Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-22
Il VETER1N GONE.
Death of william Banner VINO
Served as Drummer i'm the War Of

ISISs
Friday afternoon at 2,30 o'clock
William Banner breathed his last, at the
residence of his son in.law Philip Rudmap,
No. 602 Penn street. ''He had been
feeble and ailing pretty much all summer"
said relative, ''and died at last simply
of old age and weakness" He was in his
S5th year.
Mr. Banner was a native Delawarean
and the Oldest fireman in the city, having
been connected with the Phoenix Fire
Company since its incorporation. When
the Pi maix boys were about purchasing
their present steamer, MIR. Banner worked
actively and so successfully that he raised
about ~ 900 of the purchase money. The
company originally occupied little frame
building, with belfry on top. which
stood on the corner of Fifteenth aud
Market streets
At the age of IL Mr. Banner volunteered
az drummer in Captain Hopkins COM
psny and served in that capacity through
the war of 1872. After the war was over
he became cooper and for many years
made barrels in one of the little shops
that used to stand about the neighbor-
hood of Fourteenth, Fifteenth, King and
X
coopering for Price & Co. g Touring mills
and made great many powder kegs for
the DUPONT firm. In this business Mr..
Banner WAS fairly successful and accumu-
lated some money, and eventually began
to be spoken of az "well off," In later
life, however, he became comparatively
poor.
In his younger days Err. Banner was
widely known as an expert drummer, and
was connected with different bands in that
capacity. In early manhood he married
Miss johnson, sister to Thomas john
son, who was generally known in the then
borough of Wilmington as "the baker" !"
He carried on business in a little building
on French between Third aud Fourth
streets. Mts. Banner died about nine
years ago.
Mr.. Banner was also one OF the Oldest
members of the First Baptist Church /;
another of the old members being the still
living venerable father of Mayor Almond.
1t is said that these two have sometimes
repaired to that church In days gone by to
tiud themselves the only persons present,
and that on such occasions they conducted
the regular order of services as best they
could.
The old veteran had very tenacious
memory and retained his faculties TO the
last, giving minute directions reRerdin q
his funeral, as 10 what pastor should
preach his funeral sermon, how he wished
to DO buried, how many carriages should
be engaged, &c. For the last ~ years he
was totally blind, but frequently walked
! the streets alone, guiding his feet with his
cane. He leaves six children, three sons
and three daughters, ard his direct living
| descendants number 146 OF the sons,
John and William reside in this city and
James in Philadelphia. The daughters
are: Hetiie, who married cooper named
John Lge and removed with him to Que OF
the western states, Jane,s wife Of Philip
Sawdon, of this city.
A fourth son of Mr.. Banners died a,
Andersonvlle during the war of the rebel
lion. The funeral took place on Mon
day afternoon; inteTment in Wilmington
and Brandywine cemetery.
ANOTHER VETERAN OF 1912
As far as can be learned there il
now only one survivor of the WA
of 1872 left living in Wilmington; Mr.
John II. Washington, who resides with hi
nephew, John l. Gouley, in house OF
the southwest corner of Front and Knt
streets. Mr.. Washington was born il
Mauayunk, on October LIST, 1894, and i
still quite active. He was a member o
Caesar A. Roduey's company to whicl
Joel Spencer, who died abouta year since
also belonged. Mr.. Washington has vote,
for every Democratic candidate for tn
Presidency beginning with James Monroe
though Horace Greeley, he said, wa
'pretty hard TO swallow" aud hopes t,
live to vote for Senator BayaId.