Page 28 - MFM Aug Sept 2019

Four Firsts for a Modest Hero

From the Autobiography of Paris Swazy Pfouts (Part 1)
Reid Gardiner, RW Grand Secretary Emeritus

carried her upon his back with great decorum,
Continued from the July 2019 Issue but once in a long while he would amuse himself
at her expense - never trying to throw her from
Chapter 2 (continued) the saddle, but would indulge in pranks out of
sheer mischief and seemingly to frighten her.
At one time my father was the most noted fox
hunter in Ohio, and his large pack of hounds One Sunday she attempted to ride him, in
embraced the very best varieties and noted company of others, several miles to attend
breeds that could be procured in the country. church, but that old horse determined to have
So many dogs around the house was often a his sport that day, and would take the road at
source of annoyance to my mother, and she has his topmost speed, shake his mane and snort,
frequently told me that the cost to my father and then prance back to where the others had
of feeding and taking care of them was greater stopped in utter consternation at his mad break.
than all his family expenses. Two or three times my mother got down from
the saddle and my father would mount him,
It was his pleasure often to invite his friends
to his house, and pass weeks in the exciting when he would become perfectly staid and
sport of fox hunting. Among the many lovers of Paris Swazy Pfouts quiet in his place. It was an hour or two before
the chase, who two or three times a year visited my father’s his playful mood wore off when he conducted
house at the mill to indulge their passion for fox hunting, were himself in all respects as become a lady’s riding horse.
General David A. Starkweather of Canton, and Dr. Hiram My sisters, Rebecca and Helen, as well as myself attempted
Shaff er, afterwards a Presiding Elder in the Methodist church. our fi rst equestrian feats on the broad back of this horse,
and my brother William, when but a small boy, took his fi rst
On these occasions many gentlemen of the neighborhood
laid aside their farm duties and joined the merry hunters, and lessons in horsemanship on the same noble old animal. My
it was not unusual to see twenty of more gallant horsemen, father never parted with him, and while the horse lived, he
riding wildly in the wake of the fox and hounds, as they held was always our family horse. He died at the age of twenty-nine
steadily on their course through thicket and mire, and only year in Mt. Eaton and my father had him conveyed to a corner
drew in when night spread her sable mantle over wood and of his fame and buried.
fi eld and admonished them to seek food, rest and shelter for It was in the year 1830 that my father determined to sell
themselves and tired steeds. the farm and mill and change his occupation in life. At that
time, he had a contract for carrying the United States mail
On military parades, and when hunting, father always
rode his favorite horse, I well remember this horse. My and owned a line of states running between Steubenville and
father bought him when a colt, before father’s marriage with Wooster in Ohio.
my mother. He was black as Cole, without a white hair on Early in the year 1831, he relinquished possession of the
his body, and withal was of fi ne form, elegant carriage and mill and farm, where he had passed many of the happiest
graceful in his movements. years of his life, and around which clustered so may pleasant
associations, and moved to the little village of Hagerstown, in
In his younger day my father had great confi dence in the
racing qualities of this horse, and often tried his limb and Harrison County. There he remained but two weeks, during
muscle in a contest of speed with other horses, but never which time he sold his contract for carrying mail, together
wagered money on the result. with his coaches, horses, and all such other articles as he
possessed necessarily required in conveying the coaches and
This fi ne animal was a very knowing horse and very fond of mails between the points named. He then took up his residence
a joke, if such qualities can be attributed to the genus Equus. in Bethlehem - now Navarre - in Stark County, on the Ohio
Although always very gentle and kind when my father rode Canal, where he again engaged in mercantile pursuits and
him, it was dangerous for a stranger to attempt to get upon his became a heavy dealer in produce. My brother, Hector Smith,
back, for none but the most expert rider could remain seated was born in Bethlehem on November 25, 1832.
in the saddle the horse determined to relieve himself of his
burden. There my father remined three years, during which time he
accumulated money more rapidly than any other time in his
It was amusing to see how tractable and docile he was life; but, with his characteristic foresight, he again predicted
when my father was the rider, but a moment after, if another monetary troubles, and in anticipation of their coming,
attempted to mount him, his rage and excitement knew no disposed of his stock of good and settled up his outstanding
bounds. He soon learned to know my mother and generally accounts. The whole country at that time was apparently
Montana Freemason Page 28 Aug/Sept 2019 Volume 95 No .6