Jimmy Swinnerton spawned a comic called Little Jimmy that ran for over 50 years. It’s a bit of a miracle that the strip–and Swinnerton–lasted that long. A doctor during the early part of Swinnerton’s career, told him he had just two weeks to live. This news prompted Swinnerton to move to Arizona where the beautiful landscapes inspired the scenery in his comics and paintings. They inspired his friend George Herriman, too, when Swinnerton introduced him to the beauties of the desert. And the smog-free environment greatly contributed to the cartoonist’s long life–after being born today in 1875 he lived to 98 years old!

Swinnerton