General Hiram I. Bearss

More on Hiram Bearss.....During World War I he served with the Marine brigade of the Second Division. General Bearss , while in that war requested a leave from the front. His commanding general gave him promise of a leave if he would capture a German. He took a dozen men on a raiding party the same night and came back with 80 prisoners. Bearss and his men got the leave. In 1919 after 20 years of service he was given the rank of Brigadier General. After his retirement Bearss was appointed to have charge of the United States soldiers guarding the mints in New York and Philadelphia, serving in that capacity until he returned to Peru about 1934. April 26th of that year he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Bearss received more commendations for personal courage, ability, leadership and high efficiency of his services to the allied cause than any other officer of his rank in World War I. Shortly, before his death he decided to enter politics in the primary and was chosen the Republican candidate for joint state senator from Miami and Howard Counties. He was never able to fulfill that dream due to an automobile accident that caused his death in 1938.

Hiram Iddings Bearss

Hiram Iddings Bearss, son of Frank W. and Desdemona (Iddings) Bearss, was born in Peru, Indiana April 13, 1875. Hiram graduated from Peru High School , DePauw University, and received a degree from Norwich Military Academy, Northfield Vermont. While at Norwich, only weighing 138 pounds, he played football against a team from Burlington. After three minutes of play Burlington refused to go on unless Bearss was removed. They said he was too rough.

Following graduation from military school, General Bearss entered the Marine Corps as an enlisted man, serving through the Spanish-American war in that rank. He received a commission as second lieutenant in 1899. Thoughout his career he served in the Boxer rebellion, the Haiti uprising, the Mexican invasion and the Phillipine Islands. He received the nickname "Hiking Hiram" while leading the campaign in the Phillipines. At Samar it was General Bearss who single-handed captured the notorious bandit Joaquin. He was recommended for "Brevet-Major, or Medal or both" for distinguished gallantry in action.

Gone Huntin'

Can't write today. The woods is calling my name.

Slave Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery

Did you know Oak Grove Cemetery merged with Mt. Hope? Henry Johnson was a native of North Carolina. He was held as a slave before the war, and came to Peru about thirty-five years ago. He took employment on the new court house at the time its erection was first commenced and was engaged at the work at the time of taking ill. He had made his home with Mrs. Kate Brown on East Third Street where he had made his home for the past thirty years or more.

Services were conducted at the A.M.E. church by Rev. Jackson and interment took place in Oak Grove cemetery in 1908. He was 68 years old at the time of death. A bush that was planted by his grave is what is keeping the stone standing.

Oldest Seed Co. in America

Getting my flower beds ready for spring planting can be a time consuming job. Why is it the weeds grow faster than the flowers? I was curious about who the oldest seed company in the United States was---Dexter Mason Ferry and partners founded Gardener, Ferry & Church Seed Company way back in 1856--Now the company is called Ferry Morse. Dexter Ferry was the first to offer seeds packaged in packets for the consumers. Park seed was established in 1868 and then Burpee in 1876. It's amazing these companies still exsist.

I don't plant my annuals until around May 10th. The photo with this article is a zinnia that decided it wanted a twin. In all the years I have grown flowers I have never seen such a flower.
Perhaps, the zinnia is my favorite annual because I love cut flowers on my table. Once they start blooming they will bloom till frost. So, get your beds ready and Happy Planting!

Stranger's Grave

In June, 1830, a young man named Eli Macy, on horseback and carrying a rifle, undertook to ford the Wabash at Godfroy's trading house where there was a ford. The river was up, and he was drowned. His body was found, some days aferward, in a pile of drift near Col. Reyburn's old homestead. The lone grave, inclosed with palings and marked by a stone, on the bank of the river near the Reyburn residence is where he was buried.