The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-09-10
Personal "reminiscences.


vious klndnesscs, will you indulge me in Anew
/ more personal "reminiscences? can lay no
claims to learning, but had the advantages OF
the boys of my day. My father and Daniel d..
Tompkins were born in close proximity and
TO the last day were fast friends. They attend
ed the same school, and through the influence
, of the latter was drawn for West Point and
being sold to the government she reared US up
to her iking,-this being but few years al
fer the war of 1925. My father being ma
Tor OF the Westchester county Light Horse Ar
tillery during the war, was stationed on Brook
lyn Heights, in the rear of the present navy
yard | ought to remember 1t, for was on
the tented field SIX months as his aid, bearing
his dispatches TO his superiors. He and his
command were ordered to Baltimore, and IN
passing through New Jersey in great haste
they lost fifteen horses, for which my father
paid out OF his own pocket. The government
was afterwards invited to repay him, but never
did 80, and he died in 1S45 almost IN poverty.
l was put IN the post office at New Rochelle
and renamed there eight years. kissed the
hand of Lafayette in 1924 and was one of his es-
two miles of Thomas Paine's residence and
grave four miles from J. Fenmore Cooper's
and ten miles from Washington Irvings Sun.
nyside on the Hudson. The nearest ever
came to learning was on the knee OF Thomas
Paine and j. Fenimore Cooper, both OF whom
remember as do my father. Our family
plot is In the old stone church yard IN larry
town. at the feet of Washington Irving, who
has plain marble slab, all that is on it being
" Washington IrviRg," and when he was born
and died. should have no objection to sleep
ing at the feet of him who so beautifully de |
scribes that long nap OF Rip Van Wrinkle; or
In the shadow of Major Andres monument,
which is on the New York and Albany road
some two hundred yards below the church.
lie was taken rs a spy, tried as a spy and hung
as spy, at the order of Washington who is
ued it with tears IN his eyes, but said to his
British Majesty, "Give us back Arnold and
you can have your Andre with my best wish |
es."
But since Irving was buried there, grave OBJ.
jections have arisen IN my mind to Tarrytown.
1t has become noted also us the resting place
of Boss Tweed and Madame Restel, who have
monuments there pointing to heaven, asking
the gods to look down on their damnablc
thievery, murders, and abortions. | object to
my dead body reposing near such filth and
cussedness.
During my long residence in New York
city knew and still well remember Colonel
james Watson Webb, who had little Difficult.
ty with Kentuckan and got the worst of 1t
in the shape of a wound IN the calf of his leg
After his brilliant editorial career he was sent
a minister to some South American Govern
ment but have lost track of HIM since. An
other distinguished acquaintance in those days
was Johnny Long, whom saw the last time
In Franklin market, where had the honor {
to conduct the business of a butcher In Han
over Square used to see Arthur Tappan, DIR.
Cox and many others engaged in the great
abolition crusade. But as had no great re-
pP'Ss ava ho'iitiohiHih, VIII tuCSC
look up the editors. Mordlcai Manassas Noah
James Gordon Bennett Moses Y. Beach, Hor
ace Greeley, Stephen II. Branch, Jacob Acker
and all the great quill drivers of the day re-
member as yesterday, not forgetting the Har
pers. As to William Cullen Bryant, have !
only to look in a glass to see fac smile of
his countenance. He was my senior by some
seven years. Peter Cooper | also knew for
thirty years. He brought the feed for my cat.
tie az well as for those of all the other New
York butchers. also knew John Jacob As.
tor, and often passed on board Commodore
Vanderbilt's steamer to Staten Island, but as
we were not on speaking terms give him the
cold shoulder II
John Quincy Adams, one of our earlier Pres
idents, saw and under rather painful crcum. 4
stances. lie had son, SAID TO have been lad
OF much promise, who In some way-l forget
now exactly how it was-s,epped from the
stern OF steamer at City Island. or Frogs
Neck. We picked him up and placed his re .
mains in vault at East Chester when his "a,
Their was notified. He came on from Massa 4
chusetts and took the remains home. be l.
lieve that was the first and last time | ever )
saw John Quincy Adams.
Martin Van Buren, was one of our Presidents 8
from New York. He was witty, sharp and
keen-ihe devil couldn't circumvent him, they
said. He came to New York when he was
running for the presidency and Tompkins
square was thrown open to him, a large and
beautiful PARK to the east Of Governor Stuyyes.
ants on East River. The people In that quar-.
ter were nearly all workingmen. butchers
ship-builders, DC. We roasted an OK and n
hog whole and gave HIM right royal recep.
ton, as he was driven In in his carriage and
four. 1 belonged to the Washington Crews