Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1901-03-06


OF tie race that was driven out O
Canada nearly 200 years ago, to war
der over the wide e1rth. As described
by Longfel|oy in his "Eyanseline "
| Augustus SamlirlSt Mary. to whom
/ Lafayette presented the watch. wa:
one of these refugees from Canada,
| He lived with his family on a clear
, ing near Fort Vincennes, Ind. and
when the revolutionary war broke out
attached himself to WaShington's
army. He bccame a trusted courier.
and carried dispatches for Gen. Wash
ington during the greater part of the
war At the final seige Of Yorktown
Lafayette noticed the remarkable
bravery Of this Frenchman. He in
auired his name from Gen. Wishing
ton, and was delighted to find him a
fellow-countryman. With all the i'm
petuosity of a Frenchman. Lafay cite
took from his packet the silver watch
which he had carried for several years.
and said: Il wish | bad >ompthiny
more appropriate with which to ex-
press my admiral; ion of your valnr aud
fidelity, but this watch Is all That |
have. | beg You u keep it and to
hand it down to your children aud
your children'S children. that they
may have nlementO of their fathers
bravery and falthfulne>s."
Then the war was over, and Angus
A1nrv r,Fi rynH ft w.
Bat his wife had great fear of the In-
dams and a longing for her Old home
in Canada, 50 the father and moI her,
with their three children. undertook
the journey back to their Old home
Both the parents died on the way.
But before he died he father gave
the watch to the oldest son. Augu>-
tus. and secured from him The PROM
ise never to part with the precious
heirloom, except 70 give it TO his
children, and that the last one Of his
line should write a history Of the
watch together with a biography Of
the family
This son came to Missouri when
quite young and started Il ferry across
the Mississippi, a few miles below Ste
Gsneyieve. 1t was called St Mary's
ferry, and later on the town Ut 81.
Mary's took its name from the ferry
The son cmiIrated to Washington
County. and died there in 1861, leav-
ing two SONS One, Henry St Mary,
volunteered under Gen. Winfield
Scott. and served through, the MeXi-
ican war. Augustus. tue youngest SON,
and the owner OF til" watch. was d
Confederate soldier in the ci;il war
Miss Josephine ST. Mary, great
granddaughter Of Augustus st. Mary,
WashingtOn'S courier. has writ ten IA
short history nf the achievements of
the family, in which she says. with
pardonahle Self-sati>faction My sis
ter and 1.-THE last TO our knowledge
bearing the nameof st. Nary-are proud
OF our ancestors, proud Of their mill
tary record. proud that they respond
ed TO their country's call when needed
without fear or cowardice. hut we are
prouder still OF the memento which
our father has yet in his possession.
the watch that came from the hand
OF that noble-hearied Frenchman, La
fayette''
When Mr.. Hamlin saw the watch.
he offered. out OF his interest Of the
tc have it suitably engrav-
ed. This had long been wish OF Mr.
St. Mary's heart, but the distance
from City. and her circumstances
made it impossible. He gladly gave
his consent, and Mr.. IIamlin brought
it home with him To the Zerweci;-
Frech Jewelry Company, where the
watch was to he seen all dav yeSter-
day. Mr.. Hamlin will return to-day
or Tomorrow. to Old Mines. and will
o1v 4 =
token which now has tn him an added
value. The wat"h does not keep
time, and it would require consider
able work to put it in running order,
but the jewcler says that with some
repairing there is 10 reason why these
works should not be set going
once more 10 mark tie busy Whirl Of