John Small (American soldier)
John Small (1759-1821) was an Irish immigrant to Pennsylvania who served in the American Revolutionary War. After the war, he served as Sheriff of Knox County, Indiana, as a territorial legislator, and as Indiana Territory's first Adjutant General.[1]
Biography
Small immigrated to Pennsylvania with his family and began an apprenticeship as a gunsmith.[2] He served as a militia soldier at Fort Pitt during the American Revolutionary War. After the war, in 1785, Small relocated to Vincennes, Indiana.[3] He became an officer in the local militia, and participated in the 1786 Battle of the Embarras River.[4] Small also corresponded with George Rogers Clark that same year, and petitioned for military aid from Kentucky.[5]
Small worked as a gunsmith, merchant, and tavern owner. Smith was appointed sheriff on 4 July 1790, and the tavern was used as the first Knox County Courthouse.[2][6] Small was a representative for Knox County to the Northwest Territory Legislature in 1799. In 1800, Small was appointed as Indiana Territory's first Adjutant General under territorial Governor William Henry Harrison,[2] and given the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[7] He held this office for over a decade, including the Battle of Tippecanoe, but stepped down with Governor Harrison during the War of 1812.[8]
John Small's tavern temporarily housed the Indiana Territorial Legislature in 1813.[9]
Rifles
- The Indiana State Museum houses a John Small flintlock rifle owned by James Girty, brother of Simon Girty.[3] The state museum collection also includes a tomahawk pipe made by John Small.[10]
- One of Small's rifles is on display at William Henry Harrison's territorial governor's home, Grouseland. This "Grouseland Rifle" was later converted to a percussion cap, and was designated as the official state rifle of Indiana.[9]
- It is believed that William Clark carried a John Small rifle during his expedition to the Pacific.[3]
References
- ↑ Lowry, Jeff (Summer 2015). "Hoosier Adjutants General". Indiana Guardsman. Indiana National Guard. p. 14. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Grouseland Rifle Crafted by First Indiana Sheriff Designated Official State Rifle". Whig Rose Journal Weblog of William Henry Harrison's Grouseland. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- 1 2 3 "James Girty Flintlock". Indianapolis: Indiana State Museum. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ↑ Day, Richard. "Daniel Sullivan, Frontiersman and Adventurer". National Park Service. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ↑ Helderman, Leonard C. (Ed). "Danger on the Wabash. Vincennes Letters of 1786". Indiana Magazine of History. Bloomington: Indiana University. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ↑ Cauthorn, Henry S (1901). A History of the City of Vincennes, Indiana. From 1702-1901. (PDF). Cleveland: The Arther H. Clark Company. p. 48.
- ↑ A History of the National Guard of Indiana. Indianapolis: W.D. Pratt. 1901. p. 12.
- ↑ A History of the National Guard of Indiana. Indianapolis: W.D. Pratt. 1901. p. 39.
- 1 2 Carden, Dan (8 February 2012). "Senate panel votes to make historic rifle Indiana's official gun". Times Media Company. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ↑ "Presentation Pipe-Tomahawk". Indianapolis: Indiana State Museum.