The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-02-13
ADVENTURES OF A RIVER MAN!
SINGULAR aHD EXCITING CAREER,
LIFE OF CAPTAIN PRESCOTT DEvoL.

LIFE OF CAPTAIN PRESCOTT DEVOL.
The Rev. S. p. Hildreth, OF Dresden,
Ohio, furnishes the Marietta Register
with a sketch OF the life of the late
Captain Prescott Hildreth Devol. We
nj Ike the following extract:
HIS EARLY YEARS,
Prescott Hildrlth Devol $50 named
by his father, from his intimate friend,
DR., S. p. Hildreth, of Marietta,l was
born in the mouth OF March, A. D.
1922. In his boy>hood he was distin-
gnlshed by tondness for athletic sports,
in which he early displayed skill and
strength superior to his youthful com
panions. lie was especially adroit in
the use of the bow and arrow, shooting
squirrels in the tallest tree tops. and
sometimes bringing down twenty Or
thirty birds in single morning,
When about twelve years OF age, he
was sent to school in Marietta, where
he studied for several years. During
the period, he was deeply affected in a
revival Of religion.
He did not unite with the church, but
the iLfluence of those early religious im-
pressons may clearly be seen in the up>
rightness and comparative purity OF his
life, when mingllng, as he did in after
years, with reckless and disslpated mates
As years passed, and the vigor of
youthful manhood became developed, he
manifested buoyancy and exuberance
of spirits which gave him an undisputed
leadership among his comrades. After
leaving Marietta, he became for time
student III the Ohio University located
at Athens. AS to his proficiency in
scholastic lore, l cannot speak, but
when the hours for amusement came,
the citizens OF the town could distinguish
the return of Pres Devol from his home
on the Big Hooking, by laughter and un'
usual uproar on the college grounds.
In addition to physical strength, he
possessed unusual vocal powers.
HIS SERVICES IN TIE HARRISON CAMPAIGN.
In the fall of the Year 1910, a flat
boat loaded with hoop poles and slaves
was placed under his charge to be taxi
en- to Cincinnati. He was then about
eighteen years of age. The boat float.
cd slowly with the current, stopping at
several towns on the way for the pur-
pose of trading, and in due time arrived
at Cincinnati. 1t was In the very height
OF Harrison's Presidential campaign,
when the songs and log cabins, and
mammoth ball rolings through the
West, were stirring the people into
whirlwind of excitement. Here the pc
cuiar powers Of young Devol were ap-,
preciated as they never had been before.
lie could sing Wing song in ringing
tones that were heard a mile off; and
his stentorian voice seemed never to
grow weary. Politicians end prominent
gentlemen of Cincinnati at once laid
hold of such prizo, and installed HIM
at one of their best hotels. He sang at
mass meetings IN the open air. From
somo neighborng platform, near Dem>
ocratc meetings ho sang triumphant
Wing songs in voice that drowned the
roar Of their loudest stump speakers
Seated IN char, on a sort of triumphal
car, and borne on the shoulders of eight
men, he was carried singing through
the streets, followed by crowds that
blocked up the way as far as the eye
could see. How he lnfuriated Duncan,
the Democratic candidate for Congress
Passing, in march of this kind, beneath
his windows, he sang, in a voice loud
enough to make the glass culver, a
song he had composed expressly for
Duncan's benefit, in which were person.
al witticism that called forth shouts of
laughter from the outside hearers. One
night, when attending tho theater, the
audience, discovering his presence,
stopped the play, and yelled out. "Big
Hooking Big Hooking! Big Hockingl'
until they forced him to give them a
song. During this campaign he visited
St. Louis, the papers describing the
prodigious excitement produced by his
singing, while being drawn upon log
cabin on wheels. and followed by an
admlring crowd through tho public
streets. Before returning homo he
went again to st. Louis, aud also to
New Orleans. t.' l
Ills CAREER AS A RIVER MAN.
Through the influence OF friendships
formed during the political campaign al-
ready described, Pres. was made an
officer on one Of tho Steamboats, plying
upon the Ohio river. In this employ
ment he continued until tho breaking