History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 75

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 75

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ing service, end efter accomplishing his mission successfully, re-joined hix regiment on the 24th of February, 1864. On the 3d of March following, he fell ill with smal'- pox, and for s month and a half was confined to the hospital, receiving a leave of absence of thirty days, after his partial recovery. On the Ist of June, 1864, he agurit joined hie regiment, which was then at the Pamunky River, Va. From that time un !!! the close of the war, he was constantly with the regiment, taking an active part in al' the battles in which it was engaged, viz. : Petersburg and Richmond; the attack on the Weldon Railroad, August 18-21; the battles of Hatcher's Run ; Gravelly Kun, and in the running fight after Lee's army, from his evacuation of Richmond to his eur- render at Appomattox, on the 9th of April, 1865.

In the meantime, he had been made the recipient of higher honors in the way of promotion. The Nineteenth and Twentieth Indians Regiments were consolidated, under the name of the Twentieth Regiment Indiana Veteran Volunteers, and Lieut. Macy was commissioned Captain of Company A. His conduct as a soldier was brave and honorable, and his advancement from the ranks to the command of a com- pany was but a just recognition of his valiant services. At Petersburg, on the 29th of July, 1864, he was in line, a little to the left, at the epringing of the mine in front of that city. He was in the eervice just three days lees then four yeare, being mus- tered out at Indianapolis, on the 12th of July, 1866. During the review of the troops at Washington, just after the close of the war, his company formed a part of the Grand Army that filed through the Nation's Capital, under the inspection of the Gen- erals who had led them to victory on the field.

Capt. Macy gladly resumed the arts of peace, and, after his return from the army, spent some time in attendance at Liber College, Jay County, Ind., preparing himself more fully for sotive business life. Retiring from college, he for a time engaged in commercial pursuits at Union City, Ind. In 1870, Sheriff Ford selected him to serve se Deputy, and at the death of said Sheriff, in 1873, he was appointed to fill the vacancy, which duties he discharged for about nine months with 6delity. In 187+ and again in 1876, he was made Deputy Sheriff, under W. A. W. Daly, and in 1878 the Republicans of Randolph County elected him Sheriff, the duties of which office he discharged with marked ability for two years.

Capt. Macy now occupies s responsible position in the Pension Department st Washington, D. C., to which place he was appointed in May, 1882.

On December 20, 1867, Capt. Macy was united in marriage with Miss Alice Addington, a native of Randolph County, Ind., and s young lady of rare culture and accomplishments. For about eix years, she was associated with the schools of this county, being s popular and successful teacher. She was the daughter of John L. and Sally Addington.

Capt. and Mrs. Macy are the parents of one child, Orle A. Macy, now a boy of about fourteen yeare.

A young man, also, by the name of Albert H. Addingtou, now in his sixteenth yesr, and a nephew of Mre. Maoy, has been living with them since the fall of 1878, being considered as one of the family.

In all the relations of life, Capt. Msoy has proved himself s gentleman of irre- proschable integrity, and has won the esteem of all whu know him.

As a public officer, he was reliable and efficient. As A soldier, was & favorite among his army comrades. While as a citizen, he is s valued member of the com- munity.

239

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

But as to who or how many of the aged men who came to the new West had been soldiers under Washington, or Gates, or Schuyler, or Morgan, or Greene-had witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, or of Cornwallis at Yorktown, or had felt the blood trickling from their chapped and frozen members as they tracked, with unshod feet, the winter snows of Valley Forge, is now unknown to mortal man.

How soon and how easily are the heroes of one age lost from the sight and from the memory of the ages that come after them!

But, though the remembrance of the men as individual citi- zens may perish, the memorial of their inestimable services re- mains more enduring than imperishable marble; the freedom be- queathed by a nation of heroes to succeeding generations of men dwelling in this fair land-" The land of the free and the home of the brave."

The name of the ancient hero of whom the especial sketch is given above was W. E. Fitzgerald. Another veteran pioneer, still older, but who died two years later, and who was born one year later (1747), lies buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, east of New Salem, in Jackson Township. He was one hundred and six years and seven months old, having been born in 1747, eight years before the old French and Indian war, and the same length of time before the earthquake at Lisbon.

We do not know whether William Cline was a soldier of the Revolution or not, nor, in fact, anything of his parentage, or birth-place, or history. He was twenty-eight years old when the first crash of hostile arms wakened the morning echoes on Lex- ington Green in 1775; was in the ripeness of manhood, at the age of forty-two, when Gen. Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the new Western republic at New York, on the famous 30th of April, 1789; was verging to old age, at fifty- five, when Ohio joined the sisterhood of States, in 1802; was nine years past his full threescore when Indiana boldly steppsd into line to the "music of the Union," in 1816; was ninety years old and nine when old "Rough and Ready marched his army to the Rio Grande against the self-confident Mexicans; and for almost seven more annual suns, he yet lingered on these mundane shores after his days had rounded out their full century of years for this aged veteran as a dweller in this world of labor and of sorrow.

WARS OF 1789-1795.

As a link to bind the history of Randolph to that rough and stormy time when the whole region of Western Ohio was a thea- ter of war; when the forests were filled with cordons of fortresses stretching far and grim along the border; when army after army cut their " traces " through the pathless woods, of which at least the names "St. Clair's Trace," " Wayne's Trace," "Hull's Trace." still remain to greet the ears of the present generation- for the purpose of marching against the bloody Indians; when the women and children of Western Ohio crowded into block-houses built in the dense forests, while the husbands and grown-up sons were, almost to a man, with Harmar, or St. Clair, or Wayne, and many of whom never returned from those fatal and bloody de- feats; when the hunters of Kentucky, those hardy and gallant foresters of the olden time, flocked across the Ohio to defend the .northern frontier and secure a peaceful home in the coming years for their own posterity -- we repeat, we give, as a solitary link to connect these days with those times of cruel warfare with savage . nature and more savage men, a narrative concerning a single vet- eran of the Army of the Northwest, who did faithful and heroic service during those times, through three long, eventful years -- from January, 1792, to January, 1795 -- which period comprises the time in or near which occurred the bloody defeats of Gens. Harmar and St. Clair, and the decisive victory of Gen. Wayne -- "Mad Anthony " Wayne-which last fully convinced the Indians that further resistance to the rising power of the whites was but a vain and fruitless struggle against destiny and fate:

This veteran, herein referred to, was David Thompson, grand- father of Mrs. J. F. Hedgepeth, of Union City, Ind. As will be seen, he was a Corporal in the United States service, and his grand-daughter possesses valuable relics in the shape of copies of papers once belonging to her venerable progenitor, transcripts of which are given a little below.

David Thompson seems to have been a Virginian, as he emi- grated from that State to Wayne County. Ind., in 1820.

He died of cancer, in Delaware County, Ind., October 22, 1847.

He must have been an old man. He entered the United States Army in 1792. If he was then twenty years old, he must have been born in 1772, and in that case his age at his death would be seventy-five years. He was probably somewhat younger than that.

His obituary in a Delaware County paper was as follows:

"Died, October 22, 1847, David Thompson, of cancer, who was a remarkable man. He served three years in the old Indian wars, being under Gen. Wayne in his celebrated campaigns against the Indians, and of the General's private scouts. And for reckless and daring bravery, he had no equal."

We give below a certificate from his Captain, as also one from Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne, each of which will explain itself:

TESTIMONIAL.

The bearer, David Thompson, has served as a Corporal in the Army of the United States, from which he has obtained an honorable discharge. But in justice to the said Corporal, for the many services he has rendered the public, I consider it my duty, and am fully warranted to say that his conduct has uniformly met with my approbation, as well as that of all other officers who have had the opportunity to know him. Corporal Thompson was generally employed in reconnoitering the Indian country, in paths leading to and from the Indian villages, as well as being constantly in advance of the army during the campaign. While thus engaged, he assisted in the capture of seven Indian prisoners, all warriors, except one, while in the vicinity of their towns gaining information for the army. In the accomplishment of his object, several skirmishes ensued, in which he ehaved in a brave and soklier-like manner. And when the garrison of Fort Recovery, which I had the honor to command, was surrounded and attacked by nearly two hundredsavages, this Corporal Thompson made his escape through them, with intelligence to the Commander-in-Chief, who was twenty-four miles from the place, for which I now beg leave to return him my sincere thanks, and hope that all good people who are friends to their country may receive and treat with respect the said David Thomp- son, a reward he has merited.

Certified under my hand and seal, at Staunton, in the State of Virginia, this 29th day of October, 1795.

ALEXANDER GIBSON, Captain Fourth Sub-Legion.

The following is a copy of his discharge, under the hand of Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Northwest:

COPY.

By His Excellency, Anthony Wayne, Esq., Major General and Com- mander-in-Chief of the Legion of the United States.

These are to certify that the bearer hereof, David Thompson, a Cor- poral of the Fourth Sub-Legion, has served in the above said Legion and in Capt. Gibson's company for the space of three years, and is, for the reason below mentioned, discharged from the service of the United States. he having received his pay up to the 1st day of January, 1795, clothing of all kinds, and all other just demands for the time of his enlistment in the Legion to the day of his discharge, as appears by the following receipt. He is discharged, having faithfully served the whole term of time for which he engaged.

And, to prevent any ill use that may be made of his discharge, by its falling into the hands of any other person whatsoever, here follows a descrip- tion of the said David Thompson :

He is twenty years of age, five feet, eleven inches high, dark complex- ion, black hair and black eyes, born in the county of Amherst, State of Virginia, a farmer.

Given under my hand and scal, at headquarters, this 19th day of Au- gust, 1795.

WILLIAM CLARK.

Lieutenant Acting Sub-Legion, Major and Inspector to the Fourth Sub- Legion.

ANTHONY WAYNE.

To whom it may concern, civil or military.

It is certain that a large number of the early pioneers were soldiers in the Indian wars during the closing years of the eight- eenth century, either as residents of Ohio, Virginia or Kentucky. We should delight to record their names, and their service as a part of the work of patriotism performed by the men of that gen- eration, but time and space fail us, and the requisite informa- tion is not at hand.

INDIAN WAR OF 1811-13.

No settlers had at that time come into Randolph. The In- dians were here, and emigrants had planted themselves in Preble County, Ohio, and perhaps in Darke, and in Wayne County, Ind. ; -

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPHI COUNTY.

and the savages roamed through all that country. A few ont- rages, yet only a few, were committed in the region; none, how- ever, on the soil of Randolph. Morgan was killed in Wayne. The man burned at the stako met his fate near Muncie, in Dela- ware County.

War is cruel, and savage warfaro is always attended with features of peculiar atrocity; yet it is remarkable how uniform is the testimony of those who had then moved into these wilds that the Indians molested none who were penceable. Mrs. Diggs, the wife of William Diggs, who is still alive, and now known as "Old Billy Diggs," and who resides with his children in Iowa, used to relate to her oldest daughter (and the rest) that the In- dians would come to her cabin on White River after her settle- ment had been made in Randolph County, and tell how easily they might have killed and scalped her and her sister as the Indians lay in hiding among the bushes, while the girls were milking the cows, at their forest home in Wayne County. But they did the maidens no harm.

An account, perhaps sufficiently long. is given of the troublous years of the Indian war of Tecumseh and his fierce and savage brother, the Prophet, in the chapter on Indian history, and in the reminiscences given by several of the pioneers; and no further space will be occupied here with details concerning it.

The history of the general war of 1812-15 of course belongs not to Randolph, except that participants therein may have after- ward pitched their tents within its borders, and spent the rem- nant of their days upon its fruitful domain. But to trace such facts in detail would swell too greatly the bulk of our present treatise, and we forbear.

SOLDIERS IN THE INDIAN WARS.

(Some of the men never belonged to Randolph County.) Thomas Irvin, Butler County, Ohio.

Samuel MeDowell, died near Fort Recovery.

McCormick was shot through the month and his teeth knocked out.

Capt. Cissna, Butler County Ohio.

William Donoon, St. Clair's army, Franklin County, Ohio. David Thomson came to Greenville with Connor, Wayne's army. His daughter, widow of Judge Beers, north of Greenville, died in the summer of 1881.

Daniel Lucas, south part of Darke County, Ohio.

William Dugan drew a pension as a soldier, having been a boy in Wayne's army.

John Martin, father of Mrs. Mary Reeder, born in 1773, came to Warren County, Ohio, before 1794; was with St. Clair and Wayne, and with Harrison at Tippecance and the Thames in 1811-13, and with Col. Crogan at Fort Stephenson. He came to Randolph County in 1822, and died in Missouri in 1839, sixty years old.

SOLDIERS AND WIVES WHO HAVE HAD PENSIONS.

Benjamin Cummins, 1812, lived near Salem, dead.

John Ruby (1812), lived at Union City, dead.

Mrs. Eleanor Ruby, widow of John Ruby. Union City, Ind., living.

Rebecca Harris, widow of William Harris.

Mr. Harris obtained a pension while residing in Mercer County, Ohio. It was transferred to his widow.

Polly Marquess, widow of Kid Marquess, living.

Mrs. Lacey, mother-in-law of Frank Morgan, widow of Mr. jacey. He died in 1870, and she is living.

Jacob Johnson (1812), Jackson Township, died in spring of 1881.

Nunnamaker (1812), Jackson Township, died in 1880.

Charles W. Thomas (1812), near Hollansburg, dead.

Mrs. Mary A. Paschall, widow of Jesse Z. Paschall, Penn- sylvania militia, 1812.

Mrs. Sarah Bussear, widow of Martin Bussear, 1812.

Mrs. Elizabeth Aun Poyner, widow of Peter Poyner, Ohio militia, 1812.

Mrs. Sarah Baxter, widow of Joseph Baxter, Pennsylvania militia, 1812.

Mrs. John Baxter, Pennsylvania militia, 1812, received a land warrant.

Jane Leeka, widow of Henry Leeka, Tennessee militia, 1812. Mrs. Mary Ann Mosher, widow of Solomon Mosher, Tennes- see militia, 1812.

Mrs. Margaret Wine, widow of George Wine, Virginia mili- tia, 1812.

William D. Stone, pension for Mexican war, entered service in war of 1861; pension ccased.

Walter Ruble, Ohio militia, 1812, dead.

William Rash, 1812. dead.

John Irvin, 1812, dead.

David Riddlebarger, Virginia militia, 1812, dead.

John Grubbs, Ohio militia, 1812, dead.

Samuel Barker, Vermont militia, 1812, dead.

Mrs. Sarah E. Brown, widow of William Brown, Ohio mili- tia, 1812.

Mrs. Susanna Brooks, widow of Thomas Brooks, Ohio militia, 1812.

Mrs. Mary Whitenack, widow of Cornelins Whitenack, New Jersey militia, 1812.

Mrs. Nancy Stockdale, widow of - Stockdale. Her hus- band had a pension till he died, and it was transferred to his widow.

SOLDIERS, 1812, ETC.

Jesse Gray, died in Jay County.

Jonathan Lambert, buried at New Lisbor.

Philip Lambert, buried at New Lisbon.

David Heaston, buried at Winchester. war of 1812.

James Lambert, war of Black Hawk, 1837, buried at Pleasant Hill.

John Dye, buried at Windsor, war of 1812.

Jacob Cline, buried at Windsor, war of 1812.

Samuel Wilson, buried at Windsor, war of 1812.

James Hays, buried at Windsor, war of 1812.

John Bolender, buried at Winchester, grenadier, wars with Bonaparte.

Curtis Cleny, buried at Lynn, war of 1812.

Mr. Mckinney, buried at Fairview, Revolutionary war.

William Fitzgerald, Mt. Zion, southeast of Winchester, Rev- olutionary war.

Mr. Dudley, Stony Creek, Revolutionary war.

Thus the tombstones and the pension rolls bear witness to the presence in former days within the limits of Randolph of a large number of the soldiers of those old wars. And doubtless many more than the ones whom we have mentioned made their domi- cile in early times in this county of ours, but we cannot trace them, and must be content.

MILITIA OF RANDOLPH 1832.

A very curious reminiscence of the military doings of " auld lang syne" has been discovered among the old papers of Judge Edmund B. Goodrich, now in possession of Mrs. John C. Good. rich, widow of the ex-Clerk of Randolph County.

It seems there was a "militia system" in the " Hoosier State " many years ago, though how long it lasted we are unable to tell. That it was in active or attempted operation in 1832, at least, is shown by the relic referred to. It is an old paper, pur- porting to contain a list of persons fined for refusing to bear urms on account of "conscientious scruples " against the prac. tico; also a list of persons not scrupulons in that respect who were fined for absence or other dereliction of militia law. In the first list. the fine is $1.50 in each case; in the other, the amount varies from 25 cents to $10. The regiment concerned was the Seventieth, and there seem to have been six companies, with Jeremiah Smith as Colonel of that same regiment. The redonbtable Captains were Messrs. Comer, Butler. Denton, Hunt, Fleming, Heaston. Butler resided at Deerfield; Heaston, at Winchester; Hunt, probably near Huntsville; Denton's men were residents of Nettle Creek region; Fleming's men were from Stony Creek; and Comer's from Greensfork, Jericho, White River, etc.

241

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

The "conscientious " men were returned from three compa- nies-Comer's, Denton's and Fleming's. There seem to have been none of that sort in either Butler's, Heaston's or Hunt's. How many Capt. Comer had of non-delinquents it would be in- teresting to know, as he returns sixty-one of the "scrupulous " sort. Capt. Denton gives but four, and Capt. Fleming, twenty- one, or eighty-six in all. Of the other persons fined " for cause," there were in Butler's company, fifteen; Denton's, forty-three: Hunt's, forty-four; Fleming's, twenty-two; Comer's, none; total, 154; grand total, 240; perfect ones, unknown.

One Captain was rined; one Lieutenant, three Sergeants and two Corporals.

It may not be amies to append the names of those who refused to bear arms, as it will be & very fair index of the Quaker ele- ment at that time among those of military age:

Comer's Company-Moorman Way, Isaiah Cox, Simon Cox, Joshua Cox, Simon Pickett, Nathan Puckett, Zachariah Puckett, David Haworth, Henry Yeakley, Littleberry Diggs, Armsbee Diggs, William Diggs, Benjamin Diggs, Lewis Osborn, Jesse Way, Robert Way, Joshna Robertson, John Cox, Benjamin Davis, Nathan Barker, William Harris, Benjamin Harris, Silas Hiatt, Robert Woody, Joseph Picket, John Puckett, Thomas Bucking- ham, Moses Mendenhall, Joshua Trueman, Benoni Hill, Henry Hill, John Peacock, Elijah Case, William Case, John Pike, Thom- as Hinshaw, Nathan Freeman, Stanton Bailey, Samuel Cox, John Rhoads, Nicholas Robison, Amos Peacock, James Foust, Welcome Puckett, Thomas Green, Nathan Green, Jacob Yeakley, William Mann, Tyre Puckett, James Clayton, Jonathan Hiatt, Sr., George Hiatt, Martin Hiatt, Moses Hiatt, Joseph Hiatt, Jonathan C. Hiatt, Thomas Conner, Nathan Hiatt, Jacob Knight, George Knight, Jesse Wright-sixty-one.

Denton's Company -- Jonathan Macy, Nathan Macy, William Lee, Alva Macy-four.

Fleming's Company-Joseph Thornburg, Isaac 'Thornburg, Amos Smith, Isaac Beals, Nathan Thornburg, John Diggs, Mark Diggs, William Holloway, Robert Fisher, John Holloway, Joseph Fisher, Thomas Fisher, Joab Thornburg, Job Thornburg, John Thornburg, Jacob Beals, Solomon Wright, Jonathan Thornburg, Mordecai Bond, Ornan Bond, Benjamin Car -- twenty-one.

The Captain was fined $5; one Lieutenant, $6, and one $10; two Sergeants, $3, and two $2 each; two Corporals, $1 each.

Among those fined "for cause," perhaps for want of a "primer" to their guns, or some other heinous military offense, occur such names as Elias Kizer, Daniel Worth, William Macy, Burkett Pierce, Temple Smith, David Bunker, Philip Brown, Isaac Amburn, James Porter, William Chamness, William Smith, Smith Masterson, Samuel Hawkins (then of Jay County), Samuel Simmons, Daniel B. Miller, Davis Pegg, Stephen Dye, Hamilton Snodgrass, Joseph Jay, John Borroughs, Lemuel Vestal, Andrew Aker, Henry D. Huffman, Jacob Harshman, William Lumpkin, Thomas Maulsby-and so on, to the tune of 154 in all.

The surviving veteran pioneers who find their names in the above list will doubtless chuckle with glee at reading this "re- minder" of what must have been regarded, even at the time, as a huge joke.

The papers are made out in all due form, signed by Jeremiah Smith, Colonel, and Judge of the Court of Appeals, delivered to Edmund B. Goodrich, Paymaster of Seventieth Regiment; and the list is receipted by Robert Irvin, Constable, with order to him to collect the fines aforesaid. Whether any at all were paid is not now known. Jesse Way says that Robert Irvin nsed to relate, years afterward, that, as he was on his collecting tonr, ho lodged with a good-natured Quaker, one of the number who were fined for "scruples," and that, on asking his host what was his charge -- "I charge thee," was the reply, " that thee go home and find some better business, and never be caught in such a scrape again as long as thee lives."

Robert replied, "I believe I will do it," and he did it, and kept the advice, too. He used to laugh over the joke, and say that it was the best advice he ever got in his life.

MEXICAN WAR.

War had, to Randolph County dwellers, been a thing well-

nigh unknown. Until the struggle of the rebellion, only one other had called our nation to arms, and that was small and of short duration, viz., the Mexican conflict. And in that contest, barely three (as we have been told) were Randoiph County boys -- Allen O. Neff, Augustus Kane and William D. Stone Capt. John Neff did, indeed, join the army at that time, and rendered service for several years, but he did not go to Mexico. Kane was much on the sick list, and Neff was shortly transferred to the band, so that the reputation of Randolph for warlike valor in this struggle would seem to have been left in the exclusive keep- ing of William D. Stone. He was in the war fourteen months, seeing, in that time, some severe service, and taking part in sev- eral hard battles, especially those fought by our gallant little army around the city of Puebla, as well as in some others.

When the regiment containing our "especial three" arrived at Vera Cruz, Gen. Scott had stormed San Juan de Ulloa and had captured Vera Cruz; had set his eager legions on their march into the interior; had climbed the frowning heights of Sierra Gorda and hurled backward in inglorious defeat the armed Mex- ican legions; had crossed the smiling Table Lands, occupied the unresisting city of Puebla, and captured the stroug fortress of Perote; and had pressed still onward, till his gallant troops had invested the capital. They had fought and won the memorable contests at Churubusco and Chapultepec, and Molino del Rey, and had at length marched in triumph into the imperial city of the Montezumas, and were taking a brief respite from their war- like labors in that renowned metropolis.

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History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 75

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman Number of Pages: 664

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664