CHAPTER XXXV.
Pages 470 - 481
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     Company I was enrolled by William H. Marble under date of August 1, 1862, in that part of Fulton county bordering on the Illinois river. The records of the company show that there were carelessly kept, and are very defective in many respects.

     The company was organized at Marble’s mills by the election of the following commissioned officers: William H. Marble, captain; David M. Holstead, first lieutenant, and Hugh McHugh, second lieutenant.

     One man was killed in action, and 12 were wounded who lived beyond the close of the war, 4 officers resigned, 2 were mustered out with the regiment and one was promoted, 18 men were discharged, 11 died of disease, 5 were transferred and 21 returned home at the close of the war.

     In the individual sketches which follow an attempt is made to give a concise statement of the history of each member of the company, each of whom may look back with pride upon the results of the war, and rejoice in the fact that it was his privilege to bear an honorable part in the great struggle for freedom.

THE COMPANY ROSTER

CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. MARBLE was born at Albion, Kennebeck county, Maine, in 1837, and was married and residing at Marbletown, Fulton county, Illinois, when he recruited the company which became Company I of the Eighty-fifth. At the organization of the company he was elected captain, and commanded it through the Kentucky and Murfreesboro campaigns. He resigned his commission at Nashville, Tenn., April 9, 1863 for disability and went home. The writer has been unable to learn anything concerning him since he left the regiment.

CAPTAIN DAVID M. HOLSTEAD was born at Vienna, Oneida county, New York, July 10, 1837, removed to Illinois in 1856, was married, and a brick maker at Havana when he enlisted. He was elected first lieutenant at the organization of the company; served through the Kentucky campaign, and was promoted captain April 9, 1863. He commanded the company through the Tennessee campaign, which ended in the battle of Chickamauga, Ga., September 19-20, 1863, where he was slightly wounded. He resigned for disability on October 7, 1863, and returned to Illinois. He resided at Keithsburg, Ill., from 1973 to 1892, when he removed to Clayton, Adams county, Illinois, where he now resides.

CAPTAIN ALBERT O. COLLINS was born in Knox county, Ohio, July 16, 1836, removed to Illinois in 1856, was married and a farmer when he enlisted from Sheldon’s Grove. At the organization of the company he was chosen first sergeant, and promoted second lieutenant at Nashville, Tenn., April 9, 1863. He was promoted to be captain October 7, 1863; commanded the company until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. After the close of the war he removed to Missouri, where he was engaged in farming until 1873, when he removed to California. Since 1873 he has been engaged in farming and stock raising near Laws, Inyo county, California. He was married in Illinois in 1861; has five children, three sons and two daughters, all grown and doing for themselves.

FIRST LIEUTENANT ALBERT P. BRITT enlisted from Mason City, Ill., in Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, August 12, 1861, and at the organization of that company was chosen sergeant. He served with his company until promoted second lieutenant of Company I, February 9, 1863, and on June 2, 1863, he was promoted to be first lieutenant. He served with his company until October 27, 1863, when he resigned his commission and retired to private life. He died March 7, 1877.

FIRST LIEUTENANT PRESTON C. HUDSON promoted adjutant. (See field and staff.)

FIRST LIEUTENANT EDMUND CURLESS, aged thirty-one, married, farmer, born in Fulton county, Illinois, and enlisted from Kerton. He was appointed wagoner at the organization of the company; served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He was promoted to be first lieutenant July 23, 1864, and was mustered out with that rank. At the close of his service he returned to Illinois, resumed farming, and died near Bluff City, Ill., September 3, 1894.

SECOND LIEUTENANT HUGH McHUGH was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, but had removed to Illinois, and was a married farmer when he enlisted from Kerton, in Fulton county, at the age of forty-five. He was elected second lieutenant at the organization of the company; served through the Kentucky and Murfreesboro campaigns, and resigned on account of failing health at Nashville, Tenn., February 9, 1863. Returning to Illinois, he engaged in farming until 1884, when he removed to Kansas. He died at Independence, in Montgomery county, March 20, 1896, the Grand Army post officiating at his funeral. He left two sons – Robert and Stephen, but their address is unknown to the writer.

FIRST SERGEANT ROBERT MULLICA, aged twenty-four, married, farmer, born in Coles county, Missouri, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Fulton county, Illinois. He served with his company through all the campaigns in which the regiment was engaged; was promoted from fifth sergeant, to which position he was chosen at the organization of the company, to be first sergeant, and was mustered out with the regiment. He is a merchant and resides at Duncan’s Mill, Fulton county, Illinois.

SERGEANT ABRAHAM A. CAMERON, aged forty-one, married, stonecutter, born in Pennsylvania, and enlisted from Summum, Fulton county, Illinois. He served with his company until July 31, 1864, when he was transferred to the engineer corps. Nothing is known of his subsequent career.

SERGEANT LABAN V. TARTER, aged twenty-four, single, farmer, born in Clay county, Illinois, and enlisted from Bernadotte, Fulton county. He was wounded at the battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862, by a gun shot through the thigh and was discharged for disability July 21, 1864. Returned to Illinois; was married three times, and went to California, where he died in about 1893.

SERGEANT JOHN E. RENO was born at Fredericksburg, Harrison county, Indiana, October 28, 1837, and with his parents removed to Illinois in 1844. He enlisted from Marietta, Fulton county, Illinois, as a farmer; was chosen sergeant at the organization of the company, and was slightly wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Ga. He served to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He was promoted first sergeant August 15, 1864, but the muster out roll failed to give his this rank. He is a farmer; has been a school director for eighteen years, and resides at Table Grove, Ill.

SERGEANT LEONIDAS COLLINS was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, July 3, 1841, removed to Illinois in 1861, settled on a farm in Fulton county, and enlisted from Kerton. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company; promoted sergeant, and served with his company until August 28, 1864, when he was transferred to the engineer corps. He served in that organization to the close of the war and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., July 1, 1865. He removed to Missouri in 1868, and is a prosperous farmer in Putnam county. His address is St. John, Mo.

SERGEANT JAMES MOSLANDER, aged twenty-three, single, farmer, born in Virginia, and enlisted from Summum, Ill. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company; was wounded at the battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862; promoted sergeant; served with his company to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He resides at Havana, Ill.

SERGEANT NEAL P. HUGHES, aged twenty-five, married, farmer, born in Holmes county, Ohio, removed to Illinois and enlisted from Summum, Ill. He served with his company until the close of the war; was promoted to sergeant; wounded at the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., September 1, 1864, and was mustered out with the regiment. He resumed farming upon his return from the war, and died near Summum, Ill., October 3, 1879.

SERGEANT LEMUEL WELKER was born in Knox county, Ohio, August 20, 1835, removed to Illinois in 1857, and enlisted as a farmer from Summum. He served with his company until the close of the war; was promoted sergeant; was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Ga., and was mustered out with the regiment. He resumed farming upon his return and died near Astoria, Ill., April 22, 1899.

CORPORAL JEREMIAH COKLEY, aged twenty-three, single, farmer, born in Hocking county, Ohio, removed to Illinois, and enlisted from Bernadotte; was chosen corporal at the organization of the company; served through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged for disability at Nashville, Tenn. Date unknown.

CORPORAL WILLIAM LANDON was born in Fulton county, Illinois, April 27, 1841, farmer, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company; served to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He is farming near Ponca City, Kay county, Oklahoma.

CORPORAL JOHN W. BELLES, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Arkansas, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Ill. He served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. Is said to be living at Cedarvale, Chautauqua county, Kansas.

CORPORAL AZARIAH THOMAS, aged thirty-one, farmer, born in Fayette county, Ohio, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Ill. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company, and was transferred to Company K, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry, but no date of transfer is given. He was mustered out July 13, 1865. He is said to be living near Havana, Ill.

CORPORAL CHARLES G. MATTHEWS was born in Fulton county, Illinois, May 2, 1843, was a farmer, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Ill. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company, was slightly wounded in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864, served to the close of the war and was mustered out with the regiment. Removed to Kansas in 1892, and to Oklahoma in 1898. Is farming at Renfrow, in Grant county.

CORPORAL MILO BUTLER, aged twenty-nine, single, farmer, born in Coshocton county, Ohio; removed to Illinois, and enlisted from Kerton. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company; served to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment.

CORPORAL WILLIAM A. GRAHAM, aged twenty-three, single, farmer, born in Washington, Fayette county, Ohio, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Ill. He was promoted to be corporal; served with his company to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment.

CORPORAL SOLOMAN MARKEL, aged thirty-two, married, farmer, born in York county, Pennsylvania; removed to Illinois and enlisted at Duncan’s Mills. He was promoted corporal; served with his company to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. A few years since he was living at Goodland, Sherman county, Kansas, but his present address is unknown.

CORPORAL ISAAC RICHARDSON was born at Warsaw, Coshocton county, Ohio, May 6, 1831; removed to Illinois, in 1858, was married and a farmer when he enlisted from Summum. He was promoted corporal; served to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. Since the war he has been engaged in farming and resides near Bluff City, Schuyler county, Illinois.

CORPORAL JOHN TRAYER, aged forty-three, married, farmer, enlisted from Summum, Ill. Was promoted corporal, served with his company to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He died near Lewistown, Ill, April 24, 1897.

CORPORAL JOHN WATSON was born near Frankfort, Franklin county, Kentucky, December 15, 1837; removed to Indiana in 1838, and to Illinois in 1845. He was a boatman when he enlisted from Havana. He was promoted corporal; served with his company to the close of the war, was slightly wounded at the battled of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862, and at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864, and was mustered out with the regiment. He is a carpenter and builder, and resides at 807 Millman street, Peoria, Ill.

MUSICIAN THOMAS BURBIGE, aged eighteen, farmer, born in Illinois, and enlisted from Manito, in Mason county. He was appointed musician; served through the Kentucky campaign, and died at Nashville, Tenn., January 1, 1863. Is buried at No. 5754, in the national cemetery near that city.

MUSICIAN WILLIAM McCAUSLAND, aged eighteen, blacksmith, born in Fulton county, Illinois, and enlisted from Kerton. He served through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged for disability at Nashville, Tenn., in February, 1863. Resides in Havana, Ill.

LINCOLN AMSDEN, aged forty-three, single, farmer, born in Framingham, Middlesex county, Massachusetts; removed to Illinois, and enlisted from Kerton. He was discharged at Louisville, Ky., for disability, but the date of his discharge does not appear on the records.

WILLIAM BELLES, aged twenty-three, married farmer, born in Missouri, and enlisted from Otto, Fulton county, Illinois. He served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment.

ZEBULON BRANSON, aged forty; enlisted from Otto, Ill. Deserted. So says the report of the adjutant general of Illinois, but does not show that he was ever mustered into the service. The fact is that he enlisted as a private August 15, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Third Illinois, Infantry, and was mustered into the service October 2, 1862. He was promoted second lieutenant of his company February 4, 1863, and was killed in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. When the writer learned of this record, he wrote to the adjutant general of Illinois, asking if something could not be done to render justice to the memory of this soldier who died fighting valiantly for his country, but that officer did not appear willing to do anything.

JACOB H. BETHMAN, deserted; time and place not given.

JOHN COKLEY, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Hocking county, Ohio, and enlisted from Bernadotte, Ill. He served through the Kentucky campaign, and died at Nashville, Tenn., January 18, 1863.

CHARLES CAIN, aged twenty-eight, single, farmer, born in Edinburgh, Scotland; emigrated to America, settled in Mason county, and enlisted from Havana, Ill. He served through the Kentucky campaign, and died at Nashville, Tenn. The adjutant general’s report says, “Discharged July 31, 1864.” But the superintendent of the national cemetery at Nashville claims that he is buried at No. 11140, in the cemetery under his charge.

FILROY CODMER, deserted, but neither time nor place is given.

GEORGE DINGLES, aged forty-three, married, blacksmith, born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and enlisted from Bath, Mason county, Illinois. He served until the close of the war, and the fact that he was mustered out June 22, 1865, seems to indicate that he had been sick, detached or a prisoner, when the regiment was mustered out.

THOMAS FRAZEE, aged twenty-three, married, farmer; enlisted from Kerton, Ill., and served through the Kentucky campaign. He died in the general hospital at Nashville, Tenn., January 1, 1863, and is buried at No, 5092, in the national cemetery near that city.

HENRY FATCHCRAFT, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in St. Louis county, Missouri, and enlisted from Otto, Ill. He served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment.

JOHN D. FANTIN appears to have been mustered in, but no further record.

SANFORD GILSON, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Fulton county, Illinois, and enlisted from Otto. He served through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged from the general hospital at Nashville, Tenn., in March, 1863. He returned to Illinois, and is said to be living at Ipava.

JOSEPH E. GRAFF, aged nineteen, farmer, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and enlisted from Washington, Ill. He served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment.

VINSON GRAY, aged thirty-two, married, farmer; enlisted from Duncan’s Mills. Served through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged at Nashville, Tenn., but the date of his discharge nowhere appears.

ISAAC HORTON, aged twenty-eight, married, farmer, born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and enlisted from Summum, Ill. Was discharged for disability at Louisville, Ky., in October, 1862.

WILSON HUGHES, aged thirty-six, married, farmer, born in Virginia, and enlisted from Otto, Ill. Served through the Kentucky campaign until the command arrived at Bowling Green, where he was sent to the hospital, and died November, 1862.

JOSIAH HALE, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Madison county, Ohio, and enlisted from Otto, Ill. Served with his company until captured near the close of the war, was exchanged, and honorably discharged June 19, 1865. He resides near Summum, Fulton county, Illinois.

JOHN Q. HOLMES was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, November 14, 1825; removed to Illinois in 1848, was married, and a farmer when he enlisted from Otto, Ill. He served through the Kentucky campaign, and was transferred to the Veteran Reserve corps at Nashville, Tenn., in 1863, and served in that organization at Rock Island and Chicago, Ill., until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Chicago, Ill., July 1, 1865. He was justice of the peace, tax collector, and served as assessor three terms, after his return to Illinois. He removed to Kansas in 1891, and engaged in farming in Sumner county, and resides at South Haven, in that county.

THOMAS HASKEY, born in England; deserted at Louisville, Kentucky.

BENJAMIN JONES, deserted.

SYLVESTER KELLER, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Cuba, Fulton county, Illinois, and enlisted from Bernadotte. He served with his company until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He died July, 1893.

JOHN KYRO, deserted.

JOHN LAPOOL was born in Strongstown, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1839; removed to Illinois in 1859, and was farming in Fulton county when he enlisted from Kerton. He served with his company until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He settled on a farm in West Virginia at the close of his service, and now resides at Laclede, Cabell county, West Virginia.

WILLIAM LOVELL, deserted.

SAMUEL LOW, deserted.

WILLIAM MINNER was born at Walhonding, Coshocton county, Ohio, September 5, 1840; removed with his parents to Illinois in 1846, and was farming near Summum when he enlisted. He was wounded at the battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862, and was honorably discharged in March, 1864. Soon after his discharge he removed to Montana, and engaged in farming near Big Timber, in Short Grass county, but was living at Sheridan, Wyo., when he died in 1898.

JOHN MINNER was born in Walhonding, Coshocton county, Ohio, June 4, 1842; removed with his parents to Illinois in 1846, and was farming in Fulton county when he enlisted as a recruit from Summum, February 8, 1864. He was slightly wounded in the fighting near the Sandtown road, in the campaign against Atlanta, Ga., and is marked absent without leave at the muster out of the regiment. He removed to Montana in 1886, is engaged in Farming and stock raising near Rockvale, in Carbon county, Montana.

ELLIS MOORE was born in Green county, Illinois, April 12, 1845, and was farming near Havana, in Mason county, when he enlisted as a recruit, January 5, 1864. He served with his company until wounded in the assault on the enemy’s works at Jonesboro, Ga., September 1, 1864, and was absent (sick) at the muster out of the regiment. He was honorably discharged at Camp Butler, Ill., June 8, 1865, and returned to Illinois. In 1886 he removed to Kansas and engaged in farming in Chautauqua county, his address being Sedan, Chautauqua county, Kansas.

JOSEPH E. MOORE, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Missouri, and enlisted from Kerton, Ill. He served with his company until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He is reported to have died April 4, 1895.

EDWARD McCROSKEY, aged twenty-one, born on Salt creek, Decatur county, Indiana, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Ill. He served in the Kentucky campaign until the command reached Bowling Green, where he fell sick and died in December, 1862.

WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Coles county, Illinois, and enlisted from Summum, in Fulton county. Served with his company until February 11, 1864, when he was transferred to the engineer corps. He is reported to be living at Vermont, in Fulton county, Illinois.

JAMES H. PIERCY, deserted.

EBEN PAUL, aged twenty-two; enlisted from Summum. Served with his company until February 3, 1863, when he was discharged for disability.

SAMUEL PAUL, aged twenty-five; enlisted from Summum. Served with his company until February 3, 1863, when he was discharged for disability.

THOMAS J. ROYES, aged twenty-three, single, farmer, born in Adams county, Ohio; enlisted from Summum, in Fulton county, Illinois, and the record says, “Discharged in October, 1862.” In fact, he died October 18, 1862, and is buried at No. 835, in the national cemetery at Cave Hill, near Louisville, Ky.

GEORGE W. RITSWOLD, deserted.

THOMAS RAMSEY, deserted.

THOMAS J. STATTS, deserted.

GEORGE SANDERS, deserted.

MILTON STODDARD, aged thirty-four, married, farmer; enlisted from Bernadotte, Ill. Served through the Kentucky campaign, and died at Nashville, Tenn., March 25, 1863. Is buried at No. 265, in the national cemetery near that city.

WILLIAM H. SMITH, deserted.

CHARLES G. SWIFT, aged thirty-seven; place of enlistment not stated. Served with his company until July 31, 1864, when, according to the adjutant general’s report, he was discharged. But as a matter of fact, he died at Louisville, Ky., January 19, 1864, and is buried at No. 1863, in the national cemetery at Cave Hill, near that city.

COLAND STEWART, deserted.

WILLIAM D. SPENT, deserted.

GEORGE TYRA, aged twenty-eight, married, blacksmith, born in Kentucky, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills, Ill. Served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment.

OLIVER TRAPP, aged thirty-one, married, cooper; enlisted from Otto, Ill. Served through the Kentucky campaign, and died at Nashville, Tenn., February 9, 1863. Is buried at No. 6443, in the national cemetery near that place.

AUSTIN WALKER, aged thirty-one, single, farmer, born in Fulton county, Illinois, and enlisted from Duncan’s Mills. Served with his company until killed in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. His remains are buried at No. 8758, in the national cemetery at Marietta, Ga.

ALBERT WINCHELL, aged twenty-one, farmer, born in Fulton county, Illinois, enlisted from Duncan’s Mills. Served with his company through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged for disability at Nashville, Tenn., in August, 1863.

JASPER WILCOX, opposite his name on the muster-out roll is written the word – died. Date of birth, place of residence at enlistment, and date and place of death are omitted.

WILLIAM MARKLEY, enlisted from Summum, and was discharged in October, 1862. That is all the record discloses relating this soldier.

JOHN H. MOORE, enlisted from Vermont, Fulton county, Illinois, January 5, 1864, and was discharged May 13, 1865. That appears to be all they had time to write about him.

WILLIAM OSBORN; this name stands upon the muster-out roll without any comment whatever.
    

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