The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 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.. ]. Pickney Reed. tie man who
rescued thes. odd ItcfOrmcr" from
cotton field near Starr. urges the pco-
pie or Anderson 10 place tho famous
Old cannon on the public squarc. iIe
says that he voices the sentiments OF
the old sofdiors and the Rcd Shirts
when he makes this appeal. lie de-
clare5 that the old soldiers have al
ways wanted II on the court house
square. II was always such a re-
minder OF stirring times.
The "Old RefOrmer" iY an old Eng
lish make OF brass cannon which has
q remarkable history. 1t was used
during the war Of the Revolution, per.
llapa on both sides Of that fray. II
wnH brought TO Anderson county in
1914 by Mr.. Hanks, father OF Nancy
Trnk ether of Abraham Lin
coin. IL. .,.rd got this piece OF his
tory from thA lnto Tommy" Hanks,
who explained the circumstances.
This Is an old brass field piece.
Weighing GOO pounds and was touch
ed OF" with fuse. instead of the
lanyord OF late days. Tho gun car
Tiage hos gone tn the worms hun
dred years ago. s.s
Before tlie war OF Secession there
were many "minutc men' and mill
tia companies In the State Tho old
Fourth regiment OF this county, antic-
ipating an inspection by the governor
on muster day. applied for a field
piece for itH artillery company Tho
request was granted ana :hr. Hanks
went to ,Charleston for tho niece Of
ordnance BY special request of the
company, he brought back three gal
Ions OF rum. 1t required three weeks
to make the trip.
Upon tho arrival Of the run Mt the
old Howard muster ground. there was
much patriotism and enthusiasm
shown. The old brass cannon figured
In many musters and reviews. When
2 II was first received. an appropriate
salute was fired, solid shot being used
These shots were fred from the mun-
ter ground Mt old Varrcnnes into tho
hill at Greenlen, and 1t Ia snld that
: EOme OF these shot, fired 100 years
ago. may yet he found.
The old Reformer" has been q ctii-
zen OF Anderson county for 100 .ycars
There was "a sshad built for It and n
nroper motnting on the old Howard
3 fold near Starr. In 1860 the gun was
i brought to Andarsonswhere on Decerp.
Ebar goth IL shHal led aforththa apnounce-
st.,ent Tint the Ord dinaslco of Secession
\ zhad been aighsa The occasion was
!, ono nf. asaat he members on tho
8Eeeessson ;aDnTenti inn;S from & Anderson
ssnnnty were "a. r. Mauldin, Judge
1fiiitner, Judge ~ p. Reod and others
The gnnSWas returned TO ats shed
efaained unfit snfter tile sswnr. of So
sGssaion, Al sthrt time there was no
s. i. i'm sssty and no .aosisy with
which to hny farm Implements. Tlse
Z Did shed wnS falling down, 40 the pco-
#Ida used the, iron from tho cnnnon's
ssupport to- mike piow shares.
: Maj, 81 Jrlo. ". Moore conceived tho
stlea or .rescuing the old gun from itf
a si0WIy state and Mr.. .stecd went after
IT. He found the gun half covered
With dirt, out In IN old dicld and he
drought Il TO Anderson. where It has
- s.s!ned IN public Dlace oxccnt for
abort time when Il wno In q private.
yard and the Daughters of tho Con
s Sfaderacy paid $26 to got It back.
In 1876 tho old gun did, yeoman ser
yiee and then It received its name
1fsld AReformer,".s from Col. Hoyt and
tssn. HnmphTsys iIt was carried by
''2he Red shirt club OF Anderson tc.
;;nYeetings. RtS Greaiitllle. Abhevllle.
pandietonl aud other. places and it'll
ION; ''71lShi; .ietonnI ions and reverberatineE
reports str1fk terror to, the hearts of
a6H ratlicnlsi Z 81 u. s. . 9 - -
Mr.. Reed links the old gun iss On,
siftled 10 nS;icrpspici place in tht
'pity. Is sbaS ssdone good service lrE
ssaAny ssVMsyB TO encourage patriotism
Jtsit ,s to Eet hidden away. he thinksA
dE duat as wall to cast It an old metal
Tor then. II would bring about 800. Tht
ala ssold dlprA wish to see 1t given thtI
hest plnca lof all. next to, the monnI
mont. e, 81