The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-03-08
Death of Samuel Downing, the Last
Soldier of the Revolution.
From the Albany Evening Journal.

FROM the Albany Evening journal
Samuel Downing, the last of the noble
army OF the revolution, died at his forest
home, near Worthwhile, Saratoga county,
on Monday, February l9, 1867. He was
born in Newburyport, Mass, Nov 80, 1861.
lie was therefore in the Tooth year of his
age when he died-his precise age when he
died being los years, months and 81
days.
He entered the army Of the revolution
when he was f5. To do so, he left his em-
ployer lin New Hampshire without leave.
On his first application he was refused, but
he soon found a recruiting officer who took
him, notwithstanding his youth and dimin-
utive stature. This was just after the sur
render of Burgoyne
He entered into the service with great
spirit and enthusiasm. He may not have
understood all the great issues involved in
the contest; but he served as faithfully and
fought as bravely as those who did. Much
OF his time was spent in the valley of the
Mohawk, guarding trains and fighting In
dams and tories. But he was also with the
army on the Hudson, and took part in the
memorable siege of Yorktown
lie continued in the service until the
| close of the war, and "e'en down to old
age, it was his chief delight to discourse
about Washington, whom he had often
seen, and the joy of the people when peace
was declared and the nations liberties
achieved.
AT the close of the war he returned to
New Hampshire, settled upon farm In
Antrim, and soon atterward married Miss
Eunice George, two years his junior, and
with whom he lived in perfect accord until
1858. She was the mother of thirteen chill
dren, ten Of whom preceded her to the
tomb. lie took possession OF the farm
| where he died in 1884 Itwas then track
less wilderness The first son was born in
1882, and the last in 1871. The latter is
the happy father of thirteen children.
Three of his sons served through the late
war IN the Union army, and one OF the
daughters Is, or was recently, teacher OF
/ freedmen at Norfolk, Va SO that patriotic
blood still runs in the veins of the family.
| As his age would indicate, he was man
| OF an iron constitution-the result of regu-
lar habits and a religious life. Both him.
self and wife were exemplary members OF
the Methodist church, and his bible was his
constant companion. He was cheerful
looking at everything pleasantly, and suf.
| terlng nothing to worry or disturb him.
His grand children were his playmates, and
contributed greatly to the JOY of his age.
Although a temperance man, he was not
teetotaler. He took glass of liquor oc
caslonally, but was never intoxicated. lie
had not a very high opinion of the quality
OF rum OF the present day, and thought il
what people drank was as pure as that made
in the good old times, there would be less
evil resulting from the habit He also used
tobacco, and had done so from his early
manhood ; and tea was his favorite bever
age. We are afraid some of our dietariar
friends will be disappointed in this relation
of Mr.. Downing habits. Whiskey occa
sionally, end tobacco and tea all the time
and yet lived to los years. This is not The
modern theory. But perhaps if he had
used neither he might have lived to l5O