Page Six
From the "Memoirs of James K Wells, Son of William M. & Hilly Ann Wells" Submitted by Jana Trace
The giving of ones life is the highest proof of loyalty. That is what the Union soldiers did, they sumd up their lives and gave them for the country and flag they loved so well, and thus resolved all doubt and made immortal their patriotism to their country, whose remains are now resting on the nations heart, entombed in the Nations love. From many thousand homes whose light was put out when a soldier fell, whose grief and sorrow will never end, till the light of the eternal day dawns upon them.
The Southern people exhausted in arms they yielded to a great and true idea. That idea us American nationality. And that is the thought the Union solider died for. Then let us try to forget Northern and Southern. How much grander the single word - American.
It was after our Nations great battles were fought that the American people came to a full realization of the terrible cost of civil war. And the boys and girls and others under 50 years old, know anything about our Civil war only as they read, or are told. But I trust no one will ever see another war in our country, among ourselves. No longer lines of battle- No longer throngs of men who wore the gray and men who wore the blue. The battlefields with their battle lines of strife, have become instruments of reunion. The people are all good friends now and the righteous does not glory in war but prays for peace, and the Southern people are glad.
But in times of peace there are battles to be fought and victories to be won the effects of which the destines of our humanity are as far reaching as the results of an armed conflict. Honor, courage, integrity, devotion to principle and moral character and the faithful performance of duty are just as essential to the greatful and free people, as courage and self sacrifice are to the success of a fighting army. The principles of our government gives to us is the power to have the kind of government we desire, and we can make it good or bad.
The Grand Army of the Republic
Now let us consider the Grand Army of the Republic. Rightly it is named the Grand Army; grand in justice of the majestic cause for which it fought.
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
That Abraham Slough, Sr. was born on the 1st day of January, 1783 a native of North Carolina. He was of German descent. His companion in life was Anna Mary Arney. To this union was born five children, four sons and one daughter: Adam, Henry, Daniel, Abraham, Jr. and Elisabeth. Abraham, Sr. and Anna Mary Slough, his wife, moved with their family from North Carolina and settled in Jefferson Township, Owen County, Indiana being one of the early settlers of the township. He was among the first to enter land on this newly purchased farm all off it covered with a heavy forest of timber, but in about ten years himself and boys had cleared off the timber and underbrush and had one of the most beautiful farms in the township. He was a model farmer and took a great interest in having things done well and promptly. He was one of the noted men of the county, strictly temperate and conscientious and was honorable in all his dealings with his neighbors.
Anna Mary his companion was one of the most remarkable women of that day. She was industrious and bore her part with her husband in the hardships of the early settlers. She was (??) and benevolent. She made herself useful in that early day especially in the case of sickness in families, which was very common among the first settlers such as chills, fevers and other diseases, which were common at that time. She very seldom failed to attend all calls made for her in case of sickness, she was one of the most successful midwives of that age. She with her husbands were members of Christ’s Church at Bethel congregation in the Northeast part of the township, where they retained their membership until death. Abraham Slough died May 13, 1865 at the house of his son, Abraham, Sr. who cared for his aged parents a short time before their death.
Anna Mary Slough died July 30, 1866 at the home of her sister Margaret Fiscus, having moved there a short time before her death on account of the death of her son, Abraham Slough, Jr. The memory of them are ever green in our hearts.
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
Adam Slough was born in the State of North Carolina in the year of 1812. He was the eldest son of Abraham Slough, Sr. He moved with his parents from North Carolina and settled in what is now known as Jefferson Township, Owen County, Indiana and worked with his brothers on his father’s farm until he grew up into manhood. But his natural inclination was when young to be engaged in erecting little “flutter mills” on the small rivulets from the “flutter mill” he constructed other mills on a small scale, but the ingenuity of the lad denoted his skill in whatever he undertook to do. He grew up into manhood a wholesome and useful man in his day. He continued his natural inclination until he became one of the most noted millrights and house carpenters in this section of the county. He was married to Miss Permulia Hale February 21st, 1833, who was born in North Carolina and had come with her parents to this county and was among the first settlers of this new community. The newly married couple settled down at once to business. The first thing in order was to erect a new house on their home of 160 acres of land. This they did with their own hands and were soon comfortably situated in life. They had by their industry and perseverance accumulated a considerable amount of wealth.
To this marriage was born seven children, whose names appear on page 112 of this book.
Mr. Slough was a man of great enterprise and the inclination of his boyhood days were brought into perfection during his lifetime, and he made himself very useful to the community in which he lived.
Adam Slough died
Permulia Slough, his wife died
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
That Henry Slough was born in North Carolina on March 30, 1814. He was the second son of Abraham Slough, Sr. He came with his father and family from North Carolina to Indiana and settled in the South part of Jefferson Township in Owen County. He was brought up on the new farm purchased by his father and performed his part to make the home pleasant and prosperous.
He was married to his wife, Drucilla Hale, October 6, 1836. To this union was born five children, three sons and two daughters. Sarah and Lethia, Marion, Jackson and John Wesley all of which are now dead except Sarah. Their mother having preceeded them to the spirit land when they were quite young. Except Marion the eldest of the three boys. He was the first death in the family.
Henry Slough’s first wife died about the year 1850. He married again to Mrs. Rebecca Fritz July 8, 1853 to this union no children were born.
Henry Slough was an industrious and model farmer. He owned a beautiful farm and kept in a good state of cultivation and contemplated future prosperity.
He was the proprietor of a plat for a town in South Jefferson on his farm to be named new Jefferson in the year 1840 the plat for a town was surveyed and consisted of 32 lots all of which were 100 feet deep and 60 feet in width. However, owing to the sale of lots and improvements in the village in Middletown in East Jefferson Township, new Jefferson was abandoned and the Henry Slough farm also the Abraham Slough, Jr. farm is owned by Emerson & Bunion White to young and prosperous farmers who have recently built new frame houses which still adds to the beauty of the old homestead of the two Slough’s. Henry Slough died January 26, 1863 age 38 years 10 months and 6 days.