Old Soldiers
By Harold D. Gingerich
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.
Those famous words from retiring General Douglas MacArthur before
a joint session of Congress in 1951, describe the fate of many of those
from this community who served in the cause for freedom.
While their memories live on in
the heart of family and friends, their
commitment, courage, and sacrifice all too quickly fades from the
public’s mind. Today, if we were to
ask people, “Who was Walter Denny,
Jonathan E. Yoder, Louise Marshall,
Waldo Seagly, Phil Spreuer, William
S. Price, or Kenny Frain?” few would
know. Yet these people, along with
countless others, put their lives
on the line in the service of this
country.
Revolutionary War
Walter Denny was a true hero
of both the Revolutionary War and
the War of 1812. According to the
LaGrange County Centennial 18281928 History, Walter Denny settled
in Hawpatch (Topeka) in 1837 along
with his son, Dr. John Denny, in
Section 35 of Eden Township. They
purchased 160 acres of virgin forest
from Robert Latta for $600. It is said
that the trees were so numerous that
it was difficult to drive a horse and
wagon between them. Today, what
was the Denny farm would be two
miles west of Topeka on State Road
5 and half a mile south near CR 750
South. The LaGrange County History also states that Denny spent
the winter with George Washington
at Valley Forge and was a part of the
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memorable crossing of the Delaware.
The Pennsylvania Archives record
that Walter Denny was a Captain of
the 7th Company, 2nd Battalion of the
Cumberland County Militia in 1777
under the command of a Colonel Davis.
Then as a private in the 5th Company,
2nd Battalion, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, on September 10, 1781,
he was cited for bravery and commissioned as a Captain at Yorktown. He
also served in the War of 1812 and was
cited for bravery at Harrisburg, PA,
on March 29, 1814. Walter Denny was
indeed a twice decorated war hero.
Walter Denny was born on March
3, 1756, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Elizabeth
McConnell (1761-1820). Elizabeth died
in Preble, Ohio. It’s not clear how or if
she was related to William McConnell
who was one of the early settlers of
Eden Township, but that might help to
explain why the Denny family decided
to settle in this area. Walter Denny
died on March
31, 1842, at the
age of 91 and
was buried in the
Jackson Cemetery in Elkhart
County on “the
old trail” (U.S.
33) near Benton,
Indiana.
Civil War
There were many who served in
the Civil War from this area. One
was Jonathan E. Yoder. Yoder came
into the war late, but had a significant role in the life of Topeka. He
was a substitute who joined Company G, 142nd Regiment, and Indiana
Volunteer Infantry on October 4,
1864, as a private. Since the draft
was not popular, it was possible to
pay someone to take your place. The
average substitute was paid about
$300. Whose place he took is still a
mystery.
On June 28th of 1865 he was
mustered out. Filing for his pension on June 15, 1888 (# 897,930),
Yoder received a monthly allotment
of $12.00. He died on November
2, 1922, and is buried in the Maple
Grove Cemetery west of Topeka on
the county line.
Jonathan’s wife, Rebecca, was a