Vigo County Historical Society

Sanford man helped Capt. Eli Lilly raise 18th Indiana Battery

The pistol featured as this week’s Historical Treasure was used in the Civil War by William B. Rippetoe and given to the Vigo County Historical Museum by his great-grandson, David C. Mitchell of Cincinnati.

William 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 into military service 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, 1864, 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 Hudson 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, the mother of the donor.

On the pistol, a Smith and Wesson, patent dates are 1855, 1859 and 1862.

On Saturday and Sunday, July 17 and 18, when the Vigo County Historical Society presents Civil War Days, "The Making of a Soldier" on the museum grounds, the pistol and many other items dating from the battle and time period will be on display.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.