Ancestor Spotlight - Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War: Elizabeth Van Lew Tent 1 (Detached), VA

Charles S. Buker

11/13/2022

My Civil War ancestor is Charles S. Buker. He was born December 28, 1820 in Pittston, Maine. He married Cordelia Blodgett on July 31, 1842. He enlisted in the army on September 20, 1864. He was a private in Company K of the 9th Regiment of the Maine Volunteers and fought at Chaffin’s Farm and Fair Oaks, Virginia.

Charles was discharged on May 18, 1865 due to a disability and returned to his life as a farmer in Maine. He applied for a pension on September 7, 1864. He died on August 5, 1893 of consumption and is buried at the Brown Cemetery in Benton, Maine (….just three miles from where I grew up).
--Marjorie Elliott

John Alexander Harrow

11/13/2022

John Alexander Harrow, my 2nd great-grandfather, was born 4 Aug 1831 in Green, Adams Co., Ohio to Isaac Harrow and Phoebe Rowand. His father died at 34 years old when John was just 7, shortly after being appointed the Postmaster of South Solon, Ohio. He married Celina DeVault in 1851 and they had two children before she died in 1858. His occupation is listed as Farmer and Carpenter. He registered for the Civil War and was a Private, first assigned with Company B of the 88th Indiana Infantry, then transferred to the 1st US Vet. Vol. Engrs., and served three years in total from 1862 to 1865. After the war, he settled in Indiana for a while, where he married Mary Snow (who was not quite 15 at the time, and only 5 months older than his oldest son), then eventually moved back to Ohio. He worked on the canals in the summers, being a skilled carpenter, built coffins in the winter, and tried to house his family on a canal boat. They had 12 children, and lost 6 to pneumonia and the cold while on the boat. He died in Paulding, Ohio on 15 Jan 1896.
--Cyndi Messick

Robert Jonas Sproul

11/13/2022

The baby in the photograph is my great-grandfather, Dallas Hayes Sproul. Dallas, the elder son of Robert Jonas and Mary McCormick Sproul, was named for his great-grandmothers, Louise Dallas and Isabella Hayes. The little christening dress, slip and bloomers worn by the baby in this picture remain a treasured keepsake in our family.

In 1864 Robert Jonas Sproul was a 19-year-old farmer in Auglaize County, Ohio. His Scots-Irish grandfather had emigrated from Tyrone County, Ireland to South Carolina in 1801, purchased 320 acres of government land in the Ohio valley, and moved his family west. Robert’s father – Thomas Sproul – in turn purchased a farm, and worked it with his four sons….of whom Robert was the eldest.

On May 2, 1864, Robert Jonas Sproul enlisted in the 151st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company D, to serve 100 days. The regiment set out from Camp Chase, Ohio, on 14 May, 1864, traveling to Washington DC via the Ohio Central and Baltimore Railroads. The soldiers spent the next three months at various forts in the Washington DC area, defending the Capital City.

In a letter written to his brothers in July, 1864, Sproul told of extreme heat during the day and of some chilly nights. He spoke of the recent Battle of Ft Stevens – which he described as a “little fight we had with the Johnnies on the 11th and 12th of this month”. He asked about the hay and harvesting on the farm, and spoke of his fear that “Father will work too hard.” He asked about his horse, and wrote of his hope to take a trip with father on horseback soon after his return.

The 151st OVI mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, on 4 August, 1864, and Sproul went back to farming. In the years that followed he married Mary Stuart McCormick (sister of fellow soldier John McCormick), and together they had three children – a daughter who died in infancy, and two sons - Dallas Hayes and Robert Eugene.

When Sproul died in Waynesfield, Ohio, on 13 September, 1919, at the age of seventy four, his family remembered his kindness and laughter. His obituary noted his quiet, and unassuming disposition, as well as his honesty in business dealings. Members of his GAR Musser Post # 329 remarked that “Another of the old comrades has answered the final roll call.”
--Karen Belle

Martin Dively

11/13/2022

I am the Great Great Great Grandaughter of my DUVCW patriot, Martin Dively. He was born 15 August 1841 and died 18 June 1894 at the age of 52.

Martin Dively served as a Private in Company F of the 77th Regiment in Pennsylvania. He enlisted 28 February 1865 and his service ended later that year, 6 December 1865.

My parents used to live in Gettysburg, and I became aware of the DUVCW chapter there as they are very active in local events. I originally joined the Salome M. Stewart (Gettysburg) chapter in 2007. I found out about the Virginia chapter from friends that were in my NSDAR chapter and transferred my membership.

I don’t know very much about my patriot Martin Dively – just a gross factoid and I do have a story about him.

Gross Factoid: According to the sources I have for him in Ancestry, he filed for a pension with the disability of chronic diarrhea. Ew.
My Story: Most of my family lives in a small town in Pennsylvania. I heard through my Great Aunts that one of the descendants had a treasure trove of stuff in their old farmhouse attic that had been collecting there for decades. There was talk that there was a uniform up there that belonged to a Civil War soldier. The only one in the family was Martin Dively, so we assumed that it was his. There was also rumor that there were snakes in the attic. I worked on family members for year and years trying to figure out how to get in that attic and retrieve the uniform without encountering the snakes. After much time had passed, I found out that the house had been sold and they emptied everything out and I had not gotten my chance to dig for artifacts, including the uniform. No one knows what became of the attic treasures if there really were any. I sure would have like to get a chance to look at what was in there (except the snakes).

--Andrea Walter

James S.R. Busick

11/13/2022

James S.R. Busick is my paternal 2nd great-grandfather and was born about 1845 in Baltimore, MD. Our first Busick to live in the USA is my 9th great-grandfather, James Busick I, Born in 1648 in Norfolk England. He emigrated and became a landowner in 1702 in the Great Choptank, Dorchester, Maryland area. He died in 1710

James S.R. Busick enlisted at the age of 21 at Church Creek, Dorchester Co. Maryland, 1st Regiment, Maryland Eastern Shore Infantry, his rank was Private. Muster In Date: Oct 31, 1861. Muster Out Date Oct. 32 1864.

The regiment was attached to Major General John Adams Dix's division of the Army of the Potomac. It was assigned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The regiment was originally commanded by Colonel James Wallace, a slaveowning lawyer and state legislator from Cambridge. In the fall of 1861, Dix led an expeditionary force, including the 1st Maryland Eastern Shore, south to occupy the Virginia counties of Accomack and Northampton. In January, 1863, the regiment was attached to the VIII Corps. "The 1st Maryland Confederate Regiment met us and were cut to pieces. We sorrowfully gathered up many of our old friends and acquaintances and had them carefully and tenderly cared for.” ~Colonel James Wallace, 1st Maryland Eastern Shore, on the confederate assault on Culp’s Hill at the Battle of Gettysburg. When Lee invaded Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863, the regiment was attached to Brig. Gen. Henry H. Lockwood’s Brigade of the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac and sent north to Pennsylvania. The regiment arrived at the Battle of Gettysburg on the morning of July 3 and engaged the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA on Culp's Hill, suffering 5 dead, 16 wounded, and 2 missing, out of 583 total men. In December 1863, Colonel Wallace resigned his command over the issue of enlisting African-Americans in the army. In 1867 at 26 he married Anna Eliza Pyle, in 1869 their first daughter Florence Virginia Busick was born and they lived in New Castle, Delaware, United States. In 1870 they moved to Wilmington, Delaware. They had a second daughter Lydia Caroline Busick born June 11, 1871 she died September 6,1872. Their third daughter Betha Anna Busick was born in 1873 and died in 1875. His wife Anna Pyle Busick died September 12 1875. James was a bookkeeper and a store clerk at Home Furnishing Emporium in Wilmington, DE.

In 1880, following the death of his wife, he moved to live with his brother in Maryland and became a clerk on a steamer. He applied for U.S., Civil War Pension, August 13, 1980. There is no mention of where Florence when on to live, perhaps a boarding school or with other family members. James S.R. Busick died in 1897 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA he was 52 years old.
--Lynn Stayton-Eurell, daughter of Leon Busick Stayton Jr.

Benjamin F. Amos

11/13/2022

119 years after his death, my 3rd great grandfather, Benjamin F. Amos will finally be getting a headstone! After a lot of internet searches, reaching out to experts on the Union's 7th West Virginia Regiment and contacting furloughed staff at the cemetery where he'd lain unmarked for so long, a lovely lady named Glenna and I were able to make it happen. An application to DC for a Veteran's headstone was sent in on his 177 birthday!

Benjamin Franklin Amos was born in 1843, he enrolled to serve the Union on Sept 17, 1861 at the "Red House" with his older brother William. William died of disease a year later, but had served as one of the unit's brave color-bearers. Ben's unit help pursue Stonewall Jackson, engaged Turner Ashby's Cavalry resulting in his death (Battle of Harrisonburg). They also occupied the center at the Battle of Cross Keys and was complimented by General Fremont for its gallantry. They fought at the Second Battle at Bull Run. It didn't stop there, but you get the picture...he valiantly served our Nation for which I am not only proud, but forever grateful.

Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865 at the Appomattox Court House. Ben mustered out with his company on August 1, 1865. He died at age 58, in 1901. A special thank you to Spring Hill Cemetery Staff, Glenna Holley, for all of her assistance and her wonderful friendly ambition to help me get this done.
--Crystal Geller

Edward Miles

11/13/2022

Edward Miles was born in Polk County, Missouri. His family migrated north to Wisconsin where in June 1861 he enlisted in the Wisconsin 5th Infantry Regiment. He served until November 1862. Edward reenlisted in September 1864 and served in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery until June 1865 when he was discharged due to disability.

After the war Edward settled in Illinois, married, and raised a family. The 1880 census listed his occupation as farmer. Sometime between 1880 and 1890 he divorced his wife and migrated to Kansas. He also became a doctor during that time.

Laura Cordelia Hensley was born in 1857 in Hensley, Indiana. When she was 5 years old her father, William Jefferson Hensley, was killed at the Battle of Antietam while serving in an Indiana unit. She married James Collett and had three children. When James died, she moved to Kansas with her children. There she met the handsome Dr. Edward Miles. They married in 1893 and in January 1895 Dr. Miles delivered his twins: Laura Elsie and George Elmer.

Dr. Miles was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, McPherson Post #4 in Independence, Kansas.
Both Dr. Miles and his wife Laura belonged to families with a long history of service to the country. Dr. Miles was a direct descendant of Samuel Miles and James Christie, both of whom served in the Revolutionary War. Laura was a direct descendant of Richardson Hensley who served in the Revolutionary War. Richardson Hensley was one of the first settlers in Indiana.
In researching the units in which Edward Miles served I found that the Wisconsin 5th Infantry was at the Battle of Antietam. Is it possible that Laura Cordelia Hensley Collet Miles’ father and future husband were both on the battlefield at Antietam?

Patriot, Private Joseph R. Plowman

11/13/2022

Joseph R. Plowman, the great-great-grandfather of Cynthia Anne (Harms) Anderson, was born on the Fourth of July, 1838, in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, the son of Edward L. and Sarah L. (Mathews) Plowman.

On the August 14, 1862, Mr. Plowman enlisted as a Private in Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment, under Captain W. H. Collins, which was attached to the 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and participated in many engagements and skirmishes in Kentucky and Tennessee, the principal field of operation of that Army Corps. The author, William W. Calkins, chronicled a poignant scene of this regiment in his 1895 book, The History of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, War of the Rebellion 1862-1865: “When at nightfall the camp-fires of the One Hundred and Fourth were lighted on the bluffs many a soldier lingered long by their flickering blaze to dream of the historic scenes now before him.” [These men of valor] “arose early…to see the sun crowning the hills in wreaths of golden brightness.”

On January 25, 1864, Joseph Plowman was transferred to Company E, 2nd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps. He was honorably discharged on July 5, 1865, having served for nearly three years. He was an active comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), Post No. 105, Pontiac, Illinois.

Joseph R. Plowman married Martha E. (Cays), daughter of Conrad Cays, of La Salle County, Illinois, on April 3, 1868. They were blessed with four children: their daughter, Minnie (Plowman) Reinagle, is Cynthia Anderson’s great-grandmother. The patriot Plowman pursued the vocation of farming in La Salle County, Illinois. He owned 120 acres of land. On November 18, 1912, Mr. Plowman heard the bugle call from beyond. “When the last call is made, may we fall into the ranks on the other side, clothed in Army blue, under the great banner of Thine own Kingdom; and to Thy Name shall be all the praise forever. Amen.” (Echoing the prayer to the Captain of our salvation, said by the Department Chaplain, Department of Illinois G.A.R., 1912.)
--Cindy Anderson
The main source for the Plowman biography sketch was compiled from the book, Portrait and Biographical Album of Livingston County, Illinois, printed in 1888.

Francis Marion Denton

11/13/2022

Francis Marion Denton was born on July 18, 1839 in Gilmer county Georgia. He moved with his parents to Polk County, TN. His parents moved to Harrison County Missouri about 1856.

His father, Jonas had Bounty land there because he was in the War of 1812 and assisted in the Cherokee removal from Georgia. Francis stayed behind in Tenn. with a brother, Jonas. Francis moved to Harrison County, Missouri between the census in June, 1860 and Dec., 1860 when he married there. He married Nancy Ann Hall on Dec. 9, 1860. Their son, William was born in 1861.

Francis joined the Union Cavalry on Aug. 29, 1862 as a Private. He was in Company B (Merrill's Horse), 2nd Missouri Cavalry. On his enlistment papers he described himself as 5 ft. 7 inches, light hair, fair complexion and blue eyes. His wife and son stayed with her mother and stepfather the 3 years Francis was gone to war. He served in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee. Francis was injured in a training accident. He was mounted on his horse and when he fired his gun at a tree, his horse spooked. He was thrown upon the saddle horn. His left testicle was badly injured and caused him much pain. He developed diarrhea every 4 to 5 weeks lasting 4 to 5 days, because of the injury. He was given the jobs of cook and teamster (driving animal pulled wagons). In 1864 he enlisted in the Vet Corps. He couldn't lift anything heavy. Francis's service time ended on August 29, 1865. He arrived home to his wife and son on Sept. 3, 1865.

Francis and Nancy had a total of 9 children. Six (2 boys and 4 girls) lived to adulthood. Three died at ages 4 (William), 7 (Matthew) and 15 (Sarah). My Great Grandmother, Charity Lorana Denton was born on April 22, 1868. She was their 3rd child. She married Melancthon Snedeker on Feb. 9, 1895.

Francis was a farmer and had 220 acres in 1895. He received a Civil War disability pension of $6 which was later raised to $8 for his service. To get his raise in pension, many friends wrote statements about his constant pain and disability of about 50%. He developed Rheumatism and Lumbago of the back. His kidneys and liver became damaged. He died of paralysis on Aug.5, 1905.

Nancy Ann Denton, Marion's wife, tried for years to get a Civil War Widow's Pension. I think she couldn't produce a marriage license. She had friends make statements that she and Francis were married. She received $30 on 2/4/1921. She died on March 21, 1921. A back payment check written to her on May 4, 1921, for $90 was sent to her. Since she had died, the check was returned. I have a copy of the check.
--Susan Snedeker Trunzo

Henry Speare

11/13/2022

Sgt. Henry Speare, 12th Regiment, Company D, WV Volunteers

Henry Speare was born Melchior Spori in Baerenthal, Bade-Wurtemberg, Germany in 1835. He told his family that he did not want to become the family priest, and he ran away to the United States. In New York, the officials asked him his name and they wrote down Henry Speare. He made his way to Wheeling, in western Virginia, and became the town shoemaker. He told people that he had no interest in that 'argument' between the states, he was a German.

One night he and the (black) freeman who was working for him were asked to help pull a wagon out of a ditch. When they got there to help, other men jumped out and jumped on the two of them with the idea that they were going to capture the freeman 'to sell him down river,' even though he had his papers! Henry and the freeman fought them off and they ran away.

Henry was terribly upset. He went to town and in his (Protestant) church he told everyone he was not going to live in a country that allowed something like that to happen and he hoped all of his friends and neighbors felt the same way. It was time to stand up and fight!

He led the way to creating the new 12th Regiment, and as you may notice, his enlistment precedes its creation by three days.
Henry was assigned to duty in the Shenandoah Valley where he fought at New Market and several other towns. Occasionally he was sent back to the Wheeling area to recruit soldiers. A few days before the end of the war he was captured and sent to Andersonville Prison Camp where he was released after 6 days.

He married happily, had one son, bought a farm, and lived to 1910.
--Jan Speare

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