Some may not care - but

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

November has Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. In honor of those two Holidays, I dedicate this post to all the veterans and am thankful for all they have done.

This whole year has been dedicated to finding and sharing the stories of the soldiers who served in the Civil War. This next to last post is about George Washington Castile (Casteel, Casteele). 

Castile was born November 15, 1845, in Buchanan County, Missouri. If you look at a map, Buchanon County is close to Clay County, the home of Frank and Jesse James. George, however, served with the Union Forces in Kansas with the 14th Kansas Calvary. He mustered out with the rank of Corporal.

That unit was formed on April 1, 1863, and continued until June 25, 1865. Records show the 14th was involved in Battles in Lawrence, Kansas but the brunt of their service was in Arkansas working primarily out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

After the war, George returned to Buchanan County. He later married Mary Jane Marion in Douglas, Kansas in 1870. Mary died sometime around 1874 leaving behind George and 3-4 children. George then moved to Douglas County, Colorado. In August of 1879, he married Euphrama Gillman, who was thirteen years his junior. He brought his three sons into the marriage. George and Euphrama had four children. 

By 1900 the couple were living in Colorado Springs where George was a Veterinary Surgeon. 

George died in 1918 at the age of 72. Although his wife is buried in another section of Evergreen Cemetery, George is buried in the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) section. 

Headstone image taken from
Find A Grave

For those who want to dig deeper into Buchanan County, Missouri, here is a link to the history published in 1881: Missouri Digital Collection - Buchanan County

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Sgt. J. W. Peterson - 2nd Colorado Cavalry

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

GAR Section of Evergreen Cemetery, 
Colorado Springs, CO. 
Image (C) Doris McCraw

John W. Peterson enlisted in Denver, Colorado, Colorado Territory, as a private on September 1, 1863. He mustered out of Company E of the 3rd Infantry to transfer to Company M of the Colorado Cavalry as a Seargent on October 1, 1863, when that unit was organized. 

Various companies of the 2nd Cavalry served in Missouri, the District of the Frontier, and New Mexico. They were the first to leave the territory to serve on the Union side of the conflict. The history is varied and a bit hard to follow. For those who would like to know more you can find the information U. S., Amerian Civil War Regiments, 1861-1865.

His personal life is a bit of a mystery, for there was also another John Peterson in Colorado Springs at the same time. Trying to decipher who is who has been more time-consuming than expected. So far, any records that match show he never married. Hopefully, time will bring more of Sgt. Peterson's life to the forefront. So far the John Peterson, born around 1835 in Illinois shows the most promise.

We do know he died on April 9, 1904, and is buried in the GAR section of Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs.

For more on the Civil War Veterans and Veteran's Wives in this series:

Martha Douglass - Prairie Rose Publications

William T. Douglass - Western Fictioneers

Private John H. Long - Western Fictioneers

Isabella Long - Prairie Rose Publications 

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Illinois 114th Volunteer - Civil War - William T. Douglass

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

So which William T Douglass is the one I'm looking for? A William T. Douglass with the Ohio Cavalry was a prisoner of war in Kentucky. He had been born in Ohio in  1841. A William T. Douglass was with the Illinois 114th Volunteer, also born in Ohio in 1841. Hence the joy of history and research.

So, how do you find the one you're looking for? It came down to his wife and an obituary for his father. According to the father's obituary, James R. Douglass had left Ohio and moved to Indiana where he met his wife then moved to Illinois, then Kansas. What makes the story interesting is they don't mention James returning to Ohio, but William's census records show his birth in Ohio. However, the obituary mentions William living in Colorado Springs in 1898 when the obituary was published.

Following the above information this William Douglass was with the 114th Illinois volunteers from Menard County, Illinois.

Photograph of Camp Butler 1862
from Illinois History

In the 1860 census, he is listed as the eldest of seven children living in Illinois. William was working on his father's farm. In 1862, on August 4, he enlisted as a private and his muster date is the same. His regiment, like many others, trained in Camp Butler, Illinois.

From May 1863 through 1864 the 114th saw action in the south, primarily in Jackson, Vicksburg, and Tupelo, Mississippi. In December of 1864, they saw action in Nashville, Tennessee.

William T. Douglass mustered out as a corporal on August 3, 1865, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He returned to Illinois and married Martha J. Hurd, from the same county he enlisted from.

By 1879 the couple were living in Colorado Springs where William, according to the city directory of that year, was the sexton at the city cemetery. In the 1885 census, he was listed as a laborer. By 1900 he was listed as a landlord. William died in 1909 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO. 

For more on this series of Civil War Veterans and their wives:

Private John H. Long - Western Fictioneers

Isabella Long - Prairie Rose Publications 

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Private John H. Long of the 73rd Illinois Infantry - Civil War

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

March 10, 1844, John H. Long entered this world in Fairfield County, Ohio. On July 23, 1862, the 5' 6.5" brown hair, gray-eyed, eighteen-year-old joined the Union Army in Delevan, Illinois. This recruitment was for the 73rd Illinois Infantry. This unit comprised men from Adams, Champaign, Christian, Hancock, Jackson, Logan, Platt, Pike, Sangamon, Tazewell, and Vermillion counties. If you look at a map of Illinois you will notice that these counties run East to West through the central part of Illinois, primarily farming. Chances are like Long,, a number of the men in this unit would have been farmers.

The 73rd was mustered in at Camp Butler on August 21, 1862. It numbered 900 soldiers under the command of Colonel Jaquess. They were soon sent to Kentucky, eventually joining the 34th and 100 Illinois infantry, and the 79th and 88th Indiana. Soon, however, the 73rd was moved to a brigade with the 44th Illinois in the 2nd and 15th Missouri. This brigade was assigned to Sheridan's division and saw the following action: on October 1, 1862, the brigade started in pursuit of Bragg on October 8, the unit was engaged in the battle of Perryville. The 73rd engaged in battle, delivering and receiving heavy fire for approximately an hour, from 3 to 4 PM. On November 7 the unit reached Nashville Tennessee. It was during this move that several men were lost due to disability or diseases.

Long would have taken part in the above military activities. He was discharged on August 7, 1863, on a disability. 

Long married Isabella Joyce in Illinois in 1864. By 1880 the couple were living in Kansas and had five children. John was still engaged in farming. However looking at the 1880 census records, the oldest child was born in Illinois, the second in Iowa, the third in Illinois, the fourth in Missouri, and the fifth in Kansas. By 1882 the family was living in Colorado Springs and two more children had been added. His occupation in this census is listed as a stone mason. In 1890, John added house raising and moving to his stone mason work. By 1910, at the age of 66, his occupation is house mover. John passed away in August 1920.

 His headstone, to honor his service in the Civil War, was not ordered until 1936.

Accessed from Ancestry.

For links to past writing on Civil War Veterans and Civil War Wives:

Isabella Long - Prairie Rose Publications 

James W. Bell - Western Fictioneers

Martha Lynn Bell - Prairie Rose Publications

Captain Richmon Finch- Western Fictioneers

Sarah Jane Durkee Anderson - Prairie Rose Publications

Esther Walker, Part 2 - Western Fictioneers

Esther Walker - Prairie Rose Publications

Alpheus R. Eastman - Western Fictioneers Blog

Helen Rood Dillon - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Virginia Strickler - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Henry C. Davis - Western Fictioneers Blog

Chester H. Dillon - Western Fictioneers Blog

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Sgt. James W. Bell - 33rd Iowa Infantry

Post (c) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

James Warren Bell was a Sergeant with Company F of the 33rd Iowa Infantry. He served from 1862-1865.

He was born April 28, 1833, in Indiana, near Williamsport in Warren County. His family appeared to be farmers. however, by 1859 when he married Martha Linn, in Steady Run, Keokuk County, Iowas, he was still engaged in farming. 

James Bell & Wife Martha
photo from Find A Grave

When the war began he enlisted as a corporal, although married, on 13 August 1862 and mustered in on September 2, that same year. He mustered out on June 10, 1865, in Fort Gaines, Alabama. 

After the war, James, Martha, and their family started moving westward. In 1880 they were living in Luka, Pratt County, Kansas. James was working as a carpenter. By 1885 the Bells were living in Colorado Springs where James continued working as a carpenter. 

The town of Colorado Springs, founded in 1871, was growing, so James was probably kept busy. His wife, Martha, died in 1892. James passed in 1893. 

The couple had two daughters: Lulu Bell, born in 1866, and Annie Bell, born in 1868. Lulu married Dr. William Sinton in 1885. Annie married Gordon Merrick, who was seven years her junior. 

James died, according to the news report in Chicago, Illinois while attending the Columbia Exposition with his daughter Lulu and her husband William.

For those who would like to know more about the 33rd Iowa Infantry, this website has additional information about the activities of this unit in the Civil War: Historical Sketch - 33rd Iowa

For links to past writing on Civil War Veterans and Civil War Wives: 

Martha Lynn Bell - Prairie Rose Publications

Captain Richmon Finch- Western Fictioneers

Sarah Jane Durkee Anderson - Prairie Rose Publications

Esther Walker, Part 2 - Western Fictioneers

Esther Walker - Prairie Rose Publications

Alpheus R. Eastman - Western Fictioneers Blog

Helen Rood Dillon - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Virginia Strickler - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Henry C. Davis - Western Fictioneers Blog

Chester H. Dillon - Western Fictioneers Blog

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

Captain Richmond Finch

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Captain Finch died on September 28, 1898, in El Paso County, Colorado, of heart disease. His story, like many of the veterans who are buried here, is one both universal and unique. 

Born in Albany County, New York in 1837 the third child to parents John and Mary Finch. Around 1850, according to his sister Theresa, (Thirza), the family moved from New York to Prince William Valley, Virginia. However, by 1858 Richmond appears to have separated from his family. So far, the reason for the break hasn't been found.

His military career began on August 1,1861. At twenty-four in 1861, he joined the 3rd New York Cavalry as a quartermaster sergeant. By November 1863, he accepted a commission with the 15th New York Cavalry as a second lieutenant. By the end of 1865, he was a Captain.

In the letters and diaries of this sister Thirza, Richmond was in Washington, N.C. during the Confederate siege of the city. He was in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 and served under Sheridan in the campaigns of 1864-65. She mentions that he was ' an avid, apparently fearless soldier and was as aggressive as he was successful in pursuing a military career'.

He also had a younger brother, Edwin, who served with the 15th NY Calvary and also took part in Sheridan's campaigns. 

His older brother, Madison, was a Unionist sympathizer,  was drafted into the Confederate 4th Virginia Calvary. He served until November of 1863 when he was captured. After five weeks in Old Capitol Prison in Washington, he was paroled and returned to remain with his family for the duration of the war. 

His other brother, Foster, joined the 7th N.Y. Heavy Artillery in July 1863. He was captured by Mosby's Rangers and spent time in a Confederate prison in Virginia. Upon his release from prison, he spent time in the hospital to regain his strength. He rejoined his regiment in March of 1865. (One of the doctors buried in Evergreen just above where Richmond's headstone rests was with Mosby's Rangers.)

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

In 1870, Richmond married New York-born Caroline Smith. He spent two years after the war where he and his wife lived and ran a business. By 1880 the two moved to Leadville, Colorado where they had a Lodging House at 204 W. 2nd St. In 1890 the couple were in Colorado Springs where Richmond was the proprietor of the restaurant, The New England Kitchen. He had this business until he died in 1898.

As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day, the stories of these veterans and those who followed, deserve to be found and shared. If you see a headstone of a veteran, take the time to research the stories. You never know what you will find.

For those who may have missed the earlier posts:

Sarah Jane Durkee Anderson - Prairie Rose Publications

Esther Walker - Veteran - Western Fictioneers

Esther Walker - Prairie Rose Publications

Alpheus R. Eastman - Western Fictioneers

Helen Rood Dillon - Prarie Rose Publications

Virginia Strickler - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Henry C. Davis - Western Fictioneers Blog

Chester H. Dillon - Western Fictioneers Blog

For anyone interested, I have a monthly substack newsletter: Thoughts and Tips on History

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

 

Alpheus Randal Eastman -Private - 10th Minnesota Volunteers

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

This month Alpheus R. Eastman is the focus of the Civil War Veterans in Evergreen Cemetery. 

Eastman was born in November in Maine, probably in 1839 or 1840.  

He volunteered for the Civil War and was inducted in Minnesota. How he made it from Maine to Minnesota looks to be lost to time. We know he was living in Medford, Steele County, Minnesota, at the time of his enlistment. What makes Alpheus so interesting there is more than one Alpheus Eastman from Maine. In fact, there was an Alpheus K. Eastman, and an Alpheus R. Eastman who enlisted in Maine and immediately deserted. 

To the best of my ability, I have followed the trail that appears the Alpheus Randal Eastman buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Eastman was inducted on August 13, 1862, at the age of twenty-one. He served in Company A of the 10th Minnesota Infantry as a private. His Civil War record states he served in the Civil and Indian Wars. On January 16, 1865, he transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps. 

For those who are interested below is a copy of Eastman's discharge papers:

Accessed through Ancestry

On June 1, 1866, Alpheus filed for a pension as an invalid. Below is a copy of the filing.

From Ancestry

At the time of his death of Chronic Bright's disease on January 11, 1905, he was living at 921 S. Corona St. in Colorado Springs, CO.

Bright's Disease is an inflammation of the kidneys. It can be caused by toxins, an infection, or an autoimmune condition. In its acute stage, the kidneys are severely inflamed. There is usually increased blood pressure and severe back pain.

In his book, "The 10th Minnesota Volunteers, 1862 – 1865:  A History of Action in the Sioux Uprising and the Civil War..." by Michael A. Eggleston he states in the early part of the preface:

".. Members of the 10th Regiment [Eastman's regiment] served from the organization of the Regiment in August 1862 until its final muster in August 1865. The experience of this Regiment is unique. Its members fought in two wars over a period of three years. Because this Regiment shared an experience with few other Civil War units and only a summary of the service was published in 1890, the story needs to be told. Volunteers who signed up to fight the Confederacy suddenly found themselves fighting the Sioux in the Minnesota Indian War instead. After two years of fighting the Sioux, they move south to fight the Confederate Army in a series of battles in the West."

The journey of these veterans is fascinating and sad. They went through so much and so many don't have any personal written records. Their stories are inferred from the official documents that remain. Hopefully, this series will shed some light on their lives and lead to further research.

For those who may have missed the earlier posts:

Helen Rood Dillon - Prarie Rose Publications

Virginia Strickler - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Henry C. Davis - Western Fictioneers Blog

Chester H. Dillon - Western Fictioneers Blog

For anyone interested, I have a monthly substack newsletter: Thoughts and Tips on History

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris

 

C. (Chester) H. Dillon, 1st New York Artillery - Civil War

 

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines         

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Next up in this series of Civil War veterans buried in local cemeteries is C. H. Dillon who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Mr. Dillon was easy to find. He was born in Pennsylvania on May 7, 1828, and died on September 10, 1893. I then moved to his military service. It is in his service records things get interesting. 

At age thirty-five, Chester registered for the draft in 1863 as a class two. Class two was a list of eligible men who would be called up after all class one on the list had been used. This meant that Chester was between thirty-five and forty-five and married at the time.

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Chester H Dillon was called up in 1864. On September 20 that year, he was assigned to the 144th New York Infantry. By October 27th he was mustered out of the 144th and transferred to Company G of the New York Engineers. He officially mustered out on June 30, 1865. He was also promoted to artificer, a private 1st class. 

Before enlistment, Dillon was a farmer and according to the census he returned to that. When he moved to Colorado he was a carpenter in 1879, the first year of the city directory, then became the janitor at the opera house in Colorado Springs. There was also a brief time in 1883, he was the city marshall. The year of his passing. 1893, he was listed as an expressman. 

It was interesting that while the city marshall, the mayor was a doctor who had been on the other side of the conflict. The city was a mixture of men who had served on both sides and were involved in making the city the best it could be.

The one constant seemed to be his membership in the Masons along with being a husband to Helen and father to his children son John and daughter Elma.

The interesting thing is, that C. H. (Chester) Dillon has two headstones. A regular and a military one.

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

According to the regiment details, the 1st New York engineers engaged in the following during Dillon's enlistment: Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond from June 1864 to April 1865. The construction of Fort Hell in Sept. and Oct of 1864 and the building of the Dutch Gap Canal from Oct to Dec. The Hatch Expedition up Broad River South Carolina on Nov. 28-30. The Battle of Honey Hill on November 30 and Deveaux's Neck on December 6,1864. The whole regiment mustered out on June 30, 1865. During the whole of the conflict from its formation in 1861 to June 30, 1865, the unit lost two officers and twenty-five enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and five officers and one hundred and sixteen to disease. 

For anyone so inclined, you can sign up for my newsletter. It's free (for now): Thoughts and Tips on History

As Always,

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, 

Doris