Some Dayton stories are cheerful, and some are simply human. This one is the latter.
Dayton’s old character “Tom” Hippard, a typical back woodsman, Thurs. faced the tragedy of his live – but not until Tom, as is characteristic of the southern mountaineer, had put up a fight, in which guns and an axe played an important part.
Every Nimrod who used the Fox river at Dayton knows old Tom. Many a record catch boastingly displayed on Ottawa streets were caught from him with a silver hook and a line of very persuasive chin music. Tom, however, never squealed and the great catches were allowed to be credited, not to the person who caught them, but to those that bought them. Tom knew every nook and cranny of the old Fox and any finny tribesman was unsafe from the seductive influence of his hook and bait. As a guide he had no superior.
A long life of lonesomeness, coupled with constant contact with a daughter, who is said to be none too bright, caused Tom’s powerful mental ramparts to be battered down. Neighbors feared his form of insanity might lead to trouble and complained to the sheriff. A brother, Samuel Hippard, recommended that he be tried before a commission and if necessary be sent away to an asylum, where he could secure expert treatment.
It was known that Tom would “kick up a fuss” and two deputies, Rasmus Benson and John Cisco, were sent to Dayton to get him. The deputies were met at the door by Tom, long haired, unshaven and six foot two in his stocking feet. In his hand dangled a heavy and threatening-looking axe.
Tom commanded the deputy to remain outside the radius of his weapon and his advice was heeded. As a further warning Rasmus Benson, who approached the man, was informed that two loaded weapons were inside the house.
“So you’re after my lot, too,” said Tom. “Well, by god, you or no one else can get it, unless you walk over my dead body” and with that as a clew the deputy saw a chance to calm his man down without resorting to violence.
Benson told old Tom he was there to help him keep his lot and was in Dayton to see him on just that matter. The argument caught Tom unawares and he set the axe down. A minute or two later he was climbing into an automobile headed for Ottawa “to have that lot question settled in his favor for all time to come.” Tom was going to make certain hat he won the controversy and his daughter was brought with him. She, it is said, will make her future home at the county infirmary.
Judge Williams, who heard the case, ordered him sent to Kankakee.1
Stories like this show how aging and confusion were handled in ways that feel very different from today.
- Ottawa Free Trader, October 22, 1914, p. 12, col. 1.
