Saturday, April 26, 2008

Nicholas Contor

Nicholas Contor, also known as “Canton”, “Courter” or “Konter”, was born 1836 in Prussia.

Nicholas immigrated to the United States, and eventually settled in Michigan. He was probably working as a farmer and living in Grand Rapids’ First Ward just before the war broke out.

He stood 6’0” with hazel eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion, and was 28 years old when he enlisted in Company C on January 5, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered the following day. (Company C was made up largely of German and Dutch immigrants, many of whom lived on the west side of the Grand River in Grand Rapids. This company was the descendant of the old Grand Rapids Rifles, also known as the “German Rifles”, a prewar local militia company composed solely of German troopers.)

On paper Nicholas joined the Regiment on February 18 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, and was transferred to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. In fact, it appears that he never left te state of Michigan. He was listed as absent sick in November, and was reported as having died on October 23, 1864, of disease at Detroit, and was buried in Elmwood cemetery: section K, no. 29.

No pension seems to be available.

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