USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 19
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The present Masonic Temple, at the corner of Prince and Water streets, was built and furnished at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars and was occupied May 9, 1905. The building committee charged with its construction was Dr. Robert S. Anderson, president; Robert A. Woods, secretary ; George J. Welborn, treasurer ; Jesse C. Kimball and Elmer E. Reeves.
The temple is occupied by Prince Lodge No. 231, Free and Accepted Masons; Princeton Chapter No. 75, Royal Arch Masons; Princeton Council No. 71, Royal and Select Masters ; Princeton Commandery No. 46, Knights Templar, and Golden Fleece Chapter No. 176. Order of the Eastern Star. In March, 1914, the membership was two hundred and twenty-five.
Princeton Chapter No. 75, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered October 21, 1869, and the charter members were Daniel Head, John E. Jenkins, John M. Ryan, James W. Spain, Israel Stough, Frederick Federer, Thomas Cullen, R. L. Grissam, William F. Milliner. John M. Ryan was the first high priest, James W. Spain the first king, and John E. Jenkins was the first scribe. On the first of March, 1914, there were one hundred and forty-eight members of the chapter.
Princeton Commandery No. 46, Knights Templar, was issued dispensa- tion April 26, 1902, and was granted a charter on April 16, 1903. The charter members were Robert A. Woods, Robert S. Anderson, John Burke, Elmer E. Reeves, Henry P. Chambers, Harvey C. Cunningham, J. H. Owen, A. B. Nickey, W. E. Nickey, Albert Deutsch, Louis Deutsch, George C. Mason,
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Horation W. Vedder, John W. McGowan, George A. Klenck, S. M. Nickey, A. D. Firestone, Frank B. Copp and A. D. McClure. Robert A. Woods was the first eminent commander, Dr. Robert S. Anderson the first generalissimo, and Elmer E. Reeves the first captain-general. In March, 1914, there were fifty members.
Princeton Council No. 71, Royal and Select Masters, was issued dispen- sation July 4, 1898, and granted a charter on October 19th of the same year. The charter members were Robert A. Woods, M. L. Miller, Samuel . M. Nickey, L. D. Mahaffey, Robert S. Anderson, John W. Johnson, William E. Nickey, John Burke and Elmer E. Reeves. Robert A. Woods was the first illustrious master, R. S. Anderson the first deputy illustrious master and S. M. Nickey the first principal conductor of work. In March, 1914, there were sixty-five members in the council.
Fort Branch Lodge No. 696, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized by the following charter membership: Marshall C. Powell, worshipful master; Horace Genung, senior warden; Spencer B. Mckinney, junior warden ; George T. Ford, treasurer ; Homer T. Genung, secretary ; Stephen U. Lockwood, senior deacon; Walter C. Polk, junior deacon; John Blessing, senior steward; James V. Stapp, junior steward: James A. Carson, tyler ; Walter G. Gram, Samuel H. West, Walter S. Hoffman, William A. Polk, Herman G. Graper, James H. Johnson, Lawrence P. Atterbury, Charles G. Scales, Welsie Brokaw, Willis G. Stiefel, LaSalle Bryant, Jesse G. Turner, Horace O. Cherry, Lucius B. Marlette, Rev. Israel J. Turner, chaplain.
The present membership is same as above, with the one addition of Orville Ramsey.
The preliminary meeting was held December 13, 1912, at Fort Branch. A dispensation was granted this lodge January 1, 1913, and a charter secured May 27, 1913. Irwin's Hall was leased for five years and, with the support and co-operation of the owner of the building, a very beautiful, though small lodge room was arranged. The location is directly opposite the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railway station.
Lodge No. 364, Free and Accepted Masons, at Owensville, was organ- ized and chartered on May 27, 1868, and F. W. Hauss was the first worshipful master. The present membership of the lodge is seventy-nine, and the mem- bers own their hall, built in 1903, costing two thousand dollars. The officers of 1913 are: Charles N. Emerson, worshipful master; A. W. Thompson, senior warden; F. A. Strehl, junior warden ; S. C. Hudleson, treasurer ; G. C. Gorman, secretary ; Warren B. Johnson, senior deacon; M. T. Montgomery,
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junior deacon; L. L. Whitenbaugh, tyler; and J. W. Mauck, Grant Teel and George T. Keneipp, trustees.
Oakland City Lodge No. 467, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered on May 23, 1873. The present membership is one hundred and thirty-three. The officers today are : J. M. Vandeveer, worshipful master ; J. W. Cockrum, senior warden; Golla McCord, junior warden; L. J. Deutsch, treasurer ; John C. Mayhall, secretary ; Cleon A. Simons, senior deacon; Earl F. McConnell, junior deacon; J. W. McCord and V. G. Butcher, stewards; E. M. Fowler, tyler.
Gibson Lodge No. 420, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hazelton, has a present membership of sixty-five men. It was chartered on May 24, 1879, as Goodwin Lodge No. 420, but on August 12, 1871, the hail was burned and the charter destroyed. On August 28, 1871, a duplicate copy was issued, and on May 28, 1878, the name was changed to Gibson Lodge. The officers at present follow : Charles W. McFetridge, worshipful master ; Everett James, senior warden; Frank R. Cassidy, junior warden ; J. A. Davison, senior dea- con ; John H. Briner, junior deacon; H. P. Phillips, senior steward; H. M. Arthur, junior steward; T. F. Thomas, tyler. Gibson Lodge has a notable record, one seldom equaled, especially in a town this size. They have fifteen living past masters. There is a chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star here.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
Princeton Lodge No. 64, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was insti- tuted July 1I, 1849. The present membership is one hundred and eighty. The hall was built in the year 1896, and cost twelve thousand dollars. The present officers are : Noble grand, F. L. Forthoffer ; vice-grand, Kenney D. Land; recording secretary, John F. Stunkel; financial secretary, W. A. Dill; treasurer, J. W. Ritchie ; trustees, A. J. Davis, L. L. Kern, Charles Pfoll ; district deputy grand master, George H. Padgett. The Princeton lodge have assets totaling thirty-two thousand dollars, including two cemeteries and other real estate. The charter members of the lodge were W. S. Palmer, A. B. Lockhart, R. W. Dunbar, Philip Hornbrook, H. J. Hart, A. P. Elliott and W. Hubbell. There are nine lodges in the county, namely : Oakland, Francisco, Princeton, Hazelton. Fort Branch, Owensville, Summerville, Giro and Wheeling.
Gibson Encampment No. 55 was organized November 17, 1858, and the charter members were : A. B. Lockhart, P. Hornbrook, Joseph Tumock, John Farrell, Isaac T. White, D. S. Anderson, A. J. Collum, George Thornhill, E.
-
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H. Degarme and D. Woolsey. The present officers of the encampment are : Chief patriarch, Edgar Mauck; high priest, D. C. Hanna; senior warden, J. N. Kern; junior warden, Edward W. Eaton ; scribe, W. A. Dill ; treasurer, L. L. Kern; trustees, George H. Padgett, George W. Shopbell, A. J. Davis. The members total about seventy-five.
Fort Branch Lodge No. 291, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized November 20, 1867, by the following charter members: R. T. Walters, John Blessing, J. M. Pretchett, A. F. Strain, William Ulers, H. C. West, R. B. Burns, J. M. Foster and Henry Blessing. The lodge now has a membership of sixty, and owns a two-story building, erected in 1897 at a cost of six thousand seven hundred dollars. The present officers are: Herman Graper, noble grand; R. M. Davenport, vice-grand; S. R. Lockwood, secre- tary ; Homer Weeks, chaplain; Louis McIntire, warden; Perry D. Adkins, recording secretary ; Jasper Bratton, secretary.
Francisco Lodge No. 814, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organ- ized in the year 1904, and now has fifty members. The hall was bought for seven hundred dollars. The officers are as follows: C. S. Barker, noble grand; W. F. Gentry, vice-grand; Ralph Bowman, secretary ; D. O. Paul, treasurer; W. F. Gentry, R. C. Stormont, H. J. Peveler, trustees.
Oakland City Lodge No. 308, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in the early part of 1884, and now has a membership of one hun- dred and two. The present officers are: Elmer Julian, noble grand; J. W. Lamb, vice-grand; J. L. Douglas, recording secretary ; S. W. Melton, financial secretary ; P. H. Lamb, treasurer ; Emil Alexander, warden; John Hillyard, chaplain.
Hazelton Lodge No. 393, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has a mem- bership of one hundred and fifty. This lodge was instituted on January 25, 1872, and has had a rapid growth, at present owning a building erected in 1910, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. Iva Tribbett is noble grand; Charles Kirk, vice-grand; S. L. Pearson, past grand; Elza Armstrong, chap- lain ; Charles E. Jones, recording secretary ; James H. Briner, financial secre- tary; trustees, T. J. Westfall, Charles W. McFetridge, Charles E. Jones. There is an encampment here with a membership of thirty, and numbered 363. There is also the Philanthropic Lodge of Rebekahs with a large mem- bership.
Stewart Lodge No. 179, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Owens- ville, was organized and chartered in 1856, and has a present membership of seventy-five. The officers are: Past grand, James Newcome : noble grand,
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Byron Marvel; vice-grand, John L. Shepler; secretary, Charles Sampson ; treasurer, George Rhinefort.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
This is one of the more recent secret societies, and is not as strong as are the Masons and Odd Fellows in Gibson county. Many years ago, however, there was a strong lodge of this order at Princeton, but with the changes of the passing years many of the members have left the order and joined the Elks and other benevolent orders of the city, and recently the Knights of Pythias have been greatly reduced and are not very active at this date in Princeton. Owensville, Oakland City and Hazelton all keep up good lodges of this society. No data has been furnished for the Owensville lodge.
Chevalier Lodge No. 183, Knights of Pythias, was organized at Oakland City on June 6, 1888, and now has a membership of one hundred and four. The officers are: Louis Shurig, master of work; John Mayhall, keeper of records and seal; Robert Slack, master of exchequer : F. C. Benton, master of finance; J. W. Lamb, master at arms; Grover Melton, inner guard; Clemor Bell, outer guard; R. W. Geise, J. W. McCord, J. M. Vandeveer, trustees.
Don Quixote Lodge No. 554, Knights of Pythias, was organized in Hazelton on February 7, 19II, and at present has eighty members. The present officers are as follows: S. R. Cunningham, chancellor commander ; Elza Armstrong, vice-chancellor : Abner Manning, prelate: William Barnes, master at arms: T. T. Thorne, master of finance ; James M. Phillips, master of exchequer; A. D. Ellis. master of work; John L. Catt, inner guard; John P. Sullivan, outer guard : J. D. Doty, keeper of records and seal ; trustees, E. B. Loudin, E. G. Shute, A. C. Heise.
CHAPTER XV ..
MILITARY HISTORY OF GIBSON COUNTY.
The pioneers who settled in the territory that was afterwards designated as Gibson county were largely emigrants from Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Those from Kentucky, especially, brought with them a spirit of adventure and fearlessness that had been acquired by experience and training in the environments of their native state, and by the traditions and inspiration of such patriots as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark. Those who came from Tennessee, the Carolinas and the older states were largely people who left their former homes because of their conscientious opposition to slavery. These were no less fearless and courageous ; they had the courage of convictions of right and justice. They were imbued with a stalwart patriotism, and of such people as this was the early citizenship of Gibson county composed. With such a citizenship in the early pioneers it is easy to account for the creditable record of Gibson county for loyalty and patriotism in all the years of its history.
INDIAN WAR OF ISII-BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.
The first war in which the citizens of Gibson county participated was that between Gen. William Henry Harrison and the Indian confederacy, organized and led by Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, in 18II. On November 7, 1811, the battle of Tippecanoe was fought, resulting in a com- plete victory for the American forces. This was one of the most important battles ever fought against the Indians in the West, and it was, in fact, the opening battle of the war of 1812.
The army under General Harrison engaged in this battle numbered about eight hundred, composed of the Fourth United States Regulars, with a body of militia and one hundred and thirty volunteer dragoons composed of the pioneers of the West who had enlisted in the service. Of this number, one hundred and eighty were killed or wounded in action. Thirty-seven were killed on the field and twenty-five of the wounded afterward died. The loss of the Indians was very heavy, but as they carried all of their wounded from the field during the battle, and their women and old men were busy burying
GIBSON COUNTY SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT, Dedicated November 12, 1912.
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the dead during the battle, no definite information could be obtained as to the extent of their loss.
There were three companies from the territory now comprising Gibson county engaged in this battle. These companies were commanded respectively by Capt. Jacob Warrick, David Robb and William Hargrove. Captain War- rick was mortally wounded in the battle and died soon after. James Smith was promoted from quartermaster to the captaincy of this company, after Warrick's death. Concerning Captain Warrick, the following extract from General Harrison's official report of the battle is of interest here :
"Captain Warrick was shot immediately through the body and taken to the surgery to be dressed. As soon as it was over, being a man of great bodily vigor and able to walk, he insisted on going back to the head of his company, although it was evident that he had but a few hours to live."
The official roster of the three companies for which Gibson county can claim credit was obtained by Col. W. M. Cockrum from the musty records in the war department at Washington. This was a painstaking effort, as the muster rolls were fragile and the writing not easily legible. But a complete list of the members of these companies was secured and published in Colonel Cockrum's "Pioneer History of Indiana," the first official list published, so far as we know. This official roll is worthy of a place in this record of the military history of Gibson county and, by the permission of Colonel Cock- rum, it is here given :
Roll of a Company of Infantry of Indiana Militia, from September 16, to November 19, 1811 :
Captain Jacob Warrick, commanding, killed November 7, 1811.
Captain James Smith. promoted from quartermaster November 9, 1811.
William Calton, lieutenant, discharged September 27, 1811.
Thomas Montgomery, Jr., promoted to lieutenant, September 30, 18II. James Duckworth, ensign.
Robert Montgomery, sergeant.
Robert McGarry, sergeant.
James Piercall, sergeant.
Isaac Woods, sergeant.
Benjamin Venables, corporal.
Thomas Black, corporal.
Robert Denney, corporal.
Privates : James Alsop, James Stewart, Jesse Key, Bennet Key. James Withers, Jesse Brewer, Richard Davis, Asa Music, Smith Mounts, James
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Stapleton, Lewis Sealy, James Bohannon, Daniel Duff, William Todd, John Gwins, Burton Litton, Peter Whetstone, Timothy Dower, Benjamin Stoker, Miles Armstrong, William Young, Maxwell Jolley, Fielding Lucas, John Mc- Garry, Thomas Montgomery (sixty-five years old), John Montgomery, Ephraim Murphy, Langsdon Drew, William Gwins, William Black, Joshua Capps, Andrew McFaddon, Squire McFaddon, Wilson Jones, Jeremiah Robinson, Hugh Todd, Martin Laughon, George Lynxwiler, William Stevens, John Coyler, Thomas Almon, William Almon, Thomas Duckworth, John Robb, John Neel, William Black, Randolph Clark.
Roll of a company of mounted riflemen of the Indiana militia, from October 25 to November 19, 1811 :
David Robb, captain commanding. Joseph Montgomery, lieutenant.
John Waller, ensign. Elsbery Armstrong, sergeant.
William Maxidon, sergeant. Ezkial Kite, corporal. George Anthees, corporal. Bryant Harper, trumpeter.
Privates: Amb. Decker, James Tweedle, William Peters, Francis Hall. William Tweedle, John Severns, Jr., Thomas Sullivan, Daniel Fisher (killed November 7, 1811), Joseph Garress, Edward Buttner (killed November 7, 18II), Thomas Shouse, William Selby, James Robb (severely wounded), Isaac Rogers, James Bass, David Mills, John Black. John Za Orton, Amstead Bennett, Stewart Cunningham, Booker Shields, John Slaven, James Langsdown, Jesse Music (killed November 7, 1811), William Alsop, Thomas C. Vines, Samuel James, Frederick Rell, John Black, Jonah Robinson, John Rogers, George Leech, Jr., Thomas Givins, William Carson, George Litton, William Downing. James Blanckes, James Minor, Peter Cartright, Thomas Garress, David Tobin, John Riggs, Thadeus Davis, Thomas P. Vampit, John Crawford, William Askins, Alex Maken (badly wounded), Moses Sandridge, John Dragoo, Robert Tenneson, Joseph Right, Thomas West, David Knight, Thomas Jordan (transferred to Dubois Company), William Bass, Hugh Shaw, David Lilley, James Ashbury (killed November 7, 1811), Robert Wil- son, John Christ, Kader Powell (killed November 7, 1811), Thomas Dunn, Jacob Kertner, Jonathan Humphrey, William Witherhold, David Edwards, Samuel Hamilton, Richard Potts, George Robinson ( severely wounded).
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Roll of a company of infantry of the Indiana militia, from September 19 to November 19, 1811.
Captain William Hargrove, commanding.
Isaac Montgomery, lieutenant.
Cary Ashley, ensign, resigned October 27, 181I.
Henry Hopkins, ensign, promoted from sergeant October 27, 181 I.
David Brumfield, lieutenant, promoted from corporal October, 18II.
Bolden Conner, sergeant.
James Evans, sergeant.
David Miller, sergeant, promoted from corporal October 27, 1811.
William Scales, sergeant, promoted from private October 27, 18II. David Johnson, corporal.
Privates : Samuel Anderson, Jer. Harrison, Joseph Ladd, Thomas Archer, James Lemm, Joshua Day, William Pierson, Robert Milborn, John Lout, James Young, Author Meeks, Reuben Fitzgerald (slightly wounded), Jacob Skelton, William Gordon, Reding Putnam, Johnson Fitsgerald, James Skelton, Samuel Wheeler, John Braselton, Jr., John Flener, Pinkney Ander- son, William Archer, Charles Collins, Charles Penelton, John Mills, John Cockrum, Nathan Woodrough, John Tucker, John Conner, Zachary Skelton, Benjamin Scales, Laban Putnam, John May, Thomas Arnett, Elias Barker, Robert Wheeler, William Mangrum, James McClure, Benjamin Conner, William Skelton, Randolph Owen, James Crow, George Cunningham, Joseph Mixon, Edward Whitacer, Robert Skelton (severely wounded), Conrod Le- Masters, Haz Putnam, Joshua Stapleton, William Harrington, Isaac Tweedle, Richard M. Kirk, James Skidmore, Samuel Gaston, Chas. Meeks, David Larrence (discharged September 19, 1811), Robert Montgomery (discharged September 19, 1811), Joseph English (discharged September 19, 1811), Cab- reen Merry (discharged September 19, 18II).
Other prominent citizens of Gibson county who bore a conspicuous part in that war were Robert M. Evans, who was one of General Harrison's aides ; Capt. William Prince, Gen. John I. Neeley, Col. Joshua Duncan and Major James Smith.
WAR OF 1812.
In the war of 1812 Gibson county was well represented. A great many of the veterans who did such valiant service in the Tippecanoe campaign found opportunity for further service in the war against Great Britain, participating in the battle of Thames and other important engagements.
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
MEXICAN WAR.
In the Mexican war, which occurred in 1846-8, Indiana supplied five regiments in which a number of men from Gibson county found service. There were also a number who enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Richard Owen in the Sixteenth Kentucky Volunteers. Judge William M. Land, later a prominent citizen of Princeton, was a member of Company I, Fourteenth United States Infantry, of which Colonel Truesdale was in com- mand. Others who enlisted in the Mexican war and afterwards became citizens of Gibson county were George W. Gorman, Jacob G. Vail and Dr. W. G. Kidd. Gorman and Vail raised a company for the Seventeenth Indiana Regiment in the Civil war, in which Gorman attained the rank of lieutenant- colonel. Vail was commissioned colonel and at the close of the war was breveted brigadier-general.
BLACK HAWK WAR.
There were a few men from this county in the Black Hawk war in 1832. Among these were Joseph Summers and Thomas Summers, ancestors of a large relationship in the southwestern part of the county.
From its earliest history there was a continual warfare in the territory comprising Gibson county between the white settlers and the Indians, as is evidenced by the number of forts and stockades erected .in several localities. These defensive precautions were necessary for the protection of the whites and their families against the hostile Indians.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
While there is no record of enlistments supplied from this territory in the Revolutionary war, a great many of the Revolutionary soldiers became citi- zens of the county after the war. Among these were Thomas Montgomery, Jesse Kimball, Samuel Montgomery, Jere Wyatt, Joshua Kitchens, George Holbrook, Sr., John Severns, and Robert Archer and James Smith.
One of the most noted persons probably that had a part in the Revolutionary war and afterward came to Gibson county to spend his last days was a colored man by the name of Sampson. He had been with General Washington as a body-servant, he claimed, and was familiar with the personal character and habits of that distinguished patriot. Sampson was a slave and was brought to this county by Robert Archer and given his freedom. He was
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quite old and unable to do any kind of work, but found friends here who cared for him. His death occurred in 1850, and his funeral was on the fourth of July of that year. He was given a military funeral and a great demon- stration was made by the citizens who turned out to do him honor. There was firing of cannon and a procession headed by a band and the flag. The procession marched to the Archer cemetery, where the remains were buried. That was the first of anything like a military funeral that occurred in Princeton.
THE CIVIL WAR.
But it was in the war of the Rebellion that Gibson county made the proudest record. That was a supreme test of her loyalty and patriotism. That was the test to try every man's loyalty and courage of what sort it is. This loyalty and courage was revealed by fire and the more than two thousand soldiers from Gibson county passed through this fire and gave proof of their fidelity to the principles and convictions of patriot ancestors. When the tocsin of war was sounded by rebel guns at Sumter the sons of Gibson county crowded forward to offer their services to the national government and there is no page in her history so brilliant as that which glorified their deeds on more than one hundred battlefields.
On the morning of the 15th of April, 1861, immediately after the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter had been received, Governor Morton wired President Lincoln, making a tender of ten thousand men for the defense of the nation. On the same day President Lincoln issued his proclamation call- ing for seventy-five thousand volunteers from the several states in the Union for the suppression of the Rebellion. Under this call Indiana's quota was six regiments of infantry, or about six thousand men, to serve three months.
Within five days after this call was promulgated more than twelve thou- sand men had been enrolled in Indiana and were pressing Governor Morton for acceptance and muster into the United States service.
Among these early enlistments was a company from Gibson county. The day following President Lincoln's proclamation a recruiting office was opened in Princeton and the fife and drum were heard for the first time calling for volunteers to defend the flag.
The roll of this first company was soon made up and the company was ready for orders to go to Indianapolis for muster into the service. But the quota for the state under the President's call had been filled by this time and the Gibson county company, like many others, had to stand aside. The com- pany was disbanded, but only for a short time.
(14)
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GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Within a month an additional call for volunteers to serve three years or during the war was made by President Lincoln. Under this call Indiana's quota was four regiments of infantry and one regiment of cavalry, and this gave the Gibson county company the opportunity to enter the service. The muster roll was opened and the enlistments for three years or during the war called for. George W. Gorman and Jacob G. Vail were the most active in recruiting this company. The company was organized with the following officers : Jacob G. Vail, captain ; Silas W. Boswell, first lieutenant ; William G. Berry, second lieutenant. Vail was promoted to major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel successively, and was mustered out with his regiment with the rank of brevet brigadier-general, having attained the highest rank of any who entered the service from this county. Early in May, 1861, this company was mustered into the United States service at Indianapolis as Company H of the Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the organization of the regiment George W. Gorman was appointed major and Dr. S. E. Mun- ford assistant surgeon. Later Gorman was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and Doctor Munford to surgeon. In the latter part of his three years' service Doctor Munford was medical director of Wilder's brigade.
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