Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Martin Clyse

Martin Clyse, also known as “Clise”, was born around 1841 probably in New York, and probably the son of Frederick (b. 1815) and Margaret (b. 1820).

Both New York natives, Martin’s parents were presumably married in New York where they resided for many years. Sometime between 1855 and 1857 the family left New York and settled in Michigan. By 1860 Martin was working as a common laborer and living with his family in Salt River, Coe Township, Isabella County.

He was 20 years old and possibly living in Isabella or Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on May 13, 1861. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.)

Martin was accidentally shot and killed by a soldier of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania infantry on March 19, 1862 at Alexandria, Virginia. Curiously, according to the U.S. Quartermaster General’s “Roll of Honor” he was reported as having died January 11, 1864 and interred in Alexandria National Cemetery: section A, grave no. 1275; it is possible that he was in fact reinterred on that date.

His parents received pensions based on the service of their son Jacob Clise (b. 1845 in New York) who was killed at Antietam on September 17, 1862, while serving with the Eighth Michigan infantry: in 1886 Margaret received a pension (337867 and cert. no. 231717) and in 1890 Frederick received one as well (704335 and cert. no. 513169). In 1870 the family was living in Bath, Clinton County.

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