Mollie Harper, 107 years old in 1949
The Harper Collection at Old Independence Regional Museum is home to this newspaper clipping about Mollie Harper. In September of 1949, Mollie was 107 years old and had lived through five American wars, as well as many depressions and strikes. The article states, “born and reared on a farm near Tuckerman, Mollie was a grown woman during the War Between the States and can remember seeing Union cavalry passing her house.” She also said, “I don’t feel quite as young as I used to. I get around tolerably fair but I can’t hear or see very good.” When asked about what she did for entertainment she said, “I listen to the radio, sing and pat my foot to the music.”
