Mallory, David


   
This half-breed "American citizen of African descent," come to this place at an early day, about the year 1824.  He was from that part of the "settlement" known as Brookville, Franklin County, which furnished this place with more great men than any other locality at that day.
    Mr. Mallory was a broad-shouldered, square-built, muscular man, about five feet ten inches in height; his complexion was copper or saddle-color; with a large, bushy head, the compound of hair and wool standing on end; a very large mouth--when open might be taken for a Pennsylvania hillside barn door; to see nothing but his head you would be reminded of Dan Rice's grizzly or Rocky Mountain bear.
    He was a very good-natured man, except when irritated.  It was asserted by Tom Johnson that he heard him laugh at the distance of one mile.  He was possessed of a large fund of anecdotes, which he related with great gusto and self-satisfaction, and was never at a loss for listeners.  He enjoyed to a high degree the confidence and respect of his colored fellow citizens, and was often referred to by them to settle points of honor, or other disputes that might arise in their intercourse with each other.  He was always ready to give his friends good advice; they were generally more disposed to follow his practice and example than his precepts.
    He kept a shop in Judge Stevens' row on the south side of Washington, about midway between Pennsylvania and Delaware streets, where he shaved his customers with very dull razors in day time, and low white men with very keen cards at night; and often the passer by late at night would hear his sonorous voice demanding "Tom" to ante, as he had put up last, or that it was his deal, or that he was entitled to the last shuffle, or, in any one should refer to Hoyle, offer to bet a V that Hoyle said nothing about poker in his work on games; or if a dispute should arise as to where and when draw poker originated, he was willing to bet that it was at the mouth of White River, Arkansas, it originated, and that Bowie first introduced it as well as the Bowie Knife hand.  This was a new hand to the worthy barber, and he said he did not care about learning it.  While playing he kept his money in his mouth, it held just twenty dollars in silver; his usual "bluff" was a mouthful, which he emptied from his mouth on to the table.
    A citizen returning home late one night heard loud and boisterous talking in the shop of Mr. Mallory; supposing the usual gam of poker or seven up was going on, stopped to see if he could recognize any of the voices.
    It turned out to be a one-armed Italian organ-grinder and the proprietor disputing about the nativity of Christopher Columbus.  The organ grinder asserted that Columbus was a native of Virginny, born and raised in the old Richmond, for he knew him well. 
    The shave was astonished at the Italian's ignorance; for although he was not personally acquainted with Columbus, he had read and "herne" a great deal about him; he was certainly born and raised in Liverpool.  How the dispute was settled we have no means of knowing, but are inclined to the opinion that Mr. Mallory would have backed his judgment to any amount at his command.
    In justice to this tonsorial artist, I must add that he was not the only citizen of Indianapolis that cut deep and shaved clean at that day  Some used financial razors that cut both ways, and after one or two operations were performed upon the same person, they would hardly be worth shaving afterwards.
    Mr. Mallory claimed that his wife had descended from the true native American (Indian) race, and did not like the attention of the "niggers," and said his daughters should not associate with them, but were for the society of T. J. and other white gentlemen of his acquaintance.
    He has closed his game and handed in his checks several years since, but he is well represented, both in appearance and practice, by his only son, who rejoices in the name of David Mallory, Jun. 
    "For wheresoever the carcass is there will the Eagles (buzzards) be gathered together."


Nowland, John H. B., "Early Reminiscences of Indianapolis, with Short Biographical Sketches of Its Early Citizens, and of a Few of the Prominent Business Men of the Present Day," 1870, pp. 158-159.