HARMON AUGUSTUS MISENER

[April 6, 1961]

HE’S 100 AND HAPPY
Augustus Misener, 8 Herick Ave, is a wrestling fan, an avid reader of newspapers and a man who wouldn’t change a thing. He’s also 100 years old today.

“In the old days a man worked from sunrise to sundown,” he said, referring to his farm, now sold in Crowland township near Port Robinson

“The shorter work week and all the other changes all for the better,” Mr. Misener .said.

Crediting his longevity to moderation, not only of pleasures but of work, the cleareyed oldster noted that it’s all right for a man to work hard but he shouldn’t overdo it.

Having retired 30 years ago, at the tender age of 70, Mr Misener now lives here with a son, Cecil. A second son , Arthur lives in Brantford. Two daughters and two sons, reside in the United States.

His  major pleasures include reading the daily newspaper from front to back (“I wouldn’t want to miss any scandals,” he says, chuckling) and watching the weekly wrestling matches on TV.

A non-smoker, who prefers his tobacco the old-fashioned way, as something to chew, not inhale, Mr. Misener’s great-grandfather emigrated to New Jersey from Germany in the middle 17th century.

The family then came to the peninsula, bringing grass seeds and fruit tree startings with them. At the time of the Fenian raids, Mr .Misener was six years old.

“I don’t remember the raids,’ he said. The invaders reached Ridgeway “smuggling themselves in and thinking Canada was such a small place they could take it over…”

He was reluctant at first to sell the family farm on his retirement, he said until he was shown that one son could make more working in a factory than two sons could hope to make working the farm. “That seemed to settle it,” Mr. Misener said.

He described the farm operation as a mixture of grain crops and cattle. Plus fruit. “In those days we never had the insect or disease problem growers have now.”

Members of the family and former neighbors from Port Robinson attended a special birthday party honoring Mr.Misener last weekend.

One of the highlights of the evening was the arrival of happy birthday wishes from Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

Children living in the U.S., are Mrs Sadie Monti, Baltimore, Md; Mrs Irene Bernier, Highland Park, Mich.; Milen Misener, St Clair Shores, Mich. And Morris Misener, Tamps Florida.

HE’S 103 TODAY FINDS LIFE HECTIC
[April 6, 1964]

Harmon  Misener doesn’t have much use for today’s world.
“Too much hurly-burly..it’s no good, too fast for me,” he said.

But then, it’s not too surprising that a man who counts 103 years of yesterdays finds the hectic pace of 1964 a little much for him.
Whatever his opinion of the pace of modern life, it didn’t prevent him from taking his first airplane ride-to Florida-when he was 100 years old.

And until a little over a year ago he lived with his son on Herrick Ave. And made his own solo trips downtown- but his doctor decided it was time he took it a little easier, so now he lives in Bellevue Convalescent Home.
It is there they are holding a 103rd birthday part for him today.

He was born on a farm property at Doansridge in Crowland township and farmed it himself for most of his life. The property has been owned by his grandfather before him
Most of his youth was spent in the Niagara peninsula- but he did spend time west of Chicago when he was a youngster.

He speaks of a fire in Chicago about that time that was started by “Some old woman’s cow.”.In 1871 a fire-caused by a cow kicking over a lamp-swept through the city causing some $200,000,000 damage and high loss of life.

Now from a comfortable seat in a nursing home bedroom he offers this advice to youngsters wondering how he remains so alert with all the years behind him.
“Work hard and steady..and never abuse yourself.”I never smoked…could take a drink, but never too much. It’s not good to drink to excess either. Work hard, but not to excess.”

What about war record? “It’s a poor business, this fighting. I was never in the army..never saw any use in it,” he sniffed. There was always more than enough to do down on the farm.

When he finally gave up farming he went to live with his son, Cecil Misener at 8 Herrick Ave, in St Catharines-and from there flew to visit another son in Tampa, Fla., after his 100th birthday.

Last week a framed message on behalf of Premier John Robarts was sent to the nursing home wishing him well on his birthday. He recalled that on his 100th birthday the prime minister of Ontario had come in person to congratulate him.
He still has a lively curiosity and gave Standard Photographer Dick Titley and his equipment the once-over.”What does he want?” he asked. Then added; “He’s a big fellow.. I wouldn’t want him to be mad at me. What do you want me to do?”

He’s still lively enough to remember it’s spring too. What about the nurses, he was asked.”They’re really good and lovable..a jolly good bunch.” he said emphatically, as one brushed his full, silver head of hair. And how does he keep all his hair at this age? “Why, I never gave it away,” he said with a grin.

HARMON MISENER, OLDEST RESIDENT, DIES AT 104

[November 2, 1965]

St Catharines’ oldest citizen 104-year-old Harmon Augustus Misener, died yesterday at a city convalescent home where he had ived for the past two years.

Mr Misener was born in Crowland township April 6, 1861. He lived most of his life in the Niagara peninsula, and was a farmer until his retirement at 70.

He was a tobacco-chewer whose family emigrated from Germany to New Jersey in the mid-18th century. When his family came to the Niagara.