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returned to Indiana and then moved to Drakesburo, Kentucky. His daughters were born in Indiana in 1864 and 1866, and his son was born in in 1878, likely in Kentucky. There has been other conflicting information about Darby, but another included pension document from 1908 indicates Darby died on October 4, 1890,
and was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, whom
he married on December 16, 1859 in Dearborn County, Indiana. She followed him in death on July 12, 1920, and they are both buried in Hayden Cemetery in Drakesboro, Kentucky. The right side plate has “Henry E. Darby/From his Friends/Cincinnati Ohio, May 6, 1867,” and the left side plate has a spread wing bald eagle and shield motif and banner inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM” based on the Great Seal of the United States. The sides of the frame are also engraved. The inscription and engraving are not factory and show signs of wear underneath suggesting they were added after the rifle had seen some use, but the quality is good. The barrel has a brass blade front sight, sling loop on the left, “HENRY’S PATENT OCT. 16. 1880/MANUFACTURED BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT.” stamped on top ahead of the adjustable notch and ladder rear sight, and the serial number stamped on top at the breech.
The left side of the buttstock has a sling swivel. A “W”
is double stamped on the lower tang behind the lever thumb screw. The buttplate has a trapdoor compartment (empty).
CONDITION: Very good with traces of original blue
finish, mostly gray patina on the barrel, mild natural aged patina on the brass frame and buttplate, mix of dark brown and lighter gray patina on the lever, minor dings and scratches throughout, some patches of faint pitting on the barrel, light scratches from cleaning on the receiver, and general mild wear overall. The re-oiled stock is also fine and has some scrapes and faint hairline cracks in the wrist, small gap on the right side of the lower tang, and some dents and cracks at the toe. Mechanically fine. Overall a very attractive Civil War era Henry rifle inscribed for a Midwestern veteran of the war and dated to when the South was still occupied by U.S. troops.
Provenance: The Eisley Collection, Thurston Van Horn (twice), Ed Luke, Doug Jahnake, Rex Thrower and Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 27,500 - 47,500
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