A Few More Union City Civil War Veterans
A.O. Gillett
On Wednesday, December 6, 1899, A.O. Gillett received the State Treasurer's Warrant No. 6535 for $8.79, being a balance due him for the services rendered the State by him in 1861.
In April 1861, A.O. Gillett responded to President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 volunteers and enlisted in Company H of Colonel John W. McLane's regiment. When the regiment was finally discharged the State was short of funds and paid privates int he field $17.23 in silver, leaving a balance du each man of $8.79. By act of the assembly in 1862, this balance was ordered paid and A.O. Gillett was probably the last to receive his pay.
Gillett told a Union City Times reporter that he had not pressed his claim before because he realized that the state was hard up for funds and he was willing to let the Commonwealth use his money for 39 years.
Now, with the arrival of general prosperity, he thinks it best to close the account.
The Green Brothers
The four Green brothers from Union City all joined different cavalry regiments in the Pennsylvania volunteers. William, Cookson, John, and Joseph served their country well and met different fates.
Cookson D. Green signed on as a private in Company B of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry on August 12, 1862, and mustered out on June 6, 1865.
John C. Green enlisted as a private in Company C of the 16th Pennsylvania Calvary on September 6, 1862, and was mustered out on June 6 1865.
Joseph C. Green joined up as a private in Company D of the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry and ended up as second lieutenant. He died on August 26, 1864, at Andersonville, Georgia. Cattle were responsible for landing Joseph in Andersonville. Captain H.H. Greg, with 150 men including Joseph Green, had been detached from the regiment and assigned to duty at the headquarters of the Commissary of Subsistence. The men were placed in charge of a cattle herd numbering between two and three thousand. A powerful body of rebel cavalry came upon Captain Gregg and his men near Cogin's Point. The boys in blue resisted, but the Rebels overpowered and captured them and hurried them and the cattle away. The cattle replenished the lean Confederate commissaries and the men went to prisons. Joseph was captured at Sulphur Springs, Virginia, on October 12, 1863, and died on August 26, 1864, at Andersonville Prison. he is buried there in grave #6867.
William Green enlisted as a private in Company B of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry on February 14, 1864. He mustered out on July 1, 1865.
John G. Gray
John G. Gray farmed 100 acres of land in Wayne Township, Erie County, and he raised general stock, poultry, and breeding stock.
He was born July 221, 1845, and was a native of Wayne Township. He attended local schools and finished his education at Waterford Academy.
Between farming he lived for 25 years in Erie and became an Erie Councilman. He was a citizen of influence and standing. Then he returned to his Wayne Township farm.
In 1864, he joined the Union Army as a member of the 12 Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years and passing uninjured through various important battles. He was a scout under "Little Phil" Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley for about eight months. He was honorably discharged on July 24, 1865. For many years he was a member of the G.A.R. and was an honored member of Post No. 67- the Strong Vincent Post in Erie.
After the war he married Mrs. Jane Smith and they had a daughter, Mary A. Gray.
John Gray was the son of Matthew A. and Esther Smith Gray. Matthew was born on the Juniata River in Pennsylvania in 1796. Both he and his brother James were soldiers in the War of 1812. Legend says that James was the strongest man in Harrison's Army and that one of the tests which he successfully met was the lifting of a cannon from the ground by main strength of hands and arms.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gray were: William C., Annie, Lavina and Robert, Jane, Susanna, Melissa, T.J., John, and Henry M. Matthew Gray died on may 16, 1877, at the age of 81 years and Esther died in 1902 at the age of 99 years.
The paternal grandfather, William Gray , in 1810, migrated from the family homestead on the Juniata River, settling at Waterford in Erie County. There he took up about 40 acres of land which was divided among his children in later years. By his marriage to a Miss Allison, he became the father of William James, Matthew, Robert, John, Sally, Annie and Mrs. F. Gray.
Shipman W. Griffith
Shipman W. Griffith was born in the town of Pike, Wyoming County, New York, on June 9, 1830. He lived there until he turned twenty years old, and then moved to Wisconsin. On August 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company C of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment better known as the "Eagle Regiment." His company had the distinction of carrying "Od Abe," the war eagle who became a national symbol.
After his discharge from the service on September 16, 1864, he came to Pennsylvania and located in Union City. On September 9, 1868, he married Harriet S. Smith and they lived in Union City for the rest of their lives except for one five year period. They had a son, John A. Griffith.
Shipman died on Monday, January 10, 1901. He was a devoted and kind husband and father and was highly respected in the community.
On Wednesday, December 6, 1899, A.O. Gillett received the State Treasurer's Warrant No. 6535 for $8.79, being a balance due him for the services rendered the State by him in 1861.
In April 1861, A.O. Gillett responded to President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 volunteers and enlisted in Company H of Colonel John W. McLane's regiment. When the regiment was finally discharged the State was short of funds and paid privates int he field $17.23 in silver, leaving a balance du each man of $8.79. By act of the assembly in 1862, this balance was ordered paid and A.O. Gillett was probably the last to receive his pay.
Gillett told a Union City Times reporter that he had not pressed his claim before because he realized that the state was hard up for funds and he was willing to let the Commonwealth use his money for 39 years.
Now, with the arrival of general prosperity, he thinks it best to close the account.
The Green Brothers
The four Green brothers from Union City all joined different cavalry regiments in the Pennsylvania volunteers. William, Cookson, John, and Joseph served their country well and met different fates.
Cookson D. Green signed on as a private in Company B of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry on August 12, 1862, and mustered out on June 6, 1865.
John C. Green enlisted as a private in Company C of the 16th Pennsylvania Calvary on September 6, 1862, and was mustered out on June 6 1865.
Joseph C. Green joined up as a private in Company D of the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry and ended up as second lieutenant. He died on August 26, 1864, at Andersonville, Georgia. Cattle were responsible for landing Joseph in Andersonville. Captain H.H. Greg, with 150 men including Joseph Green, had been detached from the regiment and assigned to duty at the headquarters of the Commissary of Subsistence. The men were placed in charge of a cattle herd numbering between two and three thousand. A powerful body of rebel cavalry came upon Captain Gregg and his men near Cogin's Point. The boys in blue resisted, but the Rebels overpowered and captured them and hurried them and the cattle away. The cattle replenished the lean Confederate commissaries and the men went to prisons. Joseph was captured at Sulphur Springs, Virginia, on October 12, 1863, and died on August 26, 1864, at Andersonville Prison. he is buried there in grave #6867.
William Green enlisted as a private in Company B of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry on February 14, 1864. He mustered out on July 1, 1865.
John G. Gray
John G. Gray farmed 100 acres of land in Wayne Township, Erie County, and he raised general stock, poultry, and breeding stock.
He was born July 221, 1845, and was a native of Wayne Township. He attended local schools and finished his education at Waterford Academy.
Between farming he lived for 25 years in Erie and became an Erie Councilman. He was a citizen of influence and standing. Then he returned to his Wayne Township farm.
In 1864, he joined the Union Army as a member of the 12 Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years and passing uninjured through various important battles. He was a scout under "Little Phil" Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley for about eight months. He was honorably discharged on July 24, 1865. For many years he was a member of the G.A.R. and was an honored member of Post No. 67- the Strong Vincent Post in Erie.
After the war he married Mrs. Jane Smith and they had a daughter, Mary A. Gray.
John Gray was the son of Matthew A. and Esther Smith Gray. Matthew was born on the Juniata River in Pennsylvania in 1796. Both he and his brother James were soldiers in the War of 1812. Legend says that James was the strongest man in Harrison's Army and that one of the tests which he successfully met was the lifting of a cannon from the ground by main strength of hands and arms.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gray were: William C., Annie, Lavina and Robert, Jane, Susanna, Melissa, T.J., John, and Henry M. Matthew Gray died on may 16, 1877, at the age of 81 years and Esther died in 1902 at the age of 99 years.
The paternal grandfather, William Gray , in 1810, migrated from the family homestead on the Juniata River, settling at Waterford in Erie County. There he took up about 40 acres of land which was divided among his children in later years. By his marriage to a Miss Allison, he became the father of William James, Matthew, Robert, John, Sally, Annie and Mrs. F. Gray.
Shipman W. Griffith
Shipman W. Griffith was born in the town of Pike, Wyoming County, New York, on June 9, 1830. He lived there until he turned twenty years old, and then moved to Wisconsin. On August 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company C of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment better known as the "Eagle Regiment." His company had the distinction of carrying "Od Abe," the war eagle who became a national symbol.
After his discharge from the service on September 16, 1864, he came to Pennsylvania and located in Union City. On September 9, 1868, he married Harriet S. Smith and they lived in Union City for the rest of their lives except for one five year period. They had a son, John A. Griffith.
Shipman died on Monday, January 10, 1901. He was a devoted and kind husband and father and was highly respected in the community.