Worcester County Biographies LEONARD ADKINS, retired, Sparta Township, was born in Worcester County, Md., February 16, 1812. The parents, from whom he descended, were William P. and Ebby (McGee) Adkins, both natives of Worcester County, Md. The former was a son of Nimrod and Elizabeth (Parsons) Adkins, who were also natives of Maryland. He and the above Ebby McGee were united in marriage in Worcester County, Md., and there resided until their deaths. Their children were as follows: Maria, Leonard, James, Sarah, William R., Samuel, and Hannah. Leonard, our subject, moved to Maysville, Mason Co., Ky., in 1838, where he learned the mason trade, which he has pursued during the greater part of his life. In the spring of 1843, he moved to Moore's Hill, and has resided there principally ever since. He was united in marriage August 23, 1843, to Mary Davis, who was born in this township December 14, 1821, and was a daughter of Spencer and Elizabeth Davis. After Mr. Adkins's marriage he settled at Moore's Hill, and has resided there the greater part of the time. He formerly dealt quite extensively in real estate. He is an excellent man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have had born to them nine children, viz.: Maria P. (deceased), Elizabeth, Laura A. (deceased), James M., William S., Charles R., Flora B., Edward S., and Abraham L. Source: History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana : Chicago: F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885. - Contributed by Barbara Ziegenmeyer STEPHEN DECATUR {Source: The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 2; Publ. 1906, by James T. White, George Derby; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.} STEPHEN DECATUR was born at Sinepuxent, Md., January 5, 1779. He inherited his love for the sea from his father, who was an officer of some distinction in the service of his country during the revolutionary struggle. While he was yet an infant, the Decatur family returned to their home in Philadelphia, which they had abandoned during the British occupation. Stephen made his first voyage in the year 1787, in company with his father, who had entered the merchant-service at the close of the war. After the usual primary and academical course of study, he entered the Pennsylvania University; but remained there little more than a year, becoming dissatisfied with the restraints of college life. He was an unusually manly lad, and longed to find active employment for his rapidly maturing faculties. In 1796, he entered the counting-room of the mercantile house with which his father was associated, continuing, however, his studies in the mathematics and in naval architecture. He advanced so rapidly in his knowledge of the latter branch, that he was employed by his firm, who were navy agents, to superintend the getting out of the keel-pieces for the new frigate, United Stales, then in process of construction. At a subsequent period he held command of this same vessel. In 1798, Stephen Decatur received, to his great satisfaction, a warrant as midshipman in the navy. His first cruise was in the United States frigate under Commodore Barry, against the French privateers, who were plundering American merchantmen, so soon had the French people forgotten then much vaunted friendship for our country. His experiences for the next two and a half years, or until the difficulties with France were adjusted, were both varied and honorable. He assisted in the capture of several of the enemy's cruisers, visited the West Indies, accompanied his frigate to Spain, and was employed for a time at Philadelphia on recruiting service. His gallantry and his courteous manners made him a favorite with his superiors, and he was, in 1799, promoted to the rank of lieutenant. It happened that while he was engaged in recruiting, he was upon one occasion grossly insulted by the mate of an Indiaman. It would appear that young Decatur was disposed to overlook the affront; but his father insisted that he should challenge the offender. In thus fostering a barbarous sense of u honor" by his ill-judged advice, Captain Decatur became indirectly responsible for his son's untimely fate; but, happily for himself, he did not live to see the fatal fruits of his folly. Lieutenant Decatur, who was a good shot, purposely refrained from hitting his antagonist in any vital part, and was himself unhurt. In 1801, when the navy was reduced, owing to the cessation of hostilities, he was among the number of lieutenants whom it was deemed proper to retain in the service. He was not long to remain inactive. Only a few months had elapsed when he became attached to the squadron under Commodore Richard Dale, sent to chastise the barbarians of Northern Africa for their outrages upon American commerce. He sailed in May, 1801, as first lieutenant of the frigate Essex, which was employed for about a year in convoying American merchantmen in the Mediterranean and in watching the Tripolitan cruisers at Gibraltar. While in the harbor of Barcelona, Decatur had an altercation with a Spanish officer which would have ended in a duel had not Captain Bainbridge, of the Essex, united with the Spanish authorities to prevent it. Decatur returned to New York with his frigate in July, 1802. He was now transferred to the New York, Captain James Barron, and, in September, again sailed for the Mediterranean, there to join the squadron under Commodore Richard V. Morris. At Malta, early in the year 1803, he became connected, as a second for a fellow-officer, in another affair of honor, in which a British officer was killed, and to avoid his surrender to the civil authorities, he was sent home in the Chesapeake, as a passenger. Almost immediately upon his arrival he was given charge of the brig Argos, which he took to Gibraltar and transferred to a senior officer, and then assumed the command of the schooner Enterprise. On the 23d of December he captured the Tripolitan ketch, Mastico, which was at once taken into the American service under the name of the Intrepid. The Tripolitans had not long before captured the fine frigate, Philadelphia, a gift to the United States, from the city whose name she bore, and whose first commander had been Decatur's own father. Commodore Preble was now in command of the Mediterranean fleet, and to that celebrated officer Decatur applied for permission to undertake the destruction of the Philadelphia, for as she lay under the guns of the castle at Tripoli, partly dismantled, it was impossible to get her out of the harbor. The coveted permission being granted, the brave lieutenant sailed from Syracuse, where the squadron was temporarily detained by the boisterous weather, on the 3d of February, 1804, in the prize ketch Intrepid. He commanded a picked crew of seventy-five men, and was accompanied by the Siren, Lieutenant Stewart. Owing to the terrific winter storms, it was thirteen days before they could enter the harbor of Tripoli. At nightfall on the 16th, the Intrepid silently approached the enemy, and soon were within range of the guns of the frigate, which had been double-shotted. One broadside would have sent the attacking party to the bottom. They were hailed from the frigate, but owing to their Moorish rig, they easily persuaded the enemy that they were natives who had lost their anchors, and so approached closely before the suspicions of the barbarians were aroused. Suddenly, Decatur gave the order to board. So unexpected was the attack that the astonished Tripolitans attempted only a feeble resistance, and, in ten minutes, Decatur and his brave crew were in possession. One of the boarding party was wounded; of the enemy many were killed or drowned while attempting to escape. Quantities of combustibles were now distributed through the doomed frigate, the torch was applied, and she soon became enveloped in a raging mass of flames. With difficulty Decatur and his men made their escape to their little vessel. Not until she was almost out of the range of the Tripolitan batteries did the bewildered garrisons recover themselves sufficiently to open fire upon the retreating victors, now clearly visible in the glare of the conflagration. The flames, after discharging a full broadside against the city, communicated with the magazine, and the destruction of the Philadelphia was complete. Two days later the Americans reached Syracuse in safety. Europe and America rang with the praises of the gallant Decatur, and the great British Admiral, Nelson, pronounced the affair, "the most bold and daring act of the age." During Commodore Preble's attack upon the city of Tripoli, August 3, 1804, Decatur again displayed great bravery, especially in a hand-to-hand encounter with one of the enemy. He was in charge of a division of the gunboats, one of which was commanded by his brother, James Decatur. This latter officer was mortally wounded by the treacherous captain of a Tripolitan vessel after she had struck her colors. Stephen, who had already captured one of the enemy's boats, burned with the desire to avenge the outrage. He sought out the assassin's vessel, boarded it with only ten men to support him, and soon engaged in mortal combat with the captain, a barbarian of extraordinary size. Decatur's cutlass was shivered in his grasp, and the combatants grappled. The advantage was all with the powerful Tripolitan; but, by good fortune, Decatur managed to fire his pistol through his pocket, and his brother's murderer fell dead. Decatur withdrew with his two prizes, and reached the flagship Constitution just in time to see his brother breathe his last. Shortly after these occurrences, the John Adams frigate arrived from America, bringing to Decatur a captain's commission, and the thanks of the President. He was also voted a sword by Congress. Having been superseded in the command of the fleet by Commodore Samuel Barron, Preble resigned to Decatur the Constitution, the most famous vessel of our old navy, long known as Old Ironsides. After having his frigate refitted at Malta, he proceeded to Syracuse where he was transferred, by order of Commodore Barron, to the command of the Congress. No further operations were conducted against Tripoli, and in June, 1805, a treaty of peace was concluded. Decatur was soon sent to Tunis, where the fleet, now under command of Commodore John Rodgers, arrived on the 1st of August. Difficulties with the Bey of Tunis were soon arranged, and Decatur then returned to the United States, after an absence of two years, bearing with him in the Congress the new Tunisian ambassador. The Congress went out of commission, and Decatur retired for a time to his father's residence, near Philadelphia. In 1806 he married Miss Wheeler, of Norfolk, Va., at which place he resided for several months. Early in the following year he assumed charge of Gosport Navy Yard. For many years the government of Great Britain had been growing more and more unfriendly toward America. In June, 1807, though in time of peace, the United States ship Chesapeake, Commodore James Barron, was fired upon, off Hampton Roads by the British man-of-war, Leopard, and struck her colors. The commander of the Leopard thereupon proceeded to seize four seamen from the Chesapeake, whom he claimed as deserters. For being unprepared to defend his ship, Barron was cashiered. Decatur was a member of the court-martial, and succeeded Barron in the command of the Chesapeake. He was now for several years commodore of the fleet designed to protect our Southern coasts. In 1810 he transferred his pennant to the United States, the frigate which he had helped to build, and in which he had been launched. Upon the declaration of war with Great Britain, he was ordered to join Commodore Rodgers, at New York, where he arrived June 21, 1812. After a successful cruise, during which six British merchant vessels were captured, the consolidated squadron returned to Boston. On the 8th of October they again put to sea, and on the 25th, when near the Island of Madeira, the United States came up with the British frigate Macedonian. The action which ensued, though short, was hotly contested. Decatur's admirable training had made his crew very expert gunners, and the loss of life on the British vessel was enormously greater than that on our own. Once again the brave commodore was victorious. When the Macedonian struck her colors she was a total wreck. After the necessary repairs, Decatur brought her safely into New London; and then followed the succession of banquets, swords, medals, and votes of thanks customary on such occasions. He remained for the next two years in the vicinity of New York and Long Island Sound, chafing under the restraints imposed upon him by the presence of a powerful British blockading fleet. In the spring of 1814, he was transferred to the President, and placed in command of the naval defenses of New York harbor. In January, 1815, it having become evident that the British had no intention of attacking New York, he eluded the blockading fleet, and put to sea; but of becoming disabled, he was overtaken by four of the enemy's ships. He made a gallant resistance, but was compelled to surrender to the superior force, being wounded in the action. News travelled slowly in those days; the President was captured three weeks after the treaty of peace had been signed. Decatur was taken to Bermuda, receiving from his captors every possible courtesy; but was quickly released on parole, and returned home in his Majesty's frigate Narcissus, arriving at New London on Washington's Birthday. His next service was in the Mediterranean. With a squadron under his command he inflicted severe punishment on the pirates of Northern Africa, who had, during our war with England, violated their treaties with the United States. Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli were forced into submission, and new treaties were made, upon terms more favorable than any yet granted to a Christian State by the Barbary powers. This highly important duty was accomplished in less than three months. After his return to the United States, in November, 1815, Decatur, now universally regarded by his countrymen as one of her greatest heroes, was appointed a commissioner of the navy. He strenuously opposed the reinstatement of the cashiered Commodore Barron, which led to an acrimonious correspondence, and finally to a challenge on the part of Barron, which was promptly accepted by Decatur. The meeting took place March 22, 1820, at Bladensburg. Decatur was mortally wounded at the first fire, and died after a few hours of intense agony. This great man, after a brief career of dazzling brilliancy, honorable to himself and useful to his country, after winning the proud title of "Champion of Christendom," died in the very plenitude of his intellectual and physical powers, and died like a fool. ADAM DALE Adam Dale was born in Worcester County, Md., July 14, 1768. He was a boy volunteer of the Revolution. In 1781 this company of boys from fourteen to sixteen years was raised in Snow Hill, Md., to oppose the progress of Cornwallis through Virginia. Receiving land grants with his father, Thomas Dale, for service, he settled in Liberty, Tenn., in 1797, after having married Mary Hall February 24, 1790. He raised, equipped, and commanded a company of volunteers from Smith (DeKalb) County and fought under Jackson at Horseshoe Bend and other battles of the War of 1812. Removing to Columbia, Tenn., in 1829, he died at Hazel Green, Ala., October 14, 1851, and was buried there. His wife died in 1859 in Columbia. To this couple were born ten children [Source: HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY TENNESSEE By Will T. Hale Published by Paul Hunter, Publishers, 1915] Copyright © Genealogy Trails