LOVED HER IN YOUTH
A TALE OF TRUE LOVE
LOVES HER IN DEATH
Grand Old Gentleman of Southern Type, with a Remarkable History, Spending
Last Days at County Hospital in Memories of Bygone Days - Loved But One
Girl
Ye who believe in the beauty of mankind's devotion in a love that endures
for a life-time and is true through the trials of life's journey, list
to this tale of a lover, hoary, but faithful to the one he loved when
the blush of youth flushed his cheeks, now furrowed by the onward march
of time.
Over at the county hospital among other unfortunates from many causes,
is a grand old gentleman nearly a century old, but still bearing the striking
characteristics of youth, happy as the day is long and as cheerful as
a lark in springtime.
Although he as not been endowed with very much of this world's goods,
having met disappointments upon all hands, he has a remarkable history
and talks entertainingly of the days that are no more.
Such is John Benjamin Bryant, now in his eighty-ninth
year. No matter how hot the day nor how inclement the weather, "Daddy,"
as the force is want to call him, makes his daily journey to the offices
of the Western Star. His ever beaming smile always drives away the
clouds and after he is gone life somehow seem to be just a little more
worth while.
First seeing the light of day in New Orleans, November 4, 1820, he remained
ever true to his native land and fought through the war of the Rebellion
under the flag of Lee and was in Morgan's raid when he dashed for the
Ohio shore. He well remembers James Monroe as President and the
death of John Quincy Adams.
When but a month old "Daddy" was left an orphan, both his father
and mother being stricken down by the fearful plague of Yellow Fever.
He was cared for aby an uncle until three years old and then placed in
a orphans asylum where he stayed until he was 10 years of age.
It was while in this institution that life's young dream of love had its
inception, the boy being attracted by a little playmate orphan girl.
Often they played together side by side gathering daisies in the meadow
and wathing the frogs and minnows at the babbling brook. In youthful
terms he told her of the future he had planned and all was sealed with
a kiss of innocent love.
As the years grew on, they renewed their vows and when at maturity finding
the flame of affection burning even brighter thatn ever, they named the
day for the chiming of wedding bells. That day never came.
Seemingly as a curse upon his young life the Yellow Fever again broke
out and his sweetheart was claimed as a victim at the very dawn of their
nupial morning.
Thus for three quarters of century, this tru lover has trod down life's
pathway caring little for the affection of women but with the highest
regard for all, never seeing the counterpart of his first love.
Thinkin he would forget his troubles he enlisted in the state militia
and served two years; but at the end of this time he could not think of
returning to his youthful scenes but came northward to a farm in Logan
county, Kentucky, where he found work. He made the journey up the
Mississippi in a boat and took a stage from Clarksburg to his destiniation
paying a fare of $6.50, whihc is now reduced to 75 cents on the railroad.
In 1852 he joined Robinson's circus driving the lion wagon, the longest
trip he made being that of overalnd from New York to New Orleans.
His experiences in this line would fill a large volume.
When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate
army under General Butler as a "Bushwhacker," and later
under Colonel Hines swam the Ohio river in Morgan's celebrated raid.
That was a wintry night
but no one faltered and "Daddy" was right in the lead.
He was not with the section that infested Cincinnati but made on toward
Pomeroy where they were repulsed and driven back to Nashville.
Our hero was in the battle of Gettysburg
and was mortally wounded, a large portion of the bone being shot from
his left leg. From this he never fully recovered. This ended
his war career and he came to Ohio in 1871 and to Warren County soon after
where he engaged at various jobs here and there over the country.
Infirmities of old age and overwork soon bore heavily upon his shoulders
and being without kin or friend he was placed upon the mercy of the county.
There he lives enshrouded in the dignity of venerable old age, happy that
he still lives, eager and anxious to still live on that he may enjoy the
beautiful in life God has given him, he still lives in the thoughts and
fancies of the past when as a sprightly boy he played with that old sweetheart
of his.
Source: The Western Star, Lebanon,
Ohio, Thursday, August 19, 1909
[copy obtained from microfilm available at the Warren
County Genealogical Society]
Vicki L. Bergerhouse
6 November 2008