The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-08-24

The following is from the Cleveland
Leader Of August 18:
Hugh Mosher, the fifer IN A. NJ. Will
lard's famous picture. yankee Doodle"
died on Monday and his funeral took
place yesterday Mr.. Mosher was one of
the pioneers of the Western Reserve,
patriot Of the old school and prosperous.
open-hearted old gentleman who had
some quaint characteristics that will serve
to keep his memory green for many years.
He lived in Brighton, near Wellington,
but he came often TO Cleveland, where he
had many relatives and friends. When
he came to this city he almost ipyaribly
called on James +. Ryder, and he ofteD
posed before the camera. Mr. Ryder has
a large pastel picture Of Mr.. Mosher that
Is of interest. II shows his rugged fea-
lures to good advantage and represents
him smoking briarwood pipe, which,
with his fife, were the most priced Of his
possessions. His head was surmounted
by Scotch cap and his neck protected by
a loug, old.fashioned yarn scarf, when the
photograph was taken.
Mr.. Mosher was over six feet In height
and had strong, muscular frame. He
was about seventytour years Of age.
During half century he was a proml-
nent figure In Lorain county, He served
through the war. and the shrill notes Of
his fife cheered the soldiers In many bat.
ties. After the war he took prominent
part In all public gatherings. A fourth Of
July celebration without fife and drum
corps under his direction, would bave been
no celebration at all. The yearly county
fair would not have been considered I
success II the visitors had not heard Mr.
Mosher discourse martial music. The
picture presented by the old gentleman
while playing the fife should have beer
preserved on canvas. II Is said that th,
first note would inspire him with enthusi
asm and make him oblivious TO every
thing except the music. His face woulC
glow and his eyes sparkle. His arm
would sway with the music as much q
was possible without dlslodging his hng
ers from the reed and the steady tappin
Of heel on the floor would denote tn
measure. He always had his fife wit
him and he was always ready Tor actor
Along In the early seventies, Mr.. Wi
lard, who was then a resident Of Wellinl
ton, drew number Of humorous picture
which Mr.. Ryder published. As the tim
for the Philadelphia exposition approach
, ed, Mr.. Ryder foresaw that great wav
Of the spirit Of 1776 would sweep over th
country and he suggested the publicatio
OF a revolutionary picture. A hfe m
drum corps was early decided upon b
, Mr.. Willard as the subject for illustratio
! and be naturally chose his picturesqr
, neighbor for one Of the figures. HIS fir
idea was to make II comic picture shoy
i. Ing the corps under the direction OF
A drillmaster at an old-tlme fourth Of Jul
y celebration. When the sketches had bee
a completed, he saw more than catlcatul
q in them. The result was change
2 plan which gave the country the celebra
:. ed yankee Doodle" II showed a revolt
tionary fiie aud drum corps on the battl
field. or the three figures the center OF
was an old drummer oil commanding sta
ure and streaming gray hair. His Iii
, were firmly set and bis countenan,
aglow with determination and patriot
ardor On his righ, was boy drumlne
who trudged along sturdily with his ey,
fixed on the patriarch. On the left WI
the fifer, sturdy yankee In continents