1978 Archives

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Ara Prahm of the United States at age 110. She was born in Rosamond, Illinois, United States on 4 January 1868. In 1893, the family moved to Vandalia. As a child, her father purchased the Vandalia Union, a weekly newspaper that he continued to publish for many years. Prahm’s brothers later owned the company, until they sold their interests in 1945.

As a young woman.
(Source: The 110 Club)

In 1907, Prahm got married to her husband. They moved to St. Louis, where her husband worked for the Big Four Railroad. At some point, she returned to Vandalia and became the community’s first telephone operator.

On her 105th birthday in 1973.
(Source: The Rock Island Argus)

Prahm continued to attend the First Methodist Church until her late 90s. On her 100th birthday, her younger brother, Ira, was still alive and approaching his 93rd birthday. He passed away in June of that same year. At the time, Prahm was still reading a lot, sewing, and watching television. However, at the age of 101, she fell unconscious while running upstairs and broke her ankle. After this, she decided to move into a nursing home.

Prahm passed away in Vandalia, Illinois, USA, on 10 May 1978, at the age of 110 years, 126 days.

On 13 April 1978, following the death of 110-year-old Nellie Renne, she became the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Illinois. Following Prahm’s death, Gertrude Stunkel became the oldest known living person in the state.

LongeviQuest congratulates Ara Prahm’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Prahm’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Minnie Druse of the United States at age 111. She was born in Kahoka, Missouri, United States on 21 July 1867. She was a sister, a wife, and a mother.

A few days before her 104th birthday.
(Source: Ames Daily Tribune)

As a young woman, Druse moved to Chicago and worked as a dress designer in a fashionable salon. In 1905 and 1906, her family went to Oklahoma Territory and started a photography business. After a year or two, they moved to Stronghurst, Illinois, and opened another photography business. His husband was granted the first US patent for recapping tires and for the first circular mold to produce tire treads.

In 1922, the Druse family moved from Missouri to Oskaloosa, Iowa. She continued to enjoy her hobbies such as photography, painting, and crocheting, until her eyesight began to decline around the age of 104. At the age of 75, she fractured a hip, but she didn’t move into a nursing home until she broke her knee at the age of 97.

A few days before her 109th birthday.
(Source: The Des Moines Register)

Druse passed away in Zearing, Iowa, USA, on 22 January 1978, at the age of 110 years, 185 days. The inscription on her gravestone reads, “The World’s Oldest Methodist” and “Iowa’s Oldest Resident.”

LongeviQuest congratulates Minnie Druse’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Druse’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Alma Abernathy of the United States at age 112. She was born in Nulltown, Indiana, United States on 7 December 1865. She was a wife and a mother to 5 children.

Abernathy continued to live on her own until her 70s, before moving in with her foster daughter in 1960. She was a longtime member of the Columbia United Methodist Church. As a lifelong Republican, Abernathy had voted in every major election since women gained the right to vote in 1920. In December 1975, she celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming the first known supercentenarian who was both born and living in the U.S. state of Indiana.

Shortly before her 100th birthday in 1965.
(Source: Palladium-Item)

Abernathy was a healthy and active woman who lived a long and fulfilling life. She claimed to have never visited a doctor until she was 90. Her first hospitalization was at the age of 99 after a fall. She celebrated her 100th birthday with an open house attended by over 200 people. As a centenarian, her favorite pastime was watching television, with her favorite highlight being the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, when she was 103. She also enjoyed cooking and sewing, but gave up these hobbies around the age of 104 due to failing eyesight. She suffered another fall one month before her 106th birthday and spent a week in the hospital for observation, but she didn’t break any bones and made a full recovery. A few months before her 109th birthday, she moved into a nursing home due to declining health.

At the age of 107.
(Source: Indianapolis Star)

Alma Abernathy died in Connersville, Indiana, USA on 31 January 1978 at the age of 112 years, 55 days, following a lengthy illness. She was survived by a foster daughter, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

LongeviQuest congratulates Alma Abernathy’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Abernathy’s Directory Profile here.