The Adair County News, September 15, 1909 (p 1)

An Old Chair

Last week when Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Mourning left Columbia for Urbana, Ill., they took with them a chair made for Roger Mourning just after the battle of Brandywine, he having been wounded in that fight. [Another source stated he was injured in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse] The chair was made of white hickory throughout, the main parts not so large as the average chair, the seat being about eighteen inches from the floor and the arms of only moderate size.

This chair seems to be as stout as when made, the only evidence of wear being on the front rounds which shows a fifth gone, but still stout and retains the elasticity of the material as when first put together. The original bottom gave way about forty years ago but was replaced by Mr. John D. Mourning who used white oak splits and which will probably last for sixty more years.

The chair as stated above was made for Roger Mourning and at his death became the property of his son, John D., whose home was near Columbia and the father of Mr. C.S. Mourning, into whose possession it now rests. [This apparently omits a generation; see reference below to great-grandfather and great-grandson. At least one source gives the lineage as Roger, John, John D., C.S.] Just when it was brought to this section from Virginia we have no record, but its original owner took the Western trail with the early settlers of Adair county and remained here to do his duties in the hardships of pioneer life. For several years the old chair had been kept by members of the family in Columbia, but Mr. C.S. Mourning being the only son of the deceased, John D., he felt that he was entitled to its possession and was cheerfully given him.

From the great-grandfather  to the great grandson, the Old Virginia hickory chair, more than one hundred and thirty years old has been kept and used by a male member of the family, but as Mr. Mourning has no son, within a few more years it must pass to some other member of the family and be remembered as a relic of the Revolutionary times, a keep sake of the Mourning family, but there should be inscribed on its back, Excessive duty well done.