Monday, January 31, 2011

William H. Armstrong & William H. Smith, Marshall Co. Kan.

William H. Armstrong, County Clerk, was born at Carrollton, Green Co., Ill., in 1842, and is now forty years old, and continued to live there until 1861, when he enlisted in Company A of the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as private. His first battle was Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862; soon after he was promoted to the office of lieutenant. He was made captain in 1862, and commanded the company until mustered out of service. He served three years and ten months in all, winning an honorable record as a soldier. After the war, he settled in Lafayette County, Wis., and was elected Clerk of the District Court in 1868. In 1872, was elected Representative to the State Legislature. He is a member of Masonic fraternity, having attained to the degrees of R. A. and K. T. Mr. Armstrong moved from Wisconsin to Irving, in Marshall County in the spring of 1876. He was elected to the office of County Clerk in 1879, and re-elected in 1881. He is a man of large means, liberal opinions and actions, and has an honorable record as an officer and a man.

Military Service.

Rank 2nd., Lieutenant Company A., Unit 61st., ILL., U. S. Infantry.
Residence CARROLLTON, GREENE CO, ILL, Age 24, Height 5' 10, Hair LIGHT, Eyes BLUE, Complexion LIGHT, Marital Status SINGLE, Occupation FARMER.
Nativity GREENE CO, ILL.
Joined When OCT 25, 1861, CARROLLTON, ILL.
Period 3 Years.
Muster In FEB 5, 1862, CARROLLTON, ILL.
Remarks PROMOTED 1st., Lieutenant.

Rank 1st., Lieutenant Company A., Unit 61st., ILL., U. S. Infantry..
Residence CARROLLTON, GREENE CO, ILL., Age 25, Height 5' 10, Hair LIGHT, Eyes BLUE, Complexion LIGHT, Marital Status SINGLE, Occupation FARMER .
Nativity GREENE CO, ILL.
Joined When OCT 25, 1861, CARROLLTON, ILL.
Period 3 Years.
Muster In AUG 28, 1863, DEVALLS BLUFF, AR.
Remarks PROMOTED CAPTAIN.

Captain, Company A., Unit 61st., ILL., U. S. Infantry..
Residence CARROLLTON, GREENE CO, ILL., Age --, Height 5' 10, Hair LIGHT, Eyes BLUE, Complexion LIGHT, Marital Status SINGLE, Occupation FARMER .
Nativity GREENE CO, ILL.
Remarks RESIGNED (AS 1st., Lieutenant) July 15, 1865.
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William H. Smith, Postmaster, was born in Indiana County, Pa., December 3, 1841, and remained in his native State until the war between the States, when he enlisted in Company D, Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Pittsburg in 1861. He was sergeant of his company, and took a prominent part in many of the battles, serving three years and one month in all. Mustered out in 1865. After the war he came to Marshall County, and was Representative to the Legislature in 1868, and re-elected in 1870. Was Deputy United States Marshal for the southern sub-district of Marshall County, and took the census for that year of the district. He was appointed Postmaster in 1871, and has held the office since that time. Marysville was the third post office established in Kansas, the first and second being respectively at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Scott. He is a member of the G. A. R., Lyon Post No. 9. Was married in the fall of 1871 to Miss Mary E. Allen.

Military Service.

Company D, Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Rank, Sergeant, Mustered in July 24, 1861, Promoted to Sergeant, March 21, 1862; not on muster-out roll.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Captain John Kendall-16th., Kansas Infantry.

I was asked to look up some information on John Kendall, after finding some information on him they found it was the wrong man. I found this report interesting, and those looking into him well too.
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Captain John Kendall, company D., sixteenth, Infantry. Residence Leavenworth, Kansas. Mustered in February 4, 1864. Dismissed the service per S. O. No. 276, Dept. Missouri, series of '65.
Authors note. One of the reason for his dismissal, maybe from the events in the following report.

FORT RILEY, KANS., February 9, 1865.
Colonel JAMES H. FORD,
Commanding District of Upper Arkansas:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that in pursuance to instructions received from headquarters District of Upper Arkansas, I proceeded to Council Grove to ascertain the facts about the shooting of First Lieutenant Dexter, belonging to Company D, Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. From information I received by Lieutenant Dexter and soldiers belonging to Company D, Second Regiment Colorado Cavalry, and also by citizens of Council Grove, it seems their stories are too clear to have any doubt but that it was an attempted murder, in which the captain of Company D, Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, would be implicated.

The facts, from all I ascertained, are these: First Lieutenant Dexter and Captain Kendall, of Company D, Sixteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, have had some difficulties concerning military matters, and on account of this First Lieutenant Dexter was reported by the captain absent without leave, and was, therefore, dismissed the service of the United States and ordered to report to Fort Leavenworth, Kans. The lieutenant, after receiving his order, prepared to obey said order, and while at Council Grove, preparatory to starting to Fort Leavenworth, a squad of eight men came from the camp to Council Grove to arrest this first lieutenant, Dexter, by order of Captain Kendall, and ordered him to go with them to camp, and the lieutenant replied that his captain had nothing more to do with him, and that they had no proper order to show concerning his arrest; still, he would go, no started, but they had not proceeded more than 300 yards from the hotel when the eight men at once leveled their pistols at the lieutenant and the command to fire was given.

The lieutenant at the same time drew his pistol and fired on shot, but finding that he was wounded, ran for the hotel immediately. He was pursued by some of the same party, and would have been killed at the hotel if Sergeant Tibbits, with his detachment of Company D, Second Regiment Colorado Cavalry, had not come to his assistance immediately. The soldiers who pursued him to the hotel were still threatening that they would kill Lieutenant Dexter if they had to search every house in town, but they finalletachment of Company D, Second Colorado Cavalry, would kill the first one who attempted to open or break a door. They were then ordered to go back to their camp. During all this time I understand that their captain was about the town. The next morning I returned to this post.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. WISE,
First Lieutenant Company D, 2nd Regiment, Colorado Cav., Commanding Detach.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Three Soldiers-Coffey County Kansas.

DR. JOHN M. ALLISON was born in Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., in 1845, and lived in his native State for twelve years, and moved to Philadelphia and lived in that city ten years. Moved to Burlington, Kan., in 1870, and engaged in the book business, and established his present business in 1874, and has been engaged in that business since. Dr. Allison is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, in the class of 1869. He was married in Burlington, March 30, 1881, to Miss Clara Link, a native of Paris, Ill. Dr. Allison is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. He enlisted in 1864, in Scranton, Pa., in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war.

Service.
15th Cavalry Regiment, 160th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company B.

Allison, John M. Private, Mustered in September 28, 1864 Mustered out with Company, June 21, 1865.
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ANSEL D. BROWN, postmaster and editor, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., in 1838, and lived in his native State about seven years, and removed with his parents to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1843, and remained there about two years, and moved to Michigan and lived in that State about ten years. Moved to Walworth County, Wis., in 1848, and remained there until the spring of 1855, when he removed to St. Paul, Minn., and remained in that State until the spring of 1857, and came to Kansas and located in Greenwood County and lived there until the spring of 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Kansas Regiment and served one year with that regiment; was transferred to the Fifth Kansas Cavalry and served with that regiment until near the close of the war. Mr. Brown was the Lieutenant of Company A of the Third and F in the Fifth Regiment, and married in Burlington in May, 1866, to Miss Katie C. Morey, a native of Connecticut. They have three children, Edward, Dwight and Ira. Mr. Brown is the postmaster at Burlington, and is editor and proprietor of the Burlington Daily Patriot, and is a member of the Masonic order and the Episcopal Church.

Service.

Couldn’t find his record for the third.

Fifth Regiment Kansas Volunteers - Cavalry
Company F.

Second Lieutenant, Brown Ansel D., home Burlington, Mustered in July 12, 1861 Promoted 1st Lieutenant December 31, 1862, Mustered out Aug. 11, 1864, Leavenworth, Kan.
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DR. WILLIAM F. OSBORN was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1830, and lived in his native State twenty- three years, and removed to Quincy, Ill., and lived there until 1857, then removed to Chicago, and remained there three years; then moved to Memphis, Mo., and commenced the practice of medicine, and also took editorial charge of the Memphis National Democrat, entering warmly into the political issues that were then about to convulse the nation, strongly advocating the cause of the Union, and opposing the secession movement. In 1861 he returned to his native State and entered the army as Assistant Surgeon of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; was promoted and made Surgeon of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and remained with that regiment until it was mustered out of service at the close of the war. He then located in Mount Pleasant, Pa., and practiced his profession there until 1870, when he removed to Burlington, Kan., where he has since resided. Dr. Osborn commenced the study of medicine in Quincy, with Dr. W. S. Everett; took a six months' course at the Michigan University, then went into the office of Dr. Daniel Brainard, of Chicago, and graduated at Rush Medical College, February 15, 1860. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar as a practicing attorney in Burlington, in 1872. He was married in Fayette County Pa., in June, 1875, to Miss Frances Freeman, a native of that county. They have two children, William F. and John L. The doctor is a member of the Masonic Order, and I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Service.

11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 3-Years Service,
Field and Staff Officers.

William F. Osborne, Assistant Surgeon, March 24, 1863, Promoted to Surgeon, 13th Regiment Penn. Cav., Feb. 3, 1865.

13th Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Field and Staff Officers.

William F. Osborn, Surgeon, Mustered in January 7, 1865, Mustered out with regiment, July 14, 1865.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Uri Balcom Pearsall.

Uri Balcom Pearsall.
Birth: Jul. 17, 1840.
Death: Feb. 28, 1907.
Burial: Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas.

Father: Wm. PEARSALL
Mother: Eliza BALCOM
Wife: Josophine M. PECK, married, 29 Mar 1866 Clarksfield, , Ohio.

Children William Eugene PEARSALL, Uri Balcom PEARSALL, Charlotte Mell PEARSALL, Charles Martin PEARSALL, Mark Uri PEARSALL, Guy Balcom PEARSALL, Mary Ella PEARSALL

The following information come from:
(William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas.)
BOURBON COUNTY, Part 13.

COL. U. B. PEARSALL came to Kansas April 22, 1865, being stationed at Fort Scott, as Commander, relieving Col. Blair at that time. He had command of the subdistrict of South Kansas until September, 1865, and then went with his regiment to Fort Larned, with the Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and the Ninth Wisconsin Battery, and established headquarters at that point, having command of the troops on the Smoky Hill route, consisting of the line of posts from Fort Riley to Fort Lyon, Colorado. He was discharged at Leavenworth, February 1, 1866, and after spending a few weeks East, he settled in Drywood, Bourbon County, Kan., where he was engaged in milling until 1870.

He was then engaged in the stock business until July, 1874, when he entered the office of County Treasurer as Deputy, continuing in that office until October, 1878, at which date he became County Treasurer. He held that position until October, 1880, and has since been actively connected with the York Nursery Company. Col. Pearsall was born in Owego, Tioga Co., N.Y., July 17, 1840, and in 1857 went to Oconto, Wis., where he was engaged in lumbering until the outbreak of the war.

He enlisted as a private in Company H, Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, May 14, 1861, but was made Sergeant of his company in about three months afterward, and Second Lieutenant July 1, 1862; he then went on the staff of Gen. T. W. Sherman as aid-de-camp, serving in that capacity until May 27, 1863, when he was transferred to the staff of Gen. Emery, with whom he served until July 15, 1863. He was then commissioned Lieutenant Colonel and raised a colored regiment known in military history as the Ninety-ninth Colored Infantry, but in fact the fifth regiment of colored troops raised in the country. He continued Lieutenant Colonel of that regiment until March, 1865, but on detached service a considerable portion of the time.

In the Red River campaign of 1864, he had charge of the engineers' department and of the pontoon trains. The dam built across the Red River, the one redeeming feature of that unfortunate expedition, was due to his sagacity and military genius, and George D. Robinson, June 13, 1864, mentioned his unceasing toil and devotion, and says that the final success of the dam, was largely due to his engineering skill. He was appointed to a position in the engineers' department by Gen. Canby in the summer of 1864 and had charge of constructions and repairs of fortifications on the Lower Mississippi River. He was then ordered to Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, Fla. and after remaining in command there several weeks, went to Cedar Keys, Fla.

He was wounded at the battle of Natural Bridge, Fla., and was disabled for a short time and came to Fort Scott after his recovery. He was brevetted Brigadier General, March 13, 1865, for meritorious services during the war. Col. Pearsall was married at Clarksfield, Ohio, March 29, 1866, to Josephine M. Peck, a native of Clarksfield, Ohio. They have three children--Lottie M., Guy B. and Charles, and have lost two, Mark U., who died at the age of three and a half, Mary, who died at the age of two years. The Colonel is a member of Blue Lodge and Chapter, A., F. & A. M. and Knight Templars, and G.A.R., and was one of the youngest Colonels from Wisconsin. He is a son of William S. and Eliza Balcom Pearsall, and a nephew of Ransom Balcom, of Binghampton, N. Y., who was one of the leading judges of Supreme Court of the State for twenty-three years.

Friday, January 7, 2011

WILLIS H. FUSON.

WILLIS H. FUSON.

Birth: February, 14, 1843.
Death: November 25, 1884.
Wife: Annie Louise Nelson Fuson (1849 - 1935).
Children; Flora Adelle Fuson Burkwall (1877 - 1930)
Chester Garfield Fuson (1881 - 1965)
Burial: Wakeeney City Cemetery, WaKeeney, Trego County, Kansas.

Was a Probate Judge and real estate agent. Willis H. Was the fourth son born to William S. and Sarah Fuson, his birth occurring on the 14th of February, 1843. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio. When four years old his parents moved to Fulton County, Ill., and settled upon a farm where Willis H. Resided until January 29, 1862, upon which day he enlisted in Company E, fifty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was in the engagement at Shiloh, participated in the siege and capture of Corinth, was severely wounded through the right hand and wrist at the battle of big Hatchie in an engagement with the Rebels under Price and Van Dorn, by reason of which he was discharged for disability on March 3, 1863. His only means of obtaining an education before the war were those afforded by the common schools, but after leaving the service he attended Lombard University at Galesburg, Ill., during 1863 and 1864.

Not having sufficient funds to enable him to pay his tuition until his studies were completed, he taught school for several terms to get the necessary means, and re-entering the university, he completed the course, and graduated in 1871. Leaving the university he became the principal of the graded schools at Bath, Ill., where he remained for one year, when he went to Summum and entered upon like duties. In the fall of 1873 he became engaged as principal of the graded school at Yates City, Ill. In 1874, he was married to Miss Annie L. Nelson, a native of Sweden, who is also a graduate of Lombard University. While in charge of the school at Yates City he found time to read law, and at the close of the school engagement he moved to Galesburg, where he completed his law studies, and in September 1876, was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession in Galesburg until the fall of 1878, when he moved with his family to Kansas, locating in Wakeeney, Trego County.

Mr. Fuson took an active part in the settlement and development of the county and upon the organization of the county, in June, 1879, he was appointed by the governor as one of the first County Commissioners. At the first election held in the county, in 1879, he was elected Probate Judge, which office he has held without interruption from that time to the present. By his marriage with Miss Nelson, two children have been born to them, a daughter and a son, the former born at Galesburg, Ill., March 9, 1877, and the latter at Wakeeney, Trego County, Kan., May 18, 1881.

Service Card.

Name FUSON, WILLIS H., private, Company E. Unit 53rd., Illinois United Ststes Infantry. Residence OTTAWA, LASALLE CO, ILL., Age 18, Height 5' 11, Hair BROWN, Eyes BLUE, Complexion LIGHT, Marital Status SINGLE, Occupation FARMER, Nativity CHAMPAIGN CO, OH., Joined When JAN 29, 1862, Joined Where HAVANNAH, ILL., Period 3 YRS., Muster In JAN 1, 1862. Remarks, DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY MAR 4, 1863.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Thomas A. Blanchard.

Thomas A. Blanchard.

Service record.

Thomas A. Blanchard, Missouri 1St., Cavalry, Company K., Age 30, Enlisted Jan. 5, 1864, Little Rock Arkansas. Mustered in March 2, 1864, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Remarks Vet. In Co., I., Promoted 1St., Sergeant 7th., Cavalry, Volunteers. Mustered out, September 1, 1865, Little Rock Arkansas.

The following information comes from; ( William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas. ), COWLEY COUNTY, Part 4.

T. A. BLANCHARD, farmer, Section 7, P. O. Winfield, was born in Perry County, Ind., in 1833, is a son of I. A. and Margaret Blanchard. His mother died in Cowley County in l870. He was married in 1857, to Miss Sarah E. Allen, daughter of John C. and Margaret Allen. They have four children - Mary E., John D., Lammie and Elphia. He came to Kansas in 1865, and located in Woodson County, where he engaged in f arming and stock-raising. He was Sheriff of that county one term. In 1869, he moved to the farm where he now resides. He has an orchard of 100 peach, 120 apple and a variety of other fruits. He was in the war of the rebellion, enlisted in 1861, in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, Company I. He was in the battles of Lone Jack, Bloomfield, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Little Rock, Brownsville, Branchford, Chalk Bluff and Duvall's Bluff. In 1863, he re-enlisted in the First Missouri Veteran Cavalry, and was in the battle of Marks Mill, Camden, Saline River, Pine Bluff and in other engagements of his command, and was mustered out in 1865 a First Sergeant. Mr. B. was Township Clerk for four terms, is now Trustee of Walnut Township; was one of the first County Commissioners of the county. He is a member of the Old Settlers Association of Cowley County, of the A., F. & A. M., G. A. R., Winfield Post, and of the I. O. O. F.

Harrison H. Patten.

Update June 23, 2011.

I was given more information on H. H. Patten, so much that I made up a new page on him. It tells of his military career and his personal works. This new page can be read at: http://kansasoakland.blogspot.com/2011/06/harrison-henry-patten-page-2.html
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Harrison H. Patten.
Birth: 1837.
Death: 1899.
Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Greensburg, Kiowa County, Kansas.

Service record.

Harrison H. Patten, Sergeant, Indiana 17th., infantry Co. I., Age 29, Date Enrolled: 1861/04/30, Where Enrolled: Indianapolis, Indiana, Regiment: 17., Company I., Discharged February, 1864 to accept Promoted to in U.S. Colored Troops. Captain, 17th Regiment Colored Troops.

The following information comes from; (William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas.), KINGMAN COUNTY, Part 4.

H. H. PATTEN, attorney at law, was born in Sullivan County, Ind., July 17, 1836, being the eldest child of Joshua T. and Barbara A. Patten. Parents now reside in this county--father born in Sullivan County, Ind., but before the State was admitted into the Union; mother, whose maiden name was Crooks, born in Henderson County, Ky. Father, small farmer and flat-boat-man, he having made twenty-one voyages out of the Wabash River and its tributaries to New Orleans. Early education neglected. Occasionally attended the neighborhood schools in winter, when the weather was unsuitable for work on the farm and in the "clearing," and for a short time attended an academy at New Lebanon, Ind. Began the study of law just before the breaking-out of the late war, and in April, 1861, enlisted as private in Company I, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers (afterward mounted and formed part of "Wilder's Brigade" of Mounted Infantry in the Army of the Cumberland). Was in active field service with the regiment until after the battle of Chickamauga and the campaign which followed, when in January, 1863, went before Board of Regular and Volunteer Officers, at Nashville, Tenn., organized for the purpose of examining applicants for commissions in colored troops.

Received commission as First Lieutenant, and was assigned to the Seventeenth United States Colored Infantry to date February 26, 1864. Commanded company in the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864. Was promoted to Captaincy in same regiment, and while on duty at Decatur, Ala., received an accidental wound and was rendered unfit for field duty and was appointed Post Treasurer of Nashville, Tenn. and afterward Provost Mashal sic of that place. Was mustered out of the service with command on the 29th day of April, 1866, having served as volunteer five years to a day.

On receiving discharge, came immediately to Miami County, Kan., and renewed the study of law and worked on farm. Was married to Miss Gertrude Pratt November 28, 1867, and as the fruits of said marriage there have been born three children--Flora Ann, born September 8, 1869, and died February 24, 1875; James Horace, born December 23, 1872; Nora, born July 11, 1880. Continued the study of law under the direction of Maj. B. F. Simpson, and practiced in Justice Court until December, 1874, when he was admitted to the practice of law in the District Court at Paola, Kan., and in the following March removed to that place and established himself in the profession, and continued to reside there until in the month of March, 1883, when he removed to Kingman, Kingman Co., Kan., for the purpose of making it his future home. In politics, he is a Republican.