USA > Indiana > New history of the 99th Indiana Infantry : containing official reports, anecdotes, incidents, biographies and complete rolls > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
187
Sketches of Comrades.
the regiment during one of the most trying weeks of the siege of Atlanta, while Colonel Berkey was sick and Colonel Fowler on leave. He commanded the regiment during the march through the Carolinas and to the end of service. On May 20, 1865, he was mus- tered as lieutenant-colonel and on muster out was commissioned as colonel.
Since the war he has been actively engaged in the practice of law and has gained a high standing as a lawyer, the firm of Farrar & Farrar is well known through central Indiana. The colonel is domestic in his tastes, loving his family. He lost a lovely daughter, Maude, a young lady of much worth, about ten years ago, and he has never ceased to lament her loss. Although well along in life, 73 years of age, he still carries himself erect as of old. The picture on page 7 was taken in 1862 instead of 1865, as given there.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL RICHARD P. DE HART.
Born in Warren county, Ohio, January 1, 1836. Came to Indi- ana in 1855, taught school and studied law, doing the professional reading in the office of H. P. Biddle, of Logansport. In 1858 was elected prosecuting attorney and soon gained a reputation as a lawyer. In 1860 was elected to the Indiana state senate, where he served through the scenes of 1860 and 1861, in the trying times. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted as a private soldier and was com- missioned as adjutant of the 46th Indiana regiment September 18, 1861. He served with that regiment at New Madrid, Island No 10, Fort Pillow and Memphis until 1862, when he was promoted and commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 99th. He served through the Vicksburg and Jackson campaigns, when he was detailed in Sep- tember, 1863, on recruiting service in Indiana. He spent the winter in recruiting, and on the 1st of March, 1864, was commissioned colonel of the 128th Indiana infantry, which he took to the front under General Hovey. On the Atlanta campaign his regiment served with credit. On that campaign, June 6, 1864, he was very seriously wounded and was brought home to Lafayette, Indiana, where he finally recovered, but not sufficiently for field duty, so he was detailed on the military commission to try the Indiana conspirators. At the close of these trials, the war being over, he was mustered out of the service April 28, 1865. He began the practice of law in the city of Lafayette, Indiana, where he still resides. He is a fine orator with a pleasing address, and has been connected with some of the most famous cases tried in Indiana. As a criminal lawyer he has few equals. He is a man of small stature but of excellent physique and a very sinewy frame. His address is Lafayette,. Indiana.
188
New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN M. BERKEY. 1900.
Born January 16, 1834, in Somerset, Ohio. In 1849 he went to Columbus and served three years as an apprentice at carriage smithing. Went to school at Tiffin two years. In 1854 moved to Monticello, Indiana, where he went to school, taught, and engaged in the grocery and hardware business until the war broke out, in the meantime marrying the daughter of Captain Irons, a well known citizen of White county. His military record is as follows:
Entered service as private and elected second lieutenant of Company G, 46th Indiana, October 4, 1861; sent to Kentucky Decem- ber 11, 1861; ordered to Converce, Mo., February 16, 1862; siege oper- ations against New Madrid March 5-14; against Island No. 10, March 16th to April 8th; expedition to Fort Pillow April 13-17; re- signed May 6, 1862. Re-entered service as first lieutenant and adjutant 99th Indiana, August 30, 1862; promoted to major October 18, 1862, to lieutentant-colonel March 2, 1864; resigned January 8, 1865, and honorably discharged from service. He was with the regi- ment in all its campaigns until it reached Savannah, being in com- mand of the regiment at the battle on the 28th of July and other times. He had a great deal to do with the organization of the regi- ment, and his former experience gave him an advantage that made him a great help at South Bend and Indianapolis. When the regi- ment was divided on two boats going down from Louisville he had charge of one of the boats. His record will be found in the history .of the regiment.
189
Sketches of Comrades.
After the war he went to Denver, Colorado, in 1870, and has lived there ever since, and has been engaged in the real estate busi- ness to the present time. His business address is 1653 Champa street. The picture on page 5 shows him as he was in the war days; the above shows him when the years have taken his hair away, 'at the age of 66. He served his country faithfully and has never forgotten through all the years the tie that binds him to his comrades of the old regiment. He attended the reunion at Crown Point in 1890, and all were delighted to see him.
SERGEANT-MAJOR HARRY BREWER.
Born January 27, 1844, in Essex county, England. His parents moved to America when he was five years of age, settling in New York, where they remained one year and then moved to St. Charles, Illinois, and lived five years and then moved to Hammond, Indiana, where they resided, and Harry, at the age of eighteen years, enlisted in Company A. He was appointed by Colonel Fowler as his orderly, and on a promotion of Sergeant-Major McGlashon, he was made sergeant-major. He filled the position with ability, being acquainted with all the parts of the business belonging to the regi- ment. After the war he was married at the age of twenty-five. He had one son and one daughter. The son is now thirty-one years old, married, and has a wife and son, three years old. The girl grew up to be twenty years of age, an accomplished young lady, when she was stricken with typhoid fever and died. His first wife died in 1885 with consumption. He married again in 1891, and his second wife died of a cancer in 1898. He worked in Springfield, Illinois, on the Wabash railway as fireman and engineer for five years; in a flour mill in Springfield for three years, when he went to California and went into the freight department of the Southwestern Pacific Company in 1876 and has been in their employ ever since, being very well pleased with his situation. He says: "I expect to stay here until I get too old to be of any use to them, when I will have to stop and wait for the summons that comes to us all." He says: "I have had fairly good health, not having lost more than two months in twenty-five years on account of sickness. I have never made much money, but have always had enough to take care of my own and have much to be thankful for." He has been identified in various ways with the Grand Army of the Republic, having served two or three terms as sergeant-major and three terms a adjutant of Lincoln Post No. 1 of the G. A. R., Department of California, and now holds the position of special aid to the commander-in-chief and is entitled to wear the yellow badge ribbon of the order. All the members of the old regiment knew him and they all remember Harry yet. He- was a good penman and a good companion and a faithful soldier .. Address, 118 Shotwell street, San Francisco, California.
190
New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
MAJOR JOSEPH B. HOMAN. . 1863.
Born September 16, 1838, in Hendricks county, Indiana, where he was reared and which has ever since been his home, and where he is to-day recognized as one of the most prominent citizens in business, politics and in other ways. He served in the three months' service in the 7th Indiana. On being mustered out he went to Iowa and as- sisted in recruiting a company, which was called D and assigned to the 13th Iowa, in which he was appointed 1st lieutenant. He com- manded his company at Shiloh, losing nineteen men out of sixty-four engaged. ' Being wounded himself he received leave of absence, came back to his home in Indiana and recruited Company H, of the 99th, of which he was appointed captain, and was mustered out, in conse- quence, of the 13th Iowa. . He commanded his company until Decem- ber 23, 1863, when he was detailed as assistant inspector-general of the brigade, and served in that capacity until July 12, 1864, being in the meantime given the rank of brevet-major. He joined the regi- ment and took part in the battle of July 22d when he was taken pris- oner and held as such until September 28th, when he was ex- changed. Took command of the regiment at the Hood pursuit, after which he received leave of absence and came home, and December 26, 1864, having served over three and one-half years, was honora- bly mustered out of the service. He was married in March, 1865, in Danville, Indiana, and has a wife and one son, also married. He, calls himself a farmer, and he does considerable in that line, but his business interests in other ways take much of his attention. He has a delightful home and enjoys life, his principal recreation being as an active worker in the councils of the Republican party of the state and nation. He has not changed very much in looks from the picture above, which was taken in the army.
191
Sketches of Comrades.
to Indiana. Enlisted in Company K, and was made sergeant and discharged the duties of first sergeant most of the time; received a commission as 2d lieutenant a short time before the company was mustered out. It was dated May 1, 1864, but he did not get it until June, 1865, so that he had no benefit of it. Since the war he studied and is practicing law at Logansport, Indiana; was elected judge of the court in 1875, by the unanimous consent of all the people, being supported by both parties; he filled the office for four years; is at present engaged in the practice of law at Logansport, Indiana.
McMillen, Alexander H., Company I. Born June 19, 1844, in Pennsylvania. Enlisted in Miami county, Indiana, 1862, and served through the war. Married December 9, 1874, at Peru, Indi- ana, and has a family of six children. Has lived in Miami and Cass counties and has been engaged in farming. Address, New Waverly, Cass county, Indiana.
McGlashon, Lorenzo D., adjutant. Born April 12, 1843, at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His father moved to Crown Point in 1846. He entered Company A and was appointed sergeant-major, but October 5, 1863, was promoted to adjutant and served as such to the close of the war, being slightly wounded July 22d, at Atlanta. Colonel Fowler speaks very highly of him in his interview. The last report I had of him was that he was a civil engineer at DeSoto, Missouri. I have never seen or heard from him since the war.
Mackey, William, first lieutenant Company C. Born March 24, 1830, in Ohio; grew to manhood in Logan county, Ohio, where he taught school for several years. Married March 13, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Gregg, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and moved to Porter county, Indiana. In the spring of 1866 he went to Kansas, residing at Cha- nute and Fort Scott for a short time; in the fall of 1867 he went to Pleasanton, Lynn county, where he resided until November, 1899, when he moved to Wahita, Oklahoma, where he now resides.
P. S. Just as we are ready to send this sketch to the printer, word comes that he died suddenly, May 14th, and was buried at Pleasanton, his old home, on Wednesday, May 15, 1900. Thus pas- ses away a man who suffered a great wrong. The paper at Pleas- anton says of him: "He was an active, honorable, upright citizen."
Morris, George S., Company B. Born September 7, 1843, in Hancock county, Indiana. Enlisted in April, 1861, in 8th Indiana Volunteers, Company E, and discharged in the autumn of 1862, on account of small pox. Enlisted in March, 1864, as a recruit in Com- pany B and served to close of war, a faithful soldier. He has been a great sufferer for years from the exposure of army life. His address is Jonesboro, Grant county, Indiana.
Moore, Samuel, captain of Company E. Born in 1839, in Jen- nings county, Indiana. Served three months in 9th Indiana. En-
192
New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry ..
JEREMIAH WOODS, COMPANY B.
1900. NOTE .- Have no sketch of Comrade Woods, but he served in all the campaigns of the regiment, and his address is Knightstown, Indiana.
tered the 99th Indiana as 1st lieutenant of Company E, and was pro- moted to captain May 10, 1863. He commanded company until close of Atlanta campaign, when he came home on leave of absence and could not join the regiment until the arrival at Goldsboro, North Car- olina. He received a commission as major at muster out of regiment. Of his life since the war I have no data, only that he owns and is living on a ranch near Loveland, Colorado, which is his address.
Nibarger, Harrison J., Company B. Born December 13, 1843, in Hancock county, Indiana; served through the war, being wounded August 26, 1864, near Atlanta but recovered. Married September 28, 1865, and they have a family of three children. Has lived in Hancock and Henry counties, Indiana, since the war. Address, Knightstown, Indiana.
Nibarger, John, corporal Company B. Born June 24, 1843, in Hancock county, Indiana. Served faithfully through the war in Company B. After the war settled in Jay county, where he was married March 1, 1866, to Miss Mary L. Mckinney. He has a small farm on which he lives. Address, Redkey, Indiana.
193
Sketches of Comrades.
Norris, George W., captain Company D. Born December 18, 1830, at Dayton, Ohio. Came to Peru, Indiana, in 1859. Was 1st sergeant to January 1, 1863, 2d lieutenant to August 22, 1863, 1st lieutenant to May 30, 1865; then captain to muster out. He was faithful and a good officer. His present address is unknown.
Overstreet, Aaron, Company G. Born January 19, 1826, in Casey county, Kentucky; came from there to Hendricks county, In- diana, in 1853, and has resided there ever since. He was a faithful soldier all through with Company G, being mustered out with the regiment as corporal. Comrade Overstreet has a wife and family, and though the weight of years is fast coming upon him he is proud of the record of the old days, and loves his comrades. Address, Lizton, Indiana.
Parsons, John F., Company H. Born in 1836, in Hendricks county, Indiana; entered the service as 1st lieutenant in Company H, and held the position until his death which occurred March 26, 1863, at Fort Fowler, Tennessee. Among the soldiers who gave their lives for their country, there were few worthy of more respect and honor than Lieutenant Parsons; even yet there is in all the hearts of the old comrades a mingling of sorrow and regret at his untimely death.
Pingrey, James M., Company F. Born in February, 1837; has five children, two girls and three boys living; was a good soldier and says he is happy to think that he is still alive. Address, Mon- ticello, Indiana.
Patrick, William A., Company E. Born August 16, 1843, in Fulton county, Indiana. Moved to Newton county in 1859, and there enlisted in August, 1862. Served with the regiment until July 22, 1864, at Atlanta, where he was wounded and discharged on account of wounds. Returned to Newton county and married Miss Mary E. Ewan, at Morocco, in 1876, and now has a family of two sons and three daughters. In 1886 he removed to Oregon, which has ever since been his home. He is one of the men who has literally given some of his best blood to save his country. Address, Ashland, Oregon.
Powell, Lemuel U., Company I. Born March 22, 1835, near Lebanon, Indiana; entered the service as sergeant of Company I; promoted to 1st sergeant June 1, 1865; mustered out with the regi- ment; served through all the campaigns of the regiment. Lives on a farm near Converse, Indiana, which is his address.
Pebworth, James H., corporal Company H. Born March 11, 1839, in Shelby county, Kentucky; married in Hendricks county, In- diana, May 29, 1859; has a wife and four children living. Served through the war, being wounded on the Atlanta campaign. Has lived in Hendricks county, Indiana, since the war. Occupation, that of a farmer. Address, Pittsboro, Indiana.
194
New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM V. POWELL. 1862.
Born May 22, 1826, in Brown county, Ohio. Parents lived at Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1830 to 1835, then moved to Shawnee Prairie, Tippecanoe county, and remained until 1847, when they removed to Miami county. In 1850 he made the trip to California overland, one of the hardest journeys possible in those days. Stayed three years and returned to Indiana, and on September 11, 1853, married Miss Mary A. Smith. He was engaged in farming at Xenia, now called Converse, when he entered the army as captain of Company I, and continued with the regiment until the close of the war, being with Colonel Farrar, the only two of the original cap- tains that went through to the end. He was commissioned lieuten- ant-colonel on muster out, having been promoted to major May 20, 1865. After the war he sett'ed near Remington, in Jasper county, Indiana, engaged in farming and the stock trade. In 1871, with his wife, two sons, Addison M. and William G., and daughter, Eldora, he moved to Mendocino county, California, and engaged in the same business and introduced the Poland-China hogs in the northern part of the state. There his daughter Ida was born in 1874, and in 1881 he moved to the Santa Maria valley and settled there. In 1885 his wife died and he has since made his home with his daughters. His present address is Santa Maria, Santa Barba county, California. Comrade Powell still takes great interest in the record of the 99th.
195
Sketches of Comrades.
Ramey, Manly C., Company F. Born January 28, 1836, in Jefferson county, Kentucky; moved to White county, Indiana, in 1846, where he has lived ever since, working as a carpenter and doing some farming; he was one of the steady men of the service, serving for some time as corporal and sergeant; has taken a great deal of interest in the reunions of the regiment since the close of the war, and is admired and respected by all his comrades. Address, Brookston, Indiana.
Reid, Tilberry, captain Company G. Was the oldest officer in the regiment when he entered the service, being about 56 years of age; his health soon failed and he sickened and died January 1st, 1863, at Holly Springs, Mississippi. His home some time previous tohis entering the service was in Hendricks county, Indiana. The mili- tary service is of such a trying nature, its hardships are so great that it requires men of iron constitutions to undergo the service. Captain Reid could not endure those hardships and went down under them.
Reiger, August, Company A. Born in Germany, came to Lake county, Indiana, in 1855; served in Company A through the war, a good soldier. Since the war he has lived in Indiana and spent some time in the south and west. He has never married but lives with a brother. Address, Ross Station, Lake county, Indiana.
Ragan, George, Company A. Born in Ohio, in 1840; was brought to Indiana in 1844, where he has lived ever since. Served faithfully through the war, and has since lived in Lake county. Has a wife and four children living. Was a good soldier and is a true comrade. Address, Hobart, Indiana.
Scott, Charles M., captain Company C. Born January 22, 1833, in Fayette county, Indiana; went to California when 16 years of age, remaining there three years when he returned to Indiana. Three years afterward he made another trip to California. In 1854 he married Miss Elizabeth Murdock, and removed to Benton county on a farm, where he resided when he enlisted in the 99th. On the organ- ization of Company C, he was appointed sergeant. In February, 1863, promoted to 1st sergeant, and in February, 1864, was appoin- ted captain, which rank he held until the muster out of the service. After the war he returned to Benton county, and was soon after elected circuit clerk of the county, which position he held for eight years. He afterwards engaged in mining in Colorado until his death, which occurred November 2, 1886, at Carnero, Colorado.
Smith, Nelson G., Company F. Born November 23, 1845, in Carroll county, Indiana; enlisted in Lafayette, Indiana, December 16, 1863, as a young recruit in the 99th Indiana; was a medical stu- dent at the close of the war, making Cincinnati his home; he moved to Lisbon, Illinois, remained there until 1873; then moved to Lewis-
.
196
New History of the Ninety- Ninth Indiana Infantry.
CAPTAIN ROBERT P. ANDIS, COMPANY B. 1862.
Born March 21, 1830, in Virginia; came to Indiana in 1844; in 1846 enlisted in the Mexican war at 16, and served through the war. Came back to Hancock county and in 1862 entered the service as 2d lieutenant of Company B. April 9th, 1863, was promoted to 1st lieu- tenant, and March 20, 1864, to captain. He commanded the com- pany until the battle of July 22d, when, as the enemy were advan- cing, he fell with his skull pierced by a rifle ball. He was taken to the hospital senseless so far as speech was concerned and the sur- geons, seeing that the ball had entered his brain, gave him up to die. They took the ball out from the lower skull bone and handed it to him, but he could do nothing, so lost it. His sensation was very peculiar at the time as he could understand everything, but could not reply or put a sentence on paper intelligibly. After untold suffering he was brought home and recovered so that he was able to do business and is still alive, thirty-six years after. He was discharged December 14, 1864, not being able to do more. He still carries the scar and the effects of the wound are ever with him and will be while he lives. He was married August 12, 1852, to Phebe Low, and they have four sons and one daughter. He remained in Han- cock county until 1881, when he moved to Kansas. Every one in the regiment had a high regard for Captain Andis, and he has been a true man and comrade all his life. His picture shows him as he entered the army. Address, Hiattville, Bourbon county, Kansas.
197
Sketches of Comrades.
ville, Indiana, remained there until April, 1883; located in Green Cas- tle, until November, 1890; had a drug store in Indianapolis until Au- gust, 1897; sold out and located in Columbus, Indiana, where he is now engaged in practice of medicine. He says of himself: "I have been identified with the Eclectic school of medicine; a member of the Methodist church and a Democrat of the old school." Dr. Smith has been a leader among his Eclectic brethren; a man who is large and corpulent, and like all large men, a man with excellent good nature. His address is Columbus, Indiana.
Summers, Daniel, sergeant Company I. Born May 13, 1833, in Henry county, Indiana; enlisted at Benton, Miami county; has lived since March 10, 1866, in Jackson township, Howard county, Indiana. Has a family of six children, four boys and two girls. He still lives with the good woman he left behind when he enlisted; owns a good farm of 240 acres on which he lives; served as corporal and was sergeant at the time of the muster out of the regiment. There are not many better soldiers or citizens than Comrade Sum- mers. Address, Greentown, Indiana.
Stuart, Selden P., lieutenant Company K. Born September 16, 1842, at Logansport, Indiana, a son of the Hon. William Z. Stuart, of that city; he entered service as a private soldier of Company K; promoted to 1st sergeant, December 26, 1862, and 2d lieutenant May 1st, 1865, all of which stations he filled with credit and ability; he was detailed for some time as acting A. D. C. to General Oliver, commanding brigade; he was married after the close of the war, but passed away some years ago. Of his family I know nothing.
Sterrett, Joseph C., Company F. Born March 20, 1841, in La- porte county, Indiana; served through the war. Married April 15, 1866; has wife and family; resides in Tippecanoe county, Indiana; engaged in farming. Address, Battle Ground, Indiana.
Shrock, Solomon, Company I. Born December 7, 1835, in Holmes county, Ohio; enlisted at Peru, Indiana, in August, 1862, and served faithfully through the war. Has been married four times but is at present a widower, his youngest daughter, Mamie, keeping house for him at Peru, Indiana, which is his address.
Tague, George, captain Company B. Entered the service as 1st lieutenant of Company B; succeeded Captain Carr in April, 1863, and served as captain until ill health compelled his resignation Jan- uary 5, 1864. He was a physician by profession. He was a good man, but his health was poor for a long time and he died about twelve years ago, at his home in Greenfield, Indiana.
Thomas, Benjamin F., captain Company G. Born Apri19, 1831, in Baltimore, Maryland; came to Hendricks county, Indiana, May, 1853, entered the service as 2d lieutenant of Company G; was pro-
198
New History of the Ninety-Ninth Indiana Infantry.
MAJOR WM. W. BUTTERWORTH, SURGEON. 1863.
Born June 15, 1825, in Warren county, Ohio. Moved to Laporte county, Indiana, in 1846. Educated at Asbury university. Studied medicine, and since 1849 practiced his profession in St. Joseph county, at Mishawauka. On the organization was appointed as- sistant surgeon, and at Fort Fowler, January 29, 1863, was pro- moted to surgeon, and served as such to the close of the war. He was a good man and made a good reputation in the army. What I said of him at the close of the war I can truthfully repeat: "He can retire from the service with the fact established that his career in the army has been a success, and that he never forfeited the con- fidence of his companions in arms, but continued from the first to advance in their estimation." At the close of the war he was the first to propose an annual reunion to begin July. 28, 1866, and wrote the resolution adopted by the officers to that effect at Indianapolis June 15, 1865, the day all left for home. After the war he returned to his practice, which he continued until his death in 1888. His wife, sons and daughter reside at South Bend, Indiana, and still welcome the doctor's old comrades.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.