The Teets Family
NOTE: The correct spelling
of this family name is "TEETS"
The transcription below has the name spelled TETES, due to the original newspaper article, having the name spelled incorrectly, and the transcription is from the original newspaper.
The article is sent to me by: M. E. SORENSEN, a great granddaughter of Benjamin Teets.
The transcription below has the name spelled TETES, due to the original newspaper article, having the name spelled incorrectly, and the transcription is from the original newspaper.
The article is sent to me by: M. E. SORENSEN, a great granddaughter of Benjamin Teets.
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1906.
NINETY EIGHT YEAR OLD MAN TELLS
STORY OF EXCITING DAYS
______________________________________________________________
Benjamin Tetes, Born in
1808, and Now Living in Seventh Ward,
Yonkers, Relates Events
Yonkers, Relates Events
Bronxville, April 18.—"You people don’t know me." This
is what aged Benjamin Tetes,
one of the oldest men in Westchester county, and the man who in his shop on Canal street,
New York, many years ago, was the first one to solder the first instruments of Samuel F. B.
Morse, said to an Argus representative in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Peter Biddle, on
Swain street, Seventh ward, Yonkers, yesterday afternoon. His son, Benjamin Franklin Tetes,
ran for the governorship of South Dakota in 1904.
Mr. Tetes has led a strenuous life in his day. He said yesterday: "I have been one
of the most active men in New York city. I have been foreman of four different establishments
and have earned five dollars a day." Mr. Tetes, in the summer of ’61, after the war broke out,
had a number of harrowing experiences with his neighbors in Stoddard county, Missouri, all
because his neighbors were Southerners and he was a staunch friend of the North. The result
was, as everyone might expect; his home was made a fiery furnace for him in more than one
respect. He was chased three times by bloodhounds, swam a river as many times, and was finally
captured and taken to the rebel lines, where he was paroled. He had been threatened with
hanging, but escaped this.
The story of those thrilling days was told in an interesting manner by Mrs. Biddle,
Mr. Tete’s daughter. She said that her father and the family, with the exception of herself
and husband, were living on a large farm of 360 acres in Stoddard county, Missouri, about
fifty miles from the Mississippi river. When the war broke out, Mr. Tetes sided with the
North. He frequently expressed his belief in no mild manner to his neighbors and swore his
loyalty to the flag and the North. His actions and position antagonized the Southerners in
the community and he was warned to leave the locality at once or he would be strung to the
nearest tree. He stood his ground and steadfastly refused to obey the commands of his neighbors.
One morning he awoke and found attached to many of the trees in his yard notices warning him
to get out of the place at once. He was visited by a body of men who told him what would
happen to him if he did not get out quickly.
Mr. Tetes finally decided to go and left his wife and younger children behind on the
farm. As his daughter, Mrs. Biddle, and her husband were boarding at a Mr. Penney’s, about
twenty-five miles distant from the old home in Stoddard county, Mr. Tetes stopped there on his
way and told what had happened: that he had been driven out of the locality and asked them to
go and look out for the family. Mr. Biddle was at that time doing some building for a southerner
and the information was given by Mr. Tetes quietly. He then proceeded on his way to Cape
Goradeau [Girardeau] Missouri. Crossed the Mississippi river in a row boat and went on to
central Illinois, where his oldest son, Alexander Hamilton, was living.
About a week after his departure, Mr. and Mr. Biddle were warned by the Southerner
for whom Mr. Biddle was doing the building to go away. Mrs. Biddle said that, accordingly,
she and her husband left for the old homestead on horseback, she herself being a skillful
handler of horses at the time. She said that they had a terrible time traveling the distance.
On account of heavy rains, the district was flooded in many places with water and part of the
way the horses had to swim, the country was so flooded. The horses had to swim for a mile
through a flooded swamp once. They did not stay long, however, at -----------went to Centralia,
where the father had gone. When they arrived there they learned that Mr. Tetes, had returned
to his home.
It was at this time that Mr. Tetes passed through a number of harrowing experiences.
Shortly after his arrival he was discovered and was chased by the bloodhounds three different
times. He also swam the Caster river three different times. Later the men completely surrounded
the house and determining to take him prisoner, broke into the house. He was dragged out, as
well as his son Edward, and taken to the repel lines. The two became separated after their
arrival among the "rebs." The son, realizing the predicament his mother was in, as well as the
rest of the family, escaped, and at midnight came back to the old homestead. He aroused the
folks, put what things he could into a wagon, hitched a yoke of oxen to the same and drive off.
The neighbors had previously taken everything there was in the barnyard but the yoke of oxen.
The peculiar part of the journey right here was the fact that the escaped prisoner drove right
through a number of rebel soldiers on the way, stopping at watering troughs to water the oxen.
The family were finally landed in Centralia, where one of the sons and Mr. and Mrs. Biddle were.
In the meantime all hands had begun to wonder where the father was. No one knew whether
or not he had been hanged. Finally, one day, in the midst of great suspense and sorrow, he came
upon them in Centralia, very much emaciated, hungry and in rags. There was great rejoicing on
his appearance.
It seems that he had been paroled before his son Edward had escaped from the rebel lines,
and he made his way at once for Centralia. On the way he hid three days in (footnote)
Mingo Swamp,
which was then considered one of the deadliest swamps in Missouri. He had previously left a
Southern deserter on the highway, fearing capture. This act of his proved to be a wise one,
for the Southerner was captured and hung. Mr. Tetes finally emerged from the swamp, and, in
a half starved state, went to a house in Dutchtown. His shirt was torn from his back, his
trousers were in rages, and he was terribly cut and emaciated. He was a physical wreck.
The woman took great pity on him and fed him first with warm milk, realizing his condition.
He was reclothed and hid in the house until able to proceed on his way. She finally helped
him two miles north of the Union lines. After once among the Union soldiers he made his way
back to Centralia for twenty-five years, where Mr. Tetes built up a prosperous tinsmithing
business and erected a home.
Mr. Tetes was the oldest of sixteen children born to Edward and Phoebe Tetes. He first
saw the light of day August 4, 1808, in Schoharie county, N. Y., in a village not far from
Albany. He lived there until he was nineteen years old, working days and educating himself by the
firelight, when he went to Troy, where he learned the tinsmithing business. He later went into
business in Hudson, where he remained a few years. In Cambridge, N. Y., he joined himself in
holy matrimony to a young lady of Cambridge and brought into the world eight children, as follows:
Alexander Hamilton,
George Nelson,
Caroline Josephine, who is now Mrs. Peter Biddle;
Edward Coffin, now in Washington Territory;
Benjamin Franklin, now of South Dakota;
Nelson Winfield Scott,
Andrew Jackson, now of Tennessee, More about Andrew and Photos
Louisa, now Mrs. Stillman, of providence, R. I.
It will be noticed that he named his boys
after the illustrious men of the country. The two daughters and Edward, Benjamin and
Nelson Winfield, are now living. Mr. Tetes moved west before the war, where he experienced the
above mentioned experiences.
He is proud of the record of his two sons, Edward and Benjamin, in the War of the
Rebellion. Benjamin was a member of Company I, in the First Wisconsin, and on account of his
bravery in the attack on Malvern Hill was made captain. Of the hundred men in this company who
rushed up this hill he was one of the four who reached the top of it. He was corporal at the
time. The captain fell on the way up and Benjamin took his belt and sword off and led the men
the rest of the way up.
As above stated, Benjamin Tetes a member of the legislature in South Dakota and a
prominent politician.
Mr. Tetes has been bearing his years well, and even now can recall many facts of
interest. He thinks a great deal of Andrew Jackson and believes him to be one of the best
presidents this country ever had. "The country never saw such prosperity then," he says.
-------------------
NOTE:
Benjamin's wife was Sarah Ann, b. June 25, 1813 Child not mentioned is
George Washington Teets b. March 18, 1846 Mentioned in article,
George Nelson Teets, b. March 18, 1837
Phoebe Louise, possible child #8, Louisa b. June 17, 1852
BENJAMIN TEETS [Tetes] A clipping from the Daily Argus of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., under date of Dec. 10th, tells u s of the death of a former Centralian, Mr. Benjamin Teets, [Tetes], who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. J. Biddle, December 5th in his 98th year. Mr. Teets [Tetes] has always claimed that it was he who assisted Samuel b. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, in perfecting his instruments and soldered the wire together to make the first trial. A peculiar co-incidence is also mentioned in a letter from Mrs. Biddle, saying that his brother who had been missing since early in October was drowned just two hours before his death on the same day, December 5th. Many of the old time Centralians remember him here, he having come here after the close of the civil war.
The following TEETS Bio,(Son of Benjamin Tetes, in article here) can be found at CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. TEETS.
Captain Benjamin F. Teets is now living largely retired in Huron
one of the oldest men in Westchester county, and the man who in his shop on Canal street,
New York, many years ago, was the first one to solder the first instruments of Samuel F. B.
Morse, said to an Argus representative in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Peter Biddle, on
Swain street, Seventh ward, Yonkers, yesterday afternoon. His son, Benjamin Franklin Tetes,
ran for the governorship of South Dakota in 1904.
Mr. Tetes has led a strenuous life in his day. He said yesterday: "I have been one
of the most active men in New York city. I have been foreman of four different establishments
and have earned five dollars a day." Mr. Tetes, in the summer of ’61, after the war broke out,
had a number of harrowing experiences with his neighbors in Stoddard county, Missouri, all
because his neighbors were Southerners and he was a staunch friend of the North. The result
was, as everyone might expect; his home was made a fiery furnace for him in more than one
respect. He was chased three times by bloodhounds, swam a river as many times, and was finally
captured and taken to the rebel lines, where he was paroled. He had been threatened with
hanging, but escaped this.
The story of those thrilling days was told in an interesting manner by Mrs. Biddle,
Mr. Tete’s daughter. She said that her father and the family, with the exception of herself
and husband, were living on a large farm of 360 acres in Stoddard county, Missouri, about
fifty miles from the Mississippi river. When the war broke out, Mr. Tetes sided with the
North. He frequently expressed his belief in no mild manner to his neighbors and swore his
loyalty to the flag and the North. His actions and position antagonized the Southerners in
the community and he was warned to leave the locality at once or he would be strung to the
nearest tree. He stood his ground and steadfastly refused to obey the commands of his neighbors.
One morning he awoke and found attached to many of the trees in his yard notices warning him
to get out of the place at once. He was visited by a body of men who told him what would
happen to him if he did not get out quickly.
Mr. Tetes finally decided to go and left his wife and younger children behind on the
farm. As his daughter, Mrs. Biddle, and her husband were boarding at a Mr. Penney’s, about
twenty-five miles distant from the old home in Stoddard county, Mr. Tetes stopped there on his
way and told what had happened: that he had been driven out of the locality and asked them to
go and look out for the family. Mr. Biddle was at that time doing some building for a southerner
and the information was given by Mr. Tetes quietly. He then proceeded on his way to Cape
Goradeau [Girardeau] Missouri. Crossed the Mississippi river in a row boat and went on to
central Illinois, where his oldest son, Alexander Hamilton, was living.
About a week after his departure, Mr. and Mr. Biddle were warned by the Southerner
for whom Mr. Biddle was doing the building to go away. Mrs. Biddle said that, accordingly,
she and her husband left for the old homestead on horseback, she herself being a skillful
handler of horses at the time. She said that they had a terrible time traveling the distance.
On account of heavy rains, the district was flooded in many places with water and part of the
way the horses had to swim, the country was so flooded. The horses had to swim for a mile
through a flooded swamp once. They did not stay long, however, at -----------went to Centralia,
where the father had gone. When they arrived there they learned that Mr. Tetes, had returned
to his home.
It was at this time that Mr. Tetes passed through a number of harrowing experiences.
Shortly after his arrival he was discovered and was chased by the bloodhounds three different
times. He also swam the Caster river three different times. Later the men completely surrounded
the house and determining to take him prisoner, broke into the house. He was dragged out, as
well as his son Edward, and taken to the repel lines. The two became separated after their
arrival among the "rebs." The son, realizing the predicament his mother was in, as well as the
rest of the family, escaped, and at midnight came back to the old homestead. He aroused the
folks, put what things he could into a wagon, hitched a yoke of oxen to the same and drive off.
The neighbors had previously taken everything there was in the barnyard but the yoke of oxen.
The peculiar part of the journey right here was the fact that the escaped prisoner drove right
through a number of rebel soldiers on the way, stopping at watering troughs to water the oxen.
The family were finally landed in Centralia, where one of the sons and Mr. and Mrs. Biddle were.
In the meantime all hands had begun to wonder where the father was. No one knew whether
or not he had been hanged. Finally, one day, in the midst of great suspense and sorrow, he came
upon them in Centralia, very much emaciated, hungry and in rags. There was great rejoicing on
his appearance.
It seems that he had been paroled before his son Edward had escaped from the rebel lines,
and he made his way at once for Centralia. On the way he hid three days in (footnote)
Mingo Swamp,
which was then considered one of the deadliest swamps in Missouri. He had previously left a
Southern deserter on the highway, fearing capture. This act of his proved to be a wise one,
for the Southerner was captured and hung. Mr. Tetes finally emerged from the swamp, and, in
a half starved state, went to a house in Dutchtown. His shirt was torn from his back, his
trousers were in rages, and he was terribly cut and emaciated. He was a physical wreck.
The woman took great pity on him and fed him first with warm milk, realizing his condition.
He was reclothed and hid in the house until able to proceed on his way. She finally helped
him two miles north of the Union lines. After once among the Union soldiers he made his way
back to Centralia for twenty-five years, where Mr. Tetes built up a prosperous tinsmithing
business and erected a home.
Mr. Tetes was the oldest of sixteen children born to Edward and Phoebe Tetes. He first
saw the light of day August 4, 1808, in Schoharie county, N. Y., in a village not far from
Albany. He lived there until he was nineteen years old, working days and educating himself by the
firelight, when he went to Troy, where he learned the tinsmithing business. He later went into
business in Hudson, where he remained a few years. In Cambridge, N. Y., he joined himself in
holy matrimony to a young lady of Cambridge and brought into the world eight children, as follows:
Alexander Hamilton,
George Nelson,
Caroline Josephine, who is now Mrs. Peter Biddle;
Edward Coffin, now in Washington Territory;
Benjamin Franklin, now of South Dakota;
Nelson Winfield Scott,
Andrew Jackson, now of Tennessee, More about Andrew and Photos
Louisa, now Mrs. Stillman, of providence, R. I.
It will be noticed that he named his boys
after the illustrious men of the country. The two daughters and Edward, Benjamin and
Nelson Winfield, are now living. Mr. Tetes moved west before the war, where he experienced the
above mentioned experiences.
He is proud of the record of his two sons, Edward and Benjamin, in the War of the
Rebellion. Benjamin was a member of Company I, in the First Wisconsin, and on account of his
bravery in the attack on Malvern Hill was made captain. Of the hundred men in this company who
rushed up this hill he was one of the four who reached the top of it. He was corporal at the
time. The captain fell on the way up and Benjamin took his belt and sword off and led the men
the rest of the way up.
As above stated, Benjamin Tetes a member of the legislature in South Dakota and a
prominent politician.
Mr. Tetes has been bearing his years well, and even now can recall many facts of
interest. He thinks a great deal of Andrew Jackson and believes him to be one of the best
presidents this country ever had. "The country never saw such prosperity then," he says.
-------------------
NOTE:
Benjamin's wife was Sarah Ann, b. June 25, 1813 Child not mentioned is
George Washington Teets b. March 18, 1846 Mentioned in article,
George Nelson Teets, b. March 18, 1837
Phoebe Louise, possible child #8, Louisa b. June 17, 1852
BENJAMIN TEETS [Tetes] A clipping from the Daily Argus of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., under date of Dec. 10th, tells u s of the death of a former Centralian, Mr. Benjamin Teets, [Tetes], who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. J. Biddle, December 5th in his 98th year. Mr. Teets [Tetes] has always claimed that it was he who assisted Samuel b. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, in perfecting his instruments and soldered the wire together to make the first trial. A peculiar co-incidence is also mentioned in a letter from Mrs. Biddle, saying that his brother who had been missing since early in October was drowned just two hours before his death on the same day, December 5th. Many of the old time Centralians remember him here, he having come here after the close of the civil war.
The following TEETS Bio,(Son of Benjamin Tetes, in article here) can be found at CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. TEETS.
Captain Benjamin F. Teets is now living largely retired in Huron
More about Andrew, with
photographs
Submitted by Mary Elizabeth Sorensen, great grandchild of Benjamin Tetes.
Mary, sent me a copy of the actual newspaper clipping, from which I, Mary A. Hudson transcribed the above.
The foot note is from my knowledge of the area.
Footnote: 07/04/00 Mingo Swamp, is still in existence
Mingo Swamp, located in Wayne and Stoddard Counties is a
National Wildlife Refuge.
Submitted by Mary Elizabeth Sorensen, great grandchild of Benjamin Tetes.
Mary, sent me a copy of the actual newspaper clipping, from which I, Mary A. Hudson transcribed the above.
The foot note is from my knowledge of the area.
Footnote: 07/04/00 Mingo Swamp, is still in existence
Mingo Swamp, located in Wayne and Stoddard Counties is a
National Wildlife Refuge.