Union City Civil War Veterans and Grand Army of the Republic Members
Reverend John F. Barr finished his long life of service on Atlantic Street in Union City on Monday, June 5, 1911. He was born and grew to manhood in Crawford County. When he was young he gave his life to Christ and tried to serve Him the rest of his life.
John was one of the first to answer the call at the outbreak of the Civil War when he joined the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A. For three years he saw active service at the front with his regiment. Among the many engagements he participated in was Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was in the famous March to the Sea under Sherman. Although he fought in many battles, John received only one serious wound. He was a brave soldier and was discharged honorably as a corporal in 1865.
On December 25, 1879, John Barr married Miss Ellen H. Cottrell and they set up housekeeping in Union City and lived there for many years. They had three children.
Reverend Barr was a Baptist minister for 25 years, doing active and earnest service for God. He filled several appointments in Erie and Crawford counties.
When his health failed, Reverend Barr retired from ministerial work and moved to Dover, Delaware, where he lived until his wife died. Then he returned to Union City.
The members of the John W. McLane Post, Grand Army of the Republic in Union City, turned out in a body and had charge of his funeral, along with a detachment from L.M. Anderson Camp, Sons of Veterans. As his body was being lowered into its last resting place in Evergreen Cemetery, the bugler sounded "Taps," and the honor guard fired a regular military volley.
William O. Black
William Oscar Black was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on may 26, 1822, and when he was still quite young he moved to Erie. He clerked in the store of Clark and Metcalf in Erie for a time, and then in 1847, he came to Union City and took charge of the large lumber firm owned by William Truesdale of Erie and Joy & Webster of Buffalo. At this time the old mill owned by Judge Miles and a hotel and small grocery in the same building kept by Captain Abram A. Tourtellotte were the chief business enterprises in Union City. William Black supervised manufacturing lumber and shingles for the firm for seven years and shipped the products by teams to Erie.
In 1860, William Black was elected County Treasurer and his duties were more arduous than usual because Erie County issued a large amount of money to pay the soldiers a local bounty. His final settlement with the county and state did not contain one error in his accounts.
After he retired from his office of treasurer, he devoted him time and money to looking after the interests of the soldiers. William helped raise the 83rd, 111th, and 145th Pennsylvania regiments. He also served as a surgeon, doing active work at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, where his brother John was pierced by three bullets.
The United States government gave William Black three honorable discharges as a volunteer nurse and he and the Honorable George w. Starr of Erie went South to take the soldiers vote.
On March 28, 1848, William married Elizabeth Sterrett, daughter of Judge Sterrett of Erie and they set up housekeeping in Union City where they lived all of their lives. They had seven children.
William Black filled nearly every important Union City office at some point in his career. He served as mayor, member of the council and postmaster.
Horace Burroughs
Horace Burroughs was born at Windham, Vermont, on December 17, 1820, and celebrated his 90th birthday in December of 1910, three months before he died on March 2, 1911.
Horace grew up in Vermont, and married Miss Nancy Humphreys of Essex, Vermont, in January 1841. They had two children and his son, Morton of Underhill, Vermont, survived him.
The first Mrs. Burroughs died in November 1843 and Horace again married on June 1, 1867. This time he married Miss Margaret Jackson of Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, and after she died her married Miss Mary Pier in January 1884. After she died, he married for the fourth time. He married Miss Susie G. Mitchell at Jamestown, new York, on october 9, 1895. She was very faithful to her husband during the last years of his life, which were filled with intense suffering.
Horace Burroughs enlisted in Company L, 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary on February 6, 1862. He was mustered into the service at Philadelphia on February 10, 1862, and he served for three years. The battles he participated in included Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam.
After being promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant, Horace was honorably discharged at Kearneyville, Virginia, on January 26, 1863. He again enlisted at Harrisburg on June 13, 1863, and was mustered into Captain Murray's Independent Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry which was organized to defend an invasion of the Confederates into Pennsylvania. On August 11, 1863, he was honorably discharged as a Commissary Sergeant.
Horace's heart was still so strongly with the fighting men in blue that he enlisted again, this time in Company B, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry on February 13, 1864. He took part in opposing General Early during his raid and he fought with his regiment at the battles of Solomon's Gap, Pleasant Valley, Champton's Gap and Winchester. He also participated under Sheridan in his Shenandoah Campaign, receiving his final discharge on October 20, 1864.
Reverend Homer P. Potter of the Union City Methodist Church, conducted his funeral services at the Methodist Church. The McLane Post No. 102 of the Grand Army of the Republic of which he was an honored member, led burial services at Evergreen Cemetery.
John Clemmons
John Clemmons was born at Richfield Springs, New York, on October 18, 1830, and was 73 years old when he died on March 4, 1904. He married Miss Lydia M. Pullman at her home in Russia, New York, on August 27, 1853. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in August 1903. Two children, Reverend J.D. Clemmons, pastor of the M.E. Church of Beechtree, Jefferson County, and Mr. W.L. Clemmons of Union City, together with his wife, survive him.
John Clemmons moved to Union Township in 1861 and in 1865 he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, serving until its close. He was converted and united with the United Brethren Church, but about twenty years ago took a letter from that denomination and joined the Methodist Church in Union City. He was a class leader for seven years and was a member of the official board at the time of his death.
He was an honest, upright citizen in every sense, his word being considered equally as good as his bond and he was respected and honored by all of his neighbors and friends.
he died at the home of his son, W.L. Clemmons, at 101 South Main Street, on March 4, 1904. His pastor Reverend C.O. Mead conducted his funeral services at his home and at the Methodist Church. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
John was one of the first to answer the call at the outbreak of the Civil War when he joined the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A. For three years he saw active service at the front with his regiment. Among the many engagements he participated in was Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was in the famous March to the Sea under Sherman. Although he fought in many battles, John received only one serious wound. He was a brave soldier and was discharged honorably as a corporal in 1865.
On December 25, 1879, John Barr married Miss Ellen H. Cottrell and they set up housekeeping in Union City and lived there for many years. They had three children.
Reverend Barr was a Baptist minister for 25 years, doing active and earnest service for God. He filled several appointments in Erie and Crawford counties.
When his health failed, Reverend Barr retired from ministerial work and moved to Dover, Delaware, where he lived until his wife died. Then he returned to Union City.
The members of the John W. McLane Post, Grand Army of the Republic in Union City, turned out in a body and had charge of his funeral, along with a detachment from L.M. Anderson Camp, Sons of Veterans. As his body was being lowered into its last resting place in Evergreen Cemetery, the bugler sounded "Taps," and the honor guard fired a regular military volley.
William O. Black
William Oscar Black was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on may 26, 1822, and when he was still quite young he moved to Erie. He clerked in the store of Clark and Metcalf in Erie for a time, and then in 1847, he came to Union City and took charge of the large lumber firm owned by William Truesdale of Erie and Joy & Webster of Buffalo. At this time the old mill owned by Judge Miles and a hotel and small grocery in the same building kept by Captain Abram A. Tourtellotte were the chief business enterprises in Union City. William Black supervised manufacturing lumber and shingles for the firm for seven years and shipped the products by teams to Erie.
In 1860, William Black was elected County Treasurer and his duties were more arduous than usual because Erie County issued a large amount of money to pay the soldiers a local bounty. His final settlement with the county and state did not contain one error in his accounts.
After he retired from his office of treasurer, he devoted him time and money to looking after the interests of the soldiers. William helped raise the 83rd, 111th, and 145th Pennsylvania regiments. He also served as a surgeon, doing active work at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, where his brother John was pierced by three bullets.
The United States government gave William Black three honorable discharges as a volunteer nurse and he and the Honorable George w. Starr of Erie went South to take the soldiers vote.
On March 28, 1848, William married Elizabeth Sterrett, daughter of Judge Sterrett of Erie and they set up housekeeping in Union City where they lived all of their lives. They had seven children.
William Black filled nearly every important Union City office at some point in his career. He served as mayor, member of the council and postmaster.
Horace Burroughs
Horace Burroughs was born at Windham, Vermont, on December 17, 1820, and celebrated his 90th birthday in December of 1910, three months before he died on March 2, 1911.
Horace grew up in Vermont, and married Miss Nancy Humphreys of Essex, Vermont, in January 1841. They had two children and his son, Morton of Underhill, Vermont, survived him.
The first Mrs. Burroughs died in November 1843 and Horace again married on June 1, 1867. This time he married Miss Margaret Jackson of Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, and after she died her married Miss Mary Pier in January 1884. After she died, he married for the fourth time. He married Miss Susie G. Mitchell at Jamestown, new York, on october 9, 1895. She was very faithful to her husband during the last years of his life, which were filled with intense suffering.
Horace Burroughs enlisted in Company L, 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary on February 6, 1862. He was mustered into the service at Philadelphia on February 10, 1862, and he served for three years. The battles he participated in included Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam.
After being promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant, Horace was honorably discharged at Kearneyville, Virginia, on January 26, 1863. He again enlisted at Harrisburg on June 13, 1863, and was mustered into Captain Murray's Independent Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry which was organized to defend an invasion of the Confederates into Pennsylvania. On August 11, 1863, he was honorably discharged as a Commissary Sergeant.
Horace's heart was still so strongly with the fighting men in blue that he enlisted again, this time in Company B, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry on February 13, 1864. He took part in opposing General Early during his raid and he fought with his regiment at the battles of Solomon's Gap, Pleasant Valley, Champton's Gap and Winchester. He also participated under Sheridan in his Shenandoah Campaign, receiving his final discharge on October 20, 1864.
Reverend Homer P. Potter of the Union City Methodist Church, conducted his funeral services at the Methodist Church. The McLane Post No. 102 of the Grand Army of the Republic of which he was an honored member, led burial services at Evergreen Cemetery.
John Clemmons
John Clemmons was born at Richfield Springs, New York, on October 18, 1830, and was 73 years old when he died on March 4, 1904. He married Miss Lydia M. Pullman at her home in Russia, New York, on August 27, 1853. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in August 1903. Two children, Reverend J.D. Clemmons, pastor of the M.E. Church of Beechtree, Jefferson County, and Mr. W.L. Clemmons of Union City, together with his wife, survive him.
John Clemmons moved to Union Township in 1861 and in 1865 he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, serving until its close. He was converted and united with the United Brethren Church, but about twenty years ago took a letter from that denomination and joined the Methodist Church in Union City. He was a class leader for seven years and was a member of the official board at the time of his death.
He was an honest, upright citizen in every sense, his word being considered equally as good as his bond and he was respected and honored by all of his neighbors and friends.
he died at the home of his son, W.L. Clemmons, at 101 South Main Street, on March 4, 1904. His pastor Reverend C.O. Mead conducted his funeral services at his home and at the Methodist Church. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.