Transcript

(By Associated Press)

Spanish Fork, Utah, July 19.— When “grandma” Persis Mckee, believed to be the oldest living members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (Mormon) celebrated her ninety-eighth birthday here the first week in July, forty of 144 living descendants of all her faculties is able to converse intelligently and listens eagerly to the reading of the current news. She is particularly interested in Europe at the present time. 

Mrs. McKee was with the Saints on most of their early pilgrimages and was in Nauvoo during the whole period of its occupation by the Mormons. As a young woman Mrs. McKee was employed by the Prophet Joseph Smith to fold leaves of the book of Mormon as they came off the press, and among her most cherished possessions is an autographed copy of the book presented to her by the prophet.

When the Saints were expelled from Nauvoo Mrs. McKee came to Utah. Her children numbered nine, eight of whom are still living. The family has numbered 88 grand children, 113 great grand children and 15 great, great grandchildren. 

Members of the 5th generation did not participate in the birth anniversary.