The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-01-18


Il was up in the northern part of
Maine the other day and heard a story
which was a little out Of the ordinary
line Of civil war stories | have read
about" said a New York drummer
whose territory is New England y
had noticed a funeral in the town, the
turnout of which indicated that the
deceased must have been a prominent
man In his lifetime.
"A citizen said in answer TO my in
quiry hat the man had retired from
business several years before his
death. The citizen added: His funer-
al to-day Is much larger than II would
have been ome years ago..
Il then heard the story.
when Lincoln called for troops
there were few men in the state Of
Maine who opposed coercion Of the
South. This man was an exception.
Although a New Englander from a
Colonial family whose history goes
back to the colonial wars, this man
was. at the call for troops. what was
known In the North as a copperhead.
He was an officer ia the militia at
the time Of Lincoln's election. Every
man In his command except him vol.
unteered IN answer 20 Lincoln's procla-
nation
"He not only refused to 80 out, but
he boldly %contended that Il was an
outrage TO oppose the secession Of the
southern states. He was ~ostracized
socially and commercially. His bust.
ness dwindled away.
During the second year Of the war
he left the community. Nobody
seemed to care where he went
Two years later he returned. He
was a physical wreck. The feeling in
the community was net quite so bit.
ter as In the beginning Of the war.
However. the man was o cordially
received.
He had not been back long when
Il was learned that he had been in
the Confederate army and was DIS
charged on account Of his inability
70 do duty. This information did not
tend to increase his popularity.
HE came into possession Of con.
siderable money soon after his return.
Meanwhile some Of the shattered rem
naRts OF Maine companies began TO
drift home. Most OF them were brok-
en- In health and some were penniless,
This man began contributing TO the
relief OF the needy. A majority Of
the beBehciaries did no know the
source Of their help.
After the war was over u leaked
out, little by little that the bene.
factor was the msn who had been
ostraclzed. To the credit Of many he
was again admitted 70 fellowship. and
his business began to thrive, He be.
came independent.
"A few years later he was elected
20 Office on q republican ticket. The
nomination came TO him nsouRht.
Up 20 that time he had never afhliat.
cd With the party that elected him.
"He served his term of once. but
whenever there was a township or
county election he voted the demo
cratic ticket This vas understood 10
- his right II wa never questioned.
Before he retired from business he
was on one occasion visited by a man
from the south who had been the col
onei OF the Confederate regiment OF
which he was a member. The ex-Con'
federate was down az the heel in every
way.
mo one knew what happened dur
ing his visit In Maine. but a few years
ago Il became known 20 a few people
ln the vicinity that the Maine mar
helped hts old commander TO recoup
his fortune. That nan until 1901 was
a successful broker and banker 81
this city. and his silent party for near.
ny fifteen years wag the Maine Van.
kee who as a democrat held a re
publican office.
u have travelled an over the United
I States. aud met al sorts OF people
but have never heard a civil wal
story that was anything like this. My
| informant IS az the head OF a bil
industry IN Maine; he told me thai
only a few persons knew the facts AZ
have stated them New York sun.