Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 71, 1897

In these piping days of peace when the world is undergoing a most beautiful and pleasing tranquility, the allusion to any warlike instrument of ancient or modern times sets our people shaking, their knees to quaking and their teeth chattering. The tire of the late rebellion has burned out, yet in the ashes rest embers, when uncovered and brought into contact with the buoyant air bring back to life the memory of the unhappy days of '61.

To speak of them seems to bring back the flash of youth and valor to the old veteran's eye. There is now mouldering in the archives of Madison county an old, musty paper, that to read it brings back those scenes of strife and bloodshed. It tells the story of the ones who were willing to uniform, arm and equip themselves and guard the interests of those left at home, while the boys in blue were tearing down the ramparts of rebellion in the front. It tells how the brave men gathered themselves together and swore to defend themselves and tiieir homes against their warlike enemies who threatened the country at that time with war and bloodshed.

The document referred to is the muster roll of the " Greene Township Rangers." A glance over the list will be sufficient evidence to the reader of the warlike and ferocious disposition of many of its members. Whilst many of those whose names are attached to the paper afterwards attached themselves to military organizations and became real live soldiers, and displayed their valor on many of the battle fields of the South, there are many who never became other than the " Greene Township Rangers."

The organization of this company was at the first of the war and many went into it as much through a desire to belong to a military company for the name of the thing as any other. But afterwards war became a serious matter. The country needed soldiers for service rather than dress parade. Many of them went to the front, leaving the "Greene Township Rangers" behind. Some of them returned and are yet living in Madison county ; some sleep in graves unmarked in unknown spots, and while their bodies are mouldering to mother earth their souls are marching on. Their memory is perpetuated by the muster rolls of the Nation's military archives. While the roster at the national capitol will serve to keep green the memory of those brave boys as soldiers for the defense of the Union, this old, musty paper in the court house of Madison county will still be a silent witness to their deeds as " Greene Township Rangers." Here it is verbatim :

" We, whose names are hereto subscribed, being citizens and residents of the State of Indiana, hereby agree to form ourselves into a volunteer militia company in the Indiana Legion, under the provisions of an 'Act for the Organization and Regulation of the Indiana Militia,' &c. Approved May 11th, 1861, to be called Greene Township Rangers.

"And we heieby severally agree to uniform ourselves in accordance with the requirements of said law, and organize the said company at Bock's mills in ]Madison county without delay :

" We, the nndersigned, undertake and bind ourselves as security for the ' Greene Township Rangers," a volunteer militia company in the Indiana Legion, organized under the provision of the ' Act for the Organization and Regulation of the Indiana Militia,' &c. Approved May 11, 18G1, that each

Some time after the civil war ended there moved into Madison county from the mountains of Virginia a family by the name of Summers. They settled in Greene township, in the George Shaul neighborhood, where some of them yet reside. Prominent amopg the family was one calling himself Doctor Summers. Whether he was ever a doctor and read medicine or not, he rode astride of a pair of pill-bags and made the people believe he was a doctor from "away back." He was a "holy terror" to the family as well as to some of the rest of the human family who lived down in that neck of the woods.

He had a temper like a hand-saw and when enraged was a regular hyena. No one dared to cross his path - mother, sister or brother. He was liable to "do them up" if they came in his way. He always carried a "gun," well loaded, and was fond of blowing and bluffing about what he would do. While he never started a graveyard down there, there were several people, among whom were some of his relatives, who would have been glad if his "gun" had gone off and killed him. He was on several occasions brought into court for assault and battery and other depredations done among his own folks. They were nearly always at law with him.

One time he was indicted for some offense against the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana. The warrant was placed in the hands of A. C. Davis, who was the deputy sheriff of Madi.son county, to bring the offender into court. By some means the old doctor had an inkling that the officers were on his trail. He fortified himself ready for their arrival, and prepared to give them a warm reception. Davis and an assistant arrived at the scene of the conflict about 10 o'clock A. M., where they found the Doctor in the saddle, a large pair of saddlebags under him. a carbine strapped on either side of his saddle ; his horse prancing up and down the road champing

"You had better get down off that horse and behave yourself, or you may have serious trouble, my old friend," remarked Davis, keeping very cool. He replied: "I am from the mountains of Virginia, and I don't intend for you or any other d - d 'Klu Klux' to arrest me. I am a bad man and dangerous to fool with," riding ofl'up the road away from the deputy sheriff, raising his hat and flourishing his revolvers over his head. He thought he had bluffed Davis out, as he had often done his neighbors. Davis took after him and gave him a chase. Finally coming up with him, Davis leveled a " Smith & Wesson" on him and demanded his surrender. As soon as he saw that Davis meant business, he wilted and acted the baby, begging not to be taken to town, offering to do anything required of him if left out of jail. No one around would go his bail, so Davis started to Anderson with him when he met O. B. Shaul, who took pity on the old doctor and bailed him out. When time for trial came around the Doctor v^'as on hand and took a tantrum in court and tried to bulldoze everybody around, but Judge Craven soon silenced him by ordering him to desist or go to jail.

He met his match when Deputy Sheriff Davis tackled him. His Klu Klux combination would not work on Davis, and he was glad to get off on any terms. He left here and went back to Virginia several years ago.