Ella Gantt | Gerontology Research Group

Full name: Ella Ruth Gantt
Lifespan: (30.11.1886 – 28.10.2001)
Age: 114 years, 332 days
Birthplace: USA (Georgia)
Last residence: USA (Georgia)
Application date: 02.07.2007
Validation date: 16.09.2007
Validation source: United States (SSA)/Kestenbaum study/Oliver Trim/Robert Young/Dr. Wacław Jan Kroczek

Biography

Ella Ruth Allison was born near Mount Yonah (near Cleveland City), in White County, Georgia, USA, on November 30 1886 (also claimed 1888) to parents Benjamin Hill and Ida Alma (known by her middle name) (nee Alexander) Allison.

Around 1908 she married Oscar Brantley Langstrom, going on to have four children together. In the 1930’s the family lived in Louisiana, but had moved back to Georgia by 1940. Oscar passed away on December 26 1947, after which Ella married Winfred Talmadge Gantt Sr on January 13 1952 in Hall County, Georgia. Winfred passed away on July 20 1972, leaving Ella a widow for her remaining years.

In November 1996 she turned 110, becoming a supercentenarian.

Ella passed away in a care facility in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia, on October 28 2001, aged 114 years, 332 days. Upon the passing of 115-year-old Marie Bremont of France (1886-2001) on June 6 2001, Ella became the world’s oldest known living person until her own passing.

Sources

Findagrave

Newspaper article – 113th birthday

Newspaper article – 112th birthday

Newspaper article – 111th birthday

Newspaper obituary – 2001

Newspaper clipping – 114th birthday

Newspaper clipping – 110th birthday

Newspaper clipping – claimed 101st birthday

Newspaper article – 109th birthday

Newspaper article – 105th birthday

Validation

Her age was verified by the United States (SSA)/Kestenbaum study and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on September 16 2007.

Date of birth

Ella claimed for much of her life to be born in November 1888. This is shown in her Social Security correspondence and a birthday post in 1989 when she claimed to be celebrating her 101st birthday. Initially the Kestenbaum study verified her age as 112 at death (1888 birth) but in 2026 the GRG reviewed her case again.

From at least 105 onward she claimed to be born in November 1886. This is supported by the 1900 census, which is the earliest record we have for Ella’s reported age.

Reconstruction of the family tree also shows that 1886 was likely her year of birth. Siblings recorded in the 1900 census had consistent dates of birth at death and during life as the census indicated (which records age, as well as year and month of birth). Her older brother, William, was born in June 1885 and her younger brother Joseph was born in May 1889. So a birth in November 1886 or 1887 would fit here for Ella.

Given that she claimed 1886 later in life and the 1900 census indicates this, the GRG decided to upgrade her validated date of birth to November 30 1886.

There are several possible reasons for Ella understating her age over the years. Her first husband was born around 1890, so she may have wanted to appear not much older than him. Age gap marriages that way around were sometimes frowned upon at the time. It was also common for women of the period to understate, or be coy about, their ages.