The only connection that Delaware County could sustain to that conflict which raged more than a century ago, is that a scanty few of its surviving veterans might wander away from the scenes of their youth and their manhood, and of the conflict which they waged for freedom, to spend their few remaining years beneath the protecting shadow��of the�stars and stripes� in the mighty forests of the untrodden West.� Such, doubtless, there have been�Revolutionary soldiers who took up their abode in Delaware County, possibly, accompanying their children to this wild country for succor and support in the day of trial and weakness. We know of one such; probably, there were more. Yet, we have found no account of them.

November 3, 1843, Frederick E. Putnam writes in his diary, as printed elsewhere in this work: "Old Mr. Gilbert (Revolutionary pensioner) died to-day, and was buried with the honors of war." How old this aged soldier was at the time of his death, Mr. Putnam does not state. If, however, he was eighteen years old in 1780, he would be eighty-one in 1843. And now, only the old, possibly the middle aged, remember so much as to have seen a soldier of the Revolution. And the actors in the last great war are gradually dropping out, one by one. Though the land is full of soldiers now, the time is not very far distant when these, also, with all others of like age and service, shall be hidden away in the tomb.

WAR OF 1812.

Something may be said concerning this now ancient war in connection-with Delaware County. Of course, the war itself was past before this region became opened to white settlers. Still, to some of the counties lying around Delaware that war was a fearful calamity, and a source of great terror and danger. These forests were full of hostile savages, their towns were on all the chief streams, their trails threaded the forests through the whole extent of the country, the few families flocked to the rude forts and block-houses, while the husbands joined the army and marched against the foe. Wayne, Dearborn and Union Counties had been partly settled, and, until within a few years past, the fearful tales of savage warfare in 1811-13, might still be heard from the lips of those who took apart therein. Perhaps a scanty few even yet survive the storms of the years that have past, and can, at this late day, remember and rehearse how the British burnt Washington or Buffalo, or how Gen. Harrison defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe, or on the Thames; or, how "Old Hickory" broke the British power at New Orleans. But, however that may be, it is certainly true, that, during the lapse of time since those days of��peril and fear cast their dark shadow over the land, a considerable number of the soldiers in that "second war of independence," have taken up their abode within the limits of this county. Upon the banner containing the list of our departed heroes are inscribed the names of eight aged veterans, from eighty to eighty-six years old, who had been soldiers in that war of by gone generations, and whose worn-out frames have found rest from the weary toils and cares of mortal life in the friendly soil of Delaware, the latest burial among the number occurring in 1876.����������

These eight names are given elsewhere, and do not need to be repeated. Whether any soldiers of the war of 1812 are still living in this county, we do not know; but it is a fact that several widows of those old veterans do yet dwell among us, at least two of whom reside in the city of Muncie, viz: Mrs. Mary Youse and Mrs. Wilson, the first seventy-eight and the second eighty years old. Both these old widows are cheered, in these their later years, by the bestowment of a pension from the friendly hand of the National Government. These widows were not the wives of these soldier husbands till long since the close of that war, and hence it happens that the governmental favor has been slow in reaching them, the act of Congress applying to their cases having been passed only about 1877. This branch of our subject may be fully closed by a brief account of the husbands:

William Youse was born in 1784, at Little York, Penn. He was engaged in the war of 1812, holding three several commissions in the army raised at that time. He was successively Lieutenant, Captain and Major. His widow still preserves, as interesting relics, the commissions issued by Simon Snyder, Governor of the Common wealth of Pennsylvania, appointing him to those positions respectively. The one for Captain is dated August 11, 1811 (sixty-nine years ago), commissioning him as Captain of the rifle company attached to the second battalion of the Sixtieth Regiment, in the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division of the militia of the State of Pennsylvania. The one for Major bears the date of August. 1, 1814, and confers upon him the position of Major of the Second Battalion of the One Hundred and First Regiment in the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division of Pennsylvania militia. His earliest commission begins before the breaking-out of the war; but he was called out in actual service in the lines, only for three months, during the winter of 1814�15, being honorably discharged at the close of the war.

He came to Union County, Indiana, in 1818, and was married to Mary Frasier, 1823. Mrs. Youse was born in 1802, and still survives, at the age of seventy-eight years. They had six children, four of whom are yet living.He resided at or near Brownsville, Union Co., Ind, during fifty-one years, and for forty-six years from the date of his marriage; four years (after marriage) on a farm and forty-two years in Brownsville. He was by trade a tanner, and was, by turns, tanner, merchant, miller, farmer, trader and business man, stockbuyer, etc. He owned at one time more than 400 acres of land, and was engaged in extensive business; but, through that universal bane and "trap" of men of means, "going security," he lost the most of his property, and never recovered from the blow. However, he saved his honor and his self-respect, and preserved his reputation and the public esteem as well. Mr. Youse was very active, both in business and politics, and in religion, carrying into them all the ardor and zeal of an earnest love for truth and justice, and steady and persistent purpose to accomplish- all the good that lay in his power. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,and honored his profession by a worthy and consistent life. He was Post master at Blountsville for many years and once represented his county in the Legislature (as a Whig). He died in1869, aged eighty-five years. Mr. Youse was of German descent, his grandfather having emigrated from Germany. In person, he was heavy set, of medium height,and straight as an Indian. He had dark, sandy hair, hazel eyes, and a full but fair complexion. He was prepossessing in appearance, firm but genial, liberal and generous, kind-hearted and free. His widow has been a Methodist for fifty-eight years. In 1878, she obtained an annual pension from the United States Government, of $96, to which she is entitled during her life. She is in good health and sprightly. She walks to church and about town, works constantly, and is a fine specimen of a cheerful and contented old age. For a considerable time, she has employed herself in knitting rugs and mats, and some very curious and labored articles of that sort were shown as her handi work. Her residence has been with her son, at Muncie, for several years.

S. P. Wilson was born in the State of Virginia in the year 1794.� He came to Ohio at an early period in its history; was in the war of 1812, married came to Delaware County, Ind, in 1857 and died in 1874, aged eighty years. He had five children, and all survived him, as does also his widow, now nearly eighty years of age. His children are, Capt. Luther B. Wilson, connected with the Muncie Times; Mary B., widow of the late John W. Burson, who was, at the time of his death, President of the Muncie National Bank; Ambrose Willson, Cashier of the Muncie National Bank; Mrs. Charles W. Moore and Miss Kate Willson.

Mrs. Willson, his widow, receives a pension of $96 a year from the United States Government. She is afflicted in body, having been badly crippled with rheumatism for many years; she is, however, still vigorous in intellect, retaining a strong interest in the questions of the times, and keeping herself fully informed respecting them. Mrs. Burson, her daughter, with whom the old lady resides, was greatly active in the labors of kindness and benevolence during the war, spending much time and money in securing and affording efficient relief to the needy in that time of danger and distress, in which praise worthy work however, she was by no means alone, since the whole city, and the�country as well, strove in friendly rivalry for the palm of leadership in this great and excellent undertaking.

Some Old War Veterans
Surnames: Hurt, Jones, Shellenbarger, Daugherty, Shultz, Sanders, McClanahan

A considerable number of the survivors of the war of 1812; and of the Indian war which raged in the West and in Indiana about that time, have lived, and some, as before stated, have died in this county. The names of some of these have been obtained from Maj. Waterhouse, pension agent at Muncie, who were pensioners under the law of 1871. By that law, first, all the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812 were entitled to a pension. Before that time only those partially or wholly disabled were entitled. Their widows, also, if married to soldiers before the close of the war were included, but not otherwise. In 1877 or thereabouts, the law was amended so as to include all widows of soldiers of that war, no matter when married. Under this amended act, some widows in this county now draw pensions�Mrs. Youse and Mrs. Willson, and possibly others. The men named by Maj. Waterhouse, were Clement Hurt, who died some years ago; Gilbert Jones, living, so far as known, aged ninety-four years; Isaac Shellenbarger, seventy-four years old in 1871, now dead; William Daugherty, eighty-one years old, now dead; Henry Shultz, aged seventy-four years, supposed to be living; George Sanders, seventy-nine years old, now dead. Eliza Hurt applied for a pension and obtained a certificate, but died without receiving any money on her certificate. Isaac McClanahan was wounded at the battle of Tippecanoe, and had had his pension increased some years ago. He is now dead.