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.