Quits Tobacco at 65, lives to 94
Joseph L. Culpepper
Special to The Democrat

Collinsville - Known largely over western Grayson county, Joseph L. Culpepper celebrated his ninety-fourth birthday on April 1 with many old friends and relatives present at a birthday dinner.  After the meal, he sat around telling jokes of the civil war and early pioneer days.
He lives with his son, W. Steve Culpepper in the Ethel community, four miles east of Collinsville, where he may be seen working around with spade 
and shovel.  He was an active farmer until his eightieth year, having lived at his present farm home during the past 43 years.  He chewed and smoked tobacco for 50 years, but attributes his long life to the fact that he quit the tobacco habit after he was 65.
J.L. Culpepper was born April 1, 1847, at Atlanta, Ga., the son of Steven and Elizabeth Culpepper, also of Atlanta.  In 1872 he was married to Elizabeth Fielder in Clayborne, La., by the Rev. J. S. Stephenson and moved to Texas in 1898, settling on his farm at Ethel.
He has five living children..  They are W.B. Culpeper of Ethel, Mrs. C.C. Haynes of Montague, George Culpepperof Muskogee, Okla., Luther E. Culpepper of Tioga and Mrs. C.C. Pitman of Kaw, Okla.
Mr. Culpepper states that he has a record few men can duplicate: he has lived 94 years without using whiskey, and during all of that time has never been called to serve on a jury and was never called before a grand jury.
His father served during the entire four years of the civil war.  A boy of 14, he stayed at home and kept up the Louisiana farm as best he could.
He said, "They were mighty hard times.  The only meat we had was game.  Game was plentiful, even deer.  When I wanted meat I would grab up father's old smooth-bore and bring back a buck, or a couple of turkeys.  If mother was in a hurry for fresh meat, I would just go out near the house and kill a half dozen squirrels, which I could do in a few minutes.  I never used anything but a Georgia stock or "Scooter" plow until I came to Texas. 
Mr. Culpepper is a member of the Baptist church and attends regularly.