Clara Fountain

Clara Dawson Fountain (7 May 1813 - September 9, 1922) she was an American supercentenarian—specifically a semi-supercentenarian (aged 106–109)—whose age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group; she lived for 109 years and 125 days. She was the last person born in 1813.

Biography

Clara Fountain was born on May 7, 1813, in Virginia. At fifteen, she married one of her master's slaves, Andrew Gath, who died shortly after the wedding. She later married Nelson Briley. She had several children, but her husband died while still a slave. By the time of the Civil War, Mrs. Fontaine had spent more than half a century in slavery and had sent her two eldest sons to fight for freedom. After the Emancipation Proclamation, she moved to Charlestown, South Carolina, with her children. A few years later, she went to Louisville, Kentucky. In 1884, they moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where she lived until four years ago, when she moved to Wichita, Kansas. In February 1921, she joined the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Clara became the oldest person alive after the death of Ann Eliza Hastings (March 24, 1813 – January 29, 1921). Clara Fountain died on September 9, 1922, at 9:45 a.m., at the age of 109 years, 125 days. After her death, Louisa Thiers became the oldest person on earth.

Age controversy

For some time, Clara Fountain was given an incorrect birth date of May 7, 1801, and very few details are known about her life.