The Columbus journal., 1879-03-05
A SILENT MAN.


took place two miles east OF Utica
this morning, was highly eccentric
character. Seventy years ago he
built log cabin on one of the hills
that slope 10 the Mohawk river. He
was then l6 years of age, had wife
and $50. Some time during the
first year of his welded life Inman
informed his wife that he intended
to preserve silence for the remain
der of his days. This conclusion
was the result of an exciting dia-
logue which Inman overheard be-
tween his father and a near relative.
Expressing a belief that more harm
than good is wrought by speech, he
announced his determination to
place permanent paddock upon his
lips. This was in 1910.
The following year his first child
was born, When that interesting
event was approaching near eli
max Inman rode several miles in
the night 10 Fort Herkimer in quest
of a physician. He carried slate
and pencil, wrote statement of the
situation, and returning with the
medicine man received tie an
nouncement of his paternal respon-
sibilities in silence. The following
year-in 1Sl2-when the yeomen OF
Central and Northern New York
were summoned to the defense of
Sackett's Harbor, Inman reported
for duty at post near Adams, jeff
erson county, riding alone nearly
100 miles through the forests to the
recruiting station. Producing his
slate he wrote: Il come TO fight
not to talk The commanding Off
Ger declined to give him a place in
the ranks, and Inman remained at
the post, working without pay for
many months.
He was noted for his strength.
With Ezra Grinnell (who is now
living at the age of S7,) Inman car
ried cannon from the st. Lawrence
river TO Adams, Jefferson county, a
distance of forty miles. The men
were four days making the trip.
Two days of this was spent in the
search of lost trail. Both were
without food during the journey,
but Inman uttered no word of COM
ment or complaint. After five or
six years of this remarkable silence
other eccentricities were developed.
lie would never read alter sunset ;
he refused to drink well water, and
for sixty-five years slakcd bis thirst
with raiIwrrerThat had not touched
the ground. His diet was extreme
ly simple. Any article of food sus-
ceptible Of adulteration was shunn-
ed. He always sat by wood fire,
and of late years, when travelling,
carried a box or trunk containing a
supply of fuel. Inman visited New
York city once-some twelve years
ago-riding as far as Albany one
day and completing the journey the
day following. For fifty years he
has not been out of doors after 6
O'Clock at night. When asked why
he remained indoors evenings, be
wrote: "Man should rest with
nature"
Some years ago Inman had occa-
sion to visit Buffalo, and as a suit at
law was in perspective he went
prepared for siege. Entering one
of the hotels in Buffalo, the old gen.
tleman wrote: "Best room. No
meals. burn wood. Thought you
might not have enough, so brought
some along" The big trunk, pack
ed with wood, was taken up to his
room, Land it sufficed to keep the eccen-
trio man warm and cook his simple
meals during his sojournin Buffalo.
Kerosene oil was a pet aversion.
His theory was that the glare strain
ed the eyes, while the oil left an
unhealthy taint in the atmosphere.
lie was never known to sit by a
coal fire, always avoided gas, and
his son, from whom | gather these
details, assures me that, rather than
sit in car heated by coal fire, the
old gentleman preferred TO ride
twenty-six miles Oh the platform on
bitter cold day in winter.
lnmsn never used tobacco in any
form, never tasted liquor, avoided
tea and coffee, and never had per-
sonal occasion to seek medical adj
vice. He confidently expected to
i've to be 100 years old, and but for
The accident which was the imme-
diate cause of his death it is highly
probable he would have tailed a
century. Last spring he sowed
thirty acres with oats, assisting
in the fall harvest and performing
from choice the full quota Of a
farm-laborer's work. The oats were
stored in granary connected with
the dwelling by covered passage
way. Mrs. Inman, returning from
this granary last Monday, Informed
her husband that the mice were
making sad havoc with the oats.