George T. Joslin updated 10/29/2017

George T. Joslin was born March 7, 1836, in New York, the son of New Jersey native George L. and Illinois native Margareth.

George left New York and came to western Michigan sometime before the war broke out.

He was a 25-year-old farmer possibly living in the vicinity of Hastings, Barry County when he enlisted in the Hastings Rifle Company in April of 1861. The company was disbanded shortly after it arrived in Grand Rapids and its members distributed to other companies of the 3rd Michigan infantry then forming at Cantonment Anderson just south of the city.

George eventually enlisted in Company K on May 13, 1861. (He may have been related to George Taite, who also served in Company K, and who married a woman named Florence Joslin in 1866.) He was absent sick at Yorktown, Virginia in July of 1862, o

n furlough, probably from the hospital, in August, and he possibly returned to the Regiment by early spring of 1863.

On March 26, 1863, George was transferred to the United States Navy, promoted to Master’s Mate, and he served aboard the steamer Tuscarora, a third rate screw of 927 tons with 10 guns and stationed with the South Atlantic squadron in 1864 on special coastal service (blockading service) and which also sailed along the coast of Europe. Joslin was appointed acting Ensign on June 18, 1864, while serving aboard the Potomska, a fourth rate screw of 287 tons carrying 6 guns and serving with the South Atlantic squadron also on blockading duty. He resigned on April 28, 1865.

George eventually returned to Michigan.

He may have been living in Barry County when he married Irish-born Margaret Parker (b. 1841) on January 1, 1865 in Barry County, and they had at least three children: Henry (1866-1919), Arthur (1868-1875) and Lucy (1869-1955, Mrs. Rorick).

In 1870 George was working as a and living with his wife and three children in Thornapple, Barry county. By 1880 George was a widower working as a lumberman and living alone in Harvey, Marquette County.

George was living in Marquette where he married Canadian Adaline Ward (1859-1957) on August 1, 1881 and they had at least four children: Arthur (1882-1973), Perley (1890-1971), William Ward (1884-1977), John Wesley (1888-1974), and two unnamed infant boys (d. 1892 and 1899).

George was living in Chocolay, Marquette County in 1890 and 1894, when he was suffering from liver and kidney disease. George was living in Michigan in 1890 when he applied for and received a pension (17790?). George and Adaline and their four sons were living in Marquette when he was admitted to the Michigan soldiers’ Home (no. 2557) on December 5, 1895; he was discharged on November 30, 1896, readmitted on February 5, 1897 and discharged for the last time on March 24, 1897.

George died on May 25, 1900, of heart disease, at St. Luke’s hospital in Marquette. He was buried in Park Cemetery in Marquette.

In 1900 Adaline and her four sons were living in Chocolay. She applied for and received a widow’s pension (14701?); a minor child’s pension (18062?) was also granted as well.