Muncie Evening Press," September 27, 1927 -
Muncie, (Delaware Co.) IN -
W. W. Mather, 88, a veteran of the Civil War and an extensive traveler, a cousin of Earle H. Swain, knew Muncie when it was a village of a few hundred persons. Mr. Mather was born in Muncie, March 13, 1839, and made him home here until he was 18 years old. During that time he learned the carpenter trade which kept him occupied while not traveling or serving his country in the ranks of the army.
Almost without exception old soldiers have exciting stories to tell about their experiences in the army. Mr. Mather tells this one: "Four of us were out hunting one day only a short distance from the fort when about 30 Indians came charging down on us. Although we were greatly outnumbered we in turn charged them. The outcome was that we left nine of them on the ground and the remainder made a hurried retreat. All of us escaped injury. Some of my comrades got some revolvers and money from the fallen redskins. What guns they didn't want they broke and threw in the creek," he said with a laugh. "Yes, the Indians had money," he answered a query. "Nearly all those wild Indians had lots of money."
Mr. Mather enlisted in the army service, August 29, 1861, and served intermittently for a period of 4 years without getting the slightest injury despite his participation in many encounters. Shortly after enlistment he was appointment sergeant and when in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the lieutenant of the company was killed, and he was made lieutenant. The appointment came April 1st. "They made me lieutenant on All Fools Day," the old soldier remarked with a laugh. In the matter of his escape from injury during the many battles Lieutenant Mather seemed to adopt a fatalistic philosphy. "It wasn't my time," he explained. "You'd feel that way about it, too, if you were in several battles. My comrades were dropping all around me but it just wasn't my turn." Again, his theory of pre-destined life was brought to light when the experiences of a gold rush were outlined. "I wasn't one of the lucky ones," he said with resignation about his fortune in seeking gold in Montana. "I didn't have a lucky number. You know, hunting gold is just like the lottery in Louisana. Where one found gold and was made rich thousands of them couldn't make a living and depended on the government for food. I was only there about a year. When I saw I was going from bad to worse I left and came back east," he said.
Lieutenant Mather was one of the many that traveled across the country in the gold rush driving a team of oxen. "I traveled from Kansas to Helena, Montana, through Salt Lake City, one summer, a distance of 1,865 miles," he said. However, his return was by a much different mode of travel. For 40 days and as many nights he floated down the Missouri River on a boat he had constructed himself.
Lieutenant Mather was in active military service under Sheridan and Custer at Fort Hayes, Kansas, and went on various campaigns through the southern states while the army of the North was turning the tide of the war.
Since 1914, he has been living at the Soldiers' Home at Danville, Illinois, although he frequently visits his friends and relatives in Muncie. "The centennial celebration was one of the reasons I came back this time," he said. "I thought I could find someone I knew but they are about all gone now."
Mr. Swain, who is entertaining Lieutenant Mather during his stay n Muncie is the descendant of some of the oldest pioneer settlers in Delaware County. His great-grandfather, Dr. David P. Anthony, migrated to Muncie when it was but a struggling borough and was from Virginia. Job Swain, the grandfather of Mr. Swain, was the second mayor of Muncietown and is credited with much effort to promote the village into a progressive community center.
Muncie, (Delaware Co.) IN -
W. W. Mather, 88, a veteran of the Civil War and an extensive traveler, a cousin of Earle H. Swain, knew Muncie when it was a village of a few hundred persons. Mr. Mather was born in Muncie, March 13, 1839, and made him home here until he was 18 years old. During that time he learned the carpenter trade which kept him occupied while not traveling or serving his country in the ranks of the army.
Almost without exception old soldiers have exciting stories to tell about their experiences in the army. Mr. Mather tells this one: "Four of us were out hunting one day only a short distance from the fort when about 30 Indians came charging down on us. Although we were greatly outnumbered we in turn charged them. The outcome was that we left nine of them on the ground and the remainder made a hurried retreat. All of us escaped injury. Some of my comrades got some revolvers and money from the fallen redskins. What guns they didn't want they broke and threw in the creek," he said with a laugh. "Yes, the Indians had money," he answered a query. "Nearly all those wild Indians had lots of money."
Mr. Mather enlisted in the army service, August 29, 1861, and served intermittently for a period of 4 years without getting the slightest injury despite his participation in many encounters. Shortly after enlistment he was appointment sergeant and when in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the lieutenant of the company was killed, and he was made lieutenant. The appointment came April 1st. "They made me lieutenant on All Fools Day," the old soldier remarked with a laugh. In the matter of his escape from injury during the many battles Lieutenant Mather seemed to adopt a fatalistic philosphy. "It wasn't my time," he explained. "You'd feel that way about it, too, if you were in several battles. My comrades were dropping all around me but it just wasn't my turn." Again, his theory of pre-destined life was brought to light when the experiences of a gold rush were outlined. "I wasn't one of the lucky ones," he said with resignation about his fortune in seeking gold in Montana. "I didn't have a lucky number. You know, hunting gold is just like the lottery in Louisana. Where one found gold and was made rich thousands of them couldn't make a living and depended on the government for food. I was only there about a year. When I saw I was going from bad to worse I left and came back east," he said.
Lieutenant Mather was one of the many that traveled across the country in the gold rush driving a team of oxen. "I traveled from Kansas to Helena, Montana, through Salt Lake City, one summer, a distance of 1,865 miles," he said. However, his return was by a much different mode of travel. For 40 days and as many nights he floated down the Missouri River on a boat he had constructed himself.
Lieutenant Mather was in active military service under Sheridan and Custer at Fort Hayes, Kansas, and went on various campaigns through the southern states while the army of the North was turning the tide of the war.
Since 1914, he has been living at the Soldiers' Home at Danville, Illinois, although he frequently visits his friends and relatives in Muncie. "The centennial celebration was one of the reasons I came back this time," he said. "I thought I could find someone I knew but they are about all gone now."
Mr. Swain, who is entertaining Lieutenant Mather during his stay n Muncie is the descendant of some of the oldest pioneer settlers in Delaware County. His great-grandfather, Dr. David P. Anthony, migrated to Muncie when it was but a struggling borough and was from Virginia. Job Swain, the grandfather of Mr. Swain, was the second mayor of Muncietown and is credited with much effort to promote the village into a progressive community center.
Muncie Evening Press," September 27, 1927 -
Muncie, (Delaware Co.) IN -
W. W. Mather, 88, a veteran of the Civil War and an extensive traveler, a cousin of Earle H. Swain, knew Muncie when it was a village of a few hundred persons. Mr. Mather was born in Muncie, March 13, 1839, and made him home here until he was 18 years old. During that time he learned the carpenter trade which kept him occupied while not traveling or serving his country in the ranks of the army.
Almost without exception old soldiers have exciting stories to tell about their experiences in the army. Mr. Mather tells this one: "Four of us were out hunting one day only a short distance from the fort when about 30 Indians came charging down on us. Although we were greatly outnumbered we in turn charged them. The outcome was that we left nine of them on the ground and the remainder made a hurried retreat. All of us escaped injury. Some of my comrades got some revolvers and money from the fallen redskins. What guns they didn't want they broke and threw in the creek," he said with a laugh. "Yes, the Indians had money," he answered a query. "Nearly all those wild Indians had lots of money."
Mr. Mather enlisted in the army service, August 29, 1861, and served intermittently for a period of 4 years without getting the slightest injury despite his participation in many encounters. Shortly after enlistment he was appointment sergeant and when in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the lieutenant of the company was killed, and he was made lieutenant. The appointment came April 1st. "They made me lieutenant on All Fools Day," the old soldier remarked with a laugh. In the matter of his escape from injury during the many battles Lieutenant Mather seemed to adopt a fatalistic philosphy. "It wasn't my time," he explained. "You'd feel that way about it, too, if you were in several battles. My comrades were dropping all around me but it just wasn't my turn." Again, his theory of pre-destined life was brought to light when the experiences of a gold rush were outlined. "I wasn't one of the lucky ones," he said with resignation about his fortune in seeking gold in Montana. "I didn't have a lucky number. You know, hunting gold is just like the lottery in Louisana. Where one found gold and was made rich thousands of them couldn't make a living and depended on the government for food. I was only there about a year. When I saw I was going from bad to worse I left and came back east," he said.
Lieutenant Mather was one of the many that traveled across the country in the gold rush driving a team of oxen. "I traveled from Kansas to Helena, Montana, through Salt Lake City, one summer, a distance of 1,865 miles," he said. However, his return was by a much different mode of travel. For 40 days and as many nights he floated down the Missouri River on a boat he had constructed himself.
Lieutenant Mather was in active military service under Sheridan and Custer at Fort Hayes, Kansas, and went on various campaigns through the southern states while the army of the North was turning the tide of the war.
Since 1914, he has been living at the Soldiers' Home at Danville, Illinois, although he frequently visits his friends and relatives in Muncie. "The centennial celebration was one of the reasons I came back this time," he said. "I thought I could find someone I knew but they are about all gone now."
Mr. Swain, who is entertaining Lieutenant Mather during his stay n Muncie is the descendant of some of the oldest pioneer settlers in Delaware County. His great-grandfather, Dr. David P. Anthony, migrated to Muncie when it was but a struggling borough and was from Virginia. Job Swain, the grandfather of Mr. Swain, was the second mayor of Muncietown and is credited with much effort to promote the village into a progressive community center.
Muncie, (Delaware Co.) IN -
W. W. Mather, 88, a veteran of the Civil War and an extensive traveler, a cousin of Earle H. Swain, knew Muncie when it was a village of a few hundred persons. Mr. Mather was born in Muncie, March 13, 1839, and made him home here until he was 18 years old. During that time he learned the carpenter trade which kept him occupied while not traveling or serving his country in the ranks of the army.
Almost without exception old soldiers have exciting stories to tell about their experiences in the army. Mr. Mather tells this one: "Four of us were out hunting one day only a short distance from the fort when about 30 Indians came charging down on us. Although we were greatly outnumbered we in turn charged them. The outcome was that we left nine of them on the ground and the remainder made a hurried retreat. All of us escaped injury. Some of my comrades got some revolvers and money from the fallen redskins. What guns they didn't want they broke and threw in the creek," he said with a laugh. "Yes, the Indians had money," he answered a query. "Nearly all those wild Indians had lots of money."
Mr. Mather enlisted in the army service, August 29, 1861, and served intermittently for a period of 4 years without getting the slightest injury despite his participation in many encounters. Shortly after enlistment he was appointment sergeant and when in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the lieutenant of the company was killed, and he was made lieutenant. The appointment came April 1st. "They made me lieutenant on All Fools Day," the old soldier remarked with a laugh. In the matter of his escape from injury during the many battles Lieutenant Mather seemed to adopt a fatalistic philosphy. "It wasn't my time," he explained. "You'd feel that way about it, too, if you were in several battles. My comrades were dropping all around me but it just wasn't my turn." Again, his theory of pre-destined life was brought to light when the experiences of a gold rush were outlined. "I wasn't one of the lucky ones," he said with resignation about his fortune in seeking gold in Montana. "I didn't have a lucky number. You know, hunting gold is just like the lottery in Louisana. Where one found gold and was made rich thousands of them couldn't make a living and depended on the government for food. I was only there about a year. When I saw I was going from bad to worse I left and came back east," he said.
Lieutenant Mather was one of the many that traveled across the country in the gold rush driving a team of oxen. "I traveled from Kansas to Helena, Montana, through Salt Lake City, one summer, a distance of 1,865 miles," he said. However, his return was by a much different mode of travel. For 40 days and as many nights he floated down the Missouri River on a boat he had constructed himself.
Lieutenant Mather was in active military service under Sheridan and Custer at Fort Hayes, Kansas, and went on various campaigns through the southern states while the army of the North was turning the tide of the war.
Since 1914, he has been living at the Soldiers' Home at Danville, Illinois, although he frequently visits his friends and relatives in Muncie. "The centennial celebration was one of the reasons I came back this time," he said. "I thought I could find someone I knew but they are about all gone now."
Mr. Swain, who is entertaining Lieutenant Mather during his stay n Muncie is the descendant of some of the oldest pioneer settlers in Delaware County. His great-grandfather, Dr. David P. Anthony, migrated to Muncie when it was but a struggling borough and was from Virginia. Job Swain, the grandfather of Mr. Swain, was the second mayor of Muncietown and is credited with much effort to promote the village into a progressive community center.
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