SURVIVORS OF THE WAR OF 1812

Waverly in her eary days had two survivors of the the war of 1812, in the persons of Ira Sturdevant and Manassah Reeves, who were always accorded the place of honor on all public occasions. They were sturdy and solid men, who were looked upon as worthy of any honor that the younger generation could pay them. The first time I saw them they were on the platform with the officers on the Fourth of July, 1856, of which I have written in a former letter. As I gazed upon their determined faces and quiet manners, I felt myself to be in the presence of men who deserved the honor of a nation and of all people. It welled up in me that I would like to have a chance to do what they had done—defend the flag of our country—never dreaming that the day was not five years away when such as I would be called upon to do so, and even in a far ore desperate war than the one in which they had participated. I had the chance, and I got enough out of it to satisfy me for life. I believe that both these men are buried in Harlington cemetery, and also a third one, whose name is Smith. I never knew him or anything about his family or service, other than a general report. Reeves and Sturdevant left a posterity of the best people of Bremer county.

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