The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-11-17
ROMANTIC LIFE
ENDED IN DEATH
OF LOCAL MAN
HENRY DEvALL BIDDLE WHO
DIED WEST OF PLYMOUTH
HAD INTERESTING
STORY
Brother and Uncle, Were Arrayed
Against Brother and Uncle
in the Civil

The life story of Henry Devall
Biddle, who died at his home, at the
Pretty Lake Nureries, west of this
city on last Thursday, is an interest
ing one, and incidents from his life,
read like a narrative of romance
with the civil war as background.
The saying that truth is stranger
than fiction seems appropriately fit-
ting, applied to this character.
Early in life Henry Devall was
left an orphan, by the death of his
mother which occurred when he was
eighteen months old, and the death
of his father, which occurred three
years. later. The child was taken TO
the home of an aunt Mrs. Sarah Bid
die, and assumed the surname of that
lady-namely Biddle, which he has
bourn all of his life. His childhood
was spent In Kentucky and Tennes-
see. His early life was succession
of trials and bitter experiences. the
narration of which would fill book.
When the war broke out the young
man, found his relatives divided In
their political opinions The family
breach became vitally bitter, and
the sequel found an uncle and broth
er, of Henry Biddle arrayed as sold
hers In the Union army, while the
subject of this sketch with another
uncle. became Confederate soldiers.
The brother who had cast his lot
with the Federalists was killed in the
battle of the Wilderness. Shortly
after this engagement, the Unionist
uncle crossed the line, and coming
to the home of young Biddle, insisted
that he return with him, and become
a soldier in the Northern cause. His
aunt, who had become a mother to
the orphan boy, and himself, protest
ed bitterly against this suggestion
and in the course of the alteration
the young man fled from home, and
under the cover of darkness made
good his escape, and joined the
Confederate army. During a leave
of absence a few months later, he re-
turned home to visit his aunt only to
encounter the uncle with squad OF
Union soldiers. When the northern
soldiery surrounded the home, Biddle
took refuge in brick vault, IN the
private cemetery in the rear OF the
residence. He lowered in that grew
some hiding place for hours, and
sthen beto0k himself into nearby
corn field. As he ran, he was detect
ed. and fred at. He was struck by
a ball from the rifle of one of his
pursuers. and when he reached the
lines of his friends, he was almost
dead from loss of blood. Another
wound was received by Biddle, dur
ing a skirmish, between his battal-
lion and a Union detachment, when
he was struck In the neck by fra
ment of a shell. The scar from this
wound, Biddle carried 30 his grave.
During the war, he was once taker
prisoner, and two months later, ex-
hanged for a Federal soldier.
Was Long Resident.
Henry Devall Biddle was born IN
Kentucky on June 9th 1888, and
died at his home west of plymouth
on Nov. 10th 1910 He moved to
Marshall county about thirty years
ago, and has lived in and about the
city of Plymouth, since. He was
married three times. Five children
survive him, of whom three are mar
ried Mrs. Anna E. Bottorff, Jerome
and Albert Biddle. The funeral
was held at the Pretty Lake church
I'll r.