Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-01

John Q. Ripper2eT of I'll Monroe
street, past commander Of du Pont Post,
q. A. r., has an interesting collection
of relics, some of which have been his
personal property since childhood. de
has one of the original copies of the
hIst issue of the Philadelphia Public
Ledger, dated March 25th. 1886, which
was the first issue, ana though he has
exhibited ii many times, it is in an
excellent state of preservation. de
also has a copy Of the Philadelphia
Almanac, published in 1872; a map
Of the city OF Philadelphia for the year
l549; a ticket containing tho names
of Van Buren Il johnson, Presidential
aud Vice Presidential candidates in
1896, being one which was used at the
election IN Canton, o., and also a sample
of calico and muslin, which has an To-
terestina history. For Preservation il
has been cut into small squares
and sewed together in patch work
fashion. The material as purchased
h, Mrs. McNelly, a friend of the
family. in Charleston, s. O., during
the Civil War, ana the price paid
Was at the rate OF sl0 a yard for the
calico and $40 yard for the muslin.
The material was purchased by Mrs.
NoNelly from which to make he self
some clothing and not as a luxury.
She was a Northern woman, but hap
pened TO be in Charleston at the time.
While making her plans to return TO
the north she had to provide heFself
with new clothing, hence the purchase.
After she came north she presented the
remnants to Mr. RippeTRer's family
and patchwork was made from them.
M RippeIRer is one of the most re-
msrkable men in the city, as well as
one Of the best preserved, his physical
condition being Of the very best, al
though be is "a years of age. While
be lives retired, he is an enthusiastic
bicyclist and frequently goes on his
wheel to Chester, Newark and other
places. He is also a great walker and
generally walks oncs or twice week
to ElsmeTe, where he has relatives.
For many years he was in the employ
Of the Harlan & II llingsworth Co.,
being a timekeeper for about 30 years.
He remembers very we'll the early
history Of the company.
When the Civil War broke out he
WAS very anxious to serve his country
and was one of the first men to cifer
his services, but II was only with the
greatest difficulty that he succeeded
10 enlisting. He endeavored to have
himself enrolled as a member OF the
First Delaware Regiment, but without
success. lie was disappointed in like
manner when the Second, Third aud
Fourth Regiments were formed, but
was taken when the Fifth was mustered
In. The obstacle was his lett hand,
from which the thumb and fore finger
we're missing, the result OF an accident
which had happened some time before.
One day, when Mr.. Ripperger was a
young man, while using a circular saw,
his hand slipped under the saw and
the thumb and finger we're almost COM
pletely cut of, making amputRtiou of
those members necessary, and when he
offered his services to the mastering
officer of the First Delaware Regiment
he was rejected, because part Of the
hand was gone, as was also the case
when be tried to join the Second, Third
and Fourth, but he was accepted as a
member of the Fifth and served
throughout the war with much credit.
de saw a great deal of service and was
IN q number of important engagements.
lie Is one of the most active members
of the Department of Delaware, O..
A. r.
Mr. Ripperger was born in Philadel-
phIa October 10Th, 1892, and came to
Delaware IN 1856, having been a resi-
dent of this State ever since.