Our
Oldest Resident
- page 3
Where
the struggle for the world's mastery reached its climax and Wellington
had enlisted the support of the Prussians, young Roeder was an orderly
to General Blucher, the famed Prussian general. During the course
of the battle, the boy, probably the youngest man in that epoch making
conflict was selected to bear a message from Blucher to Napoleon.
The death of Leonard Roeder removes from this
earth probably the last man who was an eyewitness of the battle which
broke the power of the Corsican soldier.
His Habits of Life Persons who are anxious
to solve the secret of a long life will find it hard to gather the
formula from the career of Leonard Roeder.
He had no hobbies to which he attributed his
many years on this earth. He was always strictly temperate in his
habits, eating and drinking moderately and taking plenty of sleep.
Up to a year ago he did not let a day go by without his glass of beer
but for the last year he had given up this beverage. He was always
a great smoker and an interesting story is told in connection with
his habits in regard to tobacco. Always a smoker, one day while he
was in the nineties, he suddenly threw down his pipe saying that he
was done forever with tobacco as its use made his breath smell bad.
For about five years he adhered to his resolution, but one-day a friend
called to present to him a handsome pipe and a pouch of tobacco. He
could not resist and again began to use tobacco but it remained with
him but a few months and for many years he had not used tobacco in
any form.
In regard to his food, Mr. Roeder had many
peculiar tastes. He used salt to a wonderful extreme. When he was
still able to take care of himself he would butter his bread and then
treat it to salt in large quantities. In all his dishes he was equally
as fond of salt. Sugar and sweetmeats also found favor with him. He
would often place sugar in his plate and then pour coffee over it,
eating his own sweetened compound with a spoon.
He was always extremely cautious in regard
to his health, taking care to keep his feet dry and using every preventive
against cold and disease of every kind. He would not use medicine
but trusted to his own rigorous care of his body to keep himself in
health.
Last years in darkness
For over five years, Mr. Roeder was totally
blind but this affliction did not prevent him from getting about the
Liebig home unassisted. Over twenty years ago while sharpening some
pea sticks for his garden a splinter flew into his eye causing him
to lose the sight of the one member. The other eye retained its strength
nevertheless and with this one he read without the assistance of spectacles.
About six years ago, however, a cataract formed
on this eye which had been well and owing to his extreme age, an operation
was deemed inadvisable. The result was that he lost the sight of his
eye also and for over five years the world has been for him a total
darkness.
Mr. Roeder was a man of few words. He
would seldom lead in conversation, particularly to strangers but would
answer questions put to him. For many years he refused absolutely
to sit for a picture and it was only by a ruse that a good photograph
of him was obtained. He was told that he should come out to see the
photographer take a picture of the house. He was seated in front of
the house and an excellent likeness of the aged man was secured.
Since that time, however, several other photographs
have been taken. The deceased has no blood relatives, Mrs. Liebig,
his foster daughter is about 62 years of age. The death of Leonard
Roeder removes the most remarkable old man in the history of Quincy.
Mr. Roeder was interred in Greenmount Cemetery on July 23, 1909 in
Block #2 Lot #23 owned by John Liebig.