Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Robert Maxwell

11^th INDIANNA VOLUNTER INFANTRY
Organized: 4/22/61 Indianapolis, IN
Mustered Out: 8/12/61 Indianapolis, IN

72^nd INDIANNA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 8/62 Lafayett, IN
Mustered In: 8/16/62
Discharged: 6/26/65 Nashville, TN

REGIMENTAL History: (11^th)

  The 11^th, a “3 month” regiment, was organized and mustered in at Indianapolis, IN. during April, 1861. In early May the unit was transferred to Evansville, IN. for blockade duty along the Ohio River. A month later it was moving into Virginia. On 6/37 thirteen of the 11^th‘s mounted scouts attacked 41 of the enemy along the Potomac and, after killing 8, routed the group. In 7/61 the 11^th moved to what is now Martinsburg, W.VA and thence to Bunker Hill and Harper’s Ferry, VA. The unit then returned to Indianapolis where, on 8/2/61, it was disbanded. From an original strength 781, the 11^th had suffered 2 dead and 1 desertions.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (72^nd)

  The 72^nd, a 3 year unit, was organize at Lafayette, IN and mustered in on 8/12/62. It immediately departed for the state of Kentucky where it remained until moving into Tennessee in early ’62. There the 72^nd became mounted infantry sustaining heavy losses at the battle of Hoover’s Gap. It was also present at Chickamauga, GA. Following movements to AL and TN. the 72^nd joined Sherman’s Georgia campaign during which it was constantly engaged until the fall of Atlanta in late ’64.  The unit next assisted in the capture of Selma and Montgomery, AL before doing the same with Columbus and Macon, GA.   After the fall of Richmond elements of the 72^nd were sent to intercept fleeing Confederate President Jefferson Davis before the regiment was mustered out of service. 

SOLDIER:
Residence: Montgomery Co., IN   Age: 25.8
Enlisted on: 4/19/61 Ladoga, IN   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 4/22/61
Discharged: 8/4/61
Highest Rank: 2^nd Lieut. 2/2/63

SOLDIER:
Residence: Not listed   Age: 26.11
Enlisted: 7/15/62 Crawfordville, IN   Rank: Pvt.
Discharge: 6/26/65
Highest Rank: 1^st Lieut.

Personal/Family History:

ED. NOTE:  The original birth – to – death biography on Robert Maxwell was written during the early years of the Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State project. As such it was limited both in size and in terms of available research resources. The updated profile which follows was created in November, 2018.

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  Robert Maxwell was born 8/4/36 in Port Jefferson, Shelby Co. Ohio to James and Elizabeth (nee Countz) Maxwell. Elizabeth died in March of 1850. Robert  and his three brothers – Joseph B.F. (b. 1838 OH), Benjamin Franklin (b. 1842 OH) and Thomas Benton (b. 1842 OH)  were then sent to the home of their grandfather Robert Maxwell (b. 1787 VA) and Grandmother Rebecca (b. 1786 VA).  Robert later hired himself out as a farm hand until the Civil War broke out. 

On 10/31/58 in Montgomery Co. IN Robert married Mary Spratt (b. Jan.42/MI) daughter of Albert Spratt a native of Michigan. In later years Mary would note having given birth to four children the name only three whom are documented:  Belle (8/13/59), L.B. (6/11/61), and W.F (8/20/65).

  On 4/221861 Robert, a 5’8” farmer age 25.8 began his first term of military duty with the 11^th IN Infantry. He was discharged 8/12/61. Now the father of two, Robert re-entered the U.S. Army 7/15/62 with the 72^nd Indiana Mounted Infantry. He was discharged 6/25/65.   

  After the rebellion the Maxwell’s returned to faming in IN, but by 1873 had removed to Cadillac, Wexford Co. MI where he was found in 1880 census engaged in working in the lumber mills. He continued in this line of work for the next twelve years. He then spent 6 years in Dakota Terr. farming.  In 1890, he again moved his family and settled in the Puget Sound region of Washington Terr.

1900 Census finds Robert and Mary Maxwell living on their Trafton Snohomish County farm. For eleven years Mr. Maxwell was the Postmaster of Trafton, WA. In 1905 he suffered a paralytic stroke which found him in poor health and unable to perform any labor.

 On 3/27/07 while living on his farm near Trafton, Snohomish County, WA Robert requested a U.S. Government disability pension based on ailments, etc. which he traced to his days of his Civil War Soldiering. The request being granted, at the time of his death Robert was receiving a $15 per month stipend.

Robert Maxwell On 10/26/08 he passed away on 10/26/08 at his Trafton home.  His death came just days before celebrating 50 years of marriage to his faithful wife Mary. Cause of death was “apoplexy” or what would today be termed “stroke.” He was 78.2 years of age. Burial was/is in the Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) cemetery located near Snohomish, Snohomish County, WA/

After Robert’s passing Mary filed for a widow pension based on her husband’s soldiering and resulting pension. It is not known if the request was granted.  

The 1910 census found Mary living with her daughter and husband Charles W and Belle Barr.  At that time she was noted widowed with no income. 

Mary died 1/13/15 in Lowell, Snohomish County WA. She was/is buried beside Robert at the G.A.R. cemetery.

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Snohomish
Row: 19
Site: 5

Mary K. George