Saturday, December 06, 2008

Nelson G. Grommond

Nelson G. Grommond, also known as “Drummond,” was born 1839 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the son of Jarls or Earls (b. 1807) and Nancy (b. 1815).

Both born in New York Nelson’s parents settled in Ohio by 1837 when their daughter Louisa was born. By 1850 Nelson was attending school with four of his siblings and living on the family farm in Bedford, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. By 1860 his family had moved to Michigan and were living in Boston, Ionia (Nelson is not living with them however).

Nelson was a 22-year-old a painter possibly living in Boston, Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on February 10, 1862, at Saranac, Ionia County for 3 years, and was mustered the same day. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.) He was reported in the hospital at Bottom’s Bridge, Virginia in late June suffering from “a lame back,” and remained hospitalized through September of 1862. Nelson eventually rejoined the Regiment and was promoted to Corporal.

He was killed accidentally on January 6, 1863, at Camp Pitcher, Virginia. The Detroit Advertiser and Tribune reported that he “was instantly killed by the springing back of a tree which he was felling. He was a young man of good character and a good soldier, and till now escaped the bullets of the enemy, and lost his life by an accident.”

Nelson may have been buried initially on the Primmer farm but was eventually interred in Fredericksburg National Cemetery: grave no. 2582 (or 124).

No pension seems to be available. (His brother Franklin received a pension for service in the Sixth Michigan cavalry.)

His father and younger brother Cyrenus were still living in Boston, Ionia County in 1870.

No comments: