Person:Carey Toney (1)

Reprinted in Palladium Item - June 2, 1941 Page 12 col. 3 Richmond -1840-1841

Carey Toney Recounts Tales of War History at Age of 101

In July 1858, the editor of the Eaton (Ohio) Democrat was visiting in the western part of Preble County and met Carey Toney, who then was almost 101 years of age. The editor, L.G. Gould, interviewed Mr. Toney and published an article in his paper on July 22, 1858.

The text of that interview follows.

While in the western part of our county on Friday last, we had the pleasure of conversation with an aged gentleman, whom we think we are quiet sure in recording, as perhaps, the last surviving hero of the celebrated siege of Yorktown.

One by one have fallen the patriots and warriors of the early days of our republic, and mingled with their mother earth, whilst he alone of all that mighty host is left to tell us, as an eye witness, of the fearful struggles, sanguinary conflicts, patriotism and devotion, that characterized and produced our national existence.

Carey Toney, the subject of this notice, was born in Buckingham County, Va., on the third of October, 1757, and will therefore be on the third day of October, 1858 101 years of age. He joined the American army in the revolution; passed through several campaigns; was present and took an active part in the siege of Yorktown; was an eye witness to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781; saw General Washington and Lafayette a great number of times during the siege; recollects and describes the personal appearance of Lord Cornwallis, his staff, etc.

On the tenth day of August, 1782, he was married to Miss. Elizabeth Doren of Bedford County, Va. in which county she was born on the fourth of July, 1761. Mr. Toney continued to reside in the state of Virginia until the year 1819, at which time he emigrated to the Township of Dixon in this county (Preble), where he has lived ever since.

In the year 1820, himself and wife, united them selves to the Christian church, and have continued exemplary and pious members of the same to the present day. They have lived happily and pleasantly together as husband and wife for the period of 76 years - had 10 children, nine sons and one daughter - and now living 60 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Toney is now in her ninety-seventh year, walks glibly about the house and retains her memory remarkably well; and in her general deportment seems to be sprite and happy , and to all appearances enjoys the green old age of her life with a good deal of vest and contentment.

Father of Country

Truly, this is a case wherein it may be said without fiction, "Here is a father and mother of our country".

Mr. Toney is a man something over 6 feet in height, and has weighed well over 200 pounds - straight and well proportioned with a physical constitution sufficiently powerful to resist and overcome almost everything, excepting the ravages of time. He has been sick but little during his long and eventful life, which may perhaps, account to some extent, for his great retention of memory.

His sense of hearing, however, for the past few years has been giving away to some extent, which renders conversation with him somewhat difficult. But on comparing his statements of revolutionary incidents with authentic history of the times, we are satisfied with his memory in the main is unimpaired and his statements correct.

He has voted at all the presidential elections from the beginning of the republic to the present day, a thing which we much doubt no other man in America can boast as having done. He informed us he had voted for the following persons for president of the United States to-wit: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison, John Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Harrison, Henry Clay, Zachary Taylor, Franklin Pierce, and J. C. Fremont.

He has had naturally a strong and sagacious mind with an in flexible will, added to great powers of execution, but like many others in the early days of this country, he was deprived of a proper and efficient literary education. We conversed with him considerably in relation to the times, etc. of his youth and his memory upon all these points seemed to be vivid and fresh.

Conversed With Washington

He stated he had seen and conversed with General George Washington at various times - described his dress, personal appearance, etc. - that he was a large man, rather rough featured, etc., but that he was the most kind and noble hearted man he ever knew. He spoke also of seeing at Yorktown and other places a number of other officers and men whose names are familiar in the history of our country.

And among other things related the circumstances, well known in the history of the Revolution, of Washington causing letters to be written just prior to the capture of Lord Cornwallis, pretending they were for General Greene, and allowing them, as if by accident, to fall into the hands of the commander of the British troops in New York, who thereupon became so much alarmed at their contents, that he immediately commenced fortifying the city, expecting an attack from General Washington, that Washington, taking advantage of Clinton's perplexity, put off south with his army with all possible speed dispatch, to assist in the capture of Cornwallis, that Clinton did not learn his mistake until Washington had been gone about eight days and until it was entirely too late to render Cornwallis any assistance.

The old gentleman seemed to enjoy the maneuver with infinite relish, and spoke of it as being thought at that time, by General Washington, a very brilliant stoke of military genius. He is now in the enjoyment of tolerable good health, and last fall walked five miles to visit his daughter.

Pen-Inspiring

Taking it all in all, we think this is the most remarkable couple now living in the state of Ohio, or in the United States of America. The long interesting life of Mr. Toney furnished a fitting theme from which a pen might draw an infinite number of interesting and soul-stirring conclusions.

But a mere publication of the facts in the case is all we feel able or competent to do, leaving to our readers the task of framing the conclusions, as to their own minds shall appear most proper and correct. Yet whilst sitting by his side, and attentively listening to his narrative of the circumstances and events of ancient days was resurrected and giving to us as our eye witness, a faithful narrative of times and circumstances which hereto we had existed only in history and song.

For one moment, in order to better view the subject, roll back for 100 years the enormous tide of civilization with all its concomitant adjuncts that has had and does now crown and embellish our country, and you see him a little boy , a native born subject of the king of Great Britain, living in one of his colonies in the wild woods of America, owing his protection, peace and security, civilly, to the British crown, no one had yet dreamed of the mighty government, varied laws, and the multiplied thousands of institutions that now assign to us so honorable a position in the ranks of nations - a few more years, and you find him at risk of his life, reputation and fortune, actively engaged in the great struggle of independence, which is forever to tear him away from his mother country, and give him freedom or to fetter her for all time to come in endless slavery.

His effort is successful, and after a long and bloody war his country is declared free - he beats his sword into a plough-share and retires from the dripping fields of Yorktown into the shades of quite and peaceful life with a new name, a new country, and civilly speaking, a new condition in life. He has seen take place with his own eye, the identical incidents that have exhausted the descriptive powers of a thousand writers.

He has seen America when she contained but 13 colonies and 3,000,000 human beings. He saw America when her civilization and improvements was confined entirely to our eastern seaboard and he now sees her with her giant arms of civilization, improvement, and refinement, extending from ocean to ocean, and her cities and villages crowning every hill in the world.

Saw Birth of Nation

He has seen America with his own eye in every stage of her existence; from her infancy to her majority and in the language of the immortal Webster, "he still lives." Who then but will say, that his life has been an eventful one and a fit subject for serious contemplation. But he is fast passing down the uncertain current of time, and he will be gathered to his fathers. May his latter days be as peaceful and happy as his former ones have been many and glorious - And

"When all his troubles on earth are o'er, And death at last shall bid him, Let the lashing waves of the ocean roar A patriot's gone home."

Poindexter Toney (twin brother of Carey), son of William and Margaret Sutherland Toney, was born in 1763 in Buckingham County, VA, and died in 1835 in Kanawha County, (W)VA. He is buried at the Old Toney Cemetery at Toney's Branch on Big Coal River. His brothers and sisters were: John, William, Edmund, Carey (mentioned above), Harrison, James, Jesse, Averille (Eva), Rebecca, Susannah, and Hannah.

Poindexter was one of the first settlers in Boone County and made his living at farming, lumber, salt, coal mines, and ginseng. His first wife, Mary Rawson, and children are presumed to have been killed in an Indian raid at Toney's Branch while the Toney Clan were off at ginseng root camps in the mountains. There is little or no information on that family.

Poindexter married second Jane Lilly in 1797. They had twelve children, Frances, Mary, James, Carey, Robert, Margaret, Harvey, Jane, Poindexter, Adam, Jesse, and Nancy. This Poindexter Toney is my great-great grandfather.

His son, Robert, is my great grandfather. Robert Sr. was born in 1810 in Kanawha County, (W) VA and died in 1890 in Boone County, WV. Robert married Penadamania Alvina Foster in 1836. They had twelve children: Jane, Poindexter, Nancy, Thomas, Carey, Mary, Frances, Leftridge, James, Robert, Marcus, and Penadamania (Penny). His first wife died in 1854 and in 1860 he married Mary Helen Wilson Lavette. They had no children. They lived at the mouth of Toney's Branch at Bloomingrose. At one time their property was raided during the Civil War by Yankee sympathizers.

Their tenth child, Robert Toney Jr., my grandfather, was born in 1850 at Racine, (W)VA. He died in 1922. Robert married Margaret Susan Midkiff in 1875. They had thirteen children, Samuel, Robert Poindexter, William, Richard, Maude Ann, Izora, Jesse, James, and Hillard. Their other five sons (including a set of twins) died at birth. Robert Jr. raised his family on a farm between Maxine and Bloomingrose along Big Coal River in Boone County, WV. Their thirteenth child, Hillard, is my father. He married Nelda Neri in 1930. They have two daughters, Clara and Georgia. As of 1990 Hillard and Nelda live at Nellis, WV. Submitted by. Clara Toney Dinalko, 608 Carmelott Street, N. Huntingdon, PA 15642

Almeeta Toney Rinehart--gggranddaughter of Carey and Elizabeth: Josiah received his education in the common school of his neighborhood. At age 20 he worked as a farm hand. After marriage he and Almeeta lived near Connersville, Indiana, on a farm with his father-in-law. In the Spring of 1892, he settled on a farm of 160 acres, in Dixon Twp., Preble county, Ohio. Almeeta received her common school education in the Railsback school near her home. She enjoyed piecing quilts, quilting and crocheting. The farm was given to Almeeta by her father. Her great-great grandparents, Carey and Elizabeth Doran Toney, came to Preble County from Virginia in 1819. They had been living in Kanawah County, Va. now W.VA/ Carey served 6 months in the Rev. War at Yorktown, Va. (Source: Elma Henning -- Ulrich Rinehart Family and Descendants 1704-1985 page 210)

Giles County Marriage Bonds

"Know all men by these presents that we Carey Toney and Thomas Slone are held and firmly bound unto Beverly Randolph, Esq. Governor of Cheafe Magestrate for the State of Virginia in the just and full sum of Fifty Pounds courant money to which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves and each of ours and each of our heirs, excrs. administrators of assigns, jointly and sverally firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dayted this 27 day of August 1789.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a Certain Marriage shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound Carey Toney and Bettsy Doron. Now is there no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage thin the above obligation be void or else to remain full force power and virtue. witness: Carey Toney (seal) Thomas Slone (seal)

Sir; Please to let Cary Toney have license to be married to my daughter Betsey and oblidge. your most ob'd Harkman Doron

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Elma Henning & Merle Rummel, The Toney Family History (: Higginson Book Company, 1979)
   146.