George S. Woodruff was born in 1841 in Michigan, the son of Joseph P. (b. 1815) and Harriet (Robinson, b. 1821 in New York).
Joseph and his wife eventually settled in Michigan sometime before 1839 (when their daughter Elizabeth was born) and by 1850 George was living with his family and his father was working as a a laborer in Ada, Kent County. By 1860 George was working as a farm laborer for the William Robinson family in Vergennes, Kent County. (Next door lived William Corlis who would also enlist in Company A, Third Michigan, in February of 1862.)
George stood 5’10” with gray eyes, black hair and a light complexion and was a 24-year-old farm laborer possibly living in Vergennes when he enlisted in Company A on February 12, 1862, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered on February 24. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left chest and lung on July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and subsequently hospitalized in Turner’s Lane hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from late July of 1863 through April of 1864. George may have returned to duty by the time he was transferred to Company A, Fifth Michigan infantry, upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. In any case he was probably present for duty when he was discharged on February 24, 1865, at the expiration of his term of service, near Petersburg, Virginia.
After his discharge from the army George returned to Kent County. He was living in Detroit in 1890 and in Detroit’s Fourth ward in 1894.
He was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (no. 4200) as a widower on January 5, 1904, and was “dishonorably” discharged on March 16. Sometime in mid-1904 moved into the Hermitage Hotel annex, on South Division Street in Grand Rapids.
In 1875 he applied for and received pension no. 137,269, drawing $12.00 in 1904.
George apparently remarried to a woman named Julia.
Early in the morning of December 23, 1904, George, who was “one of the well-known characters of the local downtown streets,” reportedly suffered an acute attack of delirium tremens in his room at the Hermitage and, according to the Press, “was removed to the County jail for safe keeping, did not rally under the treatment at the jail, and last night at 10 o’clock was found dead in his cell.” He “was given,” wrote the paper, “every attention during his ravings, but later in the evening he became quieter. Deputy Sheriff Pettis went to the cell at 10 o’clock before returning and found the old fellow dead.”
Officially George was reported as having died of “organic heart disease,” and his funeral services were held at Metcalf & Gibson’s chapel. Although not a member of the Home, he was nevertheless buried in the Home cemetery: section 4 row 17 grave no. 17.
His widow was living in Brooklyn, New York in 1905 when she applied for and received a pension (no. 605319).
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Charles M. and William E. Woodruff
Charles M. Woodruff was born on March 1, 1834, in Niagara County, New York, the son of Jonathan (b. 1799) and Delila (Cramer, b. 1805).
Pennsylvania native Jonathan married New Yorker Delila sometime before 1823 by which time they had settled in New York, and indeed lived for many years in New York state. By 1850 Charles (as well as his younger brother William who would also join the Third Michigan) was living on the family farm in Wilson, Niagara County, New York.
Charles was married Wisconsin native Sarah Sanborn (b. 1843), sometime in 1859, and they had at least two children: Ida (b. 1861) and Lilia (b. 1866).
They eventually settled in western Michigan, and by 1859 charles was probably a member of the Boston Light Guards, an Ionia County militia company that would form the basis for Company D of the Third Michigan Infantry in 1861. By 1860 Charles was working as a mason and living with his wife in Boston, Ionia County (Peter Granger who would also enlist in Company D lived next door.)
Charles stood 5’4” with gray eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion and was 27 years old and probably still living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on December 21, 1861, at Grand Rapids, and was mustered on December 23 at Detroit; his younger brother William would enlist in Company D in February of 1862. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.)
Charles was the company barber from July of 1862 through August, but absent sick in a hospital in September and October. He was reported as a nurse in the Regimental hospital in January and February of 1863 and was discharged on March 16, 1863, at Camp Pitcher, Virginia, for “chronic diarrhea with gastric irritability of six months’ standing. He is now much emaciated.”
After his discharge from the army Charles returned to Michigan and for many years worked as a mason.
In 1863 Charles applied for and received a pension (no. 32521).
By 1870 Charles was working as a stone mason and living with his wife and two daughters in Cambria, Hillsdale County. Sarah sued for divorce charging him with cruelty and habitual drunkeness and they were divorced on October 29, 1873, in Stanton, Montcalm County.
Charles married his second wife a two-time widow named Eliza J. Collier on August 31, 1874. (She had been married to one John Terryberry who was beaten to death in a brawl in Montcalm County in 1872 and then to one Abraham or Adam Thompson in 1873 who died about six months later.
By 1910 Charles and Eliza were living in Grand Rapids’ Twelfth Ward, Kent County. In 1915 he was living in Grand Rapids when he suffered a hip fracture.
Charles was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (but not as a member) hospital where he died of an “accident” on April 12, 1915. He was buried in the Home cemetery: originally in section 7 row 11 grave no. 31 but moved to section 6 row 3 grave no. 25.
In 1915 his widow Eliza was living at 1015 Dorcester Avenue in Grand Rapids, Kent County, when she applied for and received a pension (no. 796449).
William E. Woodruff was born in 1837 in Niagara County, New York, the son of Jonathan (b. 1799) and Delila (Cramer, b. 1805).
Pennsylvania native Jonathan married New Yorker Delila sometime before 1823 by which time they had settled in New York, and indeed lived for many years in New York state. By 1850 William (as well as his brother Charles who would also join the Third Michigan) was living on the family farm in Wilson, Niagara County, New York.
William left New York, possibly with his older brother Charles and eventually and had settled in western Michigan.
He stood 5’10’ with black eyes, black hair and a light complexion and was a 25-year-old teamster probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on February 1, 1862, at Saranac, Ionia County for 3 years, and was mustered the same day; his oldier brother Charles had enlisted in Company D just a month previous. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.)
William was absent sick from July through September, and reportedly admitted at one time to the general hospital in York, Pennsylvania. However, he was discharged for varicocele and “irritable testes” on October 5, 1862, at Baltimore or Annapolis, Maryland.
He eventually returned to Michigan.
He was possibly married to New York native Mary (b. 1842), and they had at least two children: William (b. 1865) and Eliza J. (b. 1868).
By 1870 he was working as a carpenter and living with his wife and two children in Saranac, Ionia County; he was still in Saranac working as a carpenter in 1880. He was living in the Oakdale Park area of Grand Rapids in 1888, and in Paris, Kent County in 1890.
He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. In 1876 he applied for and received a pension (no. 161450).
He died on August 9, 1891, possibly in the vicinity of Saranac, Ionia County and was buried in Saranac cemetery: lot no. 88.
His widow applied for a pension (no. 524179), but the certificate was never granted.
Pennsylvania native Jonathan married New Yorker Delila sometime before 1823 by which time they had settled in New York, and indeed lived for many years in New York state. By 1850 Charles (as well as his younger brother William who would also join the Third Michigan) was living on the family farm in Wilson, Niagara County, New York.
Charles was married Wisconsin native Sarah Sanborn (b. 1843), sometime in 1859, and they had at least two children: Ida (b. 1861) and Lilia (b. 1866).
They eventually settled in western Michigan, and by 1859 charles was probably a member of the Boston Light Guards, an Ionia County militia company that would form the basis for Company D of the Third Michigan Infantry in 1861. By 1860 Charles was working as a mason and living with his wife in Boston, Ionia County (Peter Granger who would also enlist in Company D lived next door.)
Charles stood 5’4” with gray eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion and was 27 years old and probably still living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on December 21, 1861, at Grand Rapids, and was mustered on December 23 at Detroit; his younger brother William would enlist in Company D in February of 1862. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.)
Charles was the company barber from July of 1862 through August, but absent sick in a hospital in September and October. He was reported as a nurse in the Regimental hospital in January and February of 1863 and was discharged on March 16, 1863, at Camp Pitcher, Virginia, for “chronic diarrhea with gastric irritability of six months’ standing. He is now much emaciated.”
After his discharge from the army Charles returned to Michigan and for many years worked as a mason.
In 1863 Charles applied for and received a pension (no. 32521).
By 1870 Charles was working as a stone mason and living with his wife and two daughters in Cambria, Hillsdale County. Sarah sued for divorce charging him with cruelty and habitual drunkeness and they were divorced on October 29, 1873, in Stanton, Montcalm County.
Charles married his second wife a two-time widow named Eliza J. Collier on August 31, 1874. (She had been married to one John Terryberry who was beaten to death in a brawl in Montcalm County in 1872 and then to one Abraham or Adam Thompson in 1873 who died about six months later.
By 1910 Charles and Eliza were living in Grand Rapids’ Twelfth Ward, Kent County. In 1915 he was living in Grand Rapids when he suffered a hip fracture.
Charles was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (but not as a member) hospital where he died of an “accident” on April 12, 1915. He was buried in the Home cemetery: originally in section 7 row 11 grave no. 31 but moved to section 6 row 3 grave no. 25.
In 1915 his widow Eliza was living at 1015 Dorcester Avenue in Grand Rapids, Kent County, when she applied for and received a pension (no. 796449).
William E. Woodruff was born in 1837 in Niagara County, New York, the son of Jonathan (b. 1799) and Delila (Cramer, b. 1805).
Pennsylvania native Jonathan married New Yorker Delila sometime before 1823 by which time they had settled in New York, and indeed lived for many years in New York state. By 1850 William (as well as his brother Charles who would also join the Third Michigan) was living on the family farm in Wilson, Niagara County, New York.
William left New York, possibly with his older brother Charles and eventually and had settled in western Michigan.
He stood 5’10’ with black eyes, black hair and a light complexion and was a 25-year-old teamster probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on February 1, 1862, at Saranac, Ionia County for 3 years, and was mustered the same day; his oldier brother Charles had enlisted in Company D just a month previous. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.)
William was absent sick from July through September, and reportedly admitted at one time to the general hospital in York, Pennsylvania. However, he was discharged for varicocele and “irritable testes” on October 5, 1862, at Baltimore or Annapolis, Maryland.
He eventually returned to Michigan.
He was possibly married to New York native Mary (b. 1842), and they had at least two children: William (b. 1865) and Eliza J. (b. 1868).
By 1870 he was working as a carpenter and living with his wife and two children in Saranac, Ionia County; he was still in Saranac working as a carpenter in 1880. He was living in the Oakdale Park area of Grand Rapids in 1888, and in Paris, Kent County in 1890.
He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. In 1876 he applied for and received a pension (no. 161450).
He died on August 9, 1891, possibly in the vicinity of Saranac, Ionia County and was buried in Saranac cemetery: lot no. 88.
His widow applied for a pension (no. 524179), but the certificate was never granted.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Oscar Ezekiel Woodmancy - update 8/22/2016
Oscar Ezekiel Woodmancy was born February 8, 1836, in Ionia County, Michigan.
By 1850 Oscar was living with the Ezra Spencer family in Otisco, Ionia County. In 1860 there was one Oscar Woodman working as a farm laborer and living with the family in Berlin (Saranac), Ionia County. Oscar may have been related to one Miles Woodmansee (b. 1821) who probably lived in Barry County and who was buried in Riverside cemetery, Hastings, Barry County (see photo G-774).
Oscar stood 5’6” with gray eyes, dark hair and a light complexion, and was a 23-year-old farmer probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on May 13, 1861. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.) Oscar was a Sergeant and absent sick in August of 1862, but but soon afterwards he was reduced to the ranks and in September was reported a Private serving in the ambulance corps through July of 1863. However, he was a Sergeant again by December 24, 1863, when he reenlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Boston, Ionia County, and was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough, probably in Ionia County, in January of 1864.
Oscar probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February when he was listed as absent sick and he was serving with the ambulance train in March and April. He was still on “detached service,” probably with the ambulance corps, when he was transferred as a Sergeant to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He remained on detached service through October, and indeed probably until he was discharged for chronic diarrhea on January 15, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia.
Dr. Henry Lyster, Surgeon for the Fifth Michigan infantry wrote that Woodmancy was suffering from “a generally debilitated and emaciated condition in consequence of chronic diarrhea. This soldier has suffered from this disease to a greater or lesser extent for two years though he has not been constantly disabled until within the last six months. His duties have latterly been very light but his disease has not yielded either to diet or medicine. In my opinion he is in danger of death by remaining in the service.”
Oscar returned to Michigan after his discharge from the army; he listed Ionia, Ionia County as his mailing address on his discharge paper.
He married Michigan native Lillian Randall (1850-1930) and they had at least one child: Fred (1867-1930).
By 1870 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife and son in Berlin (now Saranac), Ionia County. By 1871, however he had moved west to Colorado County, Texas. In 1874 he was living in Colorado County, Texas when he was arrested for “playng cards in public” and was still living in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas in 1877. Oscar lived variously in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma territory.
In 1880 Lillian was working as a seamstress and she and her son Frederick were living with the J. Bracey family in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
In 1907 Oscar was reportedly living in Washunga, Kay County, Oklahoma territory.
By 1910 Oscar was working as a laborer and living with his wife in Flatonia, Fayette County, Texas.
In 1865 Oscar applied for and received a pension (no. 143801).
Oscar died on May 22, 1922, May 22, 1918 or May 24, 1919, in Flatonia, Fayette County, Texas, and was buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Flatonia. (His son Fred died in San Antonio in 1930 and his widow died in 1930 in Texas; both are reportedly buried in Flatonia, Texas.)
His wife Lillie received a widow’s pension (no. 607672).
By 1850 Oscar was living with the Ezra Spencer family in Otisco, Ionia County. In 1860 there was one Oscar Woodman working as a farm laborer and living with the family in Berlin (Saranac), Ionia County. Oscar may have been related to one Miles Woodmansee (b. 1821) who probably lived in Barry County and who was buried in Riverside cemetery, Hastings, Barry County (see photo G-774).
Oscar stood 5’6” with gray eyes, dark hair and a light complexion, and was a 23-year-old farmer probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on May 13, 1861. (Company D was composed in large part of men who came from western Ionia County and Eaton County.) Oscar was a Sergeant and absent sick in August of 1862, but but soon afterwards he was reduced to the ranks and in September was reported a Private serving in the ambulance corps through July of 1863. However, he was a Sergeant again by December 24, 1863, when he reenlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Boston, Ionia County, and was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough, probably in Ionia County, in January of 1864.
Oscar probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February when he was listed as absent sick and he was serving with the ambulance train in March and April. He was still on “detached service,” probably with the ambulance corps, when he was transferred as a Sergeant to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He remained on detached service through October, and indeed probably until he was discharged for chronic diarrhea on January 15, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia.
Dr. Henry Lyster, Surgeon for the Fifth Michigan infantry wrote that Woodmancy was suffering from “a generally debilitated and emaciated condition in consequence of chronic diarrhea. This soldier has suffered from this disease to a greater or lesser extent for two years though he has not been constantly disabled until within the last six months. His duties have latterly been very light but his disease has not yielded either to diet or medicine. In my opinion he is in danger of death by remaining in the service.”
Oscar returned to Michigan after his discharge from the army; he listed Ionia, Ionia County as his mailing address on his discharge paper.
He married Michigan native Lillian Randall (1850-1930) and they had at least one child: Fred (1867-1930).
By 1870 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife and son in Berlin (now Saranac), Ionia County. By 1871, however he had moved west to Colorado County, Texas. In 1874 he was living in Colorado County, Texas when he was arrested for “playng cards in public” and was still living in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas in 1877. Oscar lived variously in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma territory.
In 1880 Lillian was working as a seamstress and she and her son Frederick were living with the J. Bracey family in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
In 1907 Oscar was reportedly living in Washunga, Kay County, Oklahoma territory.
By 1910 Oscar was working as a laborer and living with his wife in Flatonia, Fayette County, Texas.
In 1865 Oscar applied for and received a pension (no. 143801).
Oscar died on May 22, 1922, May 22, 1918 or May 24, 1919, in Flatonia, Fayette County, Texas, and was buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Flatonia. (His son Fred died in San Antonio in 1930 and his widow died in 1930 in Texas; both are reportedly buried in Flatonia, Texas.)
His wife Lillie received a widow’s pension (no. 607672).
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Simeon D. Woodard - update 9/11/2016
Simeon D. Woodard was born in 1843 in Canada, the son of Vermonter Dexter (1812-1895) and Artemissia (Dutcher, 1812-1898).
Simeon’s parents were married in 1829 and by 1851 the family was living in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Sometime between 1855 and 1859 the family left Canada and by 1860 Simeon and his family had settled in Leoni, Jackson County.
Simeon stood 5’9” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was an 18-year-old farmer possibly living in Jackson County when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861.
He was missing in action on July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and returned to the regiment on September 19 at Baltimore, Maryland.
Simeon was killed in action on November 30, 1863, at Mine Run, Virginia, although Dan Crotty of Company F wrote some years after the war that Woodard's’ death was the result of his own “carelessness.” It was at Mine Run, wrote Crotty in 1876, “that we lost one of our best soldiers by his own carelessness, Simeon Woodard. When about to relieve a man on the picket line, he commenced to walk out to the post upright. We caution him to creep out, like the other men, but he don't heed our admonitions, so he takes the consequences. He had only moved a few rods when he dropped his gun and put back to the reserve. Sitting down, he drops off a corpse. We soon learn that he received his death wound through the bowels.”
Simeon was buried in Fredericksburg National Cemetery: grave 3691 (old 178).
His parents eventually settled in New Haven, Gratiot County, where they were both living along with a number of their children in 1870 and 1880. In 1886 his mother, was living in Michigan when she applied for and received a pension (no. 336,264).
Simeon’s parents were married in 1829 and by 1851 the family was living in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Sometime between 1855 and 1859 the family left Canada and by 1860 Simeon and his family had settled in Leoni, Jackson County.
Simeon stood 5’9” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was an 18-year-old farmer possibly living in Jackson County when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861.
He was missing in action on July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and returned to the regiment on September 19 at Baltimore, Maryland.
Simeon was killed in action on November 30, 1863, at Mine Run, Virginia, although Dan Crotty of Company F wrote some years after the war that Woodard's’ death was the result of his own “carelessness.” It was at Mine Run, wrote Crotty in 1876, “that we lost one of our best soldiers by his own carelessness, Simeon Woodard. When about to relieve a man on the picket line, he commenced to walk out to the post upright. We caution him to creep out, like the other men, but he don't heed our admonitions, so he takes the consequences. He had only moved a few rods when he dropped his gun and put back to the reserve. Sitting down, he drops off a corpse. We soon learn that he received his death wound through the bowels.”
Simeon was buried in Fredericksburg National Cemetery: grave 3691 (old 178).
His parents eventually settled in New Haven, Gratiot County, where they were both living along with a number of their children in 1870 and 1880. In 1886 his mother, was living in Michigan when she applied for and received a pension (no. 336,264).
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