Vigo County Historical Society

Weapons date back to 1860s

Two weapons, a sword and pistol that were used in the Civil Way by William B. Rippetoe, were recently given to the Vigo County Historical Society by his great-grandson, David C. Mitchell of Cincinnati. Mitchell also supplied background information about his ancestor.

William B. Rippetoe was born in a log cabin in 1840 in Sanford, on the state line between Indiana and Illinois. The family moved to Indiana in 1832 and at age 27, William became a minister.

On April 14, 1861, he enlisted from Old Asbury College, now known as DePauw University, and was in the Asbury Guards, Company I, 16th Infantry. After 13 months, he was discharged and returned to Terre Haute. Later, he helped Capt. Eli Lilly raise the 18th Indiana Battery and secured enough men to be commissioned a second lieutenant. He was discharged July 3, 1865 as a first lieutenant and returned to Asbury in 1865.

The army took Lt. Rippetoe into several areas of battle. Outstanding among them was the June 24, 1863 Chattanooga campaign culminating in the Battle of Chickamauga Sept. 21, 1863.

After the Civil War, Rippetoe was persuaded by Bishop Simpson to go to Tennessee as a circuit rider. It was there that he married Mary Anne Houston on Dec. 21, 1871. He remained there until the fall of 1901 when he was transferred to the conference of northwest Indiana. He died in 1932 and is buried in Highland Cemetery.

At the time of his death, five of his children were living in Terre Haute. They were Kate Rippetoe Shepperd, Lucy Rippetoe Coffman, Blanche Rippetoe, Carroll Rippetoe and Gladys Rippetoe Mitchell, who was the mother of the donor.

On the pistol, a Smith and Wesson, patent dates are 1855, 1859 and 1862. The sword, with handle, is 39 inches in length. The filigree below the handle has an eagle worked into the design. The blade is Solingen steel, a German steel known for its fine edge. These items can be seen in the museum’s Military Room.