Area Residents Bring Forth Records of Civil War Ancestors

Taken from The Cairo Evening Citizen, Feb. 10, 1961

Transcribed by Suzan (Shepherd) Stern

Leslie Honey of Cairo informed us that his Great Grandfather, Joseph Anderson has served

with Company “M” Fifth Regiment Illinois Calvary. During the war, he served under Captain Alexander Jessup and was discharged October 1865. He was a native of Ohio.

Wesley block of 718 Elmwood Place in Cairo reports that his Grandfather, William Block served as a Private in Company “K” ninth Calvary Indiana Volunteers. He was taken prisoner at Sulphur Trestle in Alabama in 1864 and held prisoner until the end of the war. He was one of the survivors of the ill-fated Steamer Sultana which blew up on the Mississippi River near Memphis on April 28, 1865, carrying about 1700 soldiers of which only a few were saved. Later he returned to Aurora, IL to make his home.

Mrs. Hattie Johnson of Mounds informs us that her Great Uncle was William H. Boren who fought with the Union Army during the War. Boren was an Uncle of the late W. T. Boren, Fred and Ed Boren and Mrs. Jim Bonner, all of Mounds, ILL. Boren was taken prisoner and held in Andersonville prison where he died. Before he died he sent a hatchet to his youngest brother, Mrs. Johnson’s Grandfather and it has been passed down from generation to generation since that time.

Justus Bullard, served with the “8^th” Michigan Calvary during the civil War. After the war he and his family moved to Blackwell, OK to make their home. He was an Uncle of Mrs. Frank Dillingham of Cairo and Mrs. Marinda Allbright of Ullin, ILL.

J. W. Wallace of 2103 Pine in Cairo, reports that HIS Grandfather, Lafayette Chapman of Vienna, ILL. Enlisted with the Illinois Infantry 31^st Volunteers Company “D” in 1861. He fought in 40 major battles which included Belmont, Donelson, Vicksburg, etc. He was wounded in the wrist in the Battle of Belmont, and this was his only injury during the war. He saw his Brother, William killed in the Battle of Donelson.

John F. Farnsworth, Grandfather of Charles E. Farnsworth of Mounds, ILL. Served as a Private in the 81^st Regiment Company “I” during the Civil War. While in combat, he became ill with smallpox and died in 1862. He is buried in a National Cemetery in Tennessee. During the war, he was stationed at Camp Cairo. His home was between Pulaski and Villa Ridge, ILL.

Monroe Finch, a native of Logan County Kentucky, served in the Civil War under Jefferson Davis. He was the Great Grandfather of Mrs. Bernice Pearson of Rt. 1, Cairo, ILL.

Frank and Jess Glenn, natives of Mississippi, served in the Civil War and fought for the Confederacy. They were the Great-Great Uncles of Mrs. Wilma Taylor of Mounds, ILL. After the war both men and their families came to Anna-Jonesboro to make their homes.

George Lang, Grandfather of Mrs. B. F. Elsey of 614 Thirty-eighth St, was a volunteer soldier in the Civil War and served as a Private with the 14^th West Virginia Infantry. He was discharged in June 1865 in Cumberland, MD. and after the war, settled in Grand Chain, ILL. He and his wife Eliza are buried in the Grand Chain Cemetery.

William Needham volunteered with the 81^st Regiment Illinois Infantry of Company “K” during the Civil War. He was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant in August 1862. He received a discharge from the Army in 1863 due to a back injury. His direct descendants are: Grandsons, Charles Needham and Thomas Needham of Marked Tree, AK. His Grand-daughters are Misses Grace and Aletha Palmer of Pulaski, ILL. He leaves many Great-Grandaughters and Great Grandsons in this area.

Joshna Robertson, the Father of Martin Robertson of Wickliffe, KY. and Grandfather of Martin Robertson, Jr. of Wickliffe served as a Private with Company “G” 46^th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. Mr. Robertson was a native of the South, born in Savanna, TN., but when the Civil War broke out, traveled to Ohio to fight with the Union Forces. He died April 1913 and is buried in the Wickliffe Cemetery.

John Rigby of the Caldonia Community served as a Captain with the Union Forces during the Civil War. He was the Great-grandfather of Mrs. Ethel Eastwood Herron of Perks, ILL. Capt, Rigby was wounded during the war and his 16 year old wife traveled to Philadelphia by mule train to visit him. Before the war, he had a Blacksmith and Gun shop in that community.

Richard Bentley Sowers Grand-father of Arvel Sowers of Mounds, ILL served with the 81^st Volunteer Infantry under Col. Dollins, and later with Col A. J. Smith during the Civil War. He also served under Captain Thistlewood at Mounds. He was captured at Brice’s Cross Roads and was held prisoner in Andersonville. He was able to rejoin his regiment at Montgomery, AL. and served until the end of the war.

John Washington Bailey, maternal Grandfather of William B. Stone of 2500 Park Ave., servedin Company “B” 41^st Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. He was in the battles of Nashville and was taken prisoner to Indianapolis. He died in 1925. George Masterman, Paternal Grandfather of Mrs. William B. Stone, served in Company “D” 182^nd Regiment Ohio Infantry. He died in 1915.

Eugene VanDeventer Kellogg Great Uncle of Mrs. Stone, served in Company “B” 46^th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was killed in action in the Battle of Shiloh April 7,1862.

First Sgt. Charles Robert Stuart served with the Infantry, 90^th Illinois Volunteers during the Civil War. He was with General Sherman in the March to Sea. Later he was taken prisoner and held in Andersonville. He was discharged June 1865 near Washington, DC. His Grandchildren are: Miss Betty Stuart, Mrs. Jean Stuart Swoboda, Edward J. Stuart, all of Cairo, Mrs. Eleanor Stuart Powell, Tulahoma, TN. & Dorothy Henderson Chambliss of Chicago, ILL.

Rev. and Mrs. Glenn Verble of Dongola, ILL., both had ancestorsn who fought in the Civil War. Mrs. Verble’s Grandfather was William Graham who fought with the Union Army and died in combat. He is buried in Vicksburg, MS. Rev. Verble’s Father, William W. Verble, fought in the war under General John A. Logan.

William W. Wooten, Great-grandfather of John A. Rasco and Mrs. Lillie Rasco Bailey of Barlow, KY. Served in both the War with Mexico in 1846 and with the South in the Civil War. After the war he moved to Cairo with his family and then moved to Barlow, KY., where he died in 1883.