beloved Superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, having been a consecrated member of the Methodist Church, South, since early manhood.

Shortly after moving to Tuskegee he became a member of the Masonic fraternity and was a number of years an active member of Tuskegee Lodge No. 57, A. F. and A. M.

He is the father of Judge John A. Bilbro, the well known North Alabama jurist.

During the remarkable career of this grand old man he has made for himself an enviable record both in public and private life and the splendid influence of his life for good will long live after he has passed away.  He has been faithful and fearless in the discharge of every duty imposed upon him, yet always gentle, kind and considerate of others and his friends wish for him many more years of usefulness.  None know him but to honor him.

The above is from the Montgomery Advertiser.  Mr. Bilbro is the father-in-law of Mrs. Lula Bilbro, of this city.  His son was a resident of Cartersville several years previous to and up to his death, being in the insurance business.

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Page 5.

East Side Notes.

Mr. and Mrs. Heist are rejoicing over a fine baby girl.

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In all conditions of life there is romance and nearly every tragedy is softened with it, others are made happy.  In the terrible explosion at the Hammond mine, some ten days ago, the home of Mrs. Will Hudgins was mutilated, the plate glass on Broad street broken, one man killed, several thousand dollars of damage.

Another chapter is added to the checkered matrimonial career of Mrs. Daisy Franklin Thomas Graham Elders; a 20 year old woman who has three times been a grass widow and who lives at Lindale, Ga.  This time the event is in the nature of a reunion and not a separation, the explosion being the cause of reuniting her with husband No. 3 Ben Elders, the latest addition to her matrimonial collection was hurt in the blow which took the life of Henry Kell of Rome.  When the news of the catastrophe was made known she was seized with a sudden spasm of religion, sent for her husband, who two months ago she drove from her side and is now nursing him back to life, and I trust to happiness to old age.