Ambrose J. Breedon and Mary Halley Breedon, Taney Co.,MO Pioneer ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:Linda Slott This story is from the White River Leader, Branson, MO, October 1, 1915, and is about my ggg grandparents, Ambrose J. Breedon and Mary Halley Breedon: Stories of the Pioneers Number 16:Breedon A. J. Breedon of Mildred tells the story of a Large Life--Born in the Shenandoah Valley--Came to Missouri in 1851--Served in the Union Army and was stationed at Forsyth Two or Three Months--A Panther Story--An old time Harvest Scene While walking through the country recently we met Uncle Jack Breedon near Kirbyville, and when he found we expected to be in the neighborhood of his home near Mildred that night, he gave us a pressing invitation to stay all night at his house. We accepted the invitation and about sunset that evening we arrived at his home, which is "beautiful for situation." The house is located on high ground, from which one can see many miles in several direction, but the best view is toward the East. In that direction one can see hills and ranges well toward the East line of the county. Milligan Bald, that well known mountain, is in plain view. After breakfast the next morning we sat down in the pleasant sitting room and Mr. Breedon told us the following story of his life: "I was born near New Market, Virginia in 1832 of German Ancestors who had moved to Virginia from Pennsylvania. My ancestors were strong and lived to a good old age. My grandfather died between the plow handles at the age 104. My father moved to Kanawha County, Virginia, when I was 16 and then to Henry County, Missouri in 1851. Before leaving Virginia I was married to Mary E. Halley. After coming to Missouri I worked part of the time on a farm and part of the time doing carpenter work. "In 1862 I enlisted in the first Iowa cavalry. The reason why I enlisted in an Iowa regiment is that this regiment at this time was in camp at Clinton, the county seat of Henry County. Our regiment spent most of the time in Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi. In the fall of 1862 my battalion of our regiment and the 8th Indiana infantry spent two or three months at Forsyth. We were in no battles in Taney County, but just before we came, General Curtis riddled the courthouse with cannon balls. "While I was at Forsyth I met Alf Bolin, the desperado, who killed so many people. He used to stay in the neighborhood of Murder Rocks, on the old Harrison Road. "I was in 114 different engagements, some of them, of course, only small skirmishes. The battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, was our most severe engagement. The Camden, Arkansas, campaign was the most trying. This campaign lasted 42 days and there was fighting 30 of those days. The saddles were not off our horses for seven days, and we had nothing to eat for four days and nights." Here we interrupted him and asked what office he held. His reply was "I went in as a private and came out a high corporal." "When the war closed we were mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, and I went back to Clinton, where I remained until 1869, when I came to Taney County, and settled near here on the farm where my son Charles now lives. We came to this place 12 years ago." Here we asked him about the Bald Knobbers, and he said "I never belonged to them, but I had no trouble with them. There was considerable bad feeling, and several lives were lost." "Politically I have always been a Democrat, but I have never been a candidate for any office. I think Mr. Bryan is one of the smartest men in the county, and I read his paper, The Commoner, regularly. "I came here because I fell in love with the country while I was a soldier here. I came expecting to buy a river farm, but the river land was too high for my pocket. "When I came here there were few schools, and they were nearly all what we called subscription schools: that is people had to pay tuition for their children. "Houses were far apart in those days. There were very few homes between here and Harrison, Arkansas. At that time much freighting was done on the (Illegible) "Game was very plentiful when we came. The first year I was here I killed 18 deer and never went hunting. We always had deer or turkey meat that year. Here Mrs. Breedon said "Deer are very fond of bean stock, and for some time we could raise no beans because the deer ate all of them." Mr. Breedon again resumed his story and said "There were many wild animals here at that time. One night I was in bed asleep, and my two dogs were put in the timber near the house. I think they had treed a 'coon. The door to the house was open and one of the dogs came running in the house, followed by a panther. The dog rushed into the house and under the bed. This awoke me, and I jumped out of bed and went to the door, but the panther was too far away for me to shoot it. When I went to the tree where the dogs had been, I found the other dog with its throat cut. "Yes, there have been many changes since I can first recollect, and I think they have been all for the better. Yet I often think of the old times and old methods of doing things. Near our home in Virginia was a man who had a large farm and raised much wheat. At that time all the grain was cut with the cradles, and I remember seeing 56 men in a line cradling wheat. It was a fine sight." And then Mrs. Breedon spoke up and said "I never used a cook stove (illegible). I used to spin a great deal, and still have my old spinning wheel." For a short time both of these old people were silent, as if thinking of the past, but then Mr. Breedon said, "Well we have lived a rather long common place life. We were always just plain people. We raised a family of eight- five boys and three girls-and we brought them up to be honest and honorable. We have done the best we knew, and are pretty well satisfied with life. We have no regrets and when the Master calls we will be ready to go." Linda Slott