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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01080 6385
Register
Of The Society
Sons of the Revolution
In The
State of California
1902
47
1893731
Holandge Ogra Calino.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/registerofcalifo00sons
1
SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. California society.
8394 Register of the California society, Sons of
.809 the revolution. 1. -
[Los Angeles
27-29kcm. 1
.
3 6ks
-
SHELF 0. 21
ICN 42-3782
Only Three Hundred Copies Printed. Number /.
-
Contents
PAGE
ANCESTRAL ROLL
39
BIOGRAPHIES
65
GEORGE WASHINGTON PEACHY
65
NATHANIEL, FOLSOM
69
NICHOLAS GILMAN
73
JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN
75
RODERICK MORRISON
80
ZADOCK BENTON
81
THOMAS LEE
84
BENJAMIN CUDDEBACK
97
IRA BEEBE
102 WALTER WOOSTER 107
FOUNDERS OF THE CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
IN MEMORIAM
HARRY WOODVILLE LATHAM
WILLIAM SPENCER MERRILL
30
ERASMUS CORWIN GILBREATH
31
CHARLES LEE COLLINS
33
WILLIAM ANTHONY ELDERKIN 35
MEMBERSHIP ROLL 17
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND DELEGATES, 1893-1902 11
PREFACE 5
REGULATIONS FOR USE OF THE LIBRARY 112
GEORGE WASHINGTON, ADDRESS BY FRANK WILBUR BURNETT 59
ILLUSTRATIONS Passim
8
29
29
SONS OF TH
EVOLUTION
REVERSE
OBVERSE
Insignia
Preface
HE Society Sons of the Revolution in the State of California was instituted at the City of Los Angeles, on May 8, 1893, and incorporated under the laws of California, on May 15, 1893, by Hon. James Monroe Allen, Lieutenant Charles Lee Collins and Major William Anthony Elderkin of the United States Army, Holdridge Ozro Collins, Edward Thomas Harden and John Miner Carey Marble.
Since its organization, it has elected eighty-three gen- tlemen to membership.
Its general policy has been conservative and marked by a careful scrutiny and verification of the records presented by those seeking admission. The great distance of the Pacific Coast from all authoritative sources of information has made this work somewhat tedious, but the labor has been gradually lessened by a rapidly increasing Society Library of published records and works of reference.
There has been an annual observance of the anniver- saries of the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, and February Twenty-second has been celebrated by a dinner and the regular yearly meeting.
Prizes of a silver and bronze medal have been awarded to scholars of the California High Schools for the best es- says upon subjects relating to the Revolution, and the So- ciety has taken a pronounced and active part in all National questions which have been embraced by the principles of its organization.
In the war with Spain, this Society gave ten of its members to the Army, and one to the Navy, all of whom
6
served with honor, and some with marked distinction.
The following is the Roll of Honor:
Brigadier General John Green Ballance, Colonel Edwin Byron Atwood, Colonel William Anthony Elderkin, Major Erasmus Corwin Gilbreath, Major Alfred Clarence Sharpe and Captain Charles Lee Collins, of the regular army; Major Frank Clarke Prescott, Lieutenant Charles Putnam Fenner, Sergeant Cameron DeHart Thom and Sergeant Catesby Charles Thom, of the Volunteers, and Ensign William Henry Masser, of the Navy.
A large proportion of our members, -nearly one-third,- has served in the National military forces. We have had two Brigadier Generals, four Colonels, four Majors, four Cap- tains, one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, one Private, and one Ensign, of the Army and Navy; one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Major and one First Sergeant, of the National Guard. The Confederate army is represented by one Captain, one Lieutenant and one Private.
Our valuable library of over four hundred pamphlets and bound volumes is contained in the commodious Society Hall, the walls of which are decorated with historical por- traits and interesting souvenirs. Many of the books are of great value, and some of them cannot be found in any other library on the Pacific Coast, and we are in the constant re- ceipt of valuable publications by the Smithsonian Institu- tion and the State Department at Washington, and the State University and Library of New York, upon whose distributing lists this Society has been placed.
We have two life members, Mr. George Washington Peachy, the son of a soldier of the Continental Army, a sketch of whom will be found in these pages, and Mr. James Mortimer Montgomery, to whose cordial labors this Society owes its early existence, and who is constantly placing us under obligations for his many generous gifts and unceasing interest.
Our members were generally in favor of an union with the gentlemen of the Society Sons of the American Revo-
7
lution, but the plan proposed was so subversive of all the fundamental principles of our General and State Soci- eties that there was not one negative voice in the vote by which it was rejected.
The records of the Secretary and Registrar have been most carefully kept, and all members may therein read the interesting stories of the services of their ancestors.
The Treasury is in a satisfactory condition, giving an assurance of the stability and future prosperity of this Society.
The Directors have been careful and economical in the management of the finances. Our greatest expense has been for printing, but the general demand for our publica- tions by members, sister Societies, and the large public and college libraries of the country, affords very satisfying evidence that they have not been without interest. We have issued Year Books for 1894, 1895; Historian's Report, 1896; Circular Letters 1895 and 1896; High School Prize Essays 1895; Address by the President 1897; Registers for 1898, 1899, 1900, and genealogy of the Washington Family 1900.
In this publication we include the official memorials of deceased members, and we present a few biographies of soldiers of the Revolution whose services are related upon our records.
Holandge Ogro Colline.
Los Angeles
April 19, 1902
President.
1
XEGI MONUMENTUM
ABRE PEREN
P
IUS
1776
SONS
1883
NOIL010
OF
THE
REVOL
California Society
INSTITUTED MAY 8, 1893 INCORPORATED MAY 15, 1893
FOUNDERS
JAMES MONROE ALLEN LIEUT. CHARLES LEE COLLINS, U. S. A. HOLDRIDGE OZRO COLLINS MAJ. WILLIAM ANTHONY ELDERKIN. U. S. A. EDWARD THOMAS HARDEN JOHN MINER CAREY MARBLE
Officers, Directors and Delegates 1893-1902
.
Spencer Roane Thorpe, Vice-President
Officers
(Df the Society
Sons of the Revolution
In the State of California From its Organization May 15, 1893
Elected
Retired
1893
President HOLDRIDGE OZRO COLLINS
1893
1897 . SPENCER ROANE THORPE
Secretaries LIEUT. CHARLES LEE COLLINS. U. S. A. 1894
1893
1894
ARTHUR BURNETT BENTON 114 N. Spring St., Los Angeles
Treasurers
1893
1895
1895 1896
JOHN MINER CAREY MARBLE JOHNSTONE JONES BRADNER WELLS LEE
1896
1893
Registrar EDWARD THOMAS HARDEN
historians JAMES MONROE ALLEN 1896
1893
1896
CHARLES PUTNAM FENNER 1899
1899
JOSIAH EVANS COWLES, M. D. 1900
1900
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTUS BREWER
Chaplains REV. JOHN GRAY 1898
1895
1898
REV. GUY WOODBRIDGE WADSWORTH
Marshalls
1894
FRANK CLARKE PRESCOTT 1900
1902
FRANK CLARKE PRESCOTT
1900 .
CAMERON DEHART THOM
1902
Dice-Presidents COL. WILLIAM ANTHONY ELDERKIN, U. S. A. 1897
OM
12/cK
Board of Directors Retired
HOLDRIDGE OZRO COLLINS EDWARD THOMAS HARDEN LIEUT. CHARLES LEE COLLINS, U. S. A. 1894
JOHN MINER CAREY MARBLE 1895
COL. WILLIAM ANTHONY ELDERKIN, U. S. A. 1897
ARTHUR BURNETT BENTON JOHNSTONE JONES BRADNER WELLS LEE SPENCER ROANE THORPE
1896
Delegates to the General Society
HOLDRIDGE OZRO COLLINS ..
1896 1902
COL. WILLIAM ANTHONY ELDERKIN, U. S. A. 1896
JOSIAH ALONZO OSGOOD 1896
SPENCER ROANE THORPE
1898
JOHN MINER CAREY MARBLE
1895
JAMES MORTIMER MONTGOMERY FRANK WILBUR BURNETT
1898
..
SHERMAN OTIS HOUGHTON 1898
GEORGE SMITH PATTON 1898
WILLIAM FREEMAN BURBANK 1899
CHARLES WILLIAM ROGERS 1899
CAPT. ALFRED CLARENCE SHARPE, U. S. A. 1899
HENRY HARBINSON SINCLAIR .. ..
1899
EDWARD MEADOR BLAKE
JOHN RICHARDSON HALL
1902
GEN. JOHN GREEN BALLANCE, U. S. A.
1893 1899 1893 1893 1893 1893 1895 1896 1899 1896 1896 1898 1898 1898 1898 1902 1899 1899 1902
Elected 1893 1893 1893 1893 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897
13
Alternate Delegates
JAMES MONROE ALLEN
1896
WILLIAM CLEVELAND AIKEN
1896
WILLIS PARRIS
1896
FRANK CLARKE PRESCOTT
1896
EDWARD THOMAS HARDEN ..
1899
EDWARD ROGERS CLEVELAND
1898
BEN GOODRICH
1898
1900
JOHN RANDOLPH HAYNES, M. D. 1898
1896 1896
WILLARD ATHERTON NICHOLS 1898
COL. EDWIN BYRON ATWOOD, U. S. A.
1899
1898 1898
JOSIAH EVANS COWLES, M. D
1899
1898
JAMES LOCHRY PAUL
1899
1898
HARRY EDGERLY PRATT
1902
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTUS BREWER
1899 1899 1899
JAMES FREDERICK DRAKE
1900
FRANK PUTNAM FLINT
1899
FRANK WILLIAM KING
1902
HENRY ATHERTON NICHOLS
*Died May 13, 1896
0
.
1893 1893 1893 1893 1893
1896
1898 1896 1896
1896
* HARRY WOODVILLE LATHAM 1896
E38
OSMIOM 23MAT
ISAWOR
£
flag of Sons of the Revolution Adopted by the General Society April 4. 1891
IRoll of Members
.
/
Edward Thomas harden
Registrar.
.
Mostra Chebimar 3psi.
Membership Roll
Admitted 1893
5
ALLEN, JAMES MONROE, N. Y. Soc. S. R. Great-grandson of Private ADAM LINK
Lawyer, San Francisco
1893
9. ATWOOD. EDWIN BYRON, Loyal Legion Great-grandson of Private JOHN ATWOOD
Colonel, U. S. Army
.
1900
76 BALLANCE, JOHN GREEN,
Brig. Gen. U. S. V. Major U. S. Army
Insignia 2798 West Point Alumni Assn. Cal. Soc. Col. Wars. Great-grandson of Private CHARLES BALLANCE Grandson of Corporal WILLIS BALLANCE
1901
78. BEARDSLEY, MOSS WHITE, Great-great-grandson of Colonel NEHEMIAH BEARDSLEY
Mechanical Engineer Crown King. Arizona
1902 82. BENDER, HOWARD, Great grandson of Sergeant CHRISTIAN BENDER
Abstracter of Titles Bakersfield
1894
14 BENTON, ARTHUR BURNETT, Architect, Los Angeles
Great-grandson of Private ZADOCK BENTON Great-grandson of Corporal DAVID CHANDLER Great-grandson of Sergeant SETH HULL
1895
55. BERRY, MARK TRAFTON, Loyal Legion: G. A. R. Great-grandson of Private THOMAS BERRY
Postmaster, Vernondale
1894
22. BLAKE, EDWARD MEADOR, Great-great-grandson of Captain JOSIAH WHEELER
Banker, Naco, Arizona
1895
54. BOOTHE. CHARLES BEACH, Great-grandson of Captain DAVID NICHOLS
Merchant. Los Angeles
1901
81.
BOUTON, EDWARD, Loyal Legion; G. A. R. Grandson of Captain DANIEL BOUTON
Rancher, Los Angeles
1895
63.
BREWER, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS. Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great-great-grandson of Private RODERICK MORRISON Great-great grandson of Private JARED CHITTENDEN
Clergyman San Mateo
1900
75. BROWN, HORACE ATWELL,
Prin. Eaton School Los Angeles
Great grandson of Captain DAVID BROWN
EDA
19
1895
44. BURNETT, FRANK WILBUR, Lawyer, Los Angeles Great grandson of Captain JOHN BURNETT
1894
18. CLARK. ELI P., Great-grandson of Lieutenant AARON BENEDICT
Prest. Santa Monica Electric Ry. Co. Los Angeles
1893 1. COLLINS, HOLDRIDGE OZRO, Lawyer, Los Angeles Insignia 644 N. Y. Soc. S. R .; N, Y. Soc. Col. Wars; Cal. Soc. Col. Wars; Penn. Soc. War 1812. Vet. Corps I. N. G.
Great great great grandson of Private GIDEON HICKOX Great great great grandson of Captain JOHANNES WESTBROOK Great great great-grandson of "Associator" and Private HARMANUS VAN INWEGEN Great great-grandson of "Associator" JAN VAN VLIET Great-great-grandson of
' Associator" THOMAS DECKER Great-great-grandson of Captain IRA BEEBE Great-great-grandson of "Associator" WILLIAM CUDDEBACK Great-grandson of "Associator" and Private BENJAMIN CUDDEBACK Great-great-grandson of "Associator" JACOB VAN ETTEN Great grandson of "Associator" ANTHONY VAN ETTEN Great-grandson of Sergeant WALTER WOOSTER
1901
79. CORWIN, DAVID RITTENHOUSE PORTER, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars. Penn. Soc. War 1812. Great-grandson of "Associator" and Private JOSHUA CORWIN
Journalist Los Angeles
1895
38.
FENNER, CHARLES PUTNAM, Merchant, Manila, P. I. Insignia 2124 Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great-great-grandson of Brigadier-General RUFUS PUTNAM
.
20
1900
74. FISHER, DONNELL GEORGE, Great great grandson of Lieutenant JOSEPH DODDS, JR. Great-great-grandson of Private BERZILLIA FISHER
Frgt. Agt. Santa Fe R. R., Los Angeles
1895
62. FLINT, FRANK PUTNAM, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great-great-great-grandson of Private JOSEPH WELLMAN
Lawyer, Los Angeles
1895*
46.
GOODRICH, BEN, Confed. Vet. Assn. Grandson of Lieutenant JOHN GOODRICH
Lawyer, Los Angeles
1895 47.
HALL. JOHN RICHARDSON,
Electrician, Needham, Mass.
Great-great-great-grandson of
Private JEREMIAH INGRAHAM Great-great-grandson of Private SETH WILLIAMS Great-great-grandson of Private JOHN RICHARDSON Great-great-grandson of Lieutenant DANIEL CONEY Great-grandson of Private AARON HALL
1901
77. HAMILTON. GORDON BATTELLE.
Physician San Francisco
Great-great grandson of
Major EBENEZER BATTELLE
1893
6 HARDEN EDWARD THOMAS, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great grandson of Captain WILLIAM MAXWELL Great-grandson of Colonel WILLIAM HARDEN Great-grandson of Colonel JOHN BAKER
Mining. Los Angeles
21
1895 51. HARTWELL, WILLIAM ATHEARN,
Loyal Legion; G. A. R. Grandson of Ensign SETH WALKER
Real Estate Los Angeles
1895
45. HAYNES, JOHH RANDOLPH, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great-grandson of Private ABIEL FELLOWS
Physician, Los Angeles
1894
23. HOOKER, JOHN DAGGETT, Grandson of Private SETH HOOKER
Manufacturer Los Angeles
1895
58. HOUGHTON, SHERMAN OTIS, Great-grandson of Lieutenant BETHUEL FARRAND Grandson of Sergeant ABIJAH HOUGHTON
Lawyer, Los Angeles
1901
80.
HUBBELL, ORRIN ZEIGLER, Great-grandson of Private WILLIAM HOSMER
Lawyer, Los Angeles
1894
24.
JONES, JOHNSTONE, Conted. Vet. Assn. Great-grandson of Captain CADWALLADER JONES
Lawyer, Los Angeles
1899
73.
KENYON, BREWSTER COX, Great grandson of Corporal JOSEPH KENYON
Rancher, Long Beach
1898
69.
KING, FRANK WILLIAM, Great-grandson of Private PELEG ROSE
Merchant, Los Angeles
1894
25. LEE, BRADNER WELLS,
Lawyer, Los Angeles
Insignia 1627 Cal. Soc. Col. Wars; Cal. Com. Foreign Wars Great grandson of Captain THOMAS LEE
.
2081
with
22
1893
1. MARBLE, JOHN MINER CAREY,
Banker, Los Angeles Penn. Soc. S. R .; Loyal Legion; G. A. R. Great grandson of Private JOHN CAREY, SK.
1898
72. MARTIN, HARRY LEE.
Accountant. Los Angeles Great-great grandson of Captain THOMAS FARROW
1897
68. McLAIN, GEORGE PERSELL,
Merchant, Los Angeles Great-grandson of Lieutenant WALTER GRAHAM Great grandson of Lieutenant THOMAS HUSSEY LUCKETT
1894
21. MERWIN. ALEXANDER MOSS, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great-great-grandson of Colonel JOSEPH PLATT COOKE Great grandson of Captain TIMOTHY TAYLOR
Clergyman. Pasadena
1894
36. MONTGOMERY, JAMES MORTIMER. Insignia 2 N. Y. Soc. S. R. Great great-great grandson of Colonel WILLIAM HENRY Great-great grandson of Commissary GEORGE HENRY Great great grandson of Colonel WILLIAM MALCOLM
Merchant New York City
1902
83.
MOORE. FRANKLIN WALTON, Great great-grandson of BENJAMIN HERNDON Great-great-grandson of Sergeant WILLIAM TERRELL LEWIS, JR. Great-grandson of Lieutenant JAMES MARTIN LEWIS
Mining Engineer Los Angeles
KOG
James Mortimer Montgomery, And his daughter Who pulled the cord nuveiling the statue of Nathan Dale City Ball Park, New York, November 25, 1895.
2,3
1895
41. NICHOLS, HENRY ATHERTON, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars. Mass. Mayflower Soc. Great-great great grandson of Major General NATHANIEL FOLSOM Great-great-great-grandson of Private JEREMIAH INGRAHAM Great- great great grandson of Colonel NICHOLAS GILMAN Great-great-grandson of Sergeant JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN Great-grandson of Lieutenant NATHANIEL GILMAN Great-great-grandson of Private SETH WILLIAMS Great-great grandson of Lieutenant DANIEL CONEY
Banker. Cambridge Massachusetts
1895
42. NICHOLS, WILLARD ATHERTON, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars. Mass. Mayflower Soc. Great-great-grandson of Major-General NATHANIEL FOLSOM Great-great-grandson of Colonel NICHOLAS GILMAN Great grandson of Sergeant JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN
Civil Engineer Redlands
1894
16 OSGOOD, JOSIAH ALONZO. Cal. Soc. Col. Wars; Loval Legion; G. A. R. Great-grandson of Private BENJAMIN OSGOOD
Civil Engineer Los Angeles
1894 17. OSGOOD, JOHN HAMILTON, Great-great-grandson of
Rancher, La Canada
Private BENJAMIN OSGOOD
1893
10
PARRIS, WILLIS, Great-grandson of Lieutenant SAMUEL PARRIS
Agt. Pac. Coast Stp. Co. Los Angeles
1895
39. PATTON, GEORGE SMITH, Great-great-grandson of Brigadier-General HUGH MERCER
Lawyer, San Gabriel
24
1895
59,
PAUL, JAMES LOCHRY, Great-grandson of Lieutenant Colonel ARCHIBALD LOCHRY
Banker, Ontario
1894
32. PEACHY, GEORGE WASHINGTON. Son of Private BENJAMIN PEACHY
Los Angeles
1893 7. PRESCOTT, FRANK CLARKE, Lawyer, Redlands
Insignia 2064 Cal. Soc. Col. Wars; Conn. Mayflower Soc .; Col. Governors; Maj. ret. N. G. C. Great-great-grandson of Lieutenant AARON YOUNG Great-grandson of Private THOMAS CLARK
1895
61. ROGERS, CHARLES WILLIAM, Rancher, Los Angeles Great-grandson of Captain JOHN STOUT Grandson of Private DANIEL STOUT
1895
60. ROGERS, IVINS DAVIS. Great-grandson of Captain JOHN STOUT Grandson of Private DANIEL STOUT
Rancher. San Diego
1893
11. SHARPE ALFRED CLARENCE. Major U S. Army
Soc. Army Santiago de Cuba; Penn. Soc. War 1812. Great-grandson of Sergeant HUGH THOMPSON
1894
34. SINCLAIR, HENRY HARBINSON, Great-great-grandson of
Electrician Los Angeles
Captain RICHARD SINCLAIR Great - grandson of Private JOSHUA SINCLAIR
1898
70. THOM, CATESBY CHARLES,
Lawyer, Los Angeles Cal. Soc. Col. Wars. Great great-grandson of Captain JOHN ARNDT
2081
25
1898 71. THOM, CAMERON DE HART, Cal. Soc. Col. Wars Great-great-grandson of Captain JOHN ARNDT
Rancher, Glendale
1893
8. THORPE, SPENCER ROANE, Rancher, Los Angeles
Cat. Soc. Col. Wars. Confed. Vet. Assn. Great-great-grandson of Governor PATRICK HENRY
1894
20 WADSWORTH. GUY WOODBRIDGE, Great-grandson of
Captain THOMAS YOUNG SEYMOUR
Prest. Occidental College Los Angeles
1895
53. WADSWORTH, THOMAS SEYMOUR, Real Estate
Los Angeles
Great-grandson of Captain THOMAS YOUNG SEYMOUR
898
ТРАН ЗИТ НОЯЗМАО МОНТ
ПОИНА ИНОГ півter?
W
In Memoriam
CHARLES LEE COLLINS WILLIAM ANTHONY ELDERKIN ERASMUS CORWIN GILBREATH HARRY WOODVILLE LATHAM WILLIAM SPENCER MERRILL
harry Woodville Satbam
HARRY WOODVILLE LATHAM
Adopted June 17, 1896
ARRY WOODVILLE LATHAM. who was elected to membership in this Society on the 21st day of February, 1894, died at Pasadena on May 14th, 1896, and it is but just that we place upon record a testimonial to his many virtues, and an expression of our sorrow for the loss of a companion whose ami- able disposition had won a high place in our regard. He was a zealous member of this Society, proud of his ancestral record which secured his eligibility to be- come one of us, and ever watchful over our united interests, solicitous with jeal- ous care, that our standard should not be lowered from that splendid height upon which our principles have placed it.
He was an industrious lawyer, conservative and prudent in all matters en- trusted to him, and a safe guide and counsellor for those who sought his aid.
He lived in the regard and affections of his friends, and the respect of all with whom he came in contact. $
Seldom have men of his few years secured so general a regard from his neighbors, and a brilliant future as well as a useful career appeared to open be- fore him.
He was a loving son and an affectionate brother, and we, the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California, hereby extend to that widowed mother, and only brother, our most profound sympathy for this great loss in the taking away of this bright young life, around which had clung so many hopes.
The Secretary is hereby directed to transmit to Mrs. Latham a copy of this memorial, and to spread the same at large upon the records, and further, that he shall devote one entire page of said record, immediately following the copy of this memorial, upon which shall be recorded fhe following :
HARRY WOODVILLE LATHAM
BORN IN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER 30, 1862 ELECTED A MEMBER OF THIS SOCIETY FEBRUARY 21, 1894 DIED AT PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, MAY 14, 1896
30 ACK
WILLIAM SPENCER MERRILL
Adopted February 22, 1899
ILLIAM SPENCER MERRILL, the oldest son of the late Lieuten- ant-Colonel William Emory Merrill of the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October seventh, 1873.
At the age of twenty years he was graduated with the degree of B. A. by the Lehigh University of Pennsylvania, subsequently completing the regular course of study in the Cincinnati Law School. He was admitted to the Bar of Ohio and practiced his profession at Cincinnati until 1896, when by reason of delicate health he came to California in hopes that he might recover his vigor in a milder climate. He was admitted to practice in the Courts of California and for a few months followed his profession at Los Angeles, but his failing strength compelled him to relinquish so sedentary a life and he took up his domicile in the moun- tains near Daggett, where he remained until May, 1898, when, feeling that the end was near, he returned to Cincinnati, where he died in the arms of his wid- owed mother on July 17th. 1898.
As successor to his father he was a member of the military Order of the Loyal Legion, and early in its organization he joined the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of Ohio. Very soon after coming to Los Angeles he resigned from the Ohio Society and on February 18. 1897, he was elected to membership in this Society, which membership he retained up to the time of his death.
His courtesy and gentleness of disposition gained for him the kindest re- gards of our members, and the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of California hereby places upon record its sincere regret for the loss of so valuable a member and its most profound sympathy for the relatives and friends of our de- ceased associate.
The Secretary is instructed to record this memorial, and send a copy thereof to his mother at Cincinnati, Ohio, and to the Ohio Society Sons of the Revolution.
Major Erasmus Corwin Bilbreath, 11. S. A.
31
ERASMUS CORWIN GILBREATH
Major Eleventh Infantry, United States Army Born in Guernsey County, Ohio, May 13. 1840 Died at Mayaguez, Island of Porto Rico, August 22, 1898.
Adopted February 22, 1899
WITH the incentive of his Virginia ancestor, the life of Major Gil- breath has been that of a soldier since early manhood.
In July, 1861, at the age of twenty-one years, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Twentieth Indiana, Volunteer Infantry, and his record during the War of the Rebellion is that of a brilliant officer, whose merit was recognized in many general orders and by promotion to high rank.
He commanded his Regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg, and in June, 1864, he was in command of the Seventeenth Maine Infantry, at the charges of Petersburg and Hare House.
During this war he participated in eighteen battles and sieges, receiving se- vere wounds at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
In February, 1865, upon the recommendation of Major-General W. S. Han- cock, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel In Hancock's Corps.
At the close of the war he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry arm of the regular service; and at the time of his death he was Major of the Eleventh Infantry, U. S. Army.
During the period from 1870 to 1898. his service was principally upon the frontier, and he participated in the Indian campaigns against the Comanches, the Kiowas and the Bannocks.
When war was declared in 1898 against Spain, he was stationed at Fort Whipple, near Prescott, Arizona, whence his command was ordered to Tampa, Florida. In the latter part of July his Battalion sailed on the Mohawk for Porto Rico, landing at Ponce, and marched at once upon Mayaguez. In his official report of the capture of that city, he says :
"About 3 p. m., August 10th, the command was halted near a stream (the Rio Rosario) for rest, and when only a few moments had elapsed rapid firing was heard at the front. The Regiment was at once marched forward in double time." For two hours this battle lasted, and the enemy was repulsed with only a slight loss to the Eleventh Regiment, and a heavy one for the Spaniards. His Regiment did the principal fighting, and Major Gilbreath was continually at the
32
front. The weather was excessively warm and it having rained, the clothes of the troops "produced the effect of a steam bath," and at the close of this en- gagement, the most severe in Porto Rico, our soldiers "were ready to sink in their tracks."
On July 14, while on their way to Lares, an Interior town, our forces were attacked by 1500 Spaniards. who were repulsed with the capture of their Colonel and considerable loss in prisoners, wounded and killed.
In his official report, General Schwan says that Major Gilbreath greatly dis- tinguished himself in both these engagements, for personal bravery and military skill.
The hardship of this campaign resulted to Major Gilbreath in a stroke of paralysis, from which he died at Mayaguez on August 25, 1898.
His remains were brought to Washington, and on September 8th Interred at Arlington by the side of the great Commanders under whom he had served during the War of the Rebellion.
Major Gilbreath was elected a member of this Society on January 17, 1896. and of the seven soldiers whom we have given to the Army, he was the first to yield up his life for our cause in the war with Spain.
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