Adams, Billy (1845-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Nov 17 p. 7

Birth date: 1845

text of obituary:

County’s Oldest Resident

’Uncle Billy’ Dead at Age 110

BECAME MEMBER OF LANCASTER, PENN. MISSION IN 1954

Lancaster, Penn. — “Uncle Billy” Adams, Lancaster county’s oldest resident, died last week at the Lancaster County hospital where he had been a patient since Feb. 1954.

This white haired old Negro, beloved by old and young, was born in Louisiana in 1845 and was separated from his parents when they were sold as slaves. He was 10 years old and often told how he escaped from slavery with blood hounds trailing him. He eluded these by applying onion to his shoes.

He arrived in Landisville in 1928 and was gardener and handyman for a Landis family. In more recent years he had been employed by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Snavely of Landisville who were at his bedside when he died.

The school children of Landisville would occasionally visit uncle Billy and sing for him. Uncle Billy joined the Vine Street Mennonite Mission, Lancaster, in Feb. 1954 when he was 109 years old.

The viewing was held at Fred Koser’s Funeral Home in Landisville, where approximately 150 friends came to pay tribute to one they loved. Funeral services were conducted at the funeral home by Rev. Joseph Lehman of the Vine Street Mission and Rev. Henry Frank of Landisville. Burial was made in Landisville cemetery.