Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Miles Cicel

Miles Cicel
Born:  September 17, 1838 in Kentucky
Died:  March 16, 1928 in San Diego County, California
1 LT CO K 51 MO INF

After enlisting as a PVT in CO K 51 MO INF he was commissioned an officer on May 5, 1865.  He mustered out on August 31, 1865.

He married in 1867 and in 1870 was living in Cinque Hommes, Percy County, Missouri where he was the Superintendent of the County Poor Farm.  When he applied for his Civil War pension on September 16, 1891 he was living in the Indian Territory (Oklahoma).  By 1907 he had relocated to Los Angeles County, California.  Between 1907 and 1923 he was a resident several times of the Western Branch of the U.S. Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Sawtelle.  When he was not there he was at home in Santa Monica.  In 1926 he was a resident of Escondido, San Diego County.


(Name variously spelled Cicel, Cecil and Cicil)

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Edward Morton Chamberlin

Edward Morton Chamberlin
Born:  April 7, 1834 in Vermont
Died:  November 30, 1916 in California
PVT CO A 67 ILL INF

Son of Robert E. and Rachel Chamberlin. He married Lockwood Chamberlin in 1859.

He served in CO A 67 ILL INF during the Civil War, enlisting and mustering out at the rank of PVT.
During the 1890s he was living in Los Angeles County, California.

In 1900 he was living in the De Luz area of Fallbrook, San Diego County, and was a blacksmith.


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Edgar B. Caswell

Edgar B. Caswell
Born:  About 1839 in New York.
Died:  November 16, 1912, San Diego County, California
CORP CO C 26 MICH INF

Enlisted as a PVT in CO C 26 MICH INF on September 15, 1862 at White River, Michigan.  Wounded near Hatcher's Run/White Oak Road on March 30, 1865.  Promoted to CORP on May 1, 1865 and mustered out at Alexandria, Virginia on June 4, 1865.

The son of Aaron Burr and Hannah (Green) Caswell.  About 1870 he opened a plumbing and gas fitting business in Ludington, Michigan, where he remained until at least 1904.  By 1910 he was living in Escondido, San Diego County, California and was a rancher.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Civil War Veteran: John Casterline

John Casterline
Born:  1839 in New York
Died:  After April 1910
PVT CO A 4 MINN INF

He was living in Spring Lake (now called Prior Lake), Scott County, Minnesota at the time of his enlistment on April 17, 1862 as a PVT in CO A of the 4th MINN VOL INF.  He was mustered out on a disability discharge on September 22, 1862.
The son of Barnabas J. and Maria Elizabeth Casterline, he was a widower and living in San Luis Rey east of Oceanside, San Diego County, California at the time of the 1910 U.S. Census.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Civil War Veteran: John Campbell

John Campbell
Born January 11, 1835 in New York City, New York County, New York
Died November 14, 1892 in Escondido, San Diego County, California
PVT CO C 4 NY HA

Living in Caledonia, Livingston County, New York at the time of his enlistment as a PVT in CO C 4 NY HA on August 5, 1862.  Mustered out as a PVT on June 5, 1865 at Munson's Hill, Virginia and returned to Caledonia.  During his service he was wounded in the right arm.

Unmarried, his civilian occupation was as an engineer.  During 1888 and 1889 he spent time in Sawtelle, California at the U.S. Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, suffering from Rheumatism.  His cause of death was Consumption.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Abner L. Butterfield

Abner L. Butterfield
Born November 10, 1833 in Vermont
Died January 23, 1920 in Escondido, San Diego County, California
PVT CO H 2 US SHARPSHOOTERS

He was living in Dummerston, Windham County, Vermont when he enlisted as a PVT on December 31, 1861.  Mustered out on December 17, 1862 on a disability discharge.  Distinguished Service noted.

By 1888 he was living in Escondido, California where he was a farmer.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Amandus Lawrence Bush

Amandus Lawrence Bush
Born October 17, 1833 in Pennsylvania
Died October 25, 1914
LIEUT CO C 33 ILL INF

Enlisted as a SERGT in CO C 33 ILL INF from Bloomington, Illinois on August 15, 1861.
Promoted to Full 2nd LIEUT on May 16, 1863.  Promoted to Full 1st LIEUT on December 26, 1863.
Mustered out at Vicksburg, Mississippi on November 24, 1865.

After the war he returned to Bloomington and married in 1867.  By 1880 he was living in Los Angeles, California and was employed as a plumber and lived there until at least 1896.  By 1898 he had relocated to the vicinity of Escondido in San Diego County, California and continued to work as a plumber/tinner.  He remained there until his death.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Albert Brandon

Albert Brandon
Born:  February 18, 1843 in Smelser's Grove, Grant County, Wisconsin
Died:  December 25, 1923 in Fallbrook, San Diego County, California
SERGT CO I 25 WIS INF

Albert was living in Smelser, Wisconsin when he enlisted on April 8, 1862.  He entered CO I 25 WIS INF as a 3rd Corporal on August 4, 1862.  He was promoted to Full Sergeant before mustering out at Crystal Springs, Maryland on June 7, 1865. 
He married Mary Jane (Carns) in Grant County, Wisconsin on October 13, 1867.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Henry O. Bowen

Henry O. Bowen
Born:  1836 in Connecticut
Died:  February 16, 1906
SERGT CO K 7 CT INF

Married in Tippecanoe County, Indiana in 1875.  He was living in Escondido, San Diego County, California in 1905 and was engaged in ranching.


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Henry Alexander Bevington

Henry Alexander Bevington
Born:  1816 in Ohio.
Died:  1892 in Escondido, San Diego County, California.
PVT CO I 12 IND CAV

Living in LaGrange, Indiana at the time of his enlistment as a PVT on January 10, 1864.  He mustered out as a PVT in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 10, 1865.  He was living with his wife and children in Clay, LaGrange County, Indiana in 1870, but by 1871 he was living and farming in San Jacinto, San Diego County (now a part of Riverside County), California.  He was still farming in 1892, having moved south to the Guejito area east of Escondido.


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Symbol: Jerusalem Cross

The main central cross with four equidistant arms was the symbol of the Templar Crusaders.  The arms signify the four directions radiating outward from a central point representing Jerusalem.  This version includes four smaller crosses  representing Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Four Evangelists who spread the Word of God.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Cyrus Blodgett

Cyrus Blodgett
Born:  October 1840 in Michigan
Died:  January 13, 1926 in San Diego County, California
CPL CO G 16 MICH INF

Never married, by 1900 Cyrus and his sister, Susan, who was also single, were living in the Bernardo area near Escondido with their brother Charles and his wife.  Cyrus and Charles were engaged in farming.



Friday, March 22, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Robert Bigger

Robert Bigger
Born:  May 1845 in Illinois
Died:  September 3, 1929
PVT CO D 106 ILL INF

Enlisted as a PVT in CO D 106 ILL INF on December 19, 1863 at Logan, Illinois.  Mustered out on January 12, 1865 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
He was somewhat disabled in later years.  In 1910 he was a resident of the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Riverside Township, Adams County, Illinois.  In 1918 he was a resident of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Sawtelle, Los Angeles County, California.  By 1920 he was living in Escondido, San Diego County, California where he spent his remaining years.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Alonzo M. Bell

Alonzo M. Bell
Born:  1843 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
Died:  July 2, 1916 in San Diego County, California
PVT CO F HATCH'S MINN CAV

Still living in Minnesota in 1880, by 1890 he was in California.  He spent the last years of his life in Fallbrook, San Diego County, California where he was a carpenter.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Civil War Veteran: James Barnes

James Barnes
Born:  May 19, 1831 in Pennsylvania
Died:  January 2, 1908
SERGT CO I 19 IOWA INF

Prior to the Civil War James Barnes was a resident of Jefferson County, Iowa.  In 1856 he was living in Locust Grove employed as a shoemaker. 
He enlisted from Abington, Iowa on August 8, 1862 as a PVT in CO I 19 IOWA INF.  He was promoted to Full 5th SERGT on May 20, 1863 and promoted to Full 4th SERGT on September 1, 1864.  He mustered out in Mobile, Alabama on July 10, 1865.
By 1900 he was living in the Bernardo area of Escondido, San Diego County, California with his wife, Cornelia, and their children.  He was a member of Escondido's GAR Post #143.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Symbol: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Encampment

Encampment, a higher branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is open to Third Degree members in good standing.  The letters F, H and C stand for Faith, Hope and Charity, principles they strive to impart.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Robert T. Baines

Robert T. Baines
Born:  April 10, 1843 in Texas
Died:  October 9, 1923 in San Diego County, California
SERGT CO I 2 ARK INF

Enlisted from Fort Smith, Arkansas as a PVT on December 31, 1863.
Mustered out with the rank of SERGT.

He was living in California by 1892 and in 1894 he was living in the Guejito area east of Escondido, San Diego County, where he was a Rancher.  In 1910 he was living in Valley Center, San Diego County, and was the Postmaster.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Franklin Agate

Franklin Agate
Born:  1838 in Ohio
Died:  December 15, 1914 in San Diego County, California
PVT CO K 135 OHIO INF

Franklin Agate was a resident of Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio where he was employed as a Drayman.  He returned to Elyria after the war.  In the 1890s he migrated west.  He is known to have resided in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1893 to 1907 where a daughter was born.  In 1910 he was living in Cannon City, Fremont County, Colorado.  By 1912 he was living in Escondido, San Diego County, California where he was employed as a grocer and was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 103.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Henry Zimmerman

Henry Zimmerman
Born:  November 1843 in Ohio
Died:  April 11, 1927 in Riverside County, California
CORPL CO E 143 ILL INF

Enlisted May 3, 1864 as a Corporal.
Enlisted CO E 143 ILL INF as a Corporal on June 11, 1864.
Mustered out on September 26, 1864 at Mattoon, Illinois.

He was already living in California by 1890 and spent his last several decades living in Murrieta, Riverside County where he was a farm laborer.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Abraham Van Winkle

Abraham Van Winkle
Born:  Abt. 1834 or 1835 in Illinois
Died:  September 14, 1914 in Hemet, Riverside County, California
PVT CO B 91 ILL INF

Enlisted July 8, 1862 as a PVT in CO B 91 ILL INF and mustered out April 13, 1863.
While at Bethany, Missouri he suffered a gunshot wound to his left shoulder and was in prison for 15 days.

He spent the last seventeen years of his life in California, the last thirteen in Hemet and the vicinity.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Symbol: Independent Order of Odd Fellows

In addition to the Three Links with the letters FLT (signifying Friendship, Love & Truth) are three other symbols:  The All-Seeing Eye meaning God or God is Watching, the Heart in Hand meaning Charity, and the Scales and Sword meaning Justice.


Thursday, January 31, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Frederick K. Shawhan

Frederick K. Shawhan
Born:  August 9, 1835 in Ohio
Died:  February 18, 1902 in San Jacinto, Riverside County, California
CAPT CO D 123 OHIO INF

Enlisted at age 27 on August 16, 1862 as a CAPT in Co D 123 Ohio Infantry.
Commisioned an officer on September 24, 1862.
Discharged for wounds, he mustered out on March 14, 1865.

After his discharge he worked in the mining industry.  He lived in California for several decades, the last few years in San Jacinto with his wife and two children, a daughter and a son.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Civil War Veteran: William Lewis Roach

William Lewis Roach
Born:  November 7, 1840 in Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois
Died:  March 13, 1926 in Hemet, Riverside County, California
CO G 1ST REG ILL MARINE ARTY

According to his obituary Mr. Roach served in the Civil War and was buried in the Soldier's Section at his request.  His occupation was in mining, contracting and construction.  He spent the last three years of his life in Hemet, California.

Unable to find any information on an Illinois Marine Artillery Unit or on Mr. Roach's military service.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Civil War Veteran: Alonzo E. Parsons

Alonzo E. Parsons
Born:  December 20, 1843 in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Died:  February 28, 1930 in Hemet, Riverside County, California
PVT CO H 13 WIS INF

Alonzo Parsons enlisted as a PVT in CO H 13 WIS VOL INF on August 26, 1864 and mustered out on September 13 1865.  He spent the last eight years of his life in Hemet, California.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Symbol: Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Three links of chain, sometimes accompanied by the letters F L T meaning Friendship, Love, Truth.