USA > Indiana > Greene County > Biographical memoirs of Greene County, Ind. : with reminiscences of pioneer days, Volume I > Part 6
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she was over a hundred years old at the time of her death. She was a small woman, and one of good quali- ties, great energy and industry being part of them. From her it was that Nancy Hatfield, her daughter, inherited the capacity by which she acquired two excellent farms by her own management after she was left a widow.
TOHN STORM
was born in Virginia and remained there until he was fifteen years of age, when the Revolution began. This places the date of his birth, of which we have no record, in the year 1760, the war having commenced in 1775. At the outbreak Mr. Storm, tender as was his age, en- listed in the "Continental" Cavalry under command of Colonel Billy Washington, as he was familiarly called. The colonel was, I think, a cousin to the commander-in- chief. In this capacity Mr. Storm served faithfully and very efficiently through the entire dark and bloody strug- gle, growing and hardening up into a most splendid man- hood in the constant handling of the saber, and he be- came in that dreadful eight years a very great expert in its use. He must have fought in many battles, because Washington's cavalry was in the battles of Guilford Court House, Cowpens, Eutaw Springs and many others. In the final maneuver which drove the British under Gen- eral Stewart to Monk's Corner, then to Charleston, and
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finally out of the state, that ubiquitous cavalry had a very active part. This ended the war in the South. The sud- den, tremendous rush, the clang of steel, "the shout and groan and saber stroke," had all become familiar occur- rences to Mr. Storm.
Some considerable time after the close of the war hie was married to a Miss Parson, very probably of South Carolina, for her people afterwards lived in the state of Alabama. To this union were born Joseph, long called "Joe" Storm, who was for years a citizen of Bloomfield, in decade of the thirties. He was several times represent- ative of Greene county, and a militia captain ; Leah, Pe- ter, Mattie, Annie, from whom are obtained all these facts, who yet lives in Harrodsburg, Monroe county, and who is the mother of Dr. Lowder, of Bloomfield; Wash- ington and Susanna.
In the year 1815 Mr. Storm moved to what is now Jackson county, Indian Territory. He there on one oc- casion, with his neighbors, had to "fort up" for protec- tion from the Indians, and against the advice of his friends Mr. Storm would go out and plow his corn. He was blamed for rashness and called "Indian bait." At one time, while thus engaged, he heard a sudden rush of footsteps behind him. "I am 'Indian bait' at last." thought he. "Ah, if that good blade were in my hand; one lightning flash of steel, and that uplifted savage arm would be severed, the tomahawk it held flying to one
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side, and ere it could touch the earth another quick gleam and my saber would bury deep in a painted skull," but he was totally unarmed. "I am outnumbered, too, and all is against me, but must I run? My children are hid- den under the flax in the stable loft, and must they be burned? Not till after I am dead." So with a warwhoop he turned, his only weapon (his fist) drawn to make what show of defense he could. What wonder if in the tone of that "whoop" there was a touch of despair, for now he was alone and verging towards sixty years old? The struggle would be short, his entire family added to the dreary list of Indian massacres. That voice that rang ex- ultant at Cowpens did its best, and the aged hero strung his nerves for the last battle. But, old soldier, you didn't have to fight that day. It was all surprise-it was only his two big dogs in a dash of play. But laughingly to the end of life he said that was the biggest and best scare he ever had.
From Jackson county he moved to what is now Greene county and "entered" the northeast quarter of section 36, in township 7 north, range 3 west, containing 160 acres. This we learn by courtesy of Mr. Smith, county recorder. He received his "patent" for this land from the United States October 26, 1816. On this land, one mile and a half northeast of Hobbieville, just east of Indian creek, he spent the rest of his days. Even down to old age he did not forget his loved "sword play." He
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would have a friend to take a stick and himself another while he tried to
"Feel the stern joy that warriors feel At meeting foeman worthy of their steel."
Mr. Storm and his entire family were uncommonly ath- letic. He was a converted Christian and member of the Baptist church; by occupation a farmer. He lived until 18 35. On his own farm, since called the "Pink East" farm, and later still divided into other hands, rests his honored dust till the resurrection.
To understand his character one has but to look back through the ages at the race from which he sprung. That race is the "Cavalier." The words cavalry, chiv- alry, cavalier and chivalier mean very nearly the same thing. These words express the character of Mr. Storm --- open, above board, hospitable, brave, frank and manly.
The New England states were settled by the "round- head" from Virginia and the South by the cavalier. It was but natural for him to go forth to war in the cavalry. Through the past we may look at the class of mankind as far as to Leonidas with his three hundred long-haired men at Thermopyla. Each class-"round-head" and "cavalier"-had its excellence and defects. One great defect of the cavalier is laziness. He will fight, but won't work. In many instances Mr. Storm entirely escaped
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this defect, for he was by no means a lazy man, the "ex- cellencies"-all of theni-he had.
JOSEPII LAWRENCE
was a native of North Carolina. When Francis Marion came to that state to procure recruits for the patriot cause Mr. Lawrence enlisted under his command, remained and served with Marion from that time, which was early in the war up to the time when General Lincoln was trans- ferred from South Carolina to Virginia.
Mr. Lawrence was transferred with him, and was one of his color-bearers. This brought him, in course of time, to the siege of Yorktown, which, as all know, re- sulted in the surrender of the entire British army. Three years before this General Lincoln had to surrender Charleston, South Carolina, to Lord Cornwallis. Wash- ington loved and respected Lincoln, and to soothe his wounded feelings designated him to receive the sword and surrender of Lord Cornwallis on exactly the same terms that Cornwallis had exacted of him at Charleston. On this never to be forgotten occasion Mr. Lawrence bore his honored "color" with unspeakable pride. There is much difference in the detail of surrenderers.
Gates at Saratoga received Bourgoyne's surrender with great privacy and delicacy of feeling; the terms exacted of Lincoln at Charleston were very humiliating. Lord Cornwallis could, of course, raise no question as to terms set by himself.
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Mr. Lawrence, after the lapse of years, moved from North Carolina to White county, Indiana, and lived there several years, tlien removed to Greene county, Center township, bought land in section 19, township 7 north, range 3 west, as John R. Combs remembers, by whose kindness we are furnished with all these facts.
Since Mr. Combs told me this, I myself remember Mr. Lawrence very well. I can see him yet in his good old age, on horseback, wearing his excellent "camlet" cloak made in the comely style of long ago. Our honored veteran had the distinction of being a soldier longer than any person ever lived in Greene county. He was of that size and vitality the very personification of alertness and activity so often connected with long life. His age at death was one hundred and four years. He died in 1840 and was buried one mile and a half northeast of Sylvina church. By occupation he was a farmer. He knew him- self to be a relative of Captain James Lawrence of the navy, who commanded the "Chesapeake" in her battle with the "Shannon" in the War of 1812, the man who, with his dying breath, gave the order, while being car- ried below, "Don't give up the ship." Here in Bloom- field is a beautiful walking cane, in possession of Mr. Frank Edwards, which has been in the family now three generations, which was made from a piece of that re- nowned vessel on which Perry fought, and her name, as all know, was the "Lawrence."
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FREDERICK BINGHAM
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was born in Virginia, February 22, 1792, in the · same state and on the same day of the month that produced Washington. Another coincident in this nation's history was the year 1732, which gave the world both Washing- ton and Marion. When, in 1814, the British forces un- der Admiral Cockburn and General Ross, were operating in the waters and vicinity of Chesapeake Bay, when the city of Washington was captured and burned and Balti- more attacked.
It was supposed that Norfolk would be captured, it being considered the "key" of the bay. Of a regiment of infantry that marched to defend Norfolk, part of them were from Virginia and part from North Carolina. Mr. Bingham was fife major. In the making up of that reg- iment my father heard him play the fife. Father said his uniform was red as blood and had round, shiny brass buttons on it the size of musket balls. And the very sight of him, together with his stirring music, sent a thrill through the people like an electric shock. No real attack was made on Norfolk, so Mr. Bingham was in no battle. You all remember that while the British were fighting to take Baltimore Francis S. Key wrote "Star- Spangled Banner."
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After the danger was passed and the war over Mr. Bingham's regiment was discharged and he returned
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home. Under the United States militia law, which con- tinued in force on up to about 1840, he was still a very active and efficient fifer, both in Virginia and Indiana. Virginia was his home until about 1830, when he moved to Indiana, first on White River, then to Center township, Greene county, of which he was fife major until the mili- tia system ceased. To all the people of the county, "Fred- erick, the fifer," as he was lovingly called, was well and favorably known.
One of the very first things I remember was the big muster days in Bloomfield, with Frederick for fifer and his little boy, Hiram, for drummer. That fife's keen notes I shall never forget, even one of his old tunes I still remember that he played in Bloomfield as long ago as 1831. While on parade Mr. Bingham carried himself with spirit and bearing that was inspiring. The very breath of his nostrils seemed to be patriotism coupled with high resolve. A militia muster was a "high day" in those times of long ago.
In Virginia he was married to Miss Obedience Pow- ell, and to them were born Hiram; Eliza Ann, now wife of Elsbery Anderson, of Center township, from whom these facts are obtained; Alfred and Edmund. Mr. Bing- liam owned land and pursued the occupation of farmer in section 12, township 7 north, range 4 west. He was an industrious, honest man, known and read of all men.
. He took a premium on a hogshead of tobacco at
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Todd's warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky, about the year 1836, it being the best one there that year. You re- member that Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was a Todd, of Kentucky. The owner of that warehouse was her rel- ative. Also here in Greene county when a warehouse was established at old Point Commerce he was appointed tobacco inspector in it, which office he held for many years. In March, 1859, he went to the house appointed for all the living and is buried in the Bingham graveyard in Center township, near Solsberry.
WILLIAM MASON.
A respected Greene county citizen and business man, who was financially ruined in the building of the Bloom- field, Bedford & Switz City Railway, was he whose biog- raphy follows.
William Mason was born in. Guilford county, North Carolina, August 11, 1812, and died November 29, 1894. He came to Greene county, Indiana, with his father's family November 16, 1821, with whom he lived to man- hood very near the place where he died, this being the year Greene county was organized. He had a scholarly inclination ; was clerk for John Inman and school teacher in his early majority. The history of the county for 1842 says this of him, in regard to his first appointment as treasurer: "They selected a young man who had ac-
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quired a fair education and gave evident indication of good business qualifications. This young man was Wil- liam Mason, who accepted the appointment and was aft- erwards re-elected several times and made one of the most efficient officers we have ever had."
In 1842 he was married to Mary Ritter, who died in 1843. Shortly after this he became part owner and clerk of the steamboat "Richland," the other owners be- ing Andrew Downing and Captain M. H. Shryer. For Andrew Downing Mr. Mason did business in the "flat- boating" way to New Orleans a good many years.
In partnership with his brother Henry, and with John B. Stropes, other trips were made on the Missis- sippi. In all business relations-the finances of the steamboat and flatboats, his seven years as treasurer of the county-the more he was tried the more it was seen that he was eminently capable, honest and efficient. In the forties he was married to Malinda Shaw, who bore him three sons-John C., Henry and Edward. She died in 1864. Within these years he had become an exten- sive landowner and stock raiser, especially of fine cattle. In the building of the narrow-gauge railway he was so important a factor that it could hardly have been built without him. In this enterprise his large property was lost. Since that time he has lived with his son, John C. Mason, in Illinois and Indiana, and also with his brother Henry, just across Richland creek in Taylor township, this county.
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HENRY MASON.
In 1824 a spot was selected and surveyed for the county seat of Greene county, and named Bloomfield. Three years before that, November 15, 1821, Henry Ma- son, with his father's family, came to within two miles of that place, where a home was made, on which and near that vicinity all the family lived long lives and died. Henry was the last one, who died May 23, 1895. He was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, September 22, 1820.
In boyhood he plowed corn when young panthers "cut their capers" and played like kittens on the fence. Mr. Mason was married to Mary J. Quillen, December 15, 1853. To them no children were born. He had the uncommon strong sense to know when he had enough of this world's goods and the still higher manly and Christian quality to covet no more. His oldest brother lost his property in building the narrow-gauge railway. Henry told him, "While I have anything it is yours till it is gone." So at his house that brother had a welcome home until, at past four-score years, all was over with him on earth.
WILLIAM WILKERSON.
From Professor J. W. Walker's history of Beech Creek township, published in Goodspeed's history of
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Greene county, we learn that William Wilkerson was born in North Carolina, January 5, 1730. He was a soldier of the Revolution. Particulars of his life in the army are all now lost. He was the father of Squire Solomon Wilkerson, who laid out and named Solsberry in honor of himself.
For one year he lived in an apartment of his son's house. The day he was one hundred years old he split one hundred rails on top of the hill where Dr. Axtell aft- erwards had his dwelling. He died in Brown county in the summer of 1842, at the great age of one hundred and six years, six months and one day. He delighted to tell of his patriotism during his country's struggle for liberty.
MICHAEL DOWNING,
in all wars a soldier, in peace an honorable, useful citi- zen, was born of Scotch-Irish parents, in Ireland, in the decade of the fifties of the last century. He emigrated from Cork, Ireland, to Virginia in time of the Revo- lutionary war. He was in the springtime of early youth and he felt as had his fathers' for ages the grinding heel of oppression from the British government. In the long past they had no chance to help themselves. Now he might strike for God and home and the common rights of humanity.
He enlisted in a Virginia regiment, marched, toiled,
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suffered and fought seven weary years against that flag "that for a thousand years had braved the battle and the breeze."
From the best that can now be learned it seems that he was under General Wayne. No particulars are known of his long career as a soldier in the Revolution. We only know he was a gallant, efficient, useful man in it.
When the blood and darkness had passed he put his hand to useful, honorable industry. In no act did these matchless heroes more show their real manhood than when they laid down their arms and walked the long, lonely journey to their desolate homes, with not even money to pay for a night's lodging-to beg their way, to work their way or starve their way, just as they could.
Mr. Downing was a home and family man in peace, and in war was a soldier. To have a home was what great numbers had left all in the old world for. Just when Mr. Downing married cannot be told. The Revo- lution ended early in the eighties of the seventeenth cen- tury. Early in the nineties occurred Harmer's defeat here in the northwest. He was in that, for as long as he was able, whenever he had a chance, he was in the army of his adopted country manfully fighting the old, hated oppressor.
Harmer and St. Clair both having been beaten by the Indians under British encouragement, Washington appointed Wayne to command in the northwest. With
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the stern joy that warriors feel Mr. Downing marched under his old, trusted, loved commander of the Revolu- tion-"Mad Anthony," as he was called. All this my father told his children when Mr. Downing passed his house on his way to his son's (Andrew Downing) in 1832.
At Wayne's signal victory at Fallen Timbers, called also the battle of Maumee Rapids, he took part in, as a many-times veteran. That victory, like Wayne's other great victory at Stony Point in the Revolution, was gained with the bayonet.
The Indians were behind the fallen trees blown down by a hurricane, which gave the name Fallen Tim- bers. They supposed the whites would just be good enough to stand and be shot.
As quick a charge as possible was ordered. The logs were mounted, the Indians were very still behind them; there they got the bayonet. Then some getting up and running took place by the survivors, and they got the bullet. Forward through that old forest went our army, and when the foe was driven out of it the victory was complete. One may imagine how so splen- did a veteran as Mr. Downing, every fiber of soul and body ablaze with battle, would bear himself through such a bayonet rush as that.
So far the dates of all his service are known to all. After this he is known to have been long a soldier along
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the frontier on the Ohio River as well as being, as we are caused to believe, five years in the regular army, taking in the War of 1812. Now which of these took place first we do not know.
At Fort Massac, on the Ohio River, in what is now Illinois, below the mouth of the Tennessee River, he was on duty; how long is not known. From there he carried the mail afoot and alone through the wilderness, likely to the falls of the Ohio, now to Louisville. The lonely, dangerous journey, the slow hours of night as they passed over the silent man in his solitary bivouac, the writer never passed Fort Massac without trying to im- agine.
Through the War of 1812, from what little we know, it seems he was in the regular army. Of his serv- ice in that war we have no particulars. It is only known that he was in it and was still a soldier up to 1818; known that eleven years of his life ere spent in the tented field, and whether longer is not known. This is the longest soldierly career in actual war of any man who ever lived in. Greene county. In 1818, on the Kanawha River in West Virginia, he embarked his family on a flatboat and came to Louisville. From there he came by land to Washington county, Indiana, where my father knew him; settled on Walnut Ridge; lived there until 1832, when he came to Bloomfield; lived here some years, then went to Jackson county, where, in 1852, he passed from earth. In
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that year a land warrant was issued to him by the gov- ernment for one hundred and sixty acres. His children were John Andrew, so long a very energetic citizen of Bloomfield, having built and operated the Richland fur- nace, built the old brick court house and jail and many other buildings, and was part owner of the steamboat "Richland"; Paul, the great flatboat pilot; Albert and Gallatin (twins), and Peggy.
ANDREW DOWNING.
Andrew Downing was the third son of Michael Downing, the veteran soldier of the Revolution, of Wayne's victory in 1794, and the War of 1812, as well as five years' service afterwards in the regular army. On the Kanawha River in West Virginia, in 1818, he cm- barked on a flatboat with his father's family and came to the falls of the Ohio River at Louisville ; from there by land to Washington county, Indiana, then to Bloomfield about 1829.
Across the street from Wolf's blacksmith shop he built the first brick house in Bloomfield. The first I re- member of him he was a shoemaker, made the first little pair of shoes I ever wore that I can remember, as well as shoes for my two older sisters.
The next business he engaged in was handling liquors and groceries, sugar, coffee, molasses, etc. As
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early as 1831 he built and ran the first flatboat ever sent from Bloomfield.
In 1832 the cholera first came to America. That year, while on the river, Mr. Downing became acquainted with the disease. After he came home Thomas Warnick, clerk of the county, took it. He lived a mile south of town, where Thomas Patterson now lives. The doctor gave him nothing but calomel, which was no manner of use in this case. As soon as Mr. Downing heard of it he went to him as fast as a horse could carry him. The patient was in the collapsed stage-the cold sweat of death already on him; nothing but mechanical means is quick enough now. A big kettle of roasting ears in hot water was soon ready. These wrapped in cloths so as not to burn were put in the bed all around the body and limbs, then this heroic man held the patient still and held the covers on through the agony of reaction. This is dreadful (I myself have been there). When the blood goes back in the cold feet and legs it hurts like hot nee- dles. All this is just like a sinking chill. I have seen both, for I had the cholera in New Orleans in 1849. Mr. Warnick was saved and lived many years, engaging up Warnick was saved and lived many years. Up to 1837 Mr. Downing engaged in merchandising and flatboating. Some of the time his place of business was where the "Old Stand" (tavern) is. At this time the old brick court house was on contract. The builder drew his first
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one thousand dollars and ran away. Mr. Downing was one of his sureties and had the house to build. In 1839 it was finished. William Eveligh was brought from Louisville as boss carpenter on the house. This brought the family, which consisted of three brothers and two sisters, all fresh from Ireland. The sisters were very beautiful.
Mr. Downing and Mr. M. H. Shryer were both wid- owers. The first event to occur in the fine new court room was a big ball. The first act of the ball was when all was in magnificent array, promptor and musicians in their places, as Mr. Downing and Mr. Shryer and the two Eveligh sisters stood up and were married.
The brick block north of the square, built by him- self, was where the largest of his merchandising was done. The discovery of iron in Richland creek attracted the attention of Mr. Downing, and for about fifteen years engaged his great energy. The mill, store, bank, iron, flatboat, canal-boat and steamboat business all had their part in his affairs. The first brick house in Bloomfield, the first flatboat, the brick block on the north side of the square, the old brick court house, the brick jail that stood on the east side of the square, the house on the hill where Mrs. Grismore lives, Richland forge and furnace, the large mill that was burned where French's mill is, the town at the furnace, the stone bank that was moved to Bloomfield and is here yet.
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The little stone house used for a "bank" at the fur- nace was built by Mr. Davis, a refugee from Kentucky, who came some years before the war for the Union on account of the trouble and danger then rife among the people. He was a cousin of Jeff Davis-a tall, typical Kentuckian, who with tenderness cherished his family. One of his children, Nettie Davis, was as handsome an object as I ever saw or expect to see on earth.
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