The small town of Perryville, named for Commodore Perry of War of 1812 fame, is inhabited by slightly over 750 people – in 1860 about half that many.  In 1862, the Civil War battle of that name was fought about two miles outside town.  After the battle there were so many more people – both Union and Confederate dead and wounded.  894 Union soldiers were killed; 2,911 wounded.  532 Confederate soldiers were killed; 2,641, wounded.  Perryville was overwhelmed – houses were turned into hospitals; there wasn’t enough wood in the area to make coffins to bury all the dead; food was scarce for the people who lived there, not to mention the additional souls because of happenstance of war.  Nearby towns took in soldiers and bodies – Harrodsburg, Danville and Springfield.  It was a battle never to be forgotten.

Why do I begin this post with so much information about a Civil War battle?  Iverson Lewis DeBaun was a sergeant in Company C, 11^th Kentucky Cavalry.  He enrolled August 18, 1862, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, for a period of three years.  He was on duty in the field since September 22, 1862.  On June 25, 1864, he was wounded when shot in the left foot, causing a fracture and necessary amputation of one or more of his toes.  By December of that year, Iverson DeBaun was home in Perryville recuperating.  Dr. J. J. Polk visited him and found him ‘still unable to perform military duty.  His wound is painful and of such a nature that he is unable to wear a shoe on the lame foot.’  In March of 1865 Dr. J. B. Bolling saw him and sent a letter to the war department that Sergeant DeBaun was ‘improving slowly and think he will be able for service after a while.’  Since the war ended the next month thus ended the military career of Iverson DeBaun.

The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Wednesday, April 24, 1912

But this short portion of Mr. DeBaun’s life was never forgotten by him or his comrades in arms, many from the counties of Mercer and Boyle.  In their old age these veterans met once or twice a year, celebrating another year of life and eulogizing those who already slept in their graves, remembering times in war, now long ago.

But let’s start at the beginning – where all stories do.

Iverson Lewis DeBaun was a son of Joseph and Mary Bottom DeBaun, Mercer County residents, who were married March 13, 1829.  Mary was the daughter of Turner and Jane Bottom.  In the 1850 census of Mercer County, Joseph and Mary, both aged 42, lived with the following children:  Iverson, 21; Samuel, 19; Turner, 16; Martin, 12; John, 10; Abraham, 7; Pleasant, 5, a son; Margaret, 3; and Joseph 4/12.  Joseph DeBaun died January 7, 1857.

Iverson met and married Dorinda Tewmey on April 12, 1851, in Boyle County.  Although living in Mercer County according to the 1860 census, they evidently moved to Boyle County shortly thereafter, since the doctors visited Iverson in that county during his recuperation after his war wound.  The couple continued to live in Boyle until their deaths.

Only one child was born to them, a son, William A. DeBaun.  William married Bettie Kate Prather August 31, 1872.  Three children were born to William and Bettie – Lizzie, about 1873; Willie, born 1875, died 1876; and Dora, about 1885.  Dora married Chase Edwards about 1909.

In August of 1889 the Kentucky Advocate says, ‘I. L. DeBaun is now prepared to do all kinds of repairing on wagons and buggies.  Shop in Armstrong building.’  This identifies with the 1900 census when Iverson is listed as a wheelright.

The August 22, 1890, the paper listed Iverson DeBaun as one of the trustees for the Perryville school district.  ‘Classes were to begin the first Monday in September and all person between the ages of six and twenty were invited to attend.’

In December of 1890, according to the Kentucky Advocate – ‘The winter king visited this as other sections on Christmas night.  Old citizens say that the trees are clothed with the heaviest coat of ice they have every known.  The scenery is at once grand and imposing and a very unusual sight for this latitude.  The damage to fruit and ornamental trees is great and Arbor Day will doubtless be observed with more than usual interest next year.  At this place the greatest damage is in the yards of I. L. DeBaun, Mrs. Willis and Mrs. S. E. Carithers.  Great damage is reported to fruit trees among the highlands of northern Washington.’

In January of 1891 Iverson became a Justice of the Peace for Boyle County, and continued for many years.

Iverson and Dorinda DeBaun had a long and happy marriage.

The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

January 8, 1906

‘Danville, Ky., Jan. 7 – (Special) – A unique organization has been perfected at Perryville, this county.  The only qualifications of membership are that the members must have been married more than 50 years.  So far there are only 10 members, as follows:  Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Mitchell, Mrs. And Mrs. J. L. Webb, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Guthrie, the Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Hopper and Mr. and Mrs. I. L. DeBaun.  All of these families live in Perryville, but others who live in the immediate vicinity will become members.

‘Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Webb are the youngest couple, and have been married fifty-two years, while Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie are the oldest, having been married sixty-six years.  They are said to have been married longer than any other couple in the State of Kentucky.  They celebrated their sixty-sixth marriage anniversary some days ago, at which time the organization was suggested and later perfected.’

Kentucky Advocate, Perryville, Boyle County, Kentucky

Friday, March 8, 1907

‘Again, death has entered a Perryville home and taken one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens – Mrs. Dorinda DeBaun, the wife of Mr. I. L. DeBaun.  Mrs. DeBaun died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6^th.  She had been a partial invalid for many years and had been critically ill for three weeks, so the end was not unexpected.  She has reached the advanced age of seventy-six years.  She became a member of the Christian Church when she was only sixteen years of age and had always led a consistent Christian life.  She was of a cheerful, loving disposition, always kind and considerate.  She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, whose joys and sorrows she has shared for fifty-six years, one son, Mr. W. J. DeBaun, two granddaughters, Mrs. G. W. Mills and Miss Dora DeBaun, and one great granddaughter, little Katharine Mills, and a large circle of other relatives and friends.  Deceased was a sister of Mr. John Tewmey, of Danville.  The funeral took place this (Friday) morning at ten o’clock, conducted by Rev. Jones of Burgin, and interment in the Perryville Cemetery.’

After the death of Dorinda, Iverson lived with his son.  In the 1910 census there are three generations living in the household – William A. DeBaun and his wife, Bettie; their daughter Dora Edwards and husband Chase G. Edwards; and Iverson.

Kentucky Advocate, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky

Saturday, November 7, 1914

I. L. DeBaun, April 16, 1830 – November 6, 1914.  Dorinda T., his wife, September 16, 1830 – March 6, 1907.  Perryville Cemetery, Boyle County, Kentucky.