The Washington herald., 1919-09-11
EARLY LIFE OF
GEN. JOHN J.PERSE HING
AUTHENTIC STORY
OF THE BOYHOOD DAYS
OF THE FAMOUS GENERAL
By HAROLD F. WHEELER.
By HAROLD F. WHEELER.

chapters. 1t is best, and one would
follow the General through his early
boyhood to follow him through the
paths of it, with his boyhood COM
panions, telling a little here and there
from the stories OF those companions.
So away from Lincoln for the present.
John PershinS developed fast after
the bushwhacker raid. From a tow
headed toddler he grew into a tow
headed boy. ready for all that calls
the natural boy. And John never had
, to be called twice-not then. When
he was a teacher and had to get up
| early in the morning-but that, too.
is getting ahead of this story.
.Johnny" n Leader ms n Boy.
Back first. to the Brown Hotel in
Laclede for a visit with Allen-Thomas
Allen Warield. general factotum OF
the ancient hostelry-drawn up beside
the cosy stove. one of the high, brass
cuspidors conveniently near. old Allen
will tell many and many a story of
those childhood days of the general.
And his stories are corroborated, all
of them; yes. each and every one the
old negro tells.
May seem strange know so much
about HIM" old Allen will state in
! it never made any difference to John
when he was a boy whether you were
white or black, rich or poor. 1t doesn't
now. When he returned here last time
he called to see US all. rich and poor
black and white He had a hand
clasp OF friendship for us all, and a
laugh and smile for us ALL"
Then Allen will revert u moment to
himself. briefly explaining how he
came to Laclede, brought there when
a baby by his mother. a runaway
slave, who found In the town a haven
where black people were free, not
chattels to be sold at the whim OF a
/ master or mistress.
Gang Fights in Old LacIede.
I first recall John playing soldiers. -
Allen told me as we sat by the fire one
night. He was captain and at first
We fought a make-belieye enemy-at
first. Later we found a real enemy,
other gangs. John was always cap
tain of his side and was always on
| his side. I liked to be. John always
I won"
Right-here. perhaps, 1t should be said
! that Allen talks as I quote him. Allen
went to sChool-the negro school. for
Missouri then, does today in many
! pcl - Nlt" TIE NOlOI llItt ana JOIll
often helped him with his lessons So
today Aliens language is as good as
! the next mans.
You know" Allen resumed. when
we were kids it was just after the war
One side or gang would be the Yanks.
/ The other side would be the Rebels.
I John was always captain OF the Yanks
! Sometimes he attacked the stockade.
Sometimes he held the stockade. We
had wooden sticks for swords and
guns and dishpans for drums. John
! only carried a sword.
In the winter, and Allen.
/ seemingly reminded of the cold, got
up to put another log in the stove.
in the winter we would fight.
! More than once the snowballs
would bring casualties. We would
| freeze them" Allen confessed. with
| a snicker. That meant black eyes
: and bruised lips. Yes. we did have
| casualties.
But, then. there was nothing
! John did not excel in. I remember
how he could play marbles. Why
he always had all the 'aggies.' i
know he'd have all mine. Then I'd
do things for him and get my pay
! in 'agEies.' And couldn't he skate
and swim and shoot when he got 20
I be 4 little older, Couldn't he? He
! could lick all the rest of us.
7 remember we used to go swim
/ ming in Pratt's Pond. It isn't
| hCre any more. Filled up" the old
/ negro declared. But it used to
/ he a great place to swim. 1t was
! about quarter OF a mile from here.
! thirty feet across and about six or
seven feet deep. John learned to
swim when he was about 6
learned all by himself I never
/ could swim-Can't swim today. He
used to taunt me Then. at other
times we would go swimming in
! Lotus Creek. Sometimes we would
| fish there. Lotus Creek? It's about
J three miles west OF here on the
road to Meadville.
who else used to play with
John, you ask? Why. there were
J a lot of other negro boys. Then