Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Dennis Davis

169^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 11 & 12/62 Camp Howe Pittsburgh, PA
Mustered Out: 7/26-27/63 Harrisburg, PA

211^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 9/16/64 Camp Reynolds Pittsburgh, PA
Mustered Out: 6/2/65 Alexandria, VA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (169^th)

This “9 month” Pennsylvania regiment was composed of four companies from Crawford Co., two from Mercer, two from Erie, one from Clarion, and one from Butler. Ordered to Washington D.C. on 12/1/62, it was then sent to Fortress Monroe, VA. From there it moved to Fort Keyes on Glouster Point where it performed garrison duty until 7/9/63 when it was ordered to Funkstown as part of the Army of the Potomac. Shortly thereafter it was sent home and mustered out.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (211^th)

The 211^th, a “one year” unit from the Pennsylvania counties of Crawford, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Erie, Warren and Westmoreland, left the state almost immediately and was assigned to the Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred, VA.

As soon as it reached its position in the entrenchments it was ordered to appear upon the parapets in full range of the enemy’s guns in order to create a diversion favoring a storming party about to attack Ft. Harrison. This resulted in a number of men in Co. “F” being instantly killed.

The unit next moved to the trenches before Petersburg where it wintered with the Army of the Potomac. On 3/25/65 the 211^th advanced gallantly during the attack on Ft. Stedman. In desperate fighting during the final Petersburg assault on 4/2 the regiment lost 4 officers and 17 men killed, 4 officers and 89 men wounded and 21 men missing. Total: 135.

The regiment next moved along the South Side Railroad in charge of army trains. It then camped at Nottoway Court house until ordered to Alexandria for final muster.

SOLDIER: (169^th)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 28.5 yrs.
Enlisted/Mustered In: 11/16/62   Rank: Cpl.
Mustered Out: 7/25/63
Highest Rank: Cpl.
 

SOLIDIER: (211^th)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 30.3 yrs.
Enrolled: 8/30/64 Washington, PA   Rank: 2^nd Lieut.
Mustered In: 9/12/64
Mustered Out: 6/2/65 Alexandria, VA
Highest Rank: 2^nd Lieut.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

ED. NOTE:  The original birth-to-death biographical profile on Dennis Davis was written during the early years of the Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State project. As such, it suffered from not only size limitations, but also a marked dearth of research sources. The profile below, created in July, 2018 contains many more details than its predecessor, but still falls short of those being written today which draw  upon files and documents housed in the National Archives located in Washington, D.C.

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  Dennis Absalom Davis was born 5/30/34 on a farm located in Pennsylvania. Likely that farm was in or near the Erie County community of Washington. His parents were Absalom Tupper (b. 6/1810 VT) and Desire (nee Drake b. 1813 PA) Davis. 

Dennis was the oldest of six known Davis children. His younger siblings were: Dexter P. (b. 12/1838), Dayton F. (b. 3/1841), D. S. (male b. 7/1843), Adelia “Delia” D. (b. 1845), Densmore Whitcombe (b. 2/48) and Dallas D. (b. 1854). All were Pennsylvania born.

  On 2/2/58 Dennis married Eunice A. Drake in Washington Township, PA.  The couple would produce three children: Cassius E. (12/2/58 or ‘59 PA), Dolphus R. (8/11/61 or ’62 OH*), and Louella “Lulu” May (b. 10/78 MN).

After marrying, Dennis and Eunice appear to have settled in Washington Erie County, PA. As noted by the birth states of their children, however, the Davis’ did not spend their entire lives Pennsylvania. More on this later..

  In late 1862 Dennis, now a 5’8” carpenter, enlisted in the U.S. Army for his first period of active military service.  There are no documented notations pertaining to his performance during this time, but the fact that he was mustered in and mustered out as a corporal would indicate his term of duty was without incident. 

1864 saw Dennis return to the Army.  Perhaps his reenlistment was promoted by receipt of an enlistment bonus or “bounty” payment. Perhaps, however, it was the opportunity to serve as a commissioned officer.  During this term he held the rank of 2^nd lieutenant.  The only documented notations pertaining to this term of service relate to a period of sickness and being away on leave.

  The War behind him, Lt. Davis returned to Pennsylvania where he and his family remained until 1870 or earlier when they removed to Minnesota.  In Minnesota the family appears to have first settled in Rosemont Dakota County. There, Dennis pursued farming as his occupation.  A decade later in Grafton, Sibley County he was once more carpentering.  

Finally, by 1885 the family was residing in Minneapolis Hennepin County. The family was still there in 1900 with Dennis again plying his carpentry skills.

At some point between 1900 and 1904 the Davis family departed Minnesota for Washington State. In Washington they first settled in the western Washington city of Everett located north of Seattle in Snohomish County.  Why they moved to the Pacific Northwest is not known. The Everett City Directory for 1904 listed Dennis’ occupation as “carpenter.”

In 1910 carpenter Dennis and Eunice were still living in Snohomish County. By this date, however, they had moved
easterly from Everett to the smaller community of Snohomish.

  By 1915 the aging veteran and Eunice were residents of the Veterans’ Home in Retsil located across Puget Sound from Everett in Kitsap County.   Still there in 1920, by that time Dennis was totally blind in one eye and nearly so in the other.  He was also suffering from partial deafness and heart problems.

Two time Civil War soldier Dennis Davis died 3/30/24 at the age of 89 years, 10 months.  Cause: general atheroma with chronic muscular rheumatism lumbago into neck. Contributing: general exhaustion.  At death he was receiving a $72 monthly disability pension from the government based on his military service. Burial was in the Grand Army of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery located in Snohomish, Snohomish County, WA.
 

 Eunice, who apparently never learned to write her name, died in Spokane, Spokane County, WA on June 4, 1925.  At death she was receiving a $30 monthly stipend based on her late husband’s Civil War pension. She was buried in Snohomish beside Dennis.

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*How this child being born in Ohio fits into the grand scheme of things is not known. The birth occurred prior to Dennis’ first stint in the military and during this period there is no documental information showing that the Davis’ moved to Ohio then returned to Pennsylvania. If this is not a scribing error then, perhaps Eunice travelled to that state to give birth in the home of a family member. The 1880 census says birth was in OH. The 1900 census says birth was in PA.  The 1910 census again says born OH. The 1920 census says OH.  The 1930 census says OK, while 1940 census says OH. The family has not been able to clarify this matter, so we will leave it as is……...

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Snohomish
Row: 16
Site: 8

Kurtis Dunphy
Seattle, WA