Edgar F. Teele - update 8/28/2016

Edgar F. Teele was born in July 1824 or June of 1825 in Troy, Rensselaer County, New York, probably the son or grandson of William (b. 1780).

In 1830 there was one William Teal and one Adam Teal living in Troy’s 2nd Ward, Rensselaer County, New York, There was one William Teal living in Troy’s First Ward, Rensselaer County, New York, in 1840.

Edgar was married to New York native Ruby M. (b. 1825), probably in New York, and they had at least five children: William H. (b. 1849), Alice B. (b. 1852), Robert (b. 1857) and Helen (b. 1859) and Elizabeth (b. 1861).

By 1850 Edgar was working as a painter and living with his wife and son William, and all were living with New Jersey native William Teale in Brooklyn’s Tenth Ward, King’s County, New York.

They probably moved from New York to Ohio sometime before 1852, then to Michigan between 1852 and 1857, and by 1860 Edgar was a painter living with his wife and children, and another painter by the name of Edward Fitch, in Grand Rapids’ 4th Ward.

On July 2, 1860, Edgar joined the Grand Rapids Artillery, commanded by Captain Baker Borden. (The GRA would serve as the nucleus for Company B, also commanded by Borden, of the 3rd Michigan Infantry.)

Edgar stood 5’9” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was 36 years old and probably living in Grand Rapids when he enlisted as Second Corporal in Company B on May 13, 1861. Edgar was discharged for general debility and chronic rheumatism on November 12, 1862, at Armory Square hospital, Washington, DC.

After he was discharged from the army Edgar returned to Michigan where he reentered the army in Company A, 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics. (Borden interestingly enough, resigned from the 3rd Michigan in the summer of 1861, returned to Grand Rapids, and reentered the service as captain of Company B, Michigan E & M.)

After the war Edgar returned to Michigan, probably to Grand Rapids. By 1870 he was working as a painter and living with his wife and children in Grand Rapids’ 3rd Ward; he was living in Grand Rapids 1874 and 1879, and working as a painter and living with his wife in Grand Rapids’ 3rd Ward in 1880 but reportedly moved to Chicago sometime in the 1880s. By 1890 he was living in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska. By 1900 he was la widower living in Omaha’s 6th Ward, Dodge County, Nebraska.

Edgar was a member of the 3rd Michigan Infantry Association.

He was living in Nebraska when he applied for and received a pension (no. 564468).

Edgar was probably living in Omaha, Nebraska when he died on December 12, 1900, and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.

Frederick Teadt

Frederick Teadt was born in 1824 in Mecklinburg, Germany.

Frederick immigrated to America and had settled in western Michigan before late 1861.

He stood 5’2” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was a 37-year-old farmer possibly living in Kent County when he enlisted in Company B on November 19, 1861, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered on December 23 at Detroit. He was absent sick in January of 1862, and reported AWOL in August. He reenlisted on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, was subsequently absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864 and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February. He was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and was mustered out on June 20 or July 5, 1865.

After the war Frederick returned to Michigan.

He was married to Maine native Almira or Mena (1834-1903), and they had at least two children: Jay (b. 1864) and Anna (b. 1870).

By 1880 he was working as a and living with his wife and children on Grand Rapids Street in Middleville, Barry County.

He was living in Middleville in 1883 when he was drawing $4.00 per month for rheumatism (pension no. 177,825, dated October of 1880).

Frederick was living in Middleville in 1884 when he attended the Sixth Annual Reunion of the Soldiers and Sailors, at Battle Creek, Calhoun County. He was living in Thornapple, Barry County in 1890. Indeed, he probably lived the remainder of his life in Middleville.

Frederick married his second wife Flora E., possibly in Middleville.

He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association and G.A.R. Hill Post No. 159 in Middleville.

Frederick died July 28, 1913, in Middleville and was buried in Mt. Hope cemetery, Middleville.

Vincent Taylor

Vincent Taylor was born on December 22, 1839, in Jackson County, Michigan.

In 1850 there was one Vincent Taylor, age 11 years, living with the Hiram Fish (or Fisk) family in Sharon, Washtenaw County, Michigan. By 1860 Vinson was a farm laborer living with and/or working for Curtis Hawley, a “general dealer” (merchant) in Lyons, Ionia County.

He stood 5’8” with dark eyes, black hair and a dark complexion and was 21 years old and living in Grand Rapids or perhaps in Ionia County when he enlisted as Sixth Corporal in Company E on May 13, 1861, but was left behind sick in Grand Rapids on June 13, 1861, when the Regiment departed for Washington, DC.

Vinson returned to his home in Ionia County and was residing in Lyons when, on June 12, 1862, he wrote to Colonel Smith in the Adjutant General’s office in Detroit requesting instructions: “I report to you as not fit for service. I have been very sick with the inflammation on the lungs but am slowly [recovering] . My furlough runs out the 14th of this month but the doctor thinks that it will be best for me to stay here a few days longer. But if you think it is best to come there send me a pass and I will come.”

First Lieutenant Andrew Nickerson of Company E, wrote on July 26, 1862, that Taylor had been “absent from his regt since the regt left Mich having been left sick in the hospital at Grand Rapids when the regt left that place. Has reported regularly each month to his company by mail.”

Vinson was carried on the rolls as absent sick in Michigan in July and August of 1862, but was reported as having allegedly deserted on September 21, 1862, at Upton’s Hill, Virginia. He was in fact discharged on or about July 1, 1862, at Detroit, on account of typhoid pneumonia.

He gave his mailing address on his discharge paper as Lyons, and eventually settled in Portland.

Vincent married New Jersey native Sarah (1840-1917); she was probably married before and had a daughter Ida Earl (b. 1860) by her previous marriage.

By 1870 Vincent was working as a farmer (he owned $2000 worth of real estate) and living with his wife and stepdaughter in Portland. He was still living in Portland in 1890 and 1894, and probably lived in Portland the rest of his life.

Vincent was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Megarrah Post No. 132 in Portland. In 1890 he applied for and received a pension (no. 772973).

Vinson died a widower in Portland on November 1, 1918, and was buried in Portland cemetery: E-261-OS.

Samuel C. Taylor

Samuel C. Taylor was born in 1836 in Burton, Geauga County, Ohio.

Samuel left Ohio and settled in western Michigan sometime before the war broke out.

He stood 6’1” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was a 25-year-old farmer probably living in Allendale, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company I on May 13, 1861, probably with his younger brother David. He was possibly related to Chauncey, James, John A., John M., and/or Martin, all of whom would enlist in Company I. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.)

Samuel was absent sick in the hospital from August of 1862 through July of 1863. In fact William Cobb of Company I wrote from Camp Curtin, Virginia, on April 21, 1863, that “Sam Taylor is here in the hospital.” Samuel eventually recovered and was present for duty when he reenlisted on December 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Hamburg, Livingston County. He was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough, possibly in Michigan, during January of 1864, and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February.

Samuel may have been wounded in the abdomen in early May, either at the Wilderness or at Spotsylvania, was subsequently reported absent sick and was still absent sick when he was transferred as a Corporal to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. Samuel remained absent wounded through October of 1864, and was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

After the war Samuel returned to Michigan.

He was married to Michigan native Sophronia C. (b. 1846) and they had at least four children: Minnie (b. 1868), Jayson (b. 1872), Adelbert R. (b. 1875) and Samuel A. (b. 1878).

By 1870 Samuel was working as a farm laborer and living with his wife and daughter in Ovid, Clinton County; next door lived his younger brother David and his family. Samuel was living in Ovid in 1880, and in Shepherdsville, Clinton County in 1883 (Dennis Birmingham, formerly of Company F lived near by) when he was drawing $8.00 for injury to the abdomen (pension no. 88,152). He was still living in Clinton County in 1887 and 1890 and in Ovid in 1894.

Samuel is reportedly buried in either South Ovid cemetery or in Blood cemetery in Clinton County.

Lyman Taylor

Lyman Taylor was born in 1843.

(He was possibly related to Lyman and Fanny Taylor of Van Buren County, Michigan. In 1860 one Lyman Taylor, a farmer, age 42 and born in Ohio and his wife Fanny, age 30, and born in New York, moved to Michigan sometime before 1854 and were living with their four children in Arlington, Van Buren County. In 1860 there was one Lyman Taylor, b. 1847 in Michigan, living with his father David, b. 1810, and mother Jane, b. 1828 and siblings in Lyon, Oakland County; in 1880 this Lyman was working as a farmer and still living with his parents and his younger brother Charles, b. 1852, in Oakland County.)

Lyman was 18 years old and living in Ionia County, Michigan, when he enlisted in Company H on November 21, 1861 in Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered on December 13 at Detroit. He is not found in the 1905 Third Michigan Regimental history.

Lyman was reported as absent sick in a general hospital in July of 1862 through August, and allegedly deserted on September 21 at Upton’s Hill, Virginia. In fact, he was either still absent in the hospital and subsequently discharged for disability on October 3, 1862, at Edward’s Ferry, Maryland, or he had already been discharged as of June 28 at Detroit.

Either way it does not appear that Lyman reentered the military nor is there a pension available for his service in the Third Michigan infantry.

John Taylor

John Taylor was born in 1824 in Quebec, Canada.

John left Canada and came to Michigan sometime before the war broke out. (He may have been living in Lyon, Oakland County in1860.)

He stood 5’11” with brown eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was a 37-year-old shoemaker possibly living in Kent County or in Allendale, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company C on May 13, 1861 (he may have been related to the Taylor brothers from Allendale). John allegedly deserted on July 29, 1861, at Arlington, Virginia, but in fact had probably been hospitalized and was discharged for right-side inguinal hernia on September 14, 1861, at Hunter's Farm, Virginia.

After his discharge John eventually returned to Michigan and settled in Grand Rapids where he worked as a farmer for many years.

In 1883 he applied for and received pension no. 518221, drawing $16.00 per month in 1896 (?).

John was a widower with no family when he was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (no. 441) for the first time on November 18, 1886, and discharged on July 30, 1887; he was in and out of the home several times before being admitted to the Home for the last time on March 31, 1897.

John died of senile debility and cystitis at the Home on April 6, 1897, and was buried in the Home cemetery: section 1 row 2 grave no. 33.

Guilford Dudley Taylor - update 9/7/2016

Guilford Dudley Taylor was born on June 1, 1847, in either Vermontville, Franklin County, New York or in Hermon, St. Lawrence County, New York, the son of Vermonters David (b. 1812) and Nancy (Van Kamp, b. 1807).

The family moved to Michigan sometime between 1847 and 1850 when David and his family had settled in Wright, Ottawa County where he worked as a blacksmith. By 1860 Guilford was a farmer living with his parents in Polkton, Ottawa County.

Guilford stood 5’4” with brown eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was 14 years old and probably still living in Polkton when he enlisted in Company C on May 13, 1861. He was discharged on October 21, 1861, at Fort Richardson, Virginia, for “general debility” and “deformity of right elbow of long standing caused by fall from horse 10 years since, [which] produced fracture of joint.”

After he left the army Guilford returned to Ottawa County, probably to the family home in Coopersville, Polkton Township.

He married Lucy A. Randall (1845-1934), on December 3, 1866, in Coopersville and they had at least four children: Percy (b. 1868), Adda (b. 1873), Fanny (1876-1895) and Guilford (b. 1896). Lucy was the sister of Charles Randall also of the 3rd Michigan.

Guildford was probably living in Polkton in September of 1869 when his son Percy. By 1870 he was working as a shoemaker and living with his father in Polkton, Ottawa County, and Lucy is living with her parents in Coopersville -- also living with her is a 6-year-old boy named Charles Randall, probably named after her brother who died during the war. Guilford was living in Polkton in September of 1873 when his daughter Adda died of dysentery.

By 1880 Guilford was working as a sailor and living with his wife and children with his father-in- in Coopersville. In 1920 Guilford was living with his wife Lucy and their son Guilford in Coopersville. It is quite likely Guilford lived in Coopersville the rest of his life.

He was a member of the 3rd Michigan Infantry Association, and of the Grand Army of the Republic Randall post. no. 238 in Coopersville (close to Charles Randall in fact), and he received a pension (no. 389732) dated June 6, 1888, increased to $30.00 per month in 1918, and to $72.00 per month in 1924.

Guilford died on Sunday February 9, 1930, in Coopersville. Funeral services were held at the family resident on Wednesday. The service was conducted by the Rev. Joseph Tuma who spoke on Titus 6:7. Horace Walcott and Lester Westover sang “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Nearer my God to Thee.” Guilford was buried in Coopersville cemetery.

In late February of 1930 his widow was living in Michigan when she applied for a pension (no. 1661926) but the certificate was never granted.

George Philo Taylor - updated 5/23/2015

George Philo Taylor was born on October 9, 1837, in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan, the son of Levi (born 1792 in Vermont, died 1871) and Lucy Reed (born 1798 in New York).

Levi married Lucy in 1818 in Gorham, Ontario County, New York, and by 1819 they were living in Lewiston, Niagara County. They moved to Lockport in Niagara County sometime before 1824 and resided there until at least 1828.

Between 1828 and 1837 they moved to Michigan settling in Ypsilanti by the time George and his twin brother William were born. Levi eventually settled in Ionia County, in Cass Township by 1840 and by 1850 was working a a farm in Ionia Township, where George attended school with his siblings. In 1860 George was a student living in Ionia, Ionia County, possibly with his older brother Palmer and his family, where his brother worked as a carpenter. Their parents lived just a few houses away.

George was 22 years old and residing in Ionia when he enlisted in Company E on May 13, 1861. (Company E was composed in large part by men from Clinton and Ingham counties, as well as parts of Ionia County.) George was reported Regimental Bandmaster in May of 1862, but following the abolition of Regimental bands in the Army of the Potomac in the summer of 1862, George was designated as a hospital steward on August 1, 1862, at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia. He was mustered out on June 20, 1864, at Detroit.

After his discharge George returned to Michigan.

He was married to Michigan native Hannah Beckwith (b. 1842) and they had at least one child: Jean (b. 1868). By 1870 George was working as a farmer and living with his wife and child in Ionia, Ionia County; next door lived George’s parents. (Levi died in Ionia in 1871.) By 1880 George was a widower and working as a physician and living with his daughter Jean in the village of Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado; also living with them was his mother-in-law Jean Beckwith. His widowed mother Lucy was still living in Ionia, Ionia County in 1880. No pension seems to be available.

He died in April of 1882 and was buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Loveland, Colorado.

David E. Taylor

David E. Taylor was born in 1840 in Burton, Geauga County, Ohio.

David left Ohio and had settled in Michigan by the time the broke out.

He stood 6’1” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was a 21-year-old farmer possibly from St. Johns, Clinton County, or perhaps living in Georgetown, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company I on May 13, 1861, along with his older brother Samuel. (Both were possibly related to Chauncey B., James, John A., John M. and Martin, all of whom would also enlist in Company I.) David was sick in the hospital from May 29, 1862, and according to one report he was among the sick and wounded soldiers who had arrived in Detroit Barracks on July 9. He remained hospitalized, possibly in Detroit, until he was discharged for chronic diarrhea on April 30, 1863, at Camp Convalescent, Virginia.

He was married to Pennsylvania native Hannah M. (b. 1843) and they had at least one child: Clara E. (b. 1865).

They were probably living in Ohio in 1865 when their daughter Clara was born but David eventually returned to Michigan. By 1870 he was working as a farm laborer and living with his wife and daughter in Ovid, Clinton County, next door to his older brother Samuel and his family. (In 1880 Samuel and his family were still residing in Ovid.)

In 1869 (?) he applied for and received a pension (no. 345960).

Taylor brothers: Chauncey, James, John and Martin - update 8/31/2016

The Taylor brothers were four sons of the son of James Hough (born 1811 in Ontario, Canada, died 1873 in Michigan) and Harriet Brewer (born 1811 in New York, died 1854 in Michigan).

James married Harriet on November 11, 1832, in Wilson, Niagara County, New York, and came to Michigan sometime before 1834. By 1840 the family had settled in Oakland County. Sometime probably after 1843 James moved his family again, and by 1850 had settled in Eagle Township, Clinton County. After Harriet died in May of 1854, James remarried to Chloe Stansell in July of that same year and the family settled in Allendale, Ottawa County. James was serving as a Justice of the Peace in Ottawa County by the early 1860s.

See their individual biographical sketches:

Chauncey Brewer Taylor
James Mortimer Taylor
John Abram Taylor
Martin Van Buren Taylor

Frederick Tate

Frederick Tate was born in 1828, in England or in Massachusetts.

Frederick was probably living in Rhode Island when he married Rhode Island native Charlotte E. Hadley (1817-1906) on August 4, 1849, in Providence, and they had at least one child, a daughter Jennie L. (1850-1920), who may have been either physically handicapped or mentally ill.

By 1850 Fred was working in a factory and living with his wife Charlotte in Providence, Rhode Island. Next door lived one Andrew Tate, who had been born in 1820 in Massachussetts. Fred left Rhode Island, probably by himself, and eventually settled in western Michigan by 1860 when he was working as a lumberman and shingle-maker living with and/or working for William Woodruff, a farmer in Blendon, Ottawa County. (Curiously there were four Tate brothers also living in Ottawa County who would join Company I along with Fred; three of them had also been born in Massachussets.)

Although he listed his place of residence during the war as Providence, Rhode Island (his wife remained in Rhode Island during this period), Fred was 33 years old and probably working in Georgetown, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company I on May 13, 1861.

Fred was absent sick in the hospital in August of 1862, probably suffering from typhoid fever, and according to the testimony of Captain Thomas Tate of Company I, Frederick contracted the disease “in the field in the following manner. While the company to which he belonged was lying before Richmond he was attacked with diarrhea and chill fever, caused by exposure and over exertion and on the arrival of the Regiment at Alexandria, Va., en route to join Gen. Pope, he was sent to the gen. hospital at Washington, DC.”

On August 25, 1862, Fred was admitted to Emory hospital, Washington, DC where he died of typhoid fever on August 31, 1862, and was buried in the Military Asylum cemetery (Soldier's Home National cemetery), probably in section C no. 3256. If so he was mistakenly listed as “William” Tate.

His widow, who was living in Providence, applied for and received pension no. 31,087, dated March of 1864. Subsequently a pension was also filed on behalf of and approved for a “helpless child”(no. 824,774), dated March of 1917. From 1890 to 1892 Charlotte was living at 2 Olney in Providence, working at machine stitching.

Alfred, John Jr., Thomas and William Tate

Alfred E. Tate was born in 1842 in Franklin County, Massachusetts, the son of John (1815-1900) and Barbara (1815-1888).

Sometime between 1837 and 1840 his parents moved from England to Massachusetts, and then from Massachusetts to Michigan between 1844 and 1846, and by 1850 Alfred was living with his family in Georgetown, Ottawa County, where his father worked as a laborer.

By 1860 Alfred was living with his family and attending school with three of his younger siblings. He was also apparently was working as a mill hand and living at the Paddock boarding house in Georgetown along with John Finch (Company I), Albert Hayes (Company I), Joseph Ledbeter (Company B), Benjamin Parker (Company I), James Parm (Company I), Thomas Rowling (Company B), Stephen Scales (Company I), his older brother William (Company I), and John M. Taylor (Company I).

Alfred stood 5’10” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 22 years old and probably still living in Georgetown when he enlisted in Company F on February 8, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered the same day, joining his three older brothers Thomas, William and John who had previously enlisted in Company I (and he was possibly related to Frederick who would also enlist in Company I). Alfred joined the Regiment on February 17 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, was absent sick in the hospital in May and may have still been absent in the hospital when he was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He was absent on sick leave from December of 1864 through January of 1865, and was mustered out as a Corporal on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

After the war Alfred eventually returned to western Michigan.

In 1871 Alfred married New York native Joanna (d. 1854), and they had at least four children: Frank (b. 1874), Alfred, William and Ray.

He was possibly working as a drayman (if so possibly for his brother Thomas who owned a livery stable in Lowell) and living in Lowell, Kent County in the late 1860s. By 1870 he was living with his parents in Georgetown, Ottawa County in 1870; his father owned $2000 worth of real estate. By 1880 Alfred was working as a farmer and living with his wife and son Frank in Georgetown. And he was living in Georgetown in 1890 and in 1894. By 1895 he was residing in Hudsonville, Ottawa County where he was living from 1906-10 and on R.R. no. 1 in 1911 and 1922, and in Grandville, Kent County in 1916, 1923 and 1925.

Alfred was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and the Grand Army of the Republic Custer Post No. 5 in Grand Rapids until he was suspended November 26, 1908.

In 1890 he applied for and received a pension (no. 791371).

Alfred died on September 14, 1928 or 1929, in Hudsonville, and was buried in Georgetown cemetery: lot 452 grave no. 1.

In 1928 or 1929 his widow also applied for a pension (no. 1627856) but the certificate was never granted.

John Tate Jr. was born in 1844, probably in Leighton (?), Massachusetts, the son of John (1815-1900) and Barbara (1815-1888).

Sometime between 1837 and 1840 the family moved from England to Massachusetts, then from Massachusetts to Michigan between 1844 and 1846, and by 1850 John was living with his family in Georgetown, Ottawa County, where his father worked as a laborer. His father John was still living in Georgetown in 1860.

John stood 5’9” with blue eyes, brown hair and light complexion and was an 18-year-old farmer living in Georgetown when he enlisted in Company I, joining his older brothers Thomas and William (who had enlisted in Company I in 1861), on August 19 or 20, 1862, at Ionia for 3 years, crediting Georgetown, and was mustered on August 19 at Detroit; another older brother Alfred would enlist in Company F in 1864. John may have been related to Frederick who also enlisted in Company I. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.)

John Jr. joined the Regiment on September 8 at Upton’s Hill, Virginia, and was in the Regimental Quartermaster department in charge of public animals from December of 1862 through November of 1863. In late February and early march of 1864 he was hospitalized, presumably in the regimental hospital, suffering from “intermittent fever” and returned to duty probably sometime in March. In any case, he was present for duty and with his company when he was severely wounded in both of his thighs on May 6, 1864 and subsequently hospitalized. John was probably still absent sick when he was transferred to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and he remained absent sick through the summer. In fact he was furloughed, probably from a hospuital, in late July. He remained absent sick from the regiment until he was discharged for disability on October 8 at Armory Square hospital, Washington, DC, or on October 14, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia.

After he was discharged from the army John returned to Michigan.

In October of 1864 he applied for and received a pension (no. 35432).

He was probably living in Lowell, Kent County in 1869, when he married Michigan native Fanny or Fannie M. Miller (1850-1926) on September 6, 1869, in Vergennes, Kent County, and they had at least three children: Lizzie B. (b. 1871), Edith Lucy (b. 1881) and John Evert (b. 1884).

By 1870 he was working as baggage agent and living with his wife in Lowell village, Kent County; his older brother Thomas operated a livery stable and lived just two houses away. (His parents were still living in Georgetown, Ottawa County in 1870; his father owned $2000 worth of real estate.) John and his wife were still living in Michigan in 1871 by the time their daughter was born but eventually moved to Kansas. By 1880 John was working as a stock and grain dealer and living with his wife and daughter in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas; also living with them were Ann Miller, his mother-in-law, a boarder named George Evans and a servant named Lizzie Williams.

John died on February 14, 1886, in Chicago, Illinois, and the body was returned to Concordia where he was buried on February 17, 1886.

Fannie was living in Concordia, Kansas, in 1886 when she applied for a dependent widow’s pension. By 1890 Fannie had remarried to a W. E. Poston and was living in Concordia, Kansas in August of 1890 when she applied for a pension as guardian on behalf of aher two minor children (no. 427013). (She eventually divorced Mr. Poston and remarried to Fernando Page, of Grand Rapids and Washington, DC. Page, too, had served in the Third Michigan during the war.

Thomas Tate was born in 1837 in England, the son of John (1815-1900) and Barbara (1815-1888).

Sometime between 1837 and 1840 the family moved from England to Massachusetts, then from Massachusetts to Michigan between 1844 and 1846, and by 1850 Thomas was living with his family in Georgetown, Ottawa County, where his father worked as a laborer. His father John was still living in Georgetown in 1860.

Thomas was 24 years old and probably living in Georgetown when he enlisted as Fifth Sergeant in Company I on May 13, 1861, along with his younger brother William. Their younger brothers John and Alfred would enlist in Company I in 1862 and in Company F in 1864, respectively. Thomas may also have been related to Frederick who also enlisted in Company I. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.)

Thomas was promoted to Second Lieutenant April 3, 1862, commissioned the same day, and in October was promoted to First Lieutenant, commissioned as of September 17. He was home in Michigan during the winter of 1863, and rejoined the regiment in early March of that year. Thomas transferred to Company B on May 1, 1863 and promoted to Captain, commissioned March 28, 1863, replacing Captain Fred Stowe.

He was wounded slightly in the right eye on May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. According to James Taylor of Company I, Thomas and eight other men became separated from the Third Michigan. About 11:00 p.m., wrote Taylor after the war, Birney’s division,”moved forward to that famous night charge, Ward’s brigade leading, ours following, and Graham’s following us, with orders to make as little noise as possible until we came upon the enemy; then make all the noise possible, both with our guns and throats, which we did to the best of our ability. In this charge we got separated, part swinging to the right and part toward the left. I was near the center, and after the first heavy firing had abated I found myself between two fires. . . . Capt Tait [sic] and eight others got together from my regiment that night. We got an early breakfast, while the Captain said he would look for the regiment.” It is unclear what became of Tate after that.

In any case, Thomas apparently recovered and by the first of September was reportedly in command of Company F. He was on detached service in Michigan, presumably recruiting, from December 29, 1863, through January of 1864, and returned to the Regiment in time for the opening of the Spring campaign. He was shot in the left side of his groin on May 12, 1864, at Spotsylvania, Virginia, and according to Dan Crotty of Company F, Thomas had been severely wounded while leading his company on a countercharge against the rebels. He was admitted to Mt. Pleasant hospital in Washington, DC on May 12 with a gunshot wound, and sent to Armory Square hospital in Washington on May 20.

He was still absent wounded when he was transferred as Captain to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and remained absent wounded through August. In fact, he had returned home to western Michigan on furlough. On July 14 he arrived at the Rathbun House in Grand Rapids.”The Captain,” wrote the Eagle the next day, “was wounded in battle on the 12th of May last, and he has been in hospital since that time, or up to within a few days past, when he had so far recovered as to enable him to come home. Capt. Tate and the majority of the men in his command were among the reenlisted veterans, who visited their homes in this city and vicinity, last winter upon a short furlough, under the command of Capt. Loring [Lowing].”

On August 22 he applied for an extension of his leave on the basis of his health, and supposedly left on the morning of September 5 to rejoin his command. In fact, in September of 1864 he reported for duty at the draft rendezvous in Jackson, Jackson County where he served through May of 1865 as Acting Assistant Inspector General. He was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Thomas eventually returned to western Michigan, and soon settled in Kent County. Thomas worked for some years as a tanner, and by the late 1860s he was working and living in Lowell, Kent County, and in September of 1868 was elected as Second Lieutenant of the newly formed Tanner’s Club in Lowell. The club was in the process building a new tannery in Lowell which was to be dedicated the following week.

He was working in the livery business when he married New York native Phebe Southard (1853-1919) on March 24, 1869, in Grand Rapids; they had at least four children: Willie (1871-1872), Maggie L. (b. 1874), George M. (1876-1961) and Bessie B. (b. 1878).

By 1870 Thomas owned and operated a livery stable in Lowell, Kent County and was living with his wife next door to her family; and next door to the Southards was Thomas’ younger brother John and his wife Fanny. John was working as a baggage agent. (His parents were still living in Georgetown, Ottawa County in 1870; his father owned $2000 worth of real estate.)

He was possibly living in Eaton Rapids, Eaton County in 1872, back in Lowell in 1874 where he operated a livery stable and worked as a deputy sheriff. According to the Eagle of April 11, 1874, deputy sheriff Thomas Tate arrested one William Fry who lived a short distance from Lowell and who was charged with raping his fifteen-year old daughter. Tate brought Fry to Grand Rapids, wrote the paper, “last night and lodged him in jail. He did not dare to leave him in Lowell, fearing that the people, in their indignation, would attempt to mob him, perhaps to lynch him.”

By 1880 Thomas was “keeping a livery stable” and living with his wife and children in Lowell. Also working at the stable was his brother-in-law George Southard.

Thomas was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. In 1870 he applied for and received a pension (no. 107093).

Thomas probably died in 1887, possibly in Michigan, and although there is no record of his death on file in Kent County, he may in fact have died in Lowell and may have been buried in Oakwood cemetery or in the Lowell area. (His widow was buried in Oakwood cemetery, 0-114-3 in 1919.)

In September of 1887 his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 343829). By 1890 she was residing in Lowell.

William Tate was born in 1840 in Massachusetts, the son of John (1815-1900) and Barbara (1815-1888).

Sometime between 1837 and 1840 the family moved from England to Massachusetts, then from Massachusetts to Michigan between 1844 and 1846, and by 1850 William was living with his family in Georgetown, Ottawa County, where his father worked as a laborer.

In 1860 William was a mill worker living in Georgetown at the same boarding house as John Finch (Company I) company, Albert Hayes (Company I), Joseph Ledbeter (Company B), Benjamin Parker (Company I), James Parm (Company I), Thomas Rowling (Company B), Stephen Scales (Company I), his younger brother Alfred (Company F), and John M. Taylor (Company I). (His father John was still living in Georgetown in 1860.)

William was 21 years old and residing in Georgetown when he enlisted as Fourth Corporal in Company I on May 13, 1861, along with his older brother Thomas. Their younger brothers John and Alfred would enlist in Company I in 1862 and in Company F in 1864, respectively; he may also have been related to Frederick who also enlisted in Company I. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.)

By mid-November 1861, William was in the Union Hotel hospital in Washington, DC. He apparently recovered his health and was present for duty and had been promoted to Sergeant when he was killed in action on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia. William was buried in Seven Pines National Cemetery: section D, grave 410, although there is a also marker for him in Georgetown cemetery, Ottawa County.

No pension seems to be available.

His parents were still living in Georgetown, Ottawa County in 1870; his father owned $2000 worth of real estate.

Levi S. Tanner

Levi S. Tanner was born on June 22, 1840, in either Columbus, Franklin County, or Fairfield, Butler County, Ohio, the son of the John B. (1815-1903) and Sarah (Peugh, 1819-1881).

Maryland native John B. married Sarah, probably in Ohio where she was born and eventually settled in Ohio by 1840. Levi’s family moved from Ohio to Michigan probably sometime between 1850 and 1860 when Levi was a farm laborer working for Zebulon Hinman in Sparta, Kent County. He was probably living with his family in Chester, Ottawa County, where his father worked as a farmer. (Nearby lived John Crysler who would also enlist in the Third Michigan.)

Levi stood 5’7” with black eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was 21 years old and residing in Chester when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861. He was reported as a company cook from September of 1862 through October, but had been promoted to Corporal by December 23, 1863, when he reenlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Grand Rapids’ Second Ward, and was probably absent on veteran’s furlough, presumably in Michigan, in January of 1864.

Levi probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February and was shot in the right thigh on May 12, 1864, at Spotsylvania, Virginia. He was subsequently hospitalized in Armory Square hospital in Washington, DC, and was still in the hospital when he was transferred as Corporal to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. On August 21 Levi was transferred from Armory Square hospital to Judiciary Square hospital in Washington, where his right leg was amputated above the knee.

He was furloughed on October 25 for 20 days, and while home on sick furlough he married Swedish-born Matilda Sowers (b. 1843) on December 4, 1864, in Walker, Kent County. Apparently he returned to Washington and was readmitted to the hospital on December 9. He discharged on December 29, 1864, at Judiciary Square for “loss of right thigh at lower third from gunshot wound.”

After his discharge from the army Levi returned to Kent County. He was living in Sparta by 1870 when he received an artificial leg from a company in Washington, DC. By 1880 he was working as a shoemaker and living with his wife in Sparta. In fact, he lived in Sparta virtually his entire life, where for some years he operated a store. (His father was still living in Chester, Ottawa County in 1880.)

He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and probably a member of the GAR.

Shortly after his discharge from the army Levi received pension no. 38,182, drawing $24.00 per month in 1883, increased to $48.00 in 1906, presumably for his amputated limb.

In 1873 he wrote to the War Department requesting an increase in his pension. On March 13, 1873, he sent a communication addressed to either the Secretary of War or the Pension Commissioner, informing them that “I feel that I had a right [to] have a rise in my pension. I have got so I can’t hardly get around, have to go on crutches most of my time so to get around. My stub [stump] has become so tender, and my armpits get so sore on hot days. If I am not very careful they will scald then [I] got to lie down on my back [with my] arms up over my head for one to three days to let them cool off & heal up. In all it is anything but pleasant, so as it is with me I got to stay at home [and] hear but little of what is going on in the outside world.”

According to a sworn statement Tanner gave in April of 1906, his “stump is now and has been for several years in such a condition as to totally prevent the use of an artificial limb. . . .” And in July of the same year Dr. John Gillett of Sparta testified that in fact he was ‘satisfied that he could with any comfort wear any kind of artificial limb, th stump not being suitable for one. The end of the femur is covered by not more than one-half inch of integument, and is very tender and sensitive to pressure.”

The following year, one Christine Strouhn testified that she had been taking care of Levi for some two years “in undressing and dressing, giving him baths, have helped him in various ways in getting about the house and down and up the steps have run wheel chair down the steps which he has to use in place of crutches in going about on the side walks. . . .”

Levi was still residing in Sparta in 1909 and 1913.

He died on March 4, 1919, in Sparta but his burial location remains unknown; there is no record of his death in Kent County or burial in the Sparta area.

George W. Tait - updated 12 Aug 2016

George W. Tait was born on June 23, 1837 or 1838, in Jefferson County, New York, the son of George W. and Jeanette (Kearns).

George’s parents emigrated from Scotland and arrived in America around 1833, settling eventually in New York. Around 1846 George’s family moved to Wisconsin, probably to Racine, Racine County, where his father was living in 1850; indeed, George’s parents remained in Racine for the rest of their lives.

George left Wisconsin and by 1860 had settled in western Michigan where he was working as a “log driver.” He was living in Muskegon, Muskegon County at the same boarding house with Thomas Waters, William Ryan and George Root, all three of whom would join Company H.

George stood 5’9” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 22 years old and possibly living in Newaygo County when he enlisted in Company K on May 13, 1861. George was shot in the left hand on July 1, 1862, at Malvern Hill, Virginia, and transferred from the field to the hospital at Fortress Monroe where he arrived on July 6 aboard the steamer Knickerbocker. He was discharged for disability on October 7, 1862, at Upton’s Hill, Virginia, presumably for his wounds.

After he was discharged George eventually returned to Michigan and for some years he lived in the Muskegon area, where he engaged in farming and lumbering.

He was married twice (or perhaps three times). He married his first wife, Florence Joslin (b. 1852), on July 1, 1866, and they had at least one child, a son George (b. 1871). (Florence may have been related to George Joslin, who had also served in Company K during the war.)

By 1870 George “Tate” was working as a raftsman and living with his wife and her family in Newaygo, Newaygo County. By 1880 George was working as a farmer and living with his wife and son in Sherman, Newaygo County.

It is not known whatever became of Florence. On February 13, 1883, George married Rhoda Steel. (He may also have been married to one Sophronia and/or to “M.”)

In June of 1875 George himself purchased 60 acres of land in Sherman Township in Newaygo County. He worked that land until 1882 when he sold it to Byron Waters. Beginning in about the early 1870s George was employed as foreman of several local lumbering companies: he was three years with Kell, Wood & Co., of Muskegon and five years with O. W. Squires. In the summer of 1883, George joined with Henry Orton and took over control of the Newaygo County Poor Farm, which then consisted of some 140 acres, 96 of which were under cultivation.

He was working as a farmer in Fremont, Newaygo County in 1883 when he was drawing $6.00 per month for a wounded left hand ( pension no. 100,127); that same year he was possibly working also in Hart, Oceana County.

By 1890 he was residing in Fremont and by 1894 he was probably living in Sherman, Newaygo County (or he may have been living in Elbridge, Oceana County). Sometime in the 1880s George joined the Grand Army of the Republic Henry Dobson post 182 in Fremont; and he was also a member of the I.O.O.F. Politically he was affiliated with the National Party.

George died of heart disease at his home in Fremont on April 4, 1900, and was buried in Maple Grove cemetery in Fremont: block 2-60.

Herbert Stevens Taft

Herbert Stevens Taft was born on July 27, 1840, in Sheffield or Kingsville (?), Ashtabula County, Ohio, the son of Matthew D. (1810-1891) and Susan (Stevens, b. 1813).

New York natives Matthew and Susan were married around 1835, possibly in New York and by 1837 had settled in Ohio where they lived for some years. By 1850 Matthew and his family were living in Sheffield, Ashtabula County, Ohio, where Herbert attended school with his siblings. Sometime between 1848 and 1849 the family moved to Michigan, and by 1860 Herbert was a student living with his family in Lyons, Ionia County, where his father owned a substantial farm.

Herbert stood 5’8” with black eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was 20 years old and probably still living in Ionia County when he enlisted as Second Corporal in Company E on May 13, 1861. He was absent sick from November of 1862 until he was discharged as a Sergeant for chronic diarrhea on January 21, 1863, at Stewart’s Mansion hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.

After he was discharged from the army Herbert returned to Michigan.

He married New York native Alice E. Hamilton (b. 1845), on April 4, 1864, in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, and they had at least three children: Harry (b. 1865), Carleton (b. 1868) and Bertha (b. 1879).

By 1870 Herbert was working as “Keeper of the Poor House” (he owned $14,000 worth of real estate and $2,400 worth of personal property) and living with his wife and two sons in Eastmanville, Polkton Township, Ottawa County. (His parents were still living in Lyons, Ionia County in 1870.) Herbert and his family were living in Allendale, Ottawa County in 1879 and he was farming in Allendale in 1880 but sometime in the 1880s Herbert was back in Eastmanville, Ottawa County.

He and his wife eventually moved out west and by by 1890 he was living in Livingston, Park County, Montana. By 1896 they were living in Helena, Montana where for many years Herbert worked as a minister.

In 1875 he applied for and received a pension (no. 178027).

Herbert died on September 1, 1899 at the Soldiers’ Home in Columbia Falls, Montana, and was reportedly buried in the Home cemetery in Columbia Falls.

Shortly after Herbert died Alice, who was still living in Montana, applied for and received a pension (no. 512159).

James Albert Taber - updated 3/22/2015

Based on a review of pension records: 

James Albert Taber was born around 1843 in New York, possibly the son of Louisa M. (born 1810 in Massachusetts, died in 1879).

Massachusetts native Louisa was married sometime before 1840, probably in New York, and eventually settled in western Michigan. By 1850 “Albert” was living with his mother in Hastings, Barry County and by 1860 “James” was working as a clerk and living with his mother in Hastings, Barry County.

He stood 5’8” with black eyes, dark hair and a light complexion and was 18 years old and possibly still living in Barry County when he enlisted with his mother’s consent in Company E on May 13, 1861.

Shortly after the Third Michigan arrived at Camp Blair along the banks of the Potomac, on June 16, 1861, Tabor along with several other hastings soldiers wrote to the editor of the Hastings Banner.

We are all here in Camp in good spirits, occupying an elevated position on the Potomac, six miles north of the city of Washington, and going through the usual performances of Camp life. The days are occupied in drill, and the nights are more or less used for scouting, but we see none of the enemy. There are several regiments encamped close by us, and more coming in every day. The District of Columbia is so occupied by troops that there is, seemingly, scarcely room for another Regiment. Our Fourth of July was very curt [?].

We have about made up our minds that we have left no friends in Hastings; we have written from five to eight letters each, and have received no answers. A few lines from home would do us much good, especially from our friends, if we have any. If money is scarce out that way and our friends are out of postage stamps and envelopes, let them draw on us and they can be accommodated.

“James” was reported absent sick in the hospital, possibly in Philadelphia in mid-July, and from August of 1862 through February of 1863; Andrew Kilpatrick, also of Company E, reported that “Alembert” was present for duty with the regiment in late May of 1863. He was absent sick from July 6 and possibly through October of 1863. He suffred from chronic diarrhea. James had returned by the time he reenlisted on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Gaines, Kent County, and was absent on veteran’s furlough, possibly in Barry County, in January of 1864 and probably returned to the regiment on or about the first of February.

James was shot in the left hip on May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia, and admitted as “James A.” on June 6 to Patterson Park general hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was still absent wounded when he was transferred to Company E, 5th Michigan Infantry in June of 1864, and he remained absent sick through March of 1865. James was a Sergeant when he was furloughed on October 24, 1864, and while he might have gone home briefly to Hastings, we do know that he went to Philadelphia in late October or early November. He married Massachusetts-born Mary K. Miller (1845-1934), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 1864, in Philadelphia. James returned from furlough on November 15.

He rejoined his Regiment in early spring of 1865 and was wounded by a musket-ball in his right leg on March 31, 1865, at Hatcher’s Run, Virginia. He was transferred to Lincoln Hospital in Washington, DC, where he died of his wounds on April 18, 1865.According to the War Department: “the ball entering inside and exit outside, at middle of leg. Secondary hemorrhage.” On April 12 “a vertical incision three inches long was made along the outer boarder [sic] of the semi-membrane muscle and the popliteal artery legated. Died April 18, of secondary hemorrhage.”

James was reportedly buried on April 19, presumably in Washington, although it was also reported that his personal effects were taken by one William D. Miller of Philadelphia (possibly a brother- or father-in-law), and his body was sent “home” for burial, perhaps to Philadelphia.

In May of 1865 his widow was living in Philadelphia when she applied for and received a pension (no. 60502). In 1868 she remarried to Alpheus Norman (d. 1879).

James’ mother died in 1879, probably in Hastings and is buried in Riverside cemetery, Hastings. Mary was living at 125 Harrison Street in East Orange, New Jersey, when she died in 1934.

Ernst Synold

Ernst Synold was born in 1842 in Germany, the son of Charles F. (b. 1810) and Mary or Maria (b. 1808).

His family immigrated from Saxe Gotha, Germany to America, settling in Michigan sometime before 1849. By 1850 they were living in Westphalia, Clinton County where Charles worked as a physician. By 1860 Charles was working as a physician and living with his wife and son Conrad in Lyons, Ionia County.

Ernst or Ernest stood 5’10” with dark eyes and hair and a light complexion and was 19 years old and probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted with his parents’ consent as First Corporal in Company E on May 13, 1861. (Soon afterwards his father enlisted, as a 45-year-old private in Company B, Sixteenth Michigan infantry in August of 1861.) He was wounded on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, but soon recovered and by July he was a color guard. Ernest had, for reasons unknown, been reduced to the ranks by the time he was wounded a second time on August 29, 1862, at Second Bull Run.

As of early October he was a patient in Presbyterian hospital in Georgetown, DC, and he was subsequently hospitalized through January of 1863. By the end of May he was present for duty with the regiment and was wounded a third time on November 30, 1863, at Mine Run, Virginia. He reenlisted as Sergeant on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Gaines, Kent County, was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864, possibly in western Michigan, and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February.

Ernest was wounded a fourth time on May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia, and a fifth time on May 12, 1864 at Spotsylvania, Virginia, after which he was again hospitalized. He was still absent wounded when he was transferred as a Sergeant to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and remained absent wounded through July. He was reported as First Sergeant in January of 1865, promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company A on January 1, replacing Lieutenant Daniel Birdsall, and in May he was promoted to First Lieutenant, commissioned May 8, 1865, and transferred to Company K, replacing Lieutenant Franklin.

Ernest was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Ernest eventually returned to Michigan.

He was married to Michigan native Mary (b. 1839).

His parents were living in Lyons, Ionia County in 1870. He was probably living in the upper peninsula when he acquired some 142 acres of land through the Marquette land office in January of 1877.

That same year Ernest applied for and received a pension (no. 160312). By 1880 he was working as a laborer and living with his wife in Menominee, Menominee County; his parents were also living in Menominee that year where his father continued to practice medicine.

Ernest eventually moved out west and by 1890 was living in Quilsene, Jefferson County, Washington.

Ernest died on October 2, 1925, in Hadlock, Washington.

Asslett Swinson

Asslett Swinson was born in 1827 probably in Norway.

Asher immigrated to America and was probably working as a farmer and living in White River, Greenwood Township, Oceana County, Michigan by 1860.

He was 34 years old and possibly living in White River, Muskegon or Oceana County when he enlisted in Company H on April 28, 1861. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.)

He was wounded on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and subsequently died from his wounds on June 24 or 25 at Portsmouth, Virginia. Asslett was probably reinterred in Hampton National Cemetery, but mistakenly listed under the name “C. S. Winslow,” section E, row 22, grave 19.

Ashley O. Swegels - updated 3/28/2015

Ashley O. Swegels was born in 1843.

Ashley was 18 years old and possibly living in Kent County, Michigan, when he enlisted with his parents’ consent as Second Corporal in Company K on May 13, 1861. He was discharged for consumption on June 2, 1862, at Newport News, Virginia.

He reentered the service in the U. S. Navy on August 1, 1862,for one year,  serving as ordinary seaman on the U.S.S. Robb. He was discharged from the navy at the expiration of his term of service on August 18, 1863.

Ashley eventually moved to Buffalo, New York where he worked for many years in the fire department, living (or working) at 123 Sixth street. He was working as an engineer and living at 337 Eagle in Buffalo, New York, in 1890 when he applied for a pension from the army (no. 757477), but the certificate was never granted. Five years later he applied (no. 40383) and was granted a pension for his service in the navy (certificate no. 37042).

Ashley was married to Mary E.

He was probably still living in Buffalo when he joined the GAR Post 254 in Buffalo, on January 23, 1903.

He died at Needles, California, on July 19, 1906.

In 1908 his widow applied for (no. 27500) and was granted a pension (no. 21283).

Willard Sweet

Willard Sweet was born in 1836 in Oneida County, New York.

Willard may have been living with the Cran family on a farm in Vernon, Oneida County, New York in 1850. In any case, he left New York and had settled in western Michigan by the time the war had broken out.

He stood 5’6” with gray eyes, brown hair and alight complexion and was a 25-year-old farmer possibly living in Allegan County when he enlisted in Company I on May 13, 1861. He was reported working as a nurse in the Regimental hospital from February of 1863 through May of 1864, and he reenlisted on December 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Algoma, Kent County. He was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864, probably rejoined the Regiment on or about the first of February and was transferred to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. In July he was reported as a Regimental hospital attendant, was on detached service in October, and a nurse in the hospital at City Point, Virginia from November of 1864 through March of 1865. He was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

It is not known if Willard ever returned to Michigan.

He was married.

In 1887 he applied for and received a pension (no. 382208).

Willard was apparently residing in Cheney, Kansas, where he died at the age of 57 of dropsy on July 20, 1893.

His widow applied for and received a pension (no. 408561).

Ebenezer Sweet

Ebenezer Sweet was born in 1811 in New York.

Ebenezer was married to Scintha (b. 1814), possibly in New York, and they had at least five children: Hannah (b. 1840), Charles (b. 1841), John (b. 1844), James (b. 1846) and Rufus (b. 1848).

They lived in New York for some years – in fact they may have been living in Galen, Wayne County, New York in 1840 -- but between 1846 and 1848 settled in Michigan. By 1850 Ebenezer was working as a cooper and living with his wife and children in Lyons, Ionia County. By 1860 Ebenezer was working as a cooper and living in Lyons with his son-in-law, a butcher named James Sherman (b. 1826 in New York) and his wife Hannah and their daughter Adelaide. Also living with Ebenezer and the Sherman family was Ebenezer’s son Rufus, who was attending school in Lyons.

Ebenezer stood 5’6’ with gray eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion and was about 46 years old when he became a substitute for one John Pong, who was drafted for nine months from Westphalia, Clinton County, and was mustered in on February 6, 1863. He enlisted in Unassigned, was subsequently transferred to Company B on February 26, 1863, at Westphalia for 3 years, and mustered into service in Detroit. He joined the Regiment on March 10 at Camp Pitcher, Virginia and was wounded on July 2 or 3, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

He was absent sick from July of 1863 through May of 1864, and was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. Ebenezer was reported absent sick from July 1, 1864, through November of 1864, and was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Ebenezer eventually returned to Michigan. By 1880 he was living as a widower and working as a laborer and residing with his daughter Hannah and her husband James Sherman, who was working as a butcher in Reynolds, Montcalm County.

No pension seems to be available.

Ebenezer presumably died in Reynolds and was died in Reynolds Township, Montcalm County. In any case he was buried in Reynolds cemetery: old section.

Charles J. Sweet

Charles J. Sweet was born in 1838 in Genesee County, Michigan or in New York.

Charles stood 5’7” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 23-year-old tailor possibly living in Wyoming, Kent County when he enlisted in Company A on June 10, 1861. He was absent sick in the hospital from August through September of 1862, and was discharged for chronic rheumatism on September 26, 1862, at Fort McHenry, Maryland.

Following his discharge Charles returned to Kent County and was living in Wyoming in 1863 when he married New York native Julia R. Huntley (b. 1845) of Grand Rapids on September 22, 1863, in Wyoming.

Charles eventually moved to Muskegon, Muskegon County and by 1870 he was working as a sawyer in a mill and living with his wife and younger brother Howard in Muskegon’s First Ward. By 1880 he was working as a saw filer and he and his wife were living with his brother-in-law Chancy Newell in Muskegon’s Third Ward. He was probably working as a filer for T. D. Stimson and living at 36 Terrace st in 1887-88 and probably living at 16 E. Diana in 1889-90. He was living in Muskegon’s Fifth Ward in 1894. Charles probably moved to Oregon and may have been lving in Cascade, Clackamas County in 1890, although he had apparently returned to Muskegon’s Fifth Ward by 1900.

In 1890 he applied for and received a pension (no. 708405).

He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, as well as Grand Army of the Republic Kearny post no. 7 in Muskegon.

Charles was married a second time to one Bessie M.

Charles died on October 21, 191, in Portland, Oregon and was presumably buried there.

In 1917 his widow was living in Oregon when she applied for and received a pension (no. 847536).

John Sweeny

John Sweeny was born in 1836.

John was married to Emily, probably sometime before the war broke out.

He was 25 years and old and possibly living in Muskegon County when he enlisted in Company H on May 6, 1861. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.) He was shot on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, admitted to Judiciary Square hospital in Washington, DC on June 4, where he died from his wounds on June 7, 1862, and was buried on June 8 in the Military Asylum cemetery (Soldier's Home National cemetery), section C no. 2529.

In 1866 Emily applied for and received a pension (no. 90975).

Austin V. Swayze

Austin V. Swayze was born in 1838, in New Jersey, the son of William (b. 1816) and Anne.

New Jersey native William married Anne and they eventually settled in New Jersey. William brought his family to Michigan, eventually settling in Oakland County, probably Avon Township. In any case Austin may have lived in Avon at some point before the war.

Austin was 23 years old and possibly living in Muskegon County, Michigan, when he enlisted in Company H on May 6, 1861. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.) He was apparently absent sick by early fall of 1861, when George Lemon of Company H, wrote home on September 30 that Swayze was “on the sick list and hasn't been able to do any duty since we came from Bull Run” on July 21, 1861. In fact, Austin allegedly deserted on September 10 or October 10, 1861, at Fort Richardson, Virginia, or on January 9, 1862, at Alexandria, Virginia.

There is no further record, and no pension seems to be available.

It appears, however that Austin returned to his home in Michigan and by 1870 he was described as “at home” living with his father and stepmother (?) Eliza in Avon, Oakland County.

He may have been the same Austin Swayze who by 1880 was working as a stone mason and living with his wife and children in Commerce, Oakland County. This would mean that he was living with his wife Ellen and their daughter in Avon, Oakland County in 1870 as well.

He was apparently living in Disco, Macomb County in 1888. (And there was a civil war veteran named Austin Swayze reportedly living in Midland’s First ward, Midland County in 1894.)

Charles W. Swartman

Charles W. Swartman was born in 1833 in Utica, Oneida County, New York.

Charles left New York and eventually settled in western Michigan by the time war broke out.

He stood 5’10” with blue eyes, black hair and a dark complexion and was a 28-year-old farmer probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company E on May 13, 1861. (He may have been related to Martin and Robert Swart who also enlisted in Company E.) Charles was discharged for chronic rheumatism on May 30, 1862, at a general hospital in Washington, DC.

Charles was married to Emma R. and living in Kansas in 1890 when he applied for and received a pension (no. 819299).

He was probably living in Kansas when he died around 1902. He is reportedly buried in Elmwood cemetery, Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas.

In July of 1902 his widow was living in Kansas when applied for and received a pension (no. 564215).

Robert R. Swart

Robert R. Swart was born in 1840 in Montgomery County, New York.

Robert left New York and had settled in western Michigan by the time war had broken out. (In 1860 there was one Nathan Swart living in Sebawa, Ionia County.)

He stood 6’”6 with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 21-year-old farmer probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted as First Corporal in Company E on May 13, 1861. (He was probably related to Martin Swart who also enlisted in Company E.) Robert was reported as a Sergeant absent sick in the hospital from July of 1862 through November, and was discharged at the general hospital in York, Pennsylvania on December 2, 1862, for varicocele and dilatation of the heart.

It is unknown if Robert returned to Michigan after his discharge from the arm. He was in Avoca, New York where he reentered the service as a private on September 2, 1864, in Company G, One hundred eighty-ninth New York infantry, and was mustered in on October 1. He was mustered out on May 30, 1865 in Washington, DC.

After the war Robert returned once again to New York where he was living in 1889 when he applied for and received a pension (no. 531473) for his service in both Michigan and New York regiments.

In 1880 there was one Robert R. Swart, listed as a bridge-builder living with his wife Rachel and their son Elmer (b. 1867) in Elmira, Chemung County, New York. Curiously Rachel is reported as head of the household and her husband Robert is listed last after the son.

Robert died on July 15, 1918, in Bath, Steuben County, New York, and was presumably buried there.

Martin M. Swart

Martin M. Swart was born in 1841, probably in New York.

In 1850 Martin was probably living with the Thomas Bell family in Gorham, Ontario County, New York where Martin attended school; a 10-year-old boy named Charles Swart lived nearby with the William Robson family. In any case, Martin eventually left New York and settled in western Michigan by the time the war broke out. (In 1860 there was one Abram Swart living in Orangeville, Barry County.)

He was 20 years old and possibly living in Barry County when he enlisted in Company E on May 13, 1861. (He may have been related to Robert Swart who also enlisted in Company E.) Martin was reported sick in the hospital from July of 1862 through October, on detached service in November and December, serving with the Brigade wagon train in January of 1863 and with the ambulance train from February through July. He was in the Division provost guard from September through December of 1863, on detached service in January of 1864, and at Brigade headquarters in February and at Division headquarters in March.

Martin was taken prisoner at Gaines’s Mill, Virginia on either June 1 or June 2, 1864, confined at Richmond June 3, and sent to Andersonville on June 8. He was admitted to the prison hospital on September 22 where he died on October 18 or 19, 1864, of scorbutus (scurvy). He was buried in Andersonville National Cemetery: grave 11,138.

No pension seems to be available.

Charles R. Swain - update 8/29/2016

Charles R. Swain was born in May of 1843 in Tioga County, New York, probably the son of New York natives Robert (b. 1821) and Catharine (b. 1824).

By 1850 Charles was attending school with one Julia Lamonte and living with his family in Barton, Tioga County, New York where his father worked as a carpenter. Charles left New York with his family, and came to western Michigan. By 1860 Charles was attending school with three of his younger siblings, living with his family in Grand Rapids’ 4th Ward, Kent County, and probably working as a farm laborer for a wealthy farmer by the name of Conrad Phillips in Walker, Kent County.

Charles stood 5’9” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was 17 years old and residing in Grand Rapids when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861. During the Old Third Michigan Infantry association’s annual reunion in December of 1882, Charles “told how in climbing out, by command, with the rest of the boys upon that festive occasion, [First] Bull Run, he left behind his jacket containing his first month's salary, 11 gold dollars.”

Charles was detached as a pioneer from July of 1862 through November, in the Regimental commissary department from January of 1863 through August, at First Division headquarters in October, and a First Division teamster in November. He reenlisted on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Grand Rapids, Third Ward, was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864 and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February. In April of 1864 he was reported with the Brigade wagon train through May (probably as a teamster), and he was on detached service in the ammunition train when he was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He remained on detached service through May of 1865, and probably until he was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

While it’s possible he returned to his family home in western Michigan it is unclear where Charles settled after the war.

He was possibly living in Ohio when Charles married New York native Clarinda Haughton (1848-1911).

By 1870 Charles was working as a farmer and living with his wife and her family in Washington, Lucas County, Ohio. (His father-in-law Smith Haughton held some $9500 in real estate and his wife, Clarinda, owned $5000 in real estate and was keeping a boarding house.)

Charles and his wife eventually moved to Grand Rapids where he worked as a fireman. “Charley Swain,” wrote the Democrat on August 2, 1874, “jumped into a creek at Muskegon yesterday morning and rescued an inhabitant from drowning. He formerly resided in Milwaukee, and upon investigation his body was found enclosed in iron bands.”

In January of 1875 it was reported that Swain, “one of the most efficient Democratic workers of the 7th Ward, a brave fireman and worthy citizen, is soon to leave the city and take up residence on a farm near Toledo, Ohio. While we regret his leaving the Valley city, we are glad to know he will emigrate to a thoroughly Democratic State, where the ‘fog horn’ of Governor Allen rallied the faithful to victory. The ‘boys’ of the ‘machine’ propose to supply Charley with an outfit of agricultural implements.”

By 1878, however, he had returned to Grand Rapids where he had resumed his trade of fireman. “Mr. Charles Swain,” wrote the Democrat on May 25, “the gentlemanly foreman, says the rooms [for a new engine house] will be open for the reception of the public generally today, and he, with his brother firemen, desire especially that those who aided them in procuring means to furnish their rooms should look in and see how the money has been expended.”

By 1880 Charles was still working as a fireman and living with his wife on Bronson Street in Grand Rapids’ 4th Ward. He was still in Grand Rapids in 1882 but by 1892 was living in Lucas County, Ohio, when he provided an affidavit in the pension application for Rolandus Freet who had also served in the Old Third during the war. That same year he also applied for and received a pension (no. 830060). By 1895 Charles had moved back to Toledo. In 1900 Charles was working as a carpenter and living with his wife Clarinda in Toledo’s 10th Ward, Lucas County, Ohio.

He was a member of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry Association, Grand Army of the Republic Custer post no. 5 in Grand Rapids and an active Democrat. Charles died on October 25, 1905, probably in Toledo, Ohio, and was buried in Woodland cemetery, Toledo.

In 1905 his widow was living in Ohio when she applied for and received a pension (no. 604678).

Joseph Clark Sutton

Joseph Clark Sutton was born in 1836 in Ontario County, New York.

Joseph left New York and by 1863 had settled in western Michigan.

He stood 5’9” with hazel eyes, black hair and a dark complexion and was a 27-year-old painter possibly living in Hastings, Barry County when he became a substitute for David R. Cook who had been drafted on February 10, 1863, for 9 months from Prairieville, Barry County. He was assigned to Company E, and joined the Regiment on March 10 at Camp Pitcher, Virginia. According to Andrew Kilpatrick, also of Company E, Joseph was a Private present for duty in late May of 1863.

He was reported as “not wounded” and working as a nurse in a Philadelphia hospital in mid-July, but was also listed as absent wounded from July through October, and was mustered out either in the field on November 14, 1863, or in Detroit on November 18, 1863.

After his discharge Joseph returned to Hastings.

He was married to New York native Elizabeth (b. 1843) and they had at least three children: William (b. 1864), Ellsworth (b. 1867) and Mary (b. 1869).

By 1870 he was working as a farmer (he owned $2000 worth of real estate) and living with his wife and children in Hastings. He also worked as a painter and farmer, and was living in Woodland, Barry County in 1888 and 1890.

Joseph was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. In 1886 he applied for and received pension no. 933,343. He was a member of the GAR Steadman post no. 198 in Reed City, Osceola County, and at one time had probably been a member of the Mauch post no. 241 in Hastings, Barry County.

Joseph was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (no. 2187) as a widower on July 25, 1894, and was in and out of the Home some 10 times. By 1895 he was residing in Holton, Muskegon County and in Tustin, Osceola County around 1900 and at the Home in 1906. By 1920 he was living alone in Reed City, Osceola County.

Joseph was discharged from the Home for the final time on April 16, 1921, and was possibly living in the vicinity of Reed City when he died on April 28, 1927. He was buried in Burdell cemetery, near Tustin in Osceola County.

John H. Sumner

John H. Sumner was born in 1840 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel Robert (b. 1803) and Jerusha (b. 1806).

Massachusetts native Samuel married Maine-born Jerusha in 1831, possibly in Maine where they lived for some years. By 1850 Samuel was working as a carpenter and John (listed as “J. H.” ) was attending school with two of his older siblings in Somerville, Massachusetts. John left Massachusetts and moved west, eventually settling in western Michigan where by 1859-60 he was living with one Samuel Sumner (probably his father) on the north side of Lyon east of Prospect Street in Grand Rapids, Kent County. In 1860 Samuel R. was reportedly living in Grand Rapids’ Second Ward.

John stood 5’6” with blue eyes, auburn hair and a light complexion and was a 21-year-old dentist possibly living in Grand Rapids or Zeeland, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company A on May 13, 1861. He was reported in the Brigade commissary department in July of 1862, and promoted to Commissary Sergeant on August 1 or 17, 1862, at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia. In early March of 1863 John returned to his home in Grand Rapids on a 20-day furlough, “to visit his parents and friends in this city.”

John soon returned to the Regiment and was awarded the Kearny Cross for his participation in the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, on May 3, 1863. He was still Quartermaster Sergeant when he reenlisted on December 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Cannon, Kent County, and presumably returned to his home in Michigan on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864 and if so he probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February. He was discharged per special order no. 42 (dated February 19, 1864) in order to be promoted and commissioned as of December 31, 1863.

He was subsequently promoted to Regimental Quartermaster on January 1, 1864, at Camp Bullock, Virginia, commissioned November 25, 1863, replacing Captain Robert M. Collins, who had been promoted to the U.S. Army regulars. John was mustered out on June 20, 1864, at Detroit.

After leaving the army John returned to Michigan where he reentered the service as Captain of Company A, Reorganized Third Michigan infantry on July 29, 1864, at the organization of that unit. Charles Wright, formerly Company A, wrote home on December 5, 1864, from Petersburg, Virginia, that “I heard from the new Third the other day. They were down in Georgia and had been in a four day fight, and lost five men out of the Regiment in killed and wounded. With two exceptions that Regiment has a lot of cowards for officers, Lieut. Moon, formerly sergeant of my company is not one of them nor is John Sumner captain of that Regiment.”

On January 21, 1865, Sumner requested a leave of absence. “I have the honour,” he wrote to Brigadier General W. D. Whipple,

to make application for a leave of absence for (20) twenty days, to visit my home in Michigan.

I have now entered upon my second term of service for three years. On being mustered out of the United States service, I held the position of R.Q.M. Third Michigan Veterans Infantry; my Regiment was consolidated with the 5th Michigan Veteran Infantry, and my business was left in an unsettled condition, which must have serious injury to the officers of the Regiment so consolidated, unless I can properly settle my business connected with the Regiment to which I formerly belonged. I have made stringent efforts through the Mail to do so, but have thus far failed. I know now of no way in which it can be done without my personal presence and attention. At the evacuation of Decatur, Ala., November 25th, 1864, I lost my valise, containing my uniform and other clothing. I wish to purchase another Uniform and outfit, which I am unable to procure here.

John’s request was granted and he was absent with leave from February 6. By the second week of February was back home in Grand Rapids. “Capt. John Sumner,” wrote the Grand Rapids Eagle on February 9, “of the new Third Michigan infantry, has just returned from the front, on a short furlough, to visit his parents and friends in this city. He reports the ‘boys’ in his command and Regiment generally well and in good spirits.”

He eventually rejoined the Regiment and was tried by a general court martial at New Orleans, Louisiana on July 4, 1865, for disobedience of orders: he reportedly spent the night in the city. The surgeon t4estified that he was too sick to return form the city for the night. But since he had a pass to spend the day only the courts found him guilty and fined forfeiture of one month pay. He was Acting Commissary and Subsistence at Victoria, Texas from November 28, 1865, through April of 1866, and was mustered out with the Regiment on May 25, 1866 at Victoria, Texas.

After the war John returned to Grand Rapids and was probably living at 137 Lyon Street in 1865-66. By 1870 John was living with his parents in Grand Rapids’ Second Ward in 1870, working as an insurance agent and he worked in the bookkeeping department of the Grand Rapids Democrat from 1870 until 1872 when he became engaged in selling real estate in Grand Rapids.

On December 13 the Democrat wrote that Sumner along with E. L. Somers “opened a real estate office and collection agency, with Alfred Putnam, Justice of the Peace. These gentlemen are young, active, experienced in business, and are sure to succeed. For two years past, Mr. Sumner has been employed in the counting room of the Democrat, and during that time has acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his employers, proving faithful to every tract and energetic in the discharge of his duties. His associate, Mr. Somers, is widely known and generally respected, as a man of integrity, and sound judgment, who never allows pleasure to stand in the way of business. We wish the firm the greatest success.”

He married Pennsylvania native Susan (1854-1928) and had at least one child: Mary R. (b. 1876).

By 1880 John was working as a book-keeper and living with his wife and daughter on Lyon Street in Grand Rapids’ Fourth Ward.

John was a staunch Democrat, and a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. In 1902 he applied for and received a pension (no. 1086398).

John resided in Grand Rapids for many years but by 1890 he had moved to Washington, DC, where he was working as Second Assistant Postmaster in the U.S. post office and either working or living at 915 I Street northwest. He lived the rest of his life in Washington.

He died at his home in Washington on May 2, 1905, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery: section 3, grave 1515.

The same month John died his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 599906). Susan was still living in Washington, DC in 1920; and her daughter Mary was living with her.

Franz Sumner

Franz Sumner was born in 1836.

In 1860 there was a 22-year-old day laborer named Frank Summer, born in Germany, working in Winona, Minnesota.

Franz was 27 years old and possibly living in Warren, Macomb County, Michigan, when he became a substitute for Gottlieb Raume who had been drafted on February 17, 1863, from Warren for 9 months. He subsequently enlisted in Unassigned and was sent to the Regiment on March 6, 1863.

There is no further record.

Jerry Sullivan

Jerry Sullivan was born in 1833 in Berry, Ireland.

Jerry, who was unable to read or write, left Ireland and came to America, eventually settling in western Michigan where by 1860 he was a lumberman and mill laborer working for the Richard Roberts’ mill in Allendale, Ottawa County, along with Henry Dykema (who would also enlist in Company C), and living with another mill laborer, John Boon. The following year Jerry was reported to own property in section 26, or about 1 1/2 miles south of Charleston, Ottawa County.

In any case, he stood 5’6” with black eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was 28 years old and residing in Allendale when he enlisted in Company C on May 13, 1861. He was sick in his quarters during the winter of 1861-62, but was probably present for duty when he was wounded by gunfire on November 30, 1863, at Mine Run, Virginia.

Jerry died the same day from his wounds, and was presumably buried among the unknown soldiers at Mine Run.

No pension seems to be available.

Robert Strong

Robert Strong was born in 1808 in Ireland.

Robert married Irish-born Elizabeth (1823-1907), possibly in Ireland, and they had at least eight children: Robert (b. 1845), James (b. 1847), Mary A. (b. 1850), William (b. 1853), Henry (b. 1855), Abram (1856-1860), Richard (b. 1859), and Amy A. (1864-65).

Robert and his wife both immigrated to America and had settled in Canada by 1845 when their oldest son Robert was born. Sometime between 1847 and 1850 they moved to New York, and moving westward they eventually settled in Michigan by 1856. By 1860 Robert was working a farm (he owned some $6000 worth of real estate) and he was living with his wife and children in Hastings, Barry County.

Robert stood 5’8” with gray eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was a 56-year-old farmer possibly living in Assyria, Barry County when he enlisted in Company B on February 8, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered the same day. He joined the Regiment on March 10 at Culpeper, Virginia, and was slightly wounded in the leg in early May. He was probably absent sick when he was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and was subsequently reported absent sick from June 5, 1864 through April of 1865. He was discharged on May 19, 1865, at Annapolis, Maryland.

After the war Robert returned to Barry County.

In 1872 (?) he applied for a pension (no. 177294).

Robert died on March 20, 1878, possibly in Barry County, but in any case was buried in Barryville cemetery.

His widow was living in Castleton, Barry County in 1880 and in 1890.

John T. Strong

John T. Strong was born on June 17, 1842 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of George Furzer (1813-1885) and Mary (Pulsifier Shea, 1816-1893).

George left England and immigrated to the United States where he met and married Maine native Mary and settled in Massachusetts sometime before their oldest child Sarah was born in 1838. By 1850 John was attending school with his older sister Sarah and living with his family in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts where his father worked as a book-binder. His family moved from Massachusetts sometime after 1850, settling in Lansing and the Delta Center area in about 1855.

By 1860 John was a grocery clerk living with his family in Lansing’s Second Ward, where his father and one “E. H.” Strong worked as book-binders. When the war broke out John became a member of the Lansing company called the “Williams’ Rifles,” whose members would serve as the nucleus of Company G.

John stood 5’8” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was 19 years old and probably still living in Lansing when he enlisted with his parents’ consent in Company G on May 10, 1861. (He is not found in the 1905 Third Michigan Regimental history.)

Frank Siverd of Company G wrote on July 20, 1861, that following the July 18 action at Blackburn’s Ford (a prelude to Bull Run), John was “exhausted and sent to the rear” However, John was apparently on duty with the regiment three days later, during the battle of First Bull Run, on July 21, 1861. According to a story he related in 1883, he and several other soldiers had become separated from their regiments following the Union debacle at Manassas.

During the “masterly advance on Washington” (vide Artemus Ward), made by our boys are the reverse at the first Bull Run, five Union soldiers -- or perhaps “stragglers” would be the more appropriate term -- belonging to as many different regiments, might have been slowly wending their way toward the heights near Washington, which had been taken possession of by our troops. Skulking by day, and bunking by night in the shadow of a rail, set endwise on the ground, the upper end resting on any convenient object, affording ample hiding room for the poor shrinking forms made doubly small by fear of capture by the “Johnnies,” they discussed the chances of war which in so short a time had shorn them of the glory fondly anticipated in letters to dear ones left behind, and numberless communications to the loyal papers of their homes.

Probably by reason of its more secluded situation the route by way of Vienna was chose by this “forlorn hope” in bringing up the rear guard. In entering the outskirts of the village, in the edge of evening, their eyes were greeted by the sight of a barn containing hay -- a glorious vision, giving hopes of rest sweeter than had been realized in the two nights already spent in the toilsome journey, and a feeling of security on account of the near proximity of the Union picket line.

This feeling of safety was, however, rudely overthrown, shortly after they had laid down for a rest, by the sound of voices. On peering through an aperture in the side of the venerable structure, the guard (it will be observed that this point in military discipline was strictly adhered to) reported a squad of well-armed “Johnnies” approaching, evidently bent on their capture/ Here was a good-sized dilemma for our brave boys, after the toilsome dangers through which they had passed -- to be taken prisoners when almost in sight of their comrades. What was to be done must be done quickly, so under the hay they popped, and none too soon, for hardly had the last 7x9 army shoe disappeared when the army entered.

Nothing in the conversation of the new comers led the trembling forms recumbent underneath the hay to think that their presence was mistrusted. But judge of the consternation of our friends when they discovered that their visitors, after detailing a portion of their number to prepare the evening meal (oh, how good that coffee smelled to those poor involuntary prisoners) seated themselves on the fragrant mow of hay, directly above the aforesaid “five,” and deliberately proceeded to a game of euchre, each one, unnecessarily, it seemed to those below, enforcing each trick he captured by an emphatic half leap that would have done credit to a thoroughbred kangaroo.

Well, to cut this narrative short, the “five” understood stood, or more correctly speaking, “laid” it as long as they could, when, preferring captivity to a death by suffocation, one by one they emerged from beneath the astonished rebels (?) to find that they were members of a New Jersey regiment on picket duty. Imagine our, -- no, their feelings; well both. Congratulations in order, followed by their imparting the (to us) disgusting information that they had seen us enter the barn, which was their relief headquarters. and had counted on having some fun; in which they certainly succeeded. The gray uniform worn by the New Jersey regiment caused them to be mistaken for rebels, as were many other regiments during the first three months of the war. The Third Michigan uniformed in the same manner, and it proved quite an aid to the “boys” on their private foraging expeditions. . . .

John was discharged for tuberculosis on July 29, 1861.

John returned home to Lansing following his discharge from the Third Michigan. “Private Strong,” wrote the Lansing State Republican on August 7, “brings back the compliments of the rebels in the shape of a minie ball fired at him while he was in the woods in search of water. The ball struck a musket, upon which he was leaning at the time, and glanced, striking the ground just behind him.”

He reentered the service in Company G, Twelfth Michigan infantry as Corporal on December 19, 1861. He was discharged for disability at Detroit on August 2, 1863. He may have also served in the Veterans’ Reserve Corps sometime in 1864 was discharged on April 6, 1865. (The VRC was made up of men who while ambulatory were generally incapable of performing regular military tasks due to having suffered debilitating wounds and/or diseases and were assigned to garrison the many supply depots, draft rendezvous, camps, forts, prisons, etc. scattered throughout the northern cities, thus freeing able-bodied men for regular military duty.)

John soon returned to Lansing (if in fact he had not already done so) where he married Salona or Lona B. Ostrander (1845-1919) on August 7, 1863. They had at least four children: George S. (b. 1865) and Marion L (b. 1868), Olive A. (b. 1872), and William H. (b. 1874).

By 1880 John was working as a farmer and living with his wife and children in Delta, Eaton County. John was probably living in Lansing in December of 1883 when he became a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and served during that year as secretary of the Association. John was living in Lansing in 1884 when he attended the Sixth Annual Reunion of the Soldiers and Sailors, at Battle Creek, Calhoun County. In 1884 he was still living in Lansing and was probably a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Foster Post in Lansing. (One source referred to John by what was probably a nickname, “Jack Weak.”)

And in fact it was under that nickname that John wrote an article to the short-lived Soldier Mercury in May of 1884.

A little incident comes to mind, which, at present thinking, causes considerable amusement, though at the time it occurred it came very near causing – well – a big disturbance. It happened while the old 3d Michigan Infantry was rendezvousing at Grand Rapids, Mich., over the rations issued to the boys in the similitude of bean soup, when the – well we suppose the part of the nutritious element of the historical army bean that turns into a sprout would separate, and floating in the liquid consistency, assume the appearance of the larvae from a fly or some other bug. Well, all of us were boiling over (worse than the soup) with wrath, held an indignation meeting, and the writer hereof was appointed chairman on public safety, to bring the matter before the colonel [Dan McConnell], and insist on having fresh beans used for soup; as some of the committee remarked, they would go better baked, and do away with the necessity of putting in a chunk of S. B. alias pork. Well, of course, every one imagine the scene at headquarters when we presented our grievance and demanded redress. We knew beans after that interview if we did not before; but the memory of those days still clings to us, and we heave a sigh of rejoicing at the vast amount of knowledge acquired under difficulties.

In 1884 he applied for and received a pension (no. 331041).

John died on January 28, 1885, possibly in Lansing and was buried in Delta Center, Michigan.

In March of 1887 his widow applied for a pension (no. 351182). She apparently remarried to one Henry Woodworth in 1889 and was living in Lansing in 1890.