The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-23


was born, John Joseph Pershing is
revered clear up to the limit. He
is the apple Of the eye of the country
| side. Residents of Laclede, PERISH
ing's home town, tingle and glow at
the mention Of his name-yea, they
initiate. Those who knew him as a
boy bask in the reflection of his
ing-to have gone to school with
him-is enough.
Life, forever after. is colored with
romance, adventure, fame. Laclede
has 800 population. No one from La
clede or the whole Of Linn county, so
far as is now recalled, ever did any
thing spectacular excepting John
Pershing. But he did enough. There
is more good healthy pride concen-
other given area of similar size on
the earth's surface. The kaiser stands
no higher in Wilhelmstrasse.
There is q big brown house on
Main street that used to be white
house more than a half a century
ago. There is a faction that insists 1t
was the birthplace OF the famous
certain that he was born several
miles out in the country in section
house, his father being a section
foreman at the time which was fifty
six years ago. Both factions agree,
however, that Pershing grew up in
the house from a toddler until he got
his appointment to West Point.
Aunt Knew Him..
The earliest recollections held on
the Pershing object are possessed by
Aunt Susan Hewett, CHEEKY widow,
of rs, who lives alone in the neatest
of little cottages with time holly
hooks in the garden.
Sitting in her little parlor with Its
immaculate rag carpet and antique
furniture, Aunt Susan can entertain
by the hour with stories of the war
and Of Robert e. Lee and General
Sheridan, both Of whom she knew
personally. She is a sturdy Repub-
lican, and Lincoln's portrait hangs on
the wall. Never yet, she says has
she seen a Democrat who could be
trusted. But her specially is John
Pershing.
Law, yes, 1 remember John when
he. wasn't more than two or three
years old" she tells. II can see him
now playing out in the road in the
dust with his little dress bobbing up
and down. We used to run the hotel
when my husband Captain Hewitt,
was alive-and when John was big
enough to put on trousers he used to
other boy in town. Presently, before
we knew it, he grew up to tall,
straight young man. He was smart,
but he was very quiet and he had a
lot of character. You could simply
look at him and tell he was an ex-
ception.
"He was back here ten years ago.
It was on the oath day Of October
that Uncle Henry Lomax came up to
my door and said Aunt Susan,
there's a gentleman outside that
wants to see YOU When stepped
out and saw tall man Uncle Henry
asked me if knew who 1t was
Yes" I says, I can see his moth
er's features in his face. It's John
Pershing.' He was a brigadier gem
eral then. He came to me with his
arms open and he embraced me and
kissed me and we both cried
Was "Home" To Him.
"Aunt Susan he says-and I'll
never forget his words as long as I
live-sAunt Susan, it does my very
heart good to meet my mothers dear
old friends. This place seems like
home to me and it always will. I've
been away q long time and there
have been many changes, but this is
home
"The chrysanthemums were in
| bloom, ana aIIer We ndu LdlhS0 q
while in the parlor / went out and
picked bouquet for him to take
away.
"'They are going to have some
kind of a reception for me tonight
and I want you to come Aunt SUI
san he says. told him I'd try to be
there, but that I was tired and worn
out because I'd been working in the
garden.
"'You won't have to wolk, Aunt
Susan, he says I'll come after you
myself About five in the afternoon he
came in a buggy and called out:
'Hurrah for you, Johnny Pershins!
You like me better than all the rest
don't you?
"I sure do, Aunt Susan he called
back. We went to the reception to-
gether. and myi what a crowd.
"The whole house was packed ana
people was standing in the YARD.
| Johnny shook hands with everybody
and talked to them. and he finally
made a speech, which didn't hear
because there was so many people
around. John Pershing always did
have talent"
She was old and tired and tears
dampened her cheeks as she talked.
w. II. Blakely was pupil under
Pershing when the now famous sol
der was a country school teacher az
Prairie Mound thirty eight years ago.
; Pershing taught two terms Of school