Pioneer History by Richard C. Schmal

Recent television documentaries and newspaper stories have sparked new interest in the Civil War, while many more battles and living histories have been reenacted across this country, in England and Germany.

Since January 1980 the 'Pioneer History' column has included the stories of Civil War soldiers along with their pioneer ancestors, and this month offers a chance to recap some of that information from past columns:

On Jan 30, 1980, in the first column, early pioneer Thomas Childers was profiled: "Rev. T.H. Ball's History includes a Civil War record and under the Roll of Honor, the Indiana Volunteers, was found the following: 'John Childers, 73rd Regiment, Company A, died in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 3, 1862.' This was a relative of Thomas, not his son.

On the pioneer Bryant page: "The following mermbers of the Bryant family served in the Civil War: Isaac Bryant and Arthur Bryant served in the 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and L.P. Bryant was in the 9th Indiana Vol. Infantry."

The story about Eagle Creek Township included: "Some of the men of the Eagle Creek area who served in the Civil War were: George Kingsbury, Adrian Durland, George Post, Henry Peterson, Hiram Peterson Orlando V. Servis, John Helmick, Aaron Hale, and the three McKnight brothers -- Alexander, David and James, all in a Porter County regiment. Charles Morriss, Andrew Dilley, and Moses Meeker served in other regiments." (This is not a complete list of those who served from Eagle Creek Township.)

The Pioneer Kenney story of September 1980 had this information: Charles Kenney served as a non-commissioned officer in the war of 1812, his father in the Rev. War, and A.M. Kenney was a member of the 88th Illinois Vol. Infantry during the Civil War.

In the November 1980 story about the Haydens, we wrote: "Members of the Hayden family serving in the Civil War were: Cyrus Hayden, David Cleaver, George Van Alstine, James Kelsey, William Hatton, Jefferson Burns, Jackson Smith and Levi Smith."

The story of December 1980 was about the Pinkerton-Sanders families: "Ralph, son of pioneer William Sanders, died in the Mexican War, and Horace Sanders died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he is buried." D. Pinkerton, listed on the Lowell Monument, was a member of the 20th Indiana Vol. Infantry.

In the March 1981 Hathaway family story: "We found W. Hathaway of the 73rd Indiana, O.P.H. Hathaway of the 113th Illinois Vol. Infantry, and R.H. Hathaway who served with the 87th Infantry Volunteers."

On Dec. 2 and 23, 1981, stories featured the Little family: the only mention of the Civil War involvement in those stories was of Capt. Thomas Little, early settler of West Creek. We now find more information from a Little History published in 1882: 150 blood relatives of the Little family in the United States served in the Civil War, 34 of whom lost their lives. The list includes many officers, an Admiral, doctors and clergymen, all on the Union side.

In January 1982 the Gerrish family story appeared: James L. Gerrish, who arrived in West Creek Twp. in 1856, served in the Civil War with the 99th Indiana Vol. Infantry. Many of his ancestors were also in the military.

The Buckley family story was written in September 1982: "Patrick, son of early settler Dennis Buckley, was born in Ireland, County of Cork, in 1840 and was a member of the 63rd Indiana Vol. Infantry."

For November of 1982, it was the Sanger story: "Adam Sanger, born in 1844, died in 1909, was a member of the 38th Indiana Vol. Infantry."

The Lynch family story appeared in December 1982: "Dan Lynch, son of Daniel and Mary Lynch of Ireland, born in 1843, enlisted in 1861 with the 9th Indiana Vol. Infantry, Company H, where he served for a year and a half, was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and was discharged. He soon re-enlisted in Co. A, 156th Illinois Infantry, where he took part in many important battles until the end of the war."

The Pioneer Worley story appeared in February 1983: "Nathan Worley and WIllis Worley, sons of 1837 pioneer John L. Worley, served in the Civil War. Nathan served with the 138th Indiana and Willis was with the 151st Indiana. John L. Worley also tried to enlist, but could not on account of a disability, but devoted himself to those who were dependent on the soldiers."

The pioneer Surprise family was written about in March 1983: "A son of Pioneer Peter Surprise, Oliver Surprise (1839-1941), served with the 73rd Indiana Regiment." Also listed was H. Surprise, same regiment.

The May 1983 story was about the pioneer Nichols brothers, Abram and Horatio. Abram had three sons in the Civil War: Albert Lafayette Nichols, born 1842, was a member of Co. A 73rd Indiana Vol. He enlisted in 1862, died at Nashvillle, Tenn., the same year. Benjamin Franklin Nichols, born 1845, enlisted in the 128th Indiana Infantry, and Archibald William Nichols, born in 1848, served in the 5th Indiana Cavalry. William Calvin Nichols, son of pioneer Horatio Nichols, joined Co. C of the 138th Indiana Vol. Regiment.

The pioneer Clark story was written in June 1983: "Cornelia, daughter of Pioneer Jabez Clark, married John M. Dwyer, born 1834. John served in Co. B, the 20th Indiana Infantry, was wounded at Gettysburg and again at the Battle of the Wilderness. The last wound resulted in the loss of his left leg above the knee."

In the story of January 1984, Dr. E.R. Bacon (1840-1906) was described as an early doctor in Lowell, and the builder of the large home across the street from the present police station. He enlisted early in the war with Co. E. of the 2nd Michigan Volunteers and served for three months. He re-enlisted in the 100th Illinois Vol. Infantry, where he served for three years as a sergeant and took part in the Battle of Perryville. His clothing was pierced by five bullets at the Battle of Chickamauga, though he was not injured.

In May of 1984 the McCarty story appeared: "In 1861 Miles Franklin McCarty enlisted in the 12th Indiana Cavalry, Company G. He was critically wounded in battle and died at Nashville, Tenn., in 1864."

In the Pattee story of October 1984, it was written: "Constantine Pattee, son of Lewis and Susan Munger Pattee, enlisted at the age of 19 with Company B of the 20th Indiana Regiment and was wounded at the Battle of Richmond." His two brothers, Corporal Casimer Pattee and J.E. Pattee, also served in the 20th, same company.

In the October 1985 column, it was noted that James J. Kelsey was a farmer with his father until he joined the army and served with Company K, 113th Illinois Vol. Infantry, in Iowa and Tennessee until 1863.

Part of the story written in January 1986 was about Lowell American Legion Post 101: "Soon after the organization of the local Legion Post, the Lowell area Civil War veterans, most in their 70's and members of the Burnham Post Grand Army of the Republic, asked the younger group to take over the "Decoration Day" programs and other patriotic assemblies."

The story about Lowell Tribune editor H.H. Ragon was written in the November 1987 column. HH. Ragon, editor in the 1870's, was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted September 1861 and was a member of Company H of the 55th Ohio Vol. Infantry, was promoted to Secont Lt. the following March, but soon retired from the service due to a disability. He served in the Government Secret Service for a period of 14 months.

Ragon also served as the chair of the Monument Committee and completed plans for the military monument, dedicated in 1905, now in Senior Citizens Park in downtown Lowell. The monument honors veterans of the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.

The April 1988 story was about Dr. Frederick Castle, who was born in Vermont in 1840. His studies at Valparaiso College were interrupted by a call to enlist in the Union Army. He served in Company G, 12th Indiana Cavalry, was advanced to orderly sergeant, and saw active duty until the end of the war in 1865.

In May of 1988 the column was about the remaining Civil War veterans. In 1955 the only surviving Civil War veterans were as follows: Albert Woolson of Minnesota, Walter Williams of Texas, William Lundy of Florida, and John Salling of Virginia. Walter Williams always claimed that he would be the last survivor, and he was. The last Civil War veteran in the Lowell area is said to have been John Randall Taylor (1843-1941), who was with the Indiana Volunteers.

In this story, only those veterans whose family histories appeared in the 'Pioneer History' column since 1980 have been listed, and it is not a complete list of the area men who served in the Civil War.

A complete list of the names of the men (and one woman) on the monument in downtown Lowell can be viewed at the Lowell Public Library, where many interesting books about the war are available to readers. The one woman listed was Abbie Cutler of Creston, who was a nurse during the conflict.

For the last dozen years, Civil War Reenactments have been very popular all across the nation, for the family hobby has increased memberships yearly. Events are taking place in almost all of the United States and in England and Germany.

Even the Old Timer is a reenactor, taking the part of a Civil War correspondent for Harper's Weekly in New York. He has attended many events in three states. We are sure that you would be pleasantly surprised to witness the production of a battle reenactment, where spectators are likely to see participants from the movies "North and South," "The Blue and the Gray," and "Glory." Many men and women in northwest Indiana belong to reactivated units. The 9th Indiana Vol. Infantry, the 20th Indiana Vol. Infantry, the 4th Battery Light Artillery -- all were units formed in this area in the 1860's.

Some of the reenactors choose to do the southern impression, and many in this area are members of the 154th Tennessee Regiment, a very active outfit. A fairly recent group, formed in northern Lake County, is the 2nd U.S. Artillery Battery. They all welcome new enlistees, as soldiers or civilian impressionists.