The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-09-25
ABE'S GRANDFATHER
BROUGHT CANNON HERE
MUCH TALK ABOUT THE
"OLD REFORMER"
TO CHOOSE A SITE
Cannon Was First Brought Here
In 1914 by Mr.. Hanks, Father
Of Abe Lincoln's Mother

Mr.. J. Pickney Reed. the man who
rescued the "Old Rcformer" from a
cotton field near Starr. urges the pco-
PIE or Anderson 10 place the famous
Old cannon on the public square. He
says tha', he voices the sentiments OF
ne old soldiers and the Rcd Shirts
when he makes this appeal He de-
ciareS tha, the old soldiers have al
ways wanted il on the court house
square. IL was always such n re-
minder Of stirring times.
The "Old Reformer" is an old Eng
ilsh make OF brass cannon which has
q remarkable history. 1t was II; ID
during tho war OF the Revolution. per-
liaps on both sides Of that FRAY. II
was brought to Anderson county in
1914 by Mr. Hanks, father OF Nancy
Hanks. tho mother OF Abraham Lin
coin. Mr.. Feed got this piece of his
tory from the late Tommy" Hanks.
who explained the circumstances.
This Is m old brass field piece.
Weighing GOO pounds and was "touch-
ed or with n fuse. instead of the
lanyard of late days. The gun car
riage has gone to the worms a hun
dred years ago. tsA
Before the war Of Secession there
were many minute men" and mill
Tia companies in the State. The old
Fourth regiment OF this county, antic-
ipating an inspection by tn" governor
on muster day, applied Tor a field
piece for Its artillery company The
request was granted and Mr.. Hanxs
went to Charleston for the piece OF
ordnance. BY special request of the
company. he brought back three gal
ions OF rum. It required three weeks
to, make the trip.
Upon, the arrival OF the gun at the
old Howard muster ground. there was
much patriotism and enthusiasm
shown. The old brass cannon figured
in many musters and reviews. When
1t was first received an appropriate
salute was fired. solid shot being used.
THESE shots were fired from the mus
ter ground Mt old Varrenncs into the
hill at Greenlea, anu 1t is said that
some OF these shot. fired 100 years
ago. may yet be found.
The "Old Reformer" has been ctii-
zen OF Anderson county for 100 years
There was shed built for it and a
proper mounting on the old Howard
field near Starr. in 1860 the gun was
brought to Anderson where on Decem-
ber goth 1t pealed forth the announce
ment that the Ordinance of Secession
had been signed. The occasion was
one of great joy. Tho members of the
Secession convention from Anderson
county were H. F. Mauldin, Judge
Whitner,, Judge j. p. Reed and others
The gun was returned to its shed
on the muster grounds where ii re-
mained until after the war OF Sc
cession AT that time there was no
iron in the county and no money with
which Ito buy farm implements. The
old shed was falling down, so the peo-
Pile used the iron from the cannon's
support to make plow shares.
Mai. Jno. V. Moore, conceived the
idea of rescuing the old gun from its
iowly state and Mr.. Reed went after
IL. He found the gun half covered
with dirt, out In an old field, and he
brought It to Anderson, where 1t has
remained in public place except for q
short time when It was in a private
yard and the Daughters of the Con-
federacy paid $25 to get 1t back.
In 1876 the old gun did yeonnan SER
J.to and tifien itt received lis raiTie,
.t0Id Reformer," from Col. Hoyt and
Gen. :::...,phreyg 1t was carried by
the Red Shra club of Anderson to
meetings at Greenyille. Abbeville,
-Rendleton and other places and Its
loud detonations and areverberatiEa
reports struck terror to the hearts of
the radicals. -
Mr.. Reed thinks the old gun Is en-
titled to- ccuspicious place In the
city. 1t has done good service, In
many wasys. 20 encourage patriotism
" 1t Is to be hidden away. he thinks
Iit just as we'll to cast II as old metal
for then 1t would bring about 500. The
old soldiers wish to see It, given the
best place of all. next to the monu-
ment.
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