Autobiography of Dr. Thomas H. Barton, the self-made physician of Syracuse, Ohio : including a history of the Fourth Regt. West Va. Vol. Inf'y, with an account of Col. Lightburn's retreat down the Kanawha Valley, Gen. Grant's Vicksburg and Chattanooga campaigns, together with the several battles in which the Fourth Regiment was engaged, and its losses by disease, desertion and in battle

Front matter

IIBRARY OF

/i- iJ//(uJ/J.hnJo/h

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Preface

lu the year 1SS5 I first conceived the idea of writing a history of my life ; but upon thinking over the subject, I had serious doubts as to whether such a work would justify the cost of publication, and, for a time, the jDroject was laid aside. Frona that time, however, up to the latter part of 1887, the idea almost constantly intruded itself upon my mind, and I finally divulged my plans to my wife. But she was opposed to the undertaking, claiming that in consequence of advancing years and failing healtli I had better abandon the idea. I did not accept this advice, and the ISth of April, 1888, found me seated at my table, pen in hand, jotting down my infant recollections. From that time to the present, I have spent the greater portion of my leisure hours in the preparation of this work.

I am aware that the public is well supplied with the biographies and autobiographies of our distinguished men, of the generals who have led our armies to victory, of the statesmen who have shaped the policy of the government, of eminent divines, poets, moralists, historians, philosophers, lawyers, legislators, even of criminals, who have spent their lives in solitary confinement, or perished on the scaffold. But the common or ordinary men, those who have failed to reach the summit of fame have hot come to the front and given their experience in the battle of life. Such is the design of the author. It will be my object in the present work to portray, in plain and concise language, the struggles of a lifetime.

My first plan was to give my own personal history, together with a history of the Fourth Regiment of West Virginia Infantry Volunteers, of which organization I was the Hospital Steward ; but upon divulging this scheme to some of my literary acquaintances, I was advised to include a history of General Grant's Vicksburg and Chattanooga campaigns in which the Fourth Virginia participated, together with a detailed account of the battles and seiges in which this regiment was engaged, and its losses in battle and by disease and desertion. Accordingly, I have adopted this plan. I have consulted the most eminent authorities on the late war, and believe the

IV

statements contained in this portion of my narrative to be correct.

The author is well aware that he has not attained to wealth, honor or renown. Neither has he acquired distinction as a physician and surgeon. After a lifetime of hard labor, he is still at the foot of the ladder of fame Yet, nevertheless, he entertains hopes that this volume may prove interesting to a large class of readers. To the young practitioner of medicine especially, he trusts these pages may afford some useful hints, if in no other way than through the mistakes and failures of the writer. To his old comrades of the Fourth "West Virginia regiment he extends a cordial greeting, and trusts that these battle-scarred veterans may find pleasure in reviewing the scenes and incidents of their army life. He further hopes that the genei'al reader will find the war history of sufficient interest to merit his attention. In the preparation of this portion of his work the author has aimed at conciseness of style and accuracy of detail.

Syracuse, Ohio, \ rptTi^ atttttot?

September 30th, LS«9. | ^HE AUTHOR.

Chapter I

Ancestry — Birth— Character — Early Youth — Incidents — The District School — Farm Labor — Recreations — Religious Revival — Church Trial — A Bereavement.

Chapter II

Remarriage of My Father — Laboring on My Own Account — A Retrospect—School Teacher — Death of my Sister Mary — My Patrimony— Student of Medicine — Addison — Character of my Brother — Old Time Celebrations — Cholera Epidemic of 1849 — A Resolution.

Chapter III

The Practicing Physician — Pageville- -Dr. Lowell — Medical Practice— Change of Location — Leon — State of Society in Virginia — Epidemic of Malarial Fever —Dr. O. G. Chace — Love — Courtship — Marriage — Domestic — A Loss — A greater Loss — Removal to Chester, Ohio.

Chapter IV

The Village of Chester— Medical Practice— Dr. J. W- McGrath— Second Love — Marriage — Domestic — Unpopular with the People of Chester— Dr. James Dias— The Comet of 1857— Death of My Father — Change ofLocation — The Town of Syracuse — The Syracuse Coal and Salt Co— Coal and Salt Industries — Contract with the Miners — Dr. D. L. Star — Dr. Adams — Dr. .Joseph Bean — Dr. Samuel Bean — Birth of a Son — An Affray — An Alarm of War.

Chapter V

Presidential Election of 18G0 — Political Parties — The Seceded States — The Southern Confederacy— Star of the West — Fort Sumpter — The President's Call for Troops^Independent Company— -Recruiting for the Fourth W Va. Regiment — Enlistment — Company and Regimental Officers — At Point Pleasant — At Spencer, in Roane County — Cam]3 Life^ — Return to Point Pleasant — At Ceredo — Incidents of Camp Life — Appointed Hospital Steward — Moved to Charleston — At Chapmansville — Scouting — Death of Major Hall — Col. Lightburn's Retreat from the Kanawha Valley — Causes of the Retreat — The Retreat — Arrival at Ravenswood — Visit to my Family — Return to Point Pleasant — Second Advance up the Kanawha — Ordered to Vicksburg.

CHAPTER VL

Description of Vicksburg — Its Defences — The Campaign Against that Stronghold — Grant's First Campaign — Defeat of Sherman at Haines' Bluff"- His Retreat — The Fourth W Va. Regiment moved to Vicksburg — Camp at Young's Point — Arrival of Grant — The Canal at Young's Point — Cutting the Levee at Lake Providence — And at Moon Lake — The Mississippi Flotilla — Yazoo Pass Expedition— The Queen of the West — Loss of that Vessel — Loss of the Indianola — Farragut runs the Batteries at Port Hudson — Steel Bayou or Deer Creek Expedition — Failure of the Expedition.

Chapter VII

Dissatisfaction with Gen. Grant— "Visiting Statesmen"— Tlie Northern Press— Concentration of the Army— Running the Batteries at Vicksburg— Grierson's Raid— Movement of the Army down the Mississippi— Hherman makes a Feint on Haines' Bluff— Crossing the river at Bruinsburg— Grant's Rapid Movements— Thompson's Plantation— Battle of Port Gibson— Capture of Grand Gulf— Movement towards Jackson— Battle of Raymond — Battle of Jackson — Capture of the City— Destruction of Confederate Property— Grant moves West— Battle of Champion's Hill— Forcing the Big Black River— Pemberton retires within the lines of Vicksburg.

Chapter VIII

Defences of Vicksburg — Review of the Campaign — The Federal and Confederate Forces — The Rebels Evacuate Haines' Bluff— Opening of the Yazoo — First Assault on Vicksburg — Second Assault — Failure — Dismissal of MeClernand — Final investment of Vicksburg — The Seige — Progress of the Seige — Grant Receives Reinforcements — The Confederates Attack Young's Point and Milikins Bend — Johnson Crosses the Big Black to relieve Pemberton — Failure to relieve Vicksburg — First Mine Exploded- A&sault and Failure — Second Mine Exploded — Peniberton's Di's))erate Situation — Is advised by his Division Commanders to Surrender -Correspondence of Grant and Pemberton — Terms of (Capitulation — Last Effort of the Confederates to Relieve Vicksburg — The Surrender — Condition of the City— Results of the Campaign.

Chapter IX

Personal Experience— Y'ouu<j;'s Point- Ueorganization of the Army- Sickness Among the Troops Surgeons Ackley and Waterman — Ackley Resigns -Pliilst)n anil Waterman Promoted — Incidents — The Canal -Inspection of the Hospital -Running the Blockade — Grant JNlovcs down the River- Slierman's Feint on v'^icksburg — Moving towards the Front — CJrand Gulf— On the March — Passing Champion's Hill— Effects of the Battle — Hard Marching — Want of Provisions And of Water — In the Rear of Vicksburg — First Assault- Second Assault—Casualities -Charge of the 8th Wisconsin — Old Abe- I'he Seige — Blowing up the Fort — Scarcity of Water — Exchanging Bread for Tobacco -Appointed Surgeon of the 2d. Mississippi Colored Regiment — Incidents- Surrender of Vicksburg — News from Home — Sickness and B'urlough.

Chapter X

Description of Chattanooga— And of the Surrounding Country— And of the Tennessee River- Battle of Stone River -Retreat of Bragg — Rosecrans takes Chattanooga— And follows Bragg to Chickamauga —Battle of — Federal Losses— Movements of Burnside— He takes Knoxville— And Cumberland Gap— Rosecrans Retreats to Chattanooga—Bragg's Position— Rosecrans in Danger— He is reinforced by Hooker-Grant in Command-He opens communications and establishes the "Cracker Line"— Jeflerson Davis visits Bragf- Longstreet moves towards Knoxville — And Attacks Burnside— Sherman ordered to Chattanooga-His Movements-Arrives at Chattanooga— Plan of the Battle— Prepe rations for the En^aa-e ment— Movements of Thomas— And of Sherman— And of Hooker

at Lookout Mountain — Results of the Second Day's Eno-affement

Renewal of the Battle— Grant's Orders— Hooker's Movements— And of Sherman— Thomas Assaults Missionary Ridge— Defeat of the Confederates— Results of the Campaign— Reflections on the Subject.

Vll

Chapter XI

Sherman Ordered to Relieve Knoxville — Longstreet Attacks Burnside — Battle of Can bell Station — Knoxville Threatened — Movements of Sherman — Longstreet Attacks Knoxville — He is Repulsed — End of the Western Campaign — The Fourth W Va. Regiment — It Moves with Sherman's Army — Goes into Winter Quarters — The Veterans Consolidated with the Eighth Missouri — The Non- Veterans Mustered Out — Service of the Veterans — Losses of the Regiment — Reflections on the subject — Personal History — Sickness— A Furlough — The Journey Home — Home "Sweet Home" — Extension of Furlough — The Gallipolis Hospital — My Treatment — At Home — A Case of Forcible Detention — Removal to Syracuse — Return to the Hospital — Incidents — Washington's Birthday — The Journey to Wheeling — An Algebraic Problem — At Baltimore — The "Soldiers Rest" — Return to Wheeling — Mustered Out — Home at Last.

Chapter XII

Division of the Subject — Financial — Settlement of My Property — It is Deeded to My Wife — The Town of Syracuse — Improvements — Prices of Commodities — I resume my Profession — Extent of My Practice — My Competitors — Surgical Practice — An Injured Coal Miner — His Treatment — Death of Jacob Henry — His C!haracter — Death of Robert Snowball — Some Remarkable ("ases — INledical Practice — An Attempted Robbery — The Cholera — Its Fatal Effects — A Patient wlio had feasted on Black Haws — Professional Courtesy — Code of Medical Ethics — Criticisuis on My Practice — The Malarial Fever — A Drunken Hnsbancf — Effects of Superstition — The "Wild Man" of Syracuse — Joshua Quillin's "Spirit" — A Case of Superstition — Medicial Societies.

Chapter XIII

Holding Office — The Spring Election of 1867 — Nominations for Justice of the Peace — My Candidacy — The Election — Commissioned Justice of the Peace — Sworn into Office — The Docket — Swan's Treatise — Classes of Crimes and Misdemeanors — Revision of the Criminal Code — Swan and Sailor's Statutes — Warner's Criminal Code — Civil Practice — Marriages — Criminal Practice — A Defective State Warrant — A Search Warrant — My Second Candidacy— Re-elected — A Question of Jurisdiction — Warren's Revised Criminal Code — A Writ of Habeas Corpus — Criminal Cases— A Hard Day's Work — "Nannie Rags" — James Ewing — George Durky — John Borham — A Strange Bill of Particulars — D. A. Minx — Martin Hays — The New Civil Docket — Close of Office.

CHAPTER XIV Physician and Druggist — Financial — Erection of New Dwelling — A Suit of Law — Erection of a New Drugstore — Cost of Mechanical Labor — Resume of the Drug Business — Burdsal and Brother — Retail Liquor Dealer — Borrowing Money — Collecting Medical Fees — "Strikes" Among the Miners — Reduction of Wages — Negotiating a Loan — This Effort proves a Failure-Suit of Burdsal and Brother- Judgment Against Me — Action of My Creditors — Selling Out — The Sheriff Levies on My Goods — W T. A. Lallance — He Purchases My Stock of Drugs — The Results — Reflections on the Subject — The Credit System — Improvement of My Affair — Proposed Change of Location — My Wife's Views on the Subject — We Again Commence Business — A Glimpse of Prosperity — A Pleasant Visit — Addition to our Real Estate.

Vlll

Chapter XV

A Retrospect— Building Castles in the Air— A sudden Change— Selling Out— Reasons for so Doing— The Credit System— Removal to Indiana— The New Location— Purchasing Property— The Old Log Cabin— A Dream Fulfilled— New Residence— Visi't to Syracuse- Second \'isit— Sickness— The Climate in Indiana— Return to Syracuse—My Changed Circumstances— I Resume my Profession— Dr. E. H. Trickle— Affairs in Indiana— Litigation— Suit of Law Against James E wing— The Result— The Game of Croquet— A Sad Bereavement.

Chapter XVI

Treatment of Paupers— Resume of the Subject— At Leon, Virginia— At Chester, Ohio — At Syracuse— A Dangerous Case — Litigation — Action Against the Inlmary Directors — The Poor Laws of Ohio- Duties of Township Trustees — And of Infirmary Directors — Difficulty with the Trustees — Their Unfair Ruling— Controversy with W N Jones - Xcwspaj^er Correspondence — Mr. Jones' Answer — My Rei)ly in the Tele2;rapli- .Vnd in the Republican — Demand foi- Xews])a])ers Cliaiif^c in (he Action of the Trustees Cost of Treating the Poor in 1877 New Trustees Elected— Their Action — And of the Infimary Direclors A Wrctclied Case of Pauperism — Ijiti,L,'ation with f heTruslci-s -Trial before the Justice -And at the CJourt of ( 'oninion Pk'as — \nd I)i-<tiict Court— Kxpensc of the Litii^ation — Election oflsSii 1 receive more Liberai Treatment- General Iteview of the Subject -Case at JNIinersville — Cost of Pauperism in isss.

CHAPTER XVII CONC'l-l'SION

Resume of the Dru.u: Business T^ocation at Carletonville— Firm of G. R. JSarton & Co— Building up a Trade— Firm of T. H. Barton & Co- Iteniarriage Professional Labor- Sale of our Indiana Property—Division of the Proceeds My Financial Condition— A New Home- Donustic — Our Children — Death of my Brother James — The Drug Business -Our Purchases and Sales-Gains and Loses A Young Druggist- The Drug Traile at Syracuse- Medical Ethics Result of Changes in Medical Treatment— Epidemic of 1882— Fatal Cases -Dr. J. W Hoff— Dr. C. Rathburn— Dr. Ross— Winters of 18s;!-l -Flood of 1881— Destruction of Property— Suffering Among the Laboring Classes -Coinmissarv Supplies— Disability Pension— Epidemic of l,S,S(i -Fatal Cases— Prostrated by Sickness—Quality of my Practice— Improvement— Dr. Milford Roush —Dr. I. N. Holmes— Conclusion.

SUPPLIOMENT.

The Physician and Patient— Requisites of the Physician— Itinerant Pliysicians— TheTraveling Quack— The Specialist— Their Methods —The Advertising of Receipts for (^ertain Diseases— The Code of Medical Ethics— Rights Duties and Privileges of the Attending Physician— And ot the Patient and His Friends— Consultations- Mode of Conducting them— Violations of the Code of Ethics— Reflections on the Subject — Compensation of Physicians— An Anpeal to the Public. ^

AUTDBIDGRAPHY

OF

* T. H. BARTDN. *

Chapter I. Early Youth

I am sprung, on my father's side, from a family of English ancestry. My great-grandfather was born in England, but died in America. My grandfather, James Barton, was born in Harford county, Maryland, but I do not know the date of his birth. He served in the Continental Army during the war of the revolution, and afterwards held the officeof jailor at Belair, Maryland. He was the father of six children ; John, Permelia, Thomas S., Mary, Ann and Casandra. He died at Peach Bottom, on the Susquehanna river, in 1810.

My father, Thomas S. Barton, was born March 8, 1790, in Harford county, Maryland, at or near the town of Belair. About the year 1814 he moved to Marietta, Ohio ; thence to Lancaster, Ohio, where he became acquainted with Catharine Harman, a lady of German descent, to whom he was married about the first of September, 1818. Four children were the fruit of this union: Elizabeth, born June 12th, 1819; Mary, born February 22cl, 1821 ; James, born August 8th, 1823 ; I am the youngest child, and was born on the eighth of December, 1828.

My father, while yet a single man, served with distinction in the American army during the war of 1812. He was afterwards known as Captain Barton, and resided at Marietta Ohio, when the battle of New Orleans was fought ; and when the news of that great victory reached Marietta, he assisted in illuminating that city in honor of the event. Candles and bonfires were the sources of illumination.

And the year 1818, my father removed from Lancaster to Bedford township, Meigs county, Ohio ; and soon afterwards to Uppei Scipio, where he purchased a small piece of land. On the receipt of my mother's interest in her father's estate, it being two hundred dollars, current money of the realm, he exchanged his farm in Upper Scipio for another, situated in the same township, on the Mud fork of Leading creek, and containing about 131 acres of land. The old-fashioned hewed log house in which I was born was still standing in 1875, It was rectangular in form, twenty-six feet long, eighteen feet wide and fourteen and a half feet high. It contained two stories; there were small windows of twelve lights of glass ; a door opened on each side of the building, and a substantial brick chimney was placed at the north end. The brook flowed near by ; there was "orchard, and meadow, and deep tangled wild-wood;" a well of sparkling water, with its time-honored old oaken bucket. These were the scenes of my childhood.

"As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well,

The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket, The moss covered bucket, which hangs in the well."

I was the youngest child, and occupied a superior place in the affections of the family. I was naturally mischievous, irritable in disposition, yet obedient to my parents, and fond of work and hard study. My father was very pious, and lived a Methodist after the straightest sect. Morning and evening he would read a chapter from the New Testament and hold family prayer. Among our small collection of books were the Testament and spelling book. These volumes were about the same size, and covered with the same kind of cloth. One

THOS. H. BARTON.

morning I placed the spelling book on the Testament, within reach of my father, who, when ready to read and pray, picked up the spelling book, opened it, closed the book again and laid it down, and reached for the Testament. At this moment I exclaimed : "Pap, the next time you read, you had better get the almanac." Luckily for me, he paid no attention to my suggestion, but went on as usual with his devotions.

When about five years of age, an incident occurred which made a strong impression on my mind, and exerted an influence to keep me from using profane language. One morning, immediately after breakfast, my mother and sisters were performing some labor in the garden, having left the dishes unwashed on the table. Now, it was an unusual thing, at least for one of my age, to see a chicken in the house. Finally, the old cock succeeded in getting on the table. "Chook ! chook ! chook ! chook !" calling the hens about him. I saw the chicken on the table, and raji out, crying as loud as I could : "Mamma ! Mamma ! the old rooster is on the table, just a-playing h — 1 !" I shall never forget the uproar and laughter at my expense.

On another occasion, when about seven years old, in company with my brother James, I went to my father's clearing, and while there imagined I saw a beautiful piece of wood. It sparkled and glistened in the bright sunshine. I moved toward it, with the intention of picking it up, exclaiming : "See, Jim, what a pretty stick of wood." At that moment my brother caught me by the shoulder, telling me at the same time that it was a snake. It was a large rattlesnake, having twelve rattles, and therefore thirteen years old. Being stretched at full length on the ground, its enormous size and bright, shining appearance deceived me. It was a narrow escape.

Mr. B. F, Erwin worked for my father in the clearing. On one occasion, Mr. Erwin had with him some of the unadulterated juice of the corn. He proposed to give me a dram, if I would gather some brush and assist him at his labor. I readily consented, and went to work with a will, but in a short time wanted "more dram," which was given me. The effect waj exhilarating, but I soon began to experience strange sensations. I became dizzy. The whole field looked to me as if it were

AUTOBIOGRAPHY (IF going round and round. I succeeded, however, in making my way to the house. It was my first dissipation.

Among my youthful companions were two brothers : John and William Hicks. John was a good swimmer, as was also my brother. William and I could not swim. We were bathing in the creek, and heavy rain had swelled the stream to the top of its bank. I had taken off my clothes, and waded into the shallow water, but had accidentally gone beyond my depth, when the swift current bore me rapidly to the center of the stream. Here was a snag to which I clung until rescued by William Hicks.

During harvest time it was part of my labor to carry water to the workman in the field. For this service I was promised three cents a day. I did good service slaking the thirst of the horny handed laborers. One day an old lady named Hidrick passed through the meadow and inquired what I was doing. I informed her that I was carrying water to the harvest hands. "Tommy," said Mrs. Hidrick, "do they give you anything for carrying water?" "Yes," said I, "Pap is to give me three cents a day." "Tommy, ihat isn't enough; you ought to have six and a fourth cents a day, and don't carry any more water till you have the i)romise of an advance of wages." I obeyed her injunction. Soon the workman began to call after me for more water; but I was on a "strike," and their calls were in vain. At length my father conceded the demand and promised the much desired advance. Whether this occurrence was the origin of strikes in IM.eigs county, or whether they are due to more extensive combinations, I leave to the reader. One thing is clear : I was one among the first "strikers" in the county.

I lived in the days of log cabins and hard cider. My father made large quantities of the juice of the apple. The apples were pounded in a large iron kettle, a heavy maul, with a pin through the handle, worked by two men, being used for that purpose. The press was constructed of two heavy pieces of timber, about twenty feet in length, securely fixed on blocks. Between these pieces, a heavy beam, ten or twelve inches square, was placed ; the three pieces being fastened together at one end with a pin. Near the other end was a platform, with gutters to carry off the cider, on which was placed the

THOS. H. BARTON.

box containing the pounded apples. The beam was raised onto the box by means of leverage. Mr. Erwin, whom I have already mentioned, worked for my father. He was honest, a good worker, trustworthy in every respect, but inclined to superstition. I was about five years old, when, one evening, in the fall of the year, my father, brother, and Mr. Erwin were at work making cider. It was nuite dark, and one of them observed alight rise, apparently out of the ground. Their attention was immediately fixed on the strange light. While looking and wondering, another light rose, and then another, and vanished in the air. They gazed intently in the direction from which the lights appeared to rise, but saw nothing in the gloom. Mr. Erwin then said to my father. '"Barton let us go to the house, something may happen to us, the cider press may fall down and kill or cripple some of us." There was no more cider made that night. They were greatly alarmed at the strange apparition, came to the house, and related the facts to the family. Three days afterwards, Mr. Erwin's mother, a venerable old lady, died suddenly; and this occurrence tended to strengthen the idea of superstition. It made a strong impression on my youthful mind, aud we all believed that the strange lights were a token of her death. I have no doubt that Mr. Erwin always entertained that belief. Science, however, would have relieved our own minds from superstition, and told us that the inflammable gas, occasioned by the decomposition of vegetable substances on marshy ground, had ignited, causing the jack-a-lantern to make its appearance.

When six years ot age I commenced going to school. William McMahan wielded the birch. Mr. McMahan's residence, in which the school was taught, was a double log house distant about two miles from our home, and my path lay across the creek, over fences and through fields and woods. The school system of Ohio was then in its infancy. The rural districts were dotted with log school houses, in which the pedagogues labored "to teach the young idea how to shoot." There was one term of three months during the winter, but none in the summer, and the schools were supported in part by public subscription. A knowledge of reading, writing, spelling, geography, and of arithmetic, to the "Single Rule of

Three," was regarded as a sufficient qualification on the part of the teacher. We were poorly supplied with books. Those used in our school were Webster's American Spelling-book, the Primary reader, the New Testament, and the English reader. Some of the advanced scholars read from a History of the United States, and a work entitled American Biography. The pupils were required to "go through" the spelling book before they were permitted to read. Smith's Geography was used, and a work on arithmetic called the Western Calculator. Webster's Elementary Spelling book was introduced in 1836, and steel pens and McGuffey's reader came into use about the same time.

The exercises consisted mainly of reading and spelling. Four times a day, between ench intermission, the pupils read round. There were three classes in spelling ; first, second, and third. The class stood in line, and beginning at the left, each pupil spelled a word pronounced by the teacher, and if a word was misspelled, it passed down the line until it was spelled correctly. The successful scholar then took his station next above the one who failed. It vvas an honor to "leave off head," and a certain number of head marks was a badge of distinction. No grammar was studied in the school. There were no classes in Arithmetic, and no exercises on the black board. The students in Arithmetic recited separately, and were required to memorize the rules and solve the problems : and if a problem was found too difficult for solution by the student, it was brought to the teacher, who "worked it."

I was fond of school and learned rapidly ; but would sometimes become very tired over the long hard words in the spelling book. I was yet in the third class, when, on one occasion, the second class were spelling for head, a word went "round the class." The teacher overheard me whisper to my brother that I could spell that word, "Thomas," said he, "rise and spell it." I did so, and was promoted to be head boy of the class, and felt as important as General Jackson in the presidential chair. On a future occasion, my brother having "left off head" fourteen times in succession, the teacher made a rule that whoever did so twice in succession sljould go to the foot. This left me at the head, but I did not like the idea of being

THOS. H. BARTON.

turned to the foot, and intentionally missed a word, so that I might remain near the head of the class.

Hollis Downing was my second teacher. A new school house had been erected in the district. This edifice was about twenty feet square, constructed of logs hewed on one side, thus giving the interior a smooth and even appearance. The spaces between the logs were filled with pieces of wood daubed over with mud. The seats were made of slabs, split off timber, dressed moderately smooth, with pins for legs, but destitute of any rest for the back. On each side of the building a log was cut out and a long narrow window put in. Steel pens were unknown at the time, and, for the benefit of those who used the goose quill, boards about eighteen inches wide, fixed in the form of desks, extended along two sides of the building. There was a puncheon floor, and "cat and clay" chimney, with a huge fire place capable of holding logs of wood five or six feet in length. Such is a general idea of the country school house fifty years ago.

Mr. Downing was kind, humane, and benevolent; lenient in his conduct towards the pupils, and took an active interest in the progress of the school. One day, when the ground was deeply covered with snow, nearly all the boys left the play ground, repaired to the state road on the hill, got sleds and boards, and went "coasting." It was a gala noon time for the students. We were absent about two hours when, returning to school, we saw Mr. Downing standing in the door, a smile on his face, and a large switch in his hand. The boys expected to get a whipping; but, on entering the school room, Mr. Downing gave each boy, except my brother and myself, a slight tap with the switch, remarking at the same time, "Get your book."