November 7, 2023
Introduction: In this article, in honor of Veterans Day, Melissa Davenport Berry shares some fun and even startling stories about Civil War veterans. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.
In honor of Veterans Day, here are some anecdotes about Civil War veterans.
Civil War Vet: Champion Knitter, 1917
Civil War veteran Edwin Newell Armstrong (1845-1921) was the son of John Edwin Armstrong and Eliza Jane Anderson. He married Laura S. Gibbs and 2nd Lucie Wolfe, leaving descendants. As detailed in the below newspaper article, Edwin became a champion knitter later in his life.
The Trenton Evening Times published an article in 1917 about Armstrong’s knitting efforts to help the soldiers overseas fighting in WWI.
This article reported:
PEORIA, ILL., Dec. 8. – E. N. Armstrong of Peoria, president of the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad and a veteran of the Civil War [served with Company “E” 11th Illinois Infantry] is, without a doubt, the champion knitter of Peoria. Since the outbreak of the war [W.W. I] he has been busily engaged, during his spare time, in the knitting of sweaters, wristlets, mufflers, and socks for the Sammies [American servicemen].
He is a master at the art and for the past few months he has been giving instructions to women organizations who have organized knitting clubs. He has taught members of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic [GAR] the art of knitting.
Within the last few weeks he has knitted several sweaters and mufflers and turned them over to the Red Cross Society for distribution.
The railroad magnate is also the head of a family which is busily engaged at the art. He knits, his daughter knits, his granddaughter knits, and his great-granddaughter knits.
An enormous quantity of sweaters, socks, wristlets, and mufflers have come from the needles of Mr. Armstrong; Mrs. W. A. Boettger of Denver, Colo., his daughter; Mrs. L. [B]. Sale of Bloomington, Ill., his granddaughter; and Miss Muriel Sale of Bloomington, his great-granddaughter.
Armstrong family details:
- B. A. Boettger: born Laura Ann Armstrong to Edwin Newall Armstrong and Laura S. Gibbs, married William Albert Boettger.
- L. E. Sale: born Mabel Henrietta Boettger to William Albert Boettger and Laura Ann Armstrong, married Lloyd Bonner Sale.
- Miss Muriel Sale: born Laura Muriel Sale to Lloyd Bonner Sale and Mabel Henrietta Boettger, married Oscar W. Gregory.
Civil War Vet: Proud Father, 1920
Imagine this: a Civil War veteran who became a father – in 1920!
This photo caption read:
WICKFORD, R. 1. – Irving Secor, aged 7 weeks, is the youngest son of a Civil War veteran in America, says his proud father, Reuben Secor, aged 74, who was a private in the Fourth New York Regiment.
Reuben Secor (1845-1932), son of Abraham Secor and Martha Plant, served in the New York 4th Heavy Artillery Infantry (Union) under Col. Thomas D. Doubleday, aka “Doubleday’s Heavy Artillery.”
He married 1st Mary Jane Billings, daughter of Thaddeus T. Billings and Sally Williams. They had three sons: George, Frankie, and Arthur.
The couple divorced and Reuben married 2nd Annie Louisa Almy, daughter of William L. Almy and Ida L. Smith. Their son Irving Secor (1920-1984) married Edith Cassidy, daughter of Elwyn O. Cassidy and Edith A. Northup, leaving descendants. Irving was a WWII Veteran: PFC U.S. Army.
Reuben was one of the founders of the Charles C. Baker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and marshal of the annual North Kingston Memorial Day Parade for 12 years. In 1927, at age 82, he led his last parade and marched six miles.
Here is a monument erected in 1912 by Charles C. Baker Post 16, GAR, located in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Civil War Vet: Buried with Pet Parrot, 1919
This Civil War vet was obviously very fond of his pet bird.
This article reported:
SAWTELLE, Cal., Oct. 11. – In obedience to the last request of Philander D. Freeman, Civil War veteran who died at his home here, the stuffed skin of his pet parrot was placed in the casket with his body at the funeral.
Freeman’s parrot died in 1912. The veteran had the skin stuffed and placed in a glass cage on which was inscribed the name “Polly Freeman.”
Philander Freeman (1839-1919) was born to Chauncy Freeman and Harriet B. Johnson. He served in the 7th Michigan Infantry Company B (Union) under Captain Philip McKernan.
He married Celestia Norton, daughter of William Norton and Sarah Ann Haight. His son Alson William Freeman married 1st Mary Jane Ainlay and 2nd Harriet “Hattie” Lora Ryan, leaving descendants.
Civil War Vet: Modern Liquor ‘Too Fiery,’ 1922
When Michael Leonard, age 85, twice-wounded hero who served four years in the Civil War, was told his charges for intoxication were suspended, he told Magistrate Folwell: “The rum they sell in Brooklyn is worse than rebel bullets,” and with a wink stated: “Old age and new liquor do not mix well.”
Here is the skinny:
New York, Sept. 26. – Old age and new liquor do not mix well.
That’s the latest axiom of Michael Leonard, 85, twice wounded hero of the Civil War, who came from the Old Soldiers’ Home in Virginia [with a pocketful of dough from his $75 pension] a few days ago to visit his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Annie Leonard of Brooklyn. He had been off “Rebel reminiscences for a number of years and he craved excitement.” So Sunday night the old soldier started out “to paint Brooklyn red.”
Stunned by a fall and with a gash in his head, he was picked up today at Sixty-Fourth Street and Third Avenue by Patrolman O’Connor and booked on a charge of intoxication.
According to other reports, Leonard had passed out on the street. When found by the patrolman he looked battle worn. He was treated for his wound at the station before he appeared before the magistrate. His sentence was suspended.
Stay tuned for more Civil War veteran anecdotes…
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None on the header image: Grand Army of the Republic members at the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1886.This photograph, originally taken in September 1886, was published in the Dedham Transcript, 21 May 1921. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
