FAMILIES OF SIX GENERATIONS 



Two Examples of Early Marriage and Child-Bearing, with Extreme 



Longevity — Transmission in Both Cases Through Females — 



Few Similar Authentic Cases on Record 



FAMILIES of six livinj^ generations 

 are found so infrequently that 

 the two cases reported by Dr. 

 George M. Gould are of more than 

 usual interest.-' Although cases of ex- 

 treme longevity, and families of even as 

 many as seven living generations, are 

 reported from time to time as occurring 

 as far back as the seventeenth century, 

 modern methods of keeping vital statis- 

 tics have shown that such reports were 



without doubt highly exaggerated. The 

 two photographs published herewith, 

 however, were both taken in September, 

 1908, and the cases are for this reason 

 well authenticated. Both families are 

 well known in their communities and 

 their striking records are well vouched 

 for. 



AN UNUSUAL CASE 



The first of these twentieth century 

 cases is the Shrake familv, of which 



SIX LIVING GENERATIONS 



Althoujjli families of four living gcncralion.s arc quite eoininonly found and an occasional 

 report tells of live generations, groups such as the above, including members of si.\ living 

 generations, are exceedingly rare. Other things being equal, the chances of a long life are 

 greater for this I'abe in arms than for the child born of parents whose own parents have 

 already passed away. Photograph by courtesy of Dr. George NL Gould and American 

 Medicine. (Fig. 11.) 



* Dr. George M. Gould, American Medicine, September, 1917. 

 132 



