"Octogenarian" = A person between the ages of 80 and 90 years.

This is a clipping from the Octogenarian, that Alan Whitman found regarding the gathering to celebrate Dimock's 80th birthday (24 Jul 1892).

Octogenarian - On the 21st day of July a large number of relatives and friends gathered at the brick cottage at Round Hill, to make merry the day that the four score years of one of Annapolis County's most enterprising and successful farmers. The large farm upon which Deacon Dimock Whitman has spent almost his entire life was a government grant to his grandfather, and is a part of the country occupied by the original French settlers. Some fragments of the old French dykes are still to be seen in the marsh land.

"Grandfather," said he, "came here at seventeen years of age (the eldest of nine children), with a widowed mother, and settled in the dense forest." The little log cabin which first gave them shelter as long since been succeeded by two comfortable and spacious frame houses and finally by a substantial brick structure. Notwithstanding all the privations and hardships of a pioneer life in the woods, this sturdy lived to see 97 full years.

At the age of twenty years Dimock Whitman came from his home in Albany to care for his grandfather in his declining years. He found him then at then, at the age of 90, caring for his farm-stock and preparing firewood. Four years later the farm was bought, and remained for upwards of fifty years in the possession of one man. A few years since it was divided and one half handed over to one son; this season the other half has been handed over to the youngest son.

Bro. Whitman has been thrice married; and including three children which the third Mrs. Whitman brought with her has reached a family of eighteen of whom fifteen are still living. Seven remain in N.S., three are in Manitoba, one in Illinois, and four in New England. All except two have professed godliness and united with the Baptist church. Two sons entered the ministry, and one is an honored deacon, formerly of the North church, Halifax, now of the Emerson church.

In connection with the family there have been seventeen marriages, and the urn of the youngest yet to come. The grand children number thirty, and the fourth generation has commenced. The father and breadwinner of this large family is still hale and hearty, able to move about farm and care for his horse, and altogether enjoys life, clearly providing that hard toil and the care of children does not of necessity shorten a man's life. The beautiful and productive farm, and the competency gathered from it and laid away for old age, are a good illustration, of what can be accomplished by steadily adhering to a purpose.

For a century and more this home has been a kin of Baptist hotel, ministers always receiving the warmest welcome; and before the days of railroads, travelers to and from associations often filling the house to overflowing. Such hospitality makes no man poor. With recounting the goodness of God, singing His praise and fervent prayer, the day passed quietly away and we departed, leaving the wish that many years of Christian usefulness might yet be seen by our brother before the call to depart hence.

Written by one of the Guests.

Again, thanks Alan.