WATERMAN-Richard M. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Richard M. Waterman (deceased) was born in Coventry, Rhode Island, November 3, 1808. He was a son of Caleb Waterman, the son of Richard, the son of Amaziah, the son of Richard, the son of Nathaniel, the son of Richard Waterman, who came from Bristol, England, to Boston, with Roger Williams in the ship Lion, A.D. 1631. He resided several years in Salem, Massachusetts; went to Providence in 1638; was before the general court of Massachusetts in May 1644, and found to be "erroneous, heretical and obstinate in his religion," and was banished upon pain of death if he ever returned. Richard M., the great-great-great-great-grandson of him persecuted for his religious views by those who had sought a new home on account of persecution, suffered themselves at the hands of sectarian England, about 1831 sought residence in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Slavery turned him bitterly against that section, so he located, in 1832, in Eugene, Vermilion county, Indiana. He had graduated from Jefferso! n Medical College, Philadelphia, before coming west, and entered actively his profession in the west. For twenty-five years he practiced in Eugene, his business extending twenty miles up and down the Wabash, and as far as seventy-five miles westward. In 1857 he purchased 400 acres of land in Fulton township, Fountain county, Indiana, and made his residence here. He built a large dwelling and made other improvements. He engaged entensively in grain, pork, and dry-goods business at Lodi; or Waterman post-office, till 1861. Southern secession caused his anti-slavery principles to assert themselves, and although fifty-three years of age he enlisted in the 31st Ind. reg., a sacrifice to his country. On his departure he asserted that "the war would end when the Negroes were freed." Being too old to go as a private he was elected orderly sergeant, and in about one year was appointed to the captaincy of Co., A, 31st Ind. vols., which position he filled through the war. He fought at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Resaca, Rocky Face Ridge, etc. He was worshipful master of the regimental lodge of Freemasons of his regiment, and was presented by the lodge with a cane, the stick of which was taken from Lookout Mountain, the silver taken from a well at Bowling Green, where a rebel had hidden it, and the gold the lodge bought. Having fought many good fights he returned to his family. His son, Cale W., met him at the Wabash, and his first words were, "I've come home to die." The fatigue and hardships of army life had proven too much, and he expired August 23, 1865, about six days after his return. But "the hours of pain have yielded good Which prosperous days refused; As herbs, though scentless when entire, Spread fragrance when they're bruised," And out of the pain and death of him and thousands of other braves came the perpetuity of a great government. Mr. Waterman was married in Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Lucretia Meredith, who died two years after marriage. He next married, in 1837, Pamelia Hosford, of Eugene, Indiana. She was born in Vermont in 1815, and died in October 1870. Mr. And Mrs. Waterman were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was an enthusiastic republican, and an abettor of all school and progressive movements. In the family were seven children: Cale W., Robert, Milo H., Benjamin C., Elizabeth, and Emily; Mary A. (deceased). Three sons were also in the civil war. Robert enlisted in Co. A, 31st Ind., as private, and became a captain. He was severely wounded in the neck and body at Franklin, Tennessee. Milo H. Served in Co. E, 116th Ind., six months, then in Co. I, 149th Ind., in which he became sergeant. Benjamin, too young to enlist accompanied his father. Cale W., now owner of thehome property, was born December 14, 1839, in Eugene. He was married in 1861, to Edmonia McCormick, daughter of David and Mary McCormick. She was born in Cabell county, Virginia, July 30, 1836. After marriage Mr. Waterman took charge of his father's business till 1867, when he settled the estate. He then spent seven years in the dry-goods business at Eugene, then occupied the home farm, which he owns. He deals largely in stock, and is also engaged in railroad extension. In politics he was a warm republican till 1876, when he espoused the greenback doctrine. Mrs. Waterman is a member of the Baptist church. They have six children.