The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-05
Oldest Resident of Howard County
and n Observation-Disclosures OF VIII
liam Jenning Bryan.
SMOKED PIPE EIGHTY YEARS
AND RETAINED ALL HER FACULTIES
UNTIL A FEW EEK ago..
Outlived All Near Observation-Disclosures
of Noted Family and "a Daughter
of the Revolution.
Special to the Indianapoli. Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
KOKOMO, Ind, Sept. 4-Mary Gano
Bryan Cobb. the Oldest resident OF this
section of Indiana. died tonight at New
London, aged 10l years. She had no near
relatives living. Mrs. Cobb drew a pen
sion as a daughter OF the revolution. She
kept her health and faculties until a few
weeks ago.
Mrs. Ccbb was a step-grandmother OF
Colonel w. ]. Bryan. her first husband be-
ing Captain Louis II. Bryan. a veteran OF
the war of 1872. Mrs. Cobb was a daughter
of the revolution, a widow OF the war OF
1872 and the Mexican war. Her last hus-
band. Stephen Cobb. died fifty-ive years
ago. All her children died Of old age. She
was born in Frankfort, KY. Jan. IL. 1902
She was a daughter of John Gano. a cap
tain of artillery in the revolutionary war.
and a granddaughter of Stephen Gano. a
brigade chaplain in w~ashington's COM
mand. being known as the lighting par
son."
Members of the Gano family figured con-
spicuously in the pioneer development OF
the Nation and two of them had the honor
of capturing Major Andre, the British spy.
History does not record a prettier little ro-
nance than that which was responsible for
the capture of Andre. In the autumn OF
1850, Nancy Gano, a handsome and patriotic
damsel OF sixteen, ACCOMPANIED her brothers
and her lover. Abner Williams, into camp
and acted as nurse and cook. The lovers
were walking in a secluded spot when a de-
tachment of American troops filed past.
The girl called Williams's attention TO the
soldiers and he joined the squad. Miss Gano
pointed out the direction 10 Tarrytown.
where Andre was supposed 10 be in hiding
and where he fell into the hands OF the
Americans while attempting 10 reach the
British vessel. the Vulture. lying in the bay.
BY mistake, Andre walked into the camp OF
Americans, taking them for British troops.
BY a singular coincidence. Andre was at
first taken for an American officer and
would have been permitted 10 pass nad not
the sagacity of the Gano boys blocked his
purpose. a search of his clothing revealed
plans of West Point, the American FORTH
cations and other discriminating
including letters from Benedict Arnold.
concealed in his stockings. The letters
from Arnold to General Clinton, the British
commander. fully established the treachery
of Arnold and the character of Andre as a
British spy. The Gano girl. who was thus
instrumental in the capture of Andre and
frustrated the plans OF Arnold TO betray
the American forces and fortihcations into
the hands of the enemy, afterward married
Williams and lived to be ninety-six years
old.
the late civil war, all but one. the Con-
federate General Gano. serving On the
Union side. A noted member or the family
still living is Colonel James Talmadge
Benedict, of p Garden Place. Brooklyn, N:
Y. The family in all its branches il noted
for its longevity. Mr.. Benedict and wife
celebrated their golden wedding in 1881;
nis brother Stephen and wife celebrated
theirs In 1883. Their father and mother
lived together more than sixty years, maxi
ing three golden weddings In one family.
OF the 16S descendants of five members.
nine died at 100, fifteen at ninety-ive. TWEEN
ty-four at ninety, forty-two at eighty-nve
and seventy-seven at eighty. On the Gano
side there was Francis Gano. who died at
1903. or the Sites branch, John Sites lived
to be l22 years old. He came from England
I'm time.
diets and Stiteses that came to America
from England and France comes a large
per cent. of the population OF the United
States. The progeny Is In all sections OF
the Union, numbering. perhaps, a half
million souls, particularly numerous in
| Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. Kentucky. New Jer-
sey. New York and Rhode Island. They
like their illustrious ancestors, are all born
fighters.
Mrs. Cobb lived with her daughter, Mrs.
Moses McDaniels, for many years. The
latter died a year ago, Mrs. Cobb having
| outlived all her immediate family. Mrs.
Cobb did not discover until ninety-eight
years old that she was entitled to a pen
sion. Congressman w. Steele secured a
special act in her behalf. She drew a mod
crate government stipend and was also
given medals and the conventional SOU
yenir spoon, TO which all daughters Of the
revolution are entitled. She lived under all
the presidents since Washington. She
smoked a pipe for eighty years. but "swore
off, over a year ago. since which time she
smoked ONLY mullen stalks.