The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-02-14
AN ADEENTUHOuS OHIOAN.
and Exciting Career.
'--'fss 10
LIFE OF CAPT. PRESCOTT H.
DEVOL.

1 .
4 %
LIFE OF CAPT. PRESCOTT II.
DEVOL.
The Rev. S. P. Hildreth, of Dresden,
Ohio, furnishes the Marietta Register
with sketch Of the life Of the late
Captain Prescott Hildreth Devol, form.
erly resident of Lancaster for a mum.
beRot years, and man we'll known
to many of our readers. We make
the following extract from Mr.. Hill
dreth's very entertaining narrative,
which we find in the columns of the
Cincinnati Gazette.
HIS EARLY YEARS.
Prescott Hildreth Devol ESQ named
by his father, from his intimate friend,
DR.. s. P. Hildreth,) was born in the
month OF March, A. D. 1922. In his
boyhood he.wa distinguished by a
fondhess for athletic sports, in which
he early displayed a skill and strength
superior to his youthful companions.
He 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 netunite with the church.
bat the influence Of those carly re.
Iligious Impressions may clearly be
seen in the upMghtness and compare
tive purity,of his life, when mingling,
as he did in after years, with reckless
and dissipated mates,
AS years passed, and the vigor of
youthful manhood became developed,
he manifested a buoyancy and exuber-
aBce Of spirits, which gave him, an un-
disputed leadership among his COM
rades. After leaving Marietta he be-
came for time a student in the Ohio
University, located at Athens. As to
his proficiency in scholastic lore, l can
not speak; but when the hoars Tor
amusement came, the citizens OF the
town could distinguish the return Of
Pres. Devol from his home on the Big
Hooking, by the laughter and unus.
ual uproar on 1.-THE college grounds.
In addition to physical strength.
he possessed Unusual vocal powers.
HIS SERVICES IN THE HARRISON CAM.
PAIGN
In the fall of the year 1840 a fiat
boat loadedjwith hoop poles and slaves
was placed under his charge, to be ta-
ken to Cincinnati He was then about
eighteen years Of age. The boat
foatcd slowly with the current, stop
ping at'several towns on the way for
the purpose Of trading, and in due
time arrived at Cincinnati. 1t was in
the very height Of Harrison's Presi
dental campaign, when the songs ana
log cabins, and mammoth ball rollings,
Through the West, wero stirring the
people into a whirlwind of excitement.
Here tho peculiar powers of young
Devol were appreciated as they never
had been before. He could sing a
Whig song in ringing tones that were
heard o mile off; and his stentorian
voice seemed never to grow weary
Politicians and prominent gentlemen
of Cincinnati at once laid hold of such
a prize, and installed him at one q
their best hotels, He sang at mass
meetings, in the open air. From some
neighboring platform, near Democratic
meetings, he sang triumphant Whit
songs in a voice that drowned the roal
of their loudest stump speakers. :
Seated in. a chair, on sort of triumpha
car. and borne on the shoulders o
eight mon, he was carried swinging
through the streets, followed by crowds
that blocked up the way as far as th'
) eve could see. How he inturateC
! Duncan. the Democratic candidate fol
Congress Passing, in a march 0
: this kind, beneath his windows, h
sang, in voice loud enough to maxi
: the glass quivor, a song he had com
4 posed expressly for Duncan's benefit
in which were personal witticsm
that called forth shouts of laughte
I from the outside hearers. One night
: when attending the theater, the audi
cnce, discovering his presence, stoppe'
the play, and yelled out, Big HocS
!, iugl Big Hooking! Big Hooking !
until they forced him TO give thcm
song. During this campaign he visit
!, edgSt, Lonis, the papers describing tn
( prodigious excitement productivity hi
: singing, while being drawn upon To-
cabin on wheels, and followed by q
!, admirihg crowd through the publ
r streets. Before returning home h
went again to St, Louis, and also t
8 New Orleans. ~
y HIS CAREER AS A RIVER MAN.
Through the influence of friendship
formed during the political campaig
already described, Pres. was made a
officer on one of the steamboats, ply
ing upon the Ohio river. In this en-
n ployment he continued until the breal
= ing out of the Mexican war. On Il
i, 4th of July, 1916, he passed his hon
D. on his way to New Orleans, havin
taken service on the United Stat'
s. steamer Corvettee, one of the tran
port vessels engaged in carryin
troops and munitions Of war for IL
army commanded by General Ia.