As
countless television news spots, newspaper articles and Facebook posts have
reminded us during the past few days, Memorial Day is a day to honor those who
died while serving in the United
States Armed forces. The holiday started as “Decoration Day” in the North and
the South after the Civil War.
I
have no ancestors who died serving their country, but like most genealogists, I
can identify several collateral relatives who did. The death of one in
particular – William Jefferson Saxon, nephew of my third great grandfather,
William M. Saxon, has a poignant twist to it that captures my imagination.
William
Jefferson Saxon, the apparent son of John L. and Margaret (Gordon) Saxon,[1]was born 14 November 1842[2]
in Indiana, possibly in Madison County. He was living with his parents in Anderson
Township, Madison County, in 1850.[3]
By 1860, his parents had moved to Jackson Township, Miami County, Indiana, and
William lived with them there, working as a farmer.[4]
Shortly after the Civil War broke out, the 19-year-old dark-eyed, light-haired
young man who stood five feet, seven inches tall, enlisted and served as a
private in Company C, 87th Indiana Infantry. William Jefferson Saxon
died of pneumonia 14 December 1862 at Gallatin, Tennessee.[5]
Many,
many young soldiers died of disease during the Civil War. The thing about
William’s death that strikes me as unusual is that his somehow his father must
have been sent word about the gravity of his son’s illness, for he traveled
from Indiana to Tennessee and was at William’s bedside when he died. According
to the inventory report in William’s service file, “… the effects of
William J. Saxon, the deceased, … are in the possession of his Father who was
with him at the time of his death.” William’s belongings consisted of one forage
cap, one great coat, one uniform coat, one pair of “trowsers,” two pairs of
cotton drawers, two flannel shirts, one pair of shoes, one pair of socks and a
blanket.[6]
Did hospital workers or William’s commanding officers foresee that time was
short and send word to the family? The whys and hows remain unclear. William’s
body was brought back home to Indiana and initially was laid to rest in Macy
Cemetery in Miami County. His remains later were moved to Converse Cemetery on
the Miami-Grant County line.[7]
[1]
William J. was one of the children in the household of John and Margaret in
1850. He was enumerated with them again (as “Jefferson”) in 1860.
[2]
William Jefferson Saxon memorial entry No. 54528724, Converse Cemetery, online
at www.FindAGrave.com.
[3]
1850 U.S. census, Madison Co., IN, pop. sch., Anderson Twp., p. 65 (stamped),
dwell./fam. 936, John L. Saxton.
[4]
1860 U.S. census, Miami Co., IN, pop. sch., Jackson Twp., p. 132 (penned),
dwell. 937, fam. 900, John L. Saxon.
[5]
Civil War service file of William Jefferson Saxon, Washington,
D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
[6]
Civil War service file of William Jefferson Saxon, Washington,
D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
[7]
William Jefferson Saxon memorial entry No. 54528724, Converse Cemetery, online
at www.FindAGrave.com.
A digital image of his military headstone is at this site. He also was included
in “Roll of Honor,” Xenia (Indiana) Journal, 29 May
1885, p. [4?]. An article in the local paper just before Decoration Day in 1885
indicated that he was buried in Macy Cemetery: List of soldiers buried in
cemeteries near Xenia, Xenia (Indiana) Journal, 29 May
1885, p. [4?].
No comments:
Post a Comment