Augustus Eckermann, also known as “Ekerman” or “Ackerman.”was born on May 3, 1817, in Mecklinburg, Germany, the son of Christof.
Augustus left Germany and immigrated to the United States, and eventually settled in western Michigan. He was possibly married sometime before the war -- they had a son who was crippled --and was either widowed or divorced by the time he married his second wife, Bertha Rosenhaur (d. 1868) in Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan, on June 14, 1863.
He stood 5’11” with brown eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 42-year-old farmer possibly living in Muskegon County when he enlisted in Company C on January 29, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Muskegon, and was mustered the same 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.)
Augustus joined the Regiment on February 18 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, and was reported missing in action on May 12 at Spotsylvania, Virginia. He soon returned to the Regiment and was transferred to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He was again reported missing in action and wounded severely on October 27, 1864, at the Boydton Plank road, near Petersburg, Virginia, and it is likely that he was taken prisoner, since he was mustered out on June 19, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio, the camp for former prisoners-of-war.
After the war Augustus eventually returned to Muskegon County and was living in Norton, Muskegon County when he married Prussian-born Flora or Florentine Kramer (1829-1918) in Black Lake, Norton Township, on April 22, 1869.
They were still living in Norton in 1870 and in 1880 when Augustus was working as a farmer; also living with them was a son Albert. By 1883 he was living in Muskegon drawing a pension (no. 108215) $16.00 per month, for an injury to the abdomen and a gunshot wound in the head (pension no. 108,215). He was reportedly still living in Muskegon in 1888.
According to his wife, August became quite ill sick in November of 1892, he was suffering from a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and was confined to his bed until the following spring.
Augustus died in Muskegon Heights on March14, 1893, and was buried in Muskegon in Oakwood cemetery: section 2 lot 7 grave 8.
His widow applied for and received a pension (no. 509556), drawing $8 per month by 1901. She was living in Muskegon heights in 1900.
Augustus left Germany and immigrated to the United States, and eventually settled in western Michigan. He was possibly married sometime before the war -- they had a son who was crippled --and was either widowed or divorced by the time he married his second wife, Bertha Rosenhaur (d. 1868) in Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan, on June 14, 1863.
He stood 5’11” with brown eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 42-year-old farmer possibly living in Muskegon County when he enlisted in Company C on January 29, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Muskegon, and was mustered the same 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.)
Augustus joined the Regiment on February 18 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, and was reported missing in action on May 12 at Spotsylvania, Virginia. He soon returned to the Regiment and was transferred to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He was again reported missing in action and wounded severely on October 27, 1864, at the Boydton Plank road, near Petersburg, Virginia, and it is likely that he was taken prisoner, since he was mustered out on June 19, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio, the camp for former prisoners-of-war.
After the war Augustus eventually returned to Muskegon County and was living in Norton, Muskegon County when he married Prussian-born Flora or Florentine Kramer (1829-1918) in Black Lake, Norton Township, on April 22, 1869.
They were still living in Norton in 1870 and in 1880 when Augustus was working as a farmer; also living with them was a son Albert. By 1883 he was living in Muskegon drawing a pension (no. 108215) $16.00 per month, for an injury to the abdomen and a gunshot wound in the head (pension no. 108,215). He was reportedly still living in Muskegon in 1888.
According to his wife, August became quite ill sick in November of 1892, he was suffering from a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and was confined to his bed until the following spring.
Augustus died in Muskegon Heights on March14, 1893, and was buried in Muskegon in Oakwood cemetery: section 2 lot 7 grave 8.
His widow applied for and received a pension (no. 509556), drawing $8 per month by 1901. She was living in Muskegon heights in 1900.
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