Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward; 40th Indiana Inf.

Grave of Pvt. Henry M. Alward, Stones River National Cemetery

Henry M. Alward was the son of Henry Arista and Eva Maria (DeCamp) Alward. Henry M. was born August 9, 1844 at Elkhart County, Indiana. The family moved to Wallace, Fountain County, Indiana during the 1850′s, Henry’s mother would die there in 1857.  By 1860 Henry Sr. had sold the farm in Fountain County and remarried, the family then moved to Montgomery County, living in the town of Waveland. His father’s occupation was a plasterer and farmer, he owned a 2 acre farm in Waveland and rented farm ground. In a statement for state pension, Henry Arista stated his son Henry Merdith had helped provide income for the family by his work on the farm.

Henry was not old enough to enlist in 1861, he was just 17 years old. One of Henry’s best friends, Thomas “Poney” Moody was working as a hired hand on the Alward farm. He had just enlisted in Company C, 40th Indiana Inf. on September 13, 1862. Thomas Moody leaving to enlist, probably had a lot to do with motivating Henry to enlist. They worked together and had became close friends.  Henry recieved his fathers blessing and enlisted as a private in the Company H, 40th Indiana Infantry. Captain Dewitt W. Wallace (Graduate of the Waveland Academy) of Company C  was the recruiting officer. Henry signed his enlistment papers on September 17, 1862, and received a $25.00 bounty. He is described in his enlistment papers as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, Complexion; Light, Eyes; Hazel, and Hair; Brown.

On December 6, 1862, Henry M. had caught up with his regiment, then in camp around the city of Nashville.In statements after the war for Henry Arista’s pension, Thomas Moody and another local friend, Chauncy Smith (Co. H) stated that they saw Henry quite often. He had written several letters home and had sent money to his father once. Henry was among his friends.

 The Army of the Cumberland would soon be on the march to Murfreesboro, Gen. Rosecrans wanted to push Gen. Bragg’s Army of Tennessee out of middle Tennessee. After being in the regiment only 25 days, Henry was engaged in the battle of Stones River on December 31st, 1862; January 1st and 2nd, 1863. On December 31, the regiment was pounded by heavy artillery fire along the railroad as it waited for it’s place on the front line. On the evening of December 31, the 40th Indiana was finally placed on the front line. A Confederate regiment was baring down on the regiment’s position. After several volleys of musketry from the regiment, the Confederates were in retreat. On January 2, 1863 the 40th was only lightly engaged, but were able to see the Confederate attack fail. Losses for the 40th in the battle were 4 Killed, 68 Wounded and 13 Missing. Henry had stood the test and survived the battle unscathed. After the Union victory at Stones River, the Army of the Cumberland settled into winter quarters around Murfreesboro. In April of 1863, Henry suddenly became ill while in camp at Murfreesboro. Confined to the Regimental Hospital, Henry Merdith Alward died on April, 23, 1863, of what doctors called remittent fever.

Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery. History was not kind to Henry, his headstone reads “H.M. Alwood”, instead of Alward. Unfortunately, the NPS will not replace the marker of my 2nd Great Grand Uncle. Sadly he will always be seen as “H.M. Alwood” to the visitor’s that walk through the cemetery.

Written by Scott Busenbark

Joshua S. Swihart, 20th Indiana Infantry

Grave of Joshua Swihart

Joshua S. Swihart was born February 1, 1845 in Stark County , Ohio near the town of Canton. He was the son of farmer, John J. and Mary (Miksel) Swihart. John and family migrated to Indiana  with his parents (Peter & Elizabeth (Plamer) Swihart), along with several brothers and sisters. John would settle on a farm in Marshall County, Indiana. His son Joshua is shown  in the 1860 Federal Census a being a farm hand on his father’s farm. When the Civil War broke out Joshua was only 16 years old. It is not known if Joshua tried to enlist in ’61, his age and probably his father would make him wait.

After a year of war Joshua enlisted in the Union Army and was mustered into service on September 20, 1862. He enlisted as a recruit in Company C of the 20th Indiana Regiment. They had been in the field since the outbreak of the war and were veterans of the Seven Days Battles on the  Virginia Peninsula as well as 2nd Bull Run.  Joshua would be a “fresh fish” among many veteran soldiers in his regiment, he would have to prove himself. He did not have to wait long, on December 13, 1862 the Army of the Potomac was in front of Fredricksburg, Virginia, the 20th Indiana would make an assualt on the Confederate positions there. The Army of the Potomac was severely repulsed, but Joshua had stood true. He and the men of the 20th would spend the winter and early spring around the banks of the Rappahannock River. At the beginning of May the Union Army would try another route to Richmond, at Chancellorsville the army would fight again. As was the case at Fredricksburg, the Army of the Potomac would be defeated again. The 20th Indiana did have great success in the battle, taking many prisoners of the 23rd Georgia Regiment.

In June, 1863 the army was on the move again, this time in pursuit of General R.E. Lee’s invading Army of Northern Virginia. On July 1, 1863 the battle of Gettysburg had opened, the battle raged until nightfall as more troops from both sides poured into the area. On July 2nd the 20th Indiana along with the rest of the 3rd Corps was moved into the area of  a small stream; Plum Run. They were moved  from the first position onto the Rose Farm near a field that was soon to become famous; the “Wheatfield.” Here is where Joshua and the 20th Indiana would see some of the toughest fighting of the war. Attacking them was General J.B. Hood’s Texas Brigade; they were know to be Lee’s best shock troops. The fight raged in this area for sometime, Union lines were pushed back and a running fight through the Plum Run Valley and “Devil’s Den ensued. The “western men” of the 20th Indiana had shown their fighting grit, but at a high cost. Two-Hundred officers and enlisted men were killed, wounded and missing. Among them was their Colonel; John Wheeler. On July 3rd Joshua and  the rest of the 20th were whiteness to Pickett’s Charge, they would help take prisoners and attend to wounded. The events of Gettysburg must have been with Joshua for the rest of his days.

The rest of July was spent chasing the Confederate Army into Virginia. Joshua and the other men had to be tired from such a large campaign. On July 30th, 1863 the regiment recieved orders to report to New York City. Their mission was to be part of a force to quell the New York draft riots. They performed their duty and were posted in the city for some time. New York City must have been unbelievable to Joshua and the rest of the men. The men were then sent to Indianapolis to rest and be resupplied.

On April 19, 1864 the regiment was sent back to Virginia; General Grant had taken command. In May, Grant would resume the fight. Joshua would fight in the hellish battle of  the Wilderness, the regiment lost 19 killed and 105 wounded. One of those wounded was Joshua Swihart, he is listed as being wounded on May 5, after two days of fighting the Battle of the Wilderness would produce close to 30,000 casualties. In a few days the armies would do it again at Spotsylvania where the 20th Indiana would loose 85 men killed, wounded and missing. In early June the regiment would fight on the Cold Harbor line. On June 12, 1864 the 20th crossed the James River, they would help lay siege to the city of Petersburg. There would be battles and skirmishes around Petersburg for months. According to an 1883 “Marshall County Disabled Veteran’s” report, Joshua received a gunshot wound to his left eye in front of Petersburg on October 4, 1864.  It seems that he lost use of the left eye, he would recover in an  army hospital and continue his service until the war’s end.  Joshua would muster out of the army on May 31, 1865.

Joshua would return to Marshall County, Indiana and resume his life. He would marry Catharine Rivar on Febuary 28, 1879. According to the Disabled Marshall County Veterans Report, Joshua recieved $8.00 a month for his eye wound. He was active in veterans functions and reunions. He had grown up during the war, it shaped the man he became. Joshua would pass away at Burbon, Marshall County, Indiana on March 14, 1896.

Written By Scott Busenbark

George W. Swihart, 89th Indiana Inf.

Battle of Munfordville, KY.

George W. Swihart was born in Starke County, Ohio on Feb. 15, 1835 near the town of Canton. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Palmer) Swihart. During the 1850′s the family moved to Wyandot County, Ohio for a short time and then moved to Kosciusko County in Northern Indiana. Before the war George was a shoemaker in Jay County , Indiana. He married Francis Rhodes before the outbreak of the war, she would pass away while George was serving his country, December 19, 1862 at Mt. Pleasant, Indiana.

At the outbreak of war George did not enlist right away. He was 26 years old, married and had a good occupation, the war was to end quickly anyway. During the summer of 1862, after a year of war, Lincoln put out a call for 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years. On August 10, 1862 George W. Swihart, at the age of 27 enlisted as a private in the 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was a member in company E, men from this company were from Jay County, Indiana. His enlistment information states that George was 5ft 8 inches in height, complexion and eyes; dark, Hair color; Black.

The 89th Regiment was organized at Camp Morton, Indianapolis and was equipped while there. General Bragg’s Confederate Army was on the move to invade Kentucky. With no time to loose, the 89th Regiment was sent to reinforce the Federal garrison at Munfordsville, Kentucky. On September 14, 1862 George with the rest of the new ”Hoosier’s” would see their first Battle with the lead elements of Bragg’s army under General Chalmers.

 The following account of the battle appeared in ”History of the War Company E, 89th Indiana Infantry; Jay County, Indiana.”

“On the 26th they went to Indianapolis, where they received arms, uniforms, one month’s wages, and twenty-five dollars of their bounty. They arrived in Louisville August 31st. Thus, in about twenty days, this full company had been recruited, armed, equipped and had arrived in Dixie, ready for active service which they were soon called upon to perform.

They reached Munfordsville, Kentucky, September 3rd, where they were stationed to guard the railroad bridge across Green River.

There were two small forts here, one above, the other below the bridge, between which a line of breastworks had been commenced, and negroes were now at work upon them. The number of troops at this point now was twenty-five hundred. On the night of the 13th of September the troops were called out and stationed around the works. About daylight they were attacked by eight thousand Rebels, under Chalmers, when they were driven within their fortifications. The Rebels then charged that part of the fort where the 89th Regiment was stationed, but were driven back with heavy loss. After making another similarly unsuccessful attempt upon another part of the fortifications, the enemy withdrew, and, having obtained permission, spent the remainder of the day burying their dead and caring for the wounded. Our loss in killed and wounded was about forty, while that of the enemy was seven hundred.

Chalmers’ force proved to be only the advance of Bragg’s great army, a part of which completely surrounded our small force, planting artillery on every hill lying around the fortifications. It was a useless waste of life to contend longer, and, on the morning of the 17th of September, the entire Federal force surrendered. It is notorious that General Buell, being near by with his immense army, might easily have turned this disaster into a victory, but he failed to do it. These prisoners were immediately paroled and sent toward Buell’s army. They went first to Bowling Green and thence to the Ohio River, at Brandenburg, from which place they came to Jeffersonville. During their march to the river they suffered much; hard marching and exposure had made many sick, and they had to live upon the country through which they were passing. At Indianapolis they were furloughed for twenty days, and all returned home, having been in the service less than six weeks.

On the 27th of October they returned to parole camp, at Indianapolis, where, on the 17th of November, just two months after their surrender, Governor Morton, in a speech, informed them that they had been exchanged.”

On December 4, 1862 the regiment was sent south and placed in the 16th Army Corps. They arrived in Memphis, Tennessee where they performed picket duty until the end of the month. George was reported as sick at home with chronic diarrhea from October 27 to December 31, 1863. This is a condition George would have for the rest of his life. During January, 1863 George caught up to his regiment stationed at Fort Pickering just south of Memphis. The regiment would remain there until October of 1863. During the months of October and November George was reported as sick again. In December the regiment was in pursuit of General Forrest’s cavalry in Mississippi.

In January the regiment was sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi and stationed along the Big Black River. In March the regiment was sent to General Nathan Banks and participated in the Red River Campaign. George was reported sick at Vicksburg during this time. On June 22, 1864 George was placed in the Pioneer Corps, a branch of the army that built fortifications, roads, bridges, etc. On July 14 and 15, 1864 the 16th Army Corps was at Tupelo, Mississippi and participated in the battle there. In late November George and his comrades were at Nashville, Tennessee. On December 1, 1864 the battle of Nashville was fought, and General Hood’s Confederate Army was pushed out of Tennessee.

During the early portion of 1865 the 16th Corps was sent south to take part in the campaign against Mobile, Alabama. George was present for the siege of Spanish Fort and the siege and capture of Fort Blakeley. As a member of the Pioneer Corps there was a lot of work to do during the investment of the forts. In some cases roads were made, and emplacements for heavy siege guns were built along with being under skirmish fire from the enemy. George and the 89th Regiment remained at Mobile until they were mustered out of service on July 19, 1865.

George would return to Jay County, Indiana and on August 19, 1866 he would marry Sarah A. Bane. George was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was active in veteran reunions He would live the rest of his life with medical problems he contracted during his service. George would pass away at Ridgeville, Indiana on May 15, 1922.

Written By Scott Busenbark

Eli Swihart, 47th Indiana Inf.

47th Indiana Infantry Monument at Vicksburg, Miss.

Eli Swihart was born February 25, 1820 in Ohio. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Palmer) Swihart.During the 1850′s some of the Swihart family stared to migrate west into northern Indiana. By 1860 Eli and his wife Elizabeth (Goble) owned a farm in Turkey Creek Township, Kosciusko Co., Indiana with their five children Mary Jane, William, Lucinda, Lydia A. and Samuel L. During 1861 the Civil War had started, it appears Eli was more interested in his family and their farm than enlisting in the Army at his age. Although one of Eli’s younger brothers, George had already enlisted in the 89th Indiana Infantry in Jay Co, Indiana. During 1862 the Federal government instituted the draft. In October of that year Eli was notified that he had been drafted for a period of nine months. On October 16, 1862 Eli Swihart at 43 years of age, reported for duty. He along with several others from Kosciusko Co. were placed in company D; 47th Indiana Infantry Regiment which was already in the field.

Eli and the rest of the new men would be shipped south to Helena, Arkansas were the 47th Regiment was stationed until the end of February 1863. In March the regiment was sent to General U.S. Grant, who was building the army up for a push to take Vicksburg, Mississippi. April 30th, 1863 the 47th Indiana, along with the rest of the army crossed the Mississippi river and landed at the little hamlet of Bruinsburg and started to push inland. On the morning of May 1, the regiment found itself at a place called Port Gibson. Confederates were found in strong defencive positions; while the terrain in the area did not allow much manuvering room to attacking troops. The Union Army attacked and Eli saw his first action. By evening the Confederates had withdrawn, but the battle at Port Gibson had been a hard back and forth fight for both sides; the 47th Indiana had played a large roll in the fight. Grant continued to push into Mississippi, going through Raymond and Jackson.  As the army was getting close to Vicksburg, the Confederate Army was making plans to push Grant away for good by massing troops for an attack. On May 16 the Confederate Army was found near a place called Champion Hill around Baker’s Creek. This would prove to be the battle for Vicksburg; Eli and the 47th Indiana found themselves engaged in heavy combat, sometimes hand to hand throughout the day. The losses were heavy for both sides, but the Union Army had pushed the Confederates back to their Vicksburg defences. By late May Grant was at the gates of Vicksburg, on two separate occasions he tried to take the city by force and was pushed back each time. The Army settled in for a siege during some of the hottest months in Mississippi. Eli and the 47th Indiana would be digging trenches for their protection and approach trenches toward the Confederate works. The regiments position was across from Fort Garrott, a strong Confederate earthwork. From late May and throughout June Eli would find himself under fire almost daily and exposed to the elements of a Mississippi summer. On July 4, 1863 the city of Vicksburg had fallen, the soldiers of the 47th Indiana must have been very excited at the Confederate surrender. Eli had lived to see Vicksburg fall and must have been thinking about going home as his time in the army had almost expired. July 16, 1863 was the day Eli had been waiting for, he was discharged honorably and would be sent home.

Grave of Eli Swihart, 47th Indiana Inf.

It is not known when he arrived home or how his health was, but seeing his family again must have been a joyous moment. Sadly on August 23, 1863, after living through the marches, battles and trench warfare of the Vicksburg Campaign, Eli Swihart died at his home. It would have been easy for Eli to have avoided the draft or deserted somewhere along the trip south. He must have felt a sense of duty, his government had called him and he would serve. In his nine months of service Eli saw more action than some soldiers did in four years, unfortunatly for his family, the campaign took years off of his life. Eli was laid to rest in Mock Cemetery, Kosciusko County, Indiana. 

Written By Scott Busenbark

 

Francis M. Jeffery, 38th Illinois Inf.

“The History of DeWitt County Illinois”

F.M. Jeffery was born in Fayette County, Indiana, September 21st, 1832. The family is Scotch descent on the paternal side. William Jeffrey, the great-grandfather of the present family, emigrated from Scotland to America, and was a soldier of the Revolution. He settled in New Jersey when William, the grandfather, was born. He moved to Utica, New York, where William, his son, and the father of Francis M. was born. The grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812, and also in the Indian wars, and was at the battle of Tippecanoe. In 1811 he moved to Fayette County, Indiana, and remained there until 1856, when he came to Illinois and settled in this township. He married Ruth Allen, of New York, by whom there were four sons and four daughters. William, the father of F. M., was the eldest son. He was born in Utica, New York, October 27th, 1807, and died August 23d, 1877. He came to Waynesville Township in 1837, and has followed his trade of tanning, subsequently engaging in farming. He married Harriet DeCamp, who was born March 2d, 1813. She still survives her husband. By that marriage there were twelve children-four sons and three daughters still living. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the children. He worked with his father at the tanning business, and on the farm until 1856, then went to carpentering, and continued at the trade until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted for three years in Co. “F” 38th Reg’t. Ill. Vols. The regiment became part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps. He participated with his regiment in the hard fought battles of Fredericktown, Champion Hills, Stone River, Liberty Gap, the first and second battles of Corinth, then in the Atlanta Campaign, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, and Jonesboro, where the time of service of the regiment expired. He was wounded at the battle of Perryville, where the command was repulsed in their attempt to capture a battery. He received two wounds at Stone River. At the battle of Liberty Gap he was one of the sixty men who volunteered to capture a battery. They succeeded, but it cost them one-fourth of the men in killed and wounded. In that desperate undertaking Mr. Jeffrey was wounded in the head. After he was mustered out he returned home and resumed his trade of carpentering in which he still continues. On the 25th of December, 1850, he married Miss Sarah McEntire. She died in March 1857. Two children by that marriage both died. On July 21st, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Alice Kidd, who was born in Miama County, Indiana. She is the daughter of Captain Edmund Jones Kidd, a native of Carolina County, Virginia. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, with the rank of Captain. His wife, and the mother of Mrs. Jeffrey, was Christiana DeCamp, of Vermont. The DeCamps are of French ancestry. There have been born to Mrs. Jeffrey, four sons and four daughters, two sons and two daughters living. Their names in the order of their births are Roxie B., Mabel St. Clair, Edmund Ernest, and Charles Kidd Jeffrey. On the subject of religious belief, Mr. Jeffrey subscribes to none of the formulated creeds, but believes that in doing unto others as you would have others do unto you, is contained the genuine essence of true religion. He is member of the order of I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and belongs to Prairie State Lodge No. 104 and Encampment, No. 23, Atlanta, Illinois. Politically, he has been a Republican since that party came into existence and supported John C. Fremont for President in 1856. This, in short, is a brief history of Mr. Jeffrey. He was a gallant and brave soldier, and is a good citizen, an honest man, and as such enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

Hiram Palmer 100th Indiana Infantry

Hiram H. Palmer, one of the highly esteemed citizens of Anderson, Ind., belongs to an old English Puritan family of North Carolina. He was born Jan. 21, 1844, in Canton, Ohio, son of George and Catherine (Hoover) Palmer.

Christopher Palmer, grandfather of Hiram H., was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., but after marriage he removed with, his family to Stark county, Ohio, near Canton, where he cleared up a farm of 250 acres, becoming one of the substantial citizens and good, practical farmers of that section. He served during the Mexican war. His children were: Christopher, John, Henry, George, Christina and Rebecca. The father of these children died on his farm in Ohio, an aged man.

George Palmer, father of Hiram H., was also a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and as a boy removed with his parents to near Canton, Ohio, where his agricultural operations were commenced, but in 1844 he removed to near Auburn, in the woods of DeKalb county, Ind., making the trip by horses and wagons. There he cleared 120 acres of wild land, and he died on his farm aged seventy-two years. A Presbyterian in religious belief, he was a good and pious man, and assisted in building the church of his denomination in that section. In politics he was a Democrat.

Mr. George Palmer was twice married, and his first wife, who died in Ohio, left him these children: John, Elizabeth and Mariah. He married (second) Catherine Hoover, daughter of Judge Jacob Hoover (whose wife was a Nusbaum), for many years Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Stark county. To this union there were born: Elias, Lucinda, Margaret, Matilda, Lewis, Hiram H., Mary, Anthony and Ferdinand.

Hiram H. Palmer was four years of age when the family located in Indiana, and he was reared amid pioneer surroundings in DeKalb county, attending the district school in the winter months and working on the farm during summers, as was the custom of the pioneer Indiana farmers’ boys. He went to Auburn when about seventeen years old, and had worked for about one year at the trade of bricklayer, when, Aug. 6, 1862, he enlisted as a private of Company A, 100th Ind. V. I., to serve three years or during the war, his term of service expiring after two years and nine months. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 8, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Ind. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Colliersville, Stockdale No. 4, Holly Springs, Corinth, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Marietta, Atlanta Campaign, New Hope Church, Kenesaw. Mountain, the last battle of Atlanta, Sherman’s March to the Sea, Savannah, Goldsboro and Cumberland Gap. He took part in the Grand Review at Washington. At Missionary Ridge he was called by a Confederate soldier, who was wounded, and asked for a drink of water. As he was about to go, after having given his enemy all the water in his canteen, the Confederate raised his gun and attempted to shoot him, but the quick action of Lieut. Vesey of the 6th Iowa, who struck the Confederate on the head with his sword, probably saved Mr. Palmer’s life. He received a scalp wound in the charge at Missionary Ridge, and was also slightly wounded in the left shoulder, which necessitated his confinement in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn., for one month. He was also in the hospital at Grand Junction, Tenn., for three months, suffering from typhoid fever with complications. He was ever a faithful, brave and active soldier, and earned promotion to the rank of duty sergeant, serving for about two months on the staff of General Grant, at Washington, about the time of the close of the war.

After the war was over Mr. Palmer returned to Auburn, Ind., and later worked at the slater’s or roofer’s trade in Toledo, Ohio, but again engaged in bricklaying, at which he continued for five years. In 1872 he went to Chicago, where two years were spent, at the end of which time he returned to Auburn for one year, then going again to Toledo, he remained there three years, and the next eighteen years were spent in Auburn in contracting. He has also resided in Fort Wayne, Muncie and Indianapolis, following contracting at all of these places, but in 1899 he came to Anderson, where he is still in active business, having erected many fine buildings here.

Mr. Palmer was married (first) July 23, 1871, at Fort Wayne, Ind., to Cordelia Worley, born near Massillon, Ohio, daughterof Samuel T. and Rebecca (Dickerkoof) Worley, and to this union there were born: George W., who served two years in the U. S. regular army; Milford S.; Harry W., who served in the Spanish-American war in Cuba with a good record; and Maggie A. The mother of these children died in December, 1886, in Fort Wayne. Mr. Palmer was married (second) at Fort Wayne, Ind., Aug. 14, 1893, to Mary C. Walker (nee Daly), born March 11, 1847, in Franklin county, Pa., daughter of William G. and Mary C. (Bowen) Daly, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent.

William G. Daly was born June 30, 1825, and died March 8, 1877. He was the son of William Griffith and Mary (Locke) Daly, natives of Ireland, who came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, the son being born in Franklin county. He owned a farm in that county, but sold it and located in Indiana Dec. 25, 1857, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in the woods of Noble county, half of which property he cleared. He sold this and soon after located in Whitley county, near Columbia City, where he was living in August, 1862, at the time of his enlistment in Company B, 74th Ind. V. I., for three years or during the war. He served until the close of the struggle, being honorably discharged at Washington. For eight months he was color bearer of his regiment, two other color-bearers having been shot, and while thus serving his country he received a wound from which he never fully recovered. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Bull Run, Chattanooga, Burnt Hickory, Gumberland Gap, Lookout Mountain, Raleigh, and the Atlanta Campaign, including Sherman’s March to the Sea. He was married in Pennsylvania to Mary C. Bowen, born in 1827, in Germany, daughter of Jacob and Ann Mary Bowen, and she died Feb. 19, 1899, in the faith of the Dunkard Church. Mr. Daly was a Presbyterian. Jacob Bowen was educated in Germany for the Catholic priesthood, but on coming to this country became a weaver which trade he followed for some time, but later he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Noble county, Ind., where he died.

Mrs. Palmer’s first marriage was at Columbia City, Whitley Co., Ind., Sept. 27, 1866, to Lewis J. Walker, a farmer of that county, and to them were born these children: John A. whose death occurred in his twenty-sixth year Cora J., who died when twenty-one years of age; Ella S., who died aged fifteen years; Lewis J. Walker died in Columbia City, Ind. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs Palmer.

Mr. Palmer is connected with the G. A. R., as officer of the day of Major May Post, of Anderson. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at Muncie, and the I. 0. 0. F., al Fort Wayne. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Woman’s Relief Corps, and active in the proceedings of that organization. She and her husband are both active in the work of the Catholic Church in Anderson, of which they are consistent members and liberal supporters. They are very well known in society circles of the city, and have a large number of warm personal friends. Mr. Palmer is a Republican in his political belief, but takes only a good citizen’s interest in public matters.

William Garvin 96th O.V.I.

96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Monument at Vicksburg

The History of Marion County Ohio

WILLIAM GARVIN, (Claridon Township) of the firm of Garvin & Weis carriage and wagon makers, was born in Franklin County, Penn., June 13, 1835. His parents, Henry and Catherine Garvin, were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married. They came to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1852 or 1853, and resided near Tiffin for eighteen months, when they moved to Fremont, Ohio, where his wife, Catherine, died in 1873, aged sixty-eight years. He, died in 1883, aged eighty-five years. William Garvin received a common school education, and at the age of sixteen commenced learning his trade, at Green Castle, Penn. After completing the same, he removed to Cardington, Ohio, where he was employed at his trade for six years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Marion. October 20, 1857, he was married to Ann L. Wilcox, who was born September 14, 1837. She was a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Wilcox. This union was blessed with three children, only one of whom is living, namely, Harry D., born November 6, 1858. Mrs. Garvin died April 17, 1862, and April 8, 1869, Mr. Garvin was married to Susan Hock, a daughter of John and Almira Hock, by whom he has had three children-George, born January 11, 1870; Laura B., April 5, 1873; and Lee M., born December 5, 1877. Mr. Garvin remained in Marion Until 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and participated in the following battles of the rebellion: Vicksburg, Sabine Cross Roads, Forts Morgan and Gaines, the taking of Mobile, etc. His term of enlistment for three years having expired, he was honorably discharged from the service at Camp Chase, Ohio. He then returned to Marion, and moved to Claridon in 1867, where he has since resided and been engaged in business. The present firm gives employment to eight hands. Mr. Garvin has served the township as Township, Clerk four years. Is a Democrat, a member of the F. & A. M. and of the United Brethren Church (History of Marion County, Ohio.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Leggett, Conaway & C0. 1883

Stephen Cook 123rd O.V.I.

Stephen Cook (BACKGROUND)

The History of Wyandot County Ohio

STEPHEN R. COOK, son of L. H. and Sabina (Adams) Cook, was born February 8, 1841. He resided with his parents till he joined the army in 1862, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Enlisting as private, he was soon promoted to Orderly, participating in the battles of Winchester, New Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Snicker’s Gap, Berryville, Opequan, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg and Hatcher’s Run. Being wounded at Cedar Creek, he was compelled to lie in a hospital six months, after which he was honorably discharged, having served three years. Returning home, he was married, June 17, 1869, to Miss Ann E. Bowman, daughter of T. N. and Eliza (Gib. son) Bowman (see sketch), and two children have been born to them – George B., May 23, 1875, and Helen E., March 29, 1878. Mrs. Cook was born January 26, 1847. He inherited twenty acres of his present farm, to which be has since added twenty, all valued at $70 per acre. Mr. Cook is a strong Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Upper Sandusky.

Zephaniah Crain 10th Indiana Inf.

Zehpahiah H. Crain was born in 1818 at Warren County, Ohio. He was the son of Elihu Crain/Crane (b. 1775), the family moved to Montgomery County, Indiana sometime before 1830. Elihu was one of the founding members of the Sugar Creek Baptist Church in 1823, according to church records. The family farmed in Walnut Township around the area of Fredericksburg; modern day Mace. Zephaniah married Sarah J. Busenbark; daughter of Redden Busenbark on February 25, 1848.  Zephaniah’s farm was about 1/2 mile northeast of Fredericksburg, modern day Interstate 74 cuts through Zeph’s home place.

With the Civil War already in progress, many of the three month regiments had returned home, their term of enlistment had expired. Most of these regiments would re-organize for three year service. In Montgomery county the 10th Indiana Infantry was recruiting men for three year service. At the age of 42; Zephaniah made the 4 mile trip to Crawfordsville and on September 18, 1861 enlisted in the “Crawfordsville Guard”. After the company was organized, the recruits traveled to Lafayette, IN. and went into quarters at Camp Tippecanoe for training. They were designated  as Company B, 10th Indiana Infantry. The regiment would soon be off to Kentucky; where they were still learning to be soldiers.

Zephaniah soon found himself in eastern Kentucky, around the area of Somerset. On the morning of January 19, 1862 Zeph and the rest of the regiment were sleeping in their camp near Logan’s Cross Roads. They were awakened by the sounds of musket fire, the Confederate Army was attacking the Union camps in this area. The 10th Indiana was quickly formed in line of battle and marched toward the skirmish line, they would be one of the first infantry regiments engaged at the battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky. The 10th Indiana was in for a long day; Zephaniah’s company would be in the thick of the fight throughout day. Company B had the highest causality’s in the  10th Regiment; 3 killed and 21 wounded, one of whom was Zephaniah. He had been hit by a ball on the left wrist at some point in the battle, but would soon recover. General G.H. Thomas had led his Union troops to victory, and the men had proven themselves soldiers to their commander; they had stood their ground and fought well.

The 10th Indiana would march into Tennessee, across the Shiloh battlefield and south to Corinth, MS. where the Union army was laying siege to the Confederate Army that had retreated from Shiloh. By May 30, 1862 the Confederates had evacuated the works and would move to Chattanooga, then north into Kentucky. Confederate General Bragg had hopes of pushing the Union Army out of Kentucky, and hoped to draw thousands of new recruits into his army. The Union Army started to move north also, the race to Louisville would be on between the two armies. The Federals would reach the city first, Zephaniah , with the rest of the army had made a forced march through Kentucky under severe drought conditions. The troops were re-equipped and marched out of Louisville in search of the Confederate Army.

By the evening of October 7, 1862 the 10th Indiana was near the town of Perryville, Kentucky. Part of the Confederate Army was found drawn up in line of battle close to town. The 10th Indiana was posted near one of few water supplies in the area; Doctor’s Creek. As the drought continued, water was a precious commodity to both armies. Early on the morning of 8th Confederate troops were placed on Peter’s Hill, which overlooked Doctor’s Creek. Zephaniah’s regiment was ordered around 5 A. M. to engage the enemy posted on Peters Hill.  The regiment of Confederate Infantry that Zephaniah and the 10th Indiana would face was the 5th Arkansas Infantry.

 Following is the after action report of Colonel William Kise; 10th Indiana Infantry. …….. “Nothing further occurred until 5 A. M. when the regiment was formed in line of battle and moved across an open field about a half-mile, when the skirmishers under Captain Johnson were again fired upon by the enemy. I arrived on the field at 7 A. M. and took command. Soon after I relieved Captain Johnson’s company of skirmishers by sending forward Company B, Captain Goben, to take their place, which position Captain Goben maintained, skirmishing with the enemy occasionally until about 12 o’clock noon, when by your order, moved the regiment out of the woods, across an open field under fire of shot and shell from a battery of the enemy. Crossing a rail and stone fence, and ascending a steep hill, followed to our left, and somewhat in our rear by the Eighty-sixth Illinois under command of Colonel Irons.

We came upon a force of the enemy outnumbering us, who at once opened a galling fire upon us which was returned by my regiment.

Company B, Captain Goben being the left flanking company and near where the enemy was in heavy force under cover of a rail fence and under the slope of a hill sustained the brunt of the battle, suffering the loss of four killed and three wounded; but the captain leading his men stood up resolutely, and after my regiment had obstinately contested the ground for twenty minutes, the enemy gave way and fled in confusion, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.”

At some point during the charge up Peter’s Hill, Zephaniah received a severe wound. It was not by enemy artillery or muskets; but by someone from his own company.  In Zephaniah’s pension paperwork, the regimental surgeon; under oath, explains what happened that day. ” That at the battle of Perryville in the state of Kentucky on the 8th day of October 1862, while making a charge on the enemy, Zephaniah H. Crain, a private in Co. B, of said 10th Reg’t. Ind. Vols., while in the service of the United States and in the line of his duty was injured in the left eye, by being struck in the eye by a bush which was violently jerked down by one of the men of said company, who had seized hold of the brush to aid himself in climbing the hill.

I treated him for said injury for only a few days and then submitted him to the General Hospital. On account, and by reason of the injury above described, said eye inflamed and the sight of said eye was thereby entirely destroyed.”

Zephaniah would be in the hospital for several months, Perryville would be his last battle. He was not finished with the military though, he was transferred to Company A; 8th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, October 1, 1863. The Veteran Reserve Corps (V.R.C.) were soldiers who could not perform normal field duties, they were used as guards of prisoners or placed at other low key duty stations to free up fit troops for the field.  When his term of 3 years came up, he re-enlisted in the  V.R.C., he would muster out in 1865, it seems that serving his country was important to Zephaniah.  As stated before he applied for a soldiers pension and it was granted to him. In his later years his eye wound was still giving him trouble, a doctor stated that it had “sunken back in the socket and still drained fluid.” Zephaniah Crain lived the rest of his life with scars from a random battlefield accident, he would carry a small part of Perryville with him until his death. He was proud of his service; belonging to the Grand Army of the Republic, Abe Lincoln Post #24 in Mace, Indiana. Zephaniah died a widower on August 23, 1898, he is buried in the Mace K of P Cemetery. His daughter Malinda married Samuel Landis Busenbark in Montgomery County, Indiana.

Scott Busenbark