Delina Filkins

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Delina Ecker Filkins (May 4, 1815 - December 4, 1928) was the first verified person to reach the age of 113, in 1928. Her case was thoroughly investigated in the 1970s and re-investigated in 2005, and found to be fully verifiable. In fact, the number of documents located make this the second-most verified case of all time (after Jeanne Calment). Age 113 would not verifiably be reached again until 1955. Filkin's age was 113 years and 214 days (or exactly 7 months) at the time of her death.

Born in Herkimer County, New York, she spent all her life, except the last two months of it, within a radius of ten miles. Her father, William Ecker, lived to reach the age of 97 before he died, while her mother was 'only' 78. Delina was married in 1834. She had six children. Only two of them were still alive in 1928: Frank (72) and Alonzo (86).

Delina Filkins spent the last two months of her life in Richland Springs, New York. During her life, she lived through 27 U.S. presidents.

Preceded by
Geert Adriaans Boomgaard
Undisputed Oldest Recorded Person Ever
September 17, 1925November 15, 1980
Succeeded by
Fannie Thomas
Preceded by
Thomas Peters
Oldest Recorded Person Ever
April 22, 1927July 27, 1958
Succeeded by
Martha Graham