Marlowe Norton Drury (1843-1863)

"N. Drury," listed under Civil War, West Creek, 113th Illinois

Marlowe Norton Drury was born c. 1843 in Springfield Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. With his parents, Marshall and Jemima (McCaughey) Drury, he moved to West Creek Township of Lake County in about 1857; the family is listed on the 1860 census.

Norton was mustered into Company K of the 113th Illinois infantry on October 1, 1862, as a Private; he rose to the rank of Sergeant before being killed in battle at or near Brice's Crossroads, Mississippi, on June 10 or 11, 1863. The 113th was at the time engaged in a battle with the troops of Confederate troops under Nathan Bedford Forrest's command.

Sgt. Drury was only about 20, and had never married.

He is listed as Marlow Drury on the 113th roster, with residence at Yellowhead, in Kankakee County, Illinois. He was almost certainly buried at West Creek Cemetery, in a grave marked "N. Drury" (no dates).

In 1877, his father was awarded a pension of $8.00 per month for the death of his son in combat.

Both of Norton's parents were buried at West Creek Cemetery, along with a brother Sherman (died Lowell 1907) and probably Wallace (or William Wallace, d. 1862), listed as "W. Drury". Two sisters lived much longer: Mary Adelaide Drury married Nelson Edmonds, and died in Lowell in 1928; Helen Marion Drury married John Shurte, and died in Lowell in 1918.

Sources: 1860 census; 113th Illinois Infantry website; West Creek burials list; information from Edmonds descendants; information from my mother, Maxine Drury Dinwiddie Tullis, and her brother, Keith Dinwiddie, who were grandchildren of Marion Drury Shurte.