The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-19
Samuel Downing, The Last Soldier OF
the Revolution.

0dHlNSl ~0Sh
the Revolution.
The Albany journal gives the following
sketch of Samuel Downing, who died as
already announced, at his home near North
vile, in Saratoga County, on Monday
Feb. 10:
He was born in Newburyport, Mss,
Nov. 80, l76l. He was therefore in the
l06th year of his age when he died-hi>
precise age being los years, 2 months am
2I DAYS. He entered the army of the
Revolution when he was l6. To do so be
left his employer Gin New-Hampshire)
without leave On his first application b.
was refused, but he soon found a recruiting
,fficer who took him, notwithstanding hi,
youth and diminutive stature. This was
lust after the surrender 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
ought as bravely as those VIII" did. Much
f his time was spent in the valley OF the
Mohawk, guarding trains snd fighting In
iians and Torres. But he was also with
he army on the Hudson, and took part IL
he memorable siege of Yorktown. h
continued in the service until the close OF
The war; and seen down to old age, it was
MS chief del ght to discourse about Wash
nrton, whom he had often seen, and the JOY o.
hepeople when peace was declared and the
lation's liberties achieved
At the close of the war he returned t.
New Hampshire, settled upon farm IL
Antrim, and soon arterward married Mis-,
Eunice George, two years his Junior, with
whom he lived in perfect accord until 1853
She was the mother of thirteen children
ten of whom preceded her TO the tomb. He
took possession of the farifSsw here he died
in 1894. 1t was then trackless wilder
ness. The first son was born IN 1872, and
the last in 1911. The latter Is the happy
rather of thirteen children. Three Of hl.
,ons served through the late war in the
Union Army, and one Of the daughters l.
,r was recently, teacher of freedmen al
Norfolk, Va so that patriot blood still
runs in the veins of the family. The
mother of these three boys was reluctant
to consent to have them all 90 to the fell
aut the old patriot insisted, AMI nothing
9th, they did what their grandfather de
sired rather than what their mother
pre- ferred During the war it was his
:hief pleasure to hear Of Union victories
and to keep note of the battles in which
The boys were engaged. He prayed to live
until peace came back to the country, and
ne was gratifei, although he was disap-
pointed in another wish that be might see
Jeff Davis hung.
Mr.. Downing was something Of politi
clan He would always vote, and always
voted on the side of freedom and justice
He gave his first vote for Washington and
his last for Lincoln; and in recounting bis
political experience, he was always sure to
say that he did not vote for Buchanan
As bis age would indicate, he was 4
man of iron constitution; the result of reg
lIar habits and religious life, Both him-
self and wife were exemplary members oi
the Methodist Church, and his bible WA
his CONSTANT companion He was always
cheerful-looked at everything pleasantly.
aud Suffered nothing to worry or disturt
him. HIS grandchildren were his play
mates, aud contributed greatly TO the JOY
| of bis old age.
Although temperate man, he was not
teetotaIler He took glass of liquor
occasionally, but was never intoxicated
He had not very high opinion Of the
quality of the rum of the present day, and
thought if what people drank was as purr
as that made in the gool o d times, there
would be less evil resulting from the hab
it. He also used tobacco, aud tea was hi
tayorte beverage. We are afraid some o
our dietarian friends will e disappointed
at this revelation of Mr. Downin-s habits
Nhiskey occasionally, and tobacco and tea
all the time, and yet he lived to 105 years.
This is not the modern theory. Bat per
maps if he had used neither he might have
lived to a hundred and fifty!