Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Elba Gregory

14^th IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Fall, 1861 Camp McClellan Davenport, IA
Mustered In: 11/6/61 Camp McClellan Davenport, IA
Mustered Out: 11/16/64 Davenport, IA

 

41^st IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY BATTALION
Organized: 9/18/62 From Cos. "A", "B" & "C" 14^th Iowa Infantry
Mustered Out: 4/25/63

7^th IOWA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: Spring, 1863 Camp Hendershott, Davenport, IA
Mustered In: By companies 4/27, 4/28, 6/3, 6/16 and 7/3/63
Mustered Out: 6/22/66

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (14^th)

 

Although Elba Gregory was a mustered member of the 14^th for a brief period of time, he was on the rolls on paper only. As he did not do field service with the regiment its history is not being presented herein.
 

 

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (41^st)

 

To say the least, the circumstances surrounding this three year western frontier unit's organization and history are somewhat peculiar. Formation of the 14^th Iowa Infantry was begun in the fall of 1861 at Camp McClellan near Davenport, IA. During this formation period three companies of the 14^th - "A", "B" and "C" - were sent to the west on special service and were not, at any time, identified with the 14^th even though they were technically under the command of an officer of that regiment. They were initially stationed at Ft. Randall Dakota Territory where they made frequent, rapid marches to protect settlers and scouting expeditions from hostile bands of Native Americans. Later, completely detached from the 14^th, for a time they became the 1^st Battalion of the 41^st Iowa Infantry. However, when the formation of the 41^st was not complete in April, 1863 by order of the governor of Iowa, approved by the war department, the 41^st Battalion Iowa Infantry became part of the 7^th Iowa Cavalry. There companies "A", "B" and "C" became Companies "K", "L" and "M". From that time until final muster the history of the 41^st is embraced in that of the 7th Iowa Cavalry. 

Battalion Losses: Enlisted Men Died Of Disease: 2. 

 

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (7^th)

 

The formation of this three year western frontier regiment proceeded slowly. It was finally organized at Camp Hendershott Davenport, IA during the summer of 1863 by a consolidation of companies which had previously been assigned to other organizations

 

Two companies were mustered into Federal service on 4/27, two more the following day, two more on 6/3, one on 6/16 and one on 7/13. Meanwhile three companies of the 41^st Infantry and a company of the Sioux City independent cavalry were transferred to this regiment by war department orders. Nearly a month before the completion of the organization of the 7^th it marched for Omaha, NB Terr. There, six companies were stationed at different points throughout the territory.

 

In September, the headquarters of the regiment along with two companies that had been thus far left in Davenport also moved to Omaha. Headquarters of the 7^th remained there until about the middle of July, 1864

 

During the entire period of the 7^{th’s service} the different companies were scattered over a wide expanse of territory, each actively engaged in the heavy duties required of troops at frontier posts in a country constantly threatened and frequently invaded by a savage enemy.

 

The regiment garrisoned posts, escorted wagon trains, protected emigrants, guarded lines of travel and telegraph and had frequent combats with the Indians who had been induced by some means to unbury the tomahawk and wage savage warfare against whites.

 

Regimental Losses: Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 1; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 1; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 29; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 93.

SOLDIER: (14^th)
Residence: Lone Springs, IA   Age: 24.9 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 10/7/61   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 10/7/61
Transferred Out: 10/23/61
Highest Rank: Pvt.

 

SOLDIER:  (41^st)
Residence: Lone Springs, IA   Age: 24.9 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 10/7/61   Rank: Pvt.
Transferred In: 10/25/61
Transferred Out: 4/25/63
Highest Rank: Pvt.

 

SOLDIER: (7^th)
Residence: Lone Springs, IA   Age: 26.3 yrs.
Transferred In: 4/25/63   Rank: Pvt. 
Mustered Out: 10/25/64
Discharged: 10/31/64
Highest Rank: Cprl.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY: 

 

Elba S. Gregory was born on 1/22/37 in Steuben Co., New York. His parents were Horace G. (8/8/14/05 or '06 Delaware Co., NY) and Sarah "Sally" (nee Vernold b. 8/10/10 Delaware Co., NY) Gregory. The Gregory family was a farm family.

 

There were eight children in Horace G's. household. Whether all the names which follow are Horace and Sally’s children and their birthdates are correct can’t be said for certain. Whatever the case, here we go: Older than Elba was Thaddeus (b. 5/6/32 Delaware Co., NY) and Jasper C. (b. 10/12/34 Delaware Co., NY). Younger than Elba was Francis M (b. 4/16/39 NY), Horace Amos (b. 8/16/41 Steuben Co., NY), Salathial (b. 4/16/44 Delaware Co., NY), Emma Dean (b. 5/44 NY) and George B. (b. 5/24/55 Kane Co., IL). 

 

During the U.S. Census of 1840 the Gregorys were residing in Bath Steuben Co., NY. A decade later, in 1850 they had quitted New York in favor of Blackberry Kane Co., IL. Exactly when and why the westward move was made is not known.

 

It appears that by 1856 Elba and brothers Francis, Horace A., Salathial and George B. had split off from the family farm and established a residence of their own located in Falls Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. What exactly this indicated and how to interpret it is not known.....

 

In 1860 Elba was still residing in Iowa, but that year- if not earlier - he had married to one Anna F. Gregory - Yes. Her surname was the same as his - (b. 1842 NY). The union would produce at least three children who - as of 6/4/98 - were living: Walter L. (b. 5/25/66 Cerro Gordo Co., IA), Flora E. (b. 9/19/68 Flag Co., IA) and Eva J. (b. 5/5/74).

 

In 1860 Elba and Anna were residing in Rock Grove Floyd Co., IA with an older couple with the last name Snow.  Elba's occupation was "blacksmith."

 

On 10/7/61 Elba enlisted in the U.S. Army. His unit and regiment - if only for a brief period of time - was Company "C" of the 14^th Iowa Infantry Regiment. He then went on to serve in the 41^st Iowa Infantry Battalion [1] and the 7^th Iowa Cavalry Regiment. [2]

 

At the time of his enlistment we obtain our first glimpse of Elba the physical man. He was: 5'7" in height - that was the average height of a Civil War combatant - had a light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Once again, his occupation was listed as "blacksmith."

 

Elba's military experience in all three of the organizations with which he was affiliated was positive. He enlisted into the 14^th as a private, but as of 5/26/42 as a member of the 41^st he was appointed to fill the position of 8^th corporal. From there, in both the 41^st and the 7^th he continued to climb the corporal hierarchy. He held the rank of 5^th corporal at the time of his discharge.

 

As for additional notations on his military service record, he was often noted as serving detached duty at one of the Indian agencies Also he had bout with dysentery in the latter part of September, 1863. Beyond these notations, the most important item on his muster roll was from March, 1864 when he was not eligible for a furlough and was left behind by his unit at Ft. Sully Dakota Territory because he had decided not to re-enlist and was to be mustered out of the service!!

 

At final muster at Sioux City, IA on 10/31/64 Corporal Gregory owed the U.S. Government forty four cents for a lost canteen and forty six cents for a cloak strap. The government owed him $8.

 

According to one document, after leaving the military service Horace and Anna settled in Mason City, Cerro Gardo Co., IA There, their first 1^st child was born. They, then, moved to Flag Co., where their second was born.

 

 While available records are rather murky on the matter, sometime at the end of 1868 or very early '69 the Gregorys left Iowa to homestead in Minnesota When this move occurred and where their initial settlement was located is not documented, but by 6/30/69, Elba, Anna and their two children had moved onto a (second,) nearly 156 acre, pre-emptive tract of homestead land located in Luvern Rock County, Minnesota. There they constructed and took up residence in a “comfortable 14' x 16' single story log house with a shingle roof, board floor, three windows and two doors. Additionally, they construct a straw and hay covered stable, cultivated 12 acres and planted 500 trees. To accomplish all this they reportedly did not have to leave their "own" Minnesota land. On 5/26/73 the Gregorys received "patent" or "deed" to the pre-emptory site.

 

In 1874 the Gregorys quitted Minnesota in favor of Washington Territory. While we do not know exactly when the move was made we do know if was before 5/5/74 as that when the Gregory's third child, daughter, Eva Josephine was born in Washington.

 

As for why the move was made to the Puget Sound Region that is not known, either. However, it may have been urged by one of Elba's brothers - Jasper – who, by 1880, was already living in the area. Brother Horace would follow, later.

 

During the 1880 U.S. Census Elba, his wife and three of their children were noted simply as residing in Snohomish County. Elba's occupation at the beginning of the decade of the '80s was "farmer."

 

On 8/25/82 in Snohomish County, using his Civil War veteran status, Elba filed paperwork to purchase 160 acres of non-agricultural timber land. The following year, on 3/5/83, his brother Jasper who was also apparently residing in the area, testified as a witness that the request was for timber only as the land was not suitable for cultivation and there were no mineral deposits therein. It appears that some problem may have arisen in the application process, so the years dragged by. It appears, however, that in 1889 patent (deed) to the property was granted.

 

On 6/29/91 Elba began the paperwork to obtain a U.S. Government disability pension  based on ailments or physical conditions which he traced back to his days of Civil War soldiering. In his case grounds for the pension request were rheumatism, partial deafness and a back injury stemming from his accidently being struck by a piece of timber in 1863. The deafness was related to having been subjected to heavy “cannon loading” in 1862. Later, impaired vision - a post war occurrence - was added for good measure.

 

As with the timber purchase, the paperwork process to obtain a pension dragged on. Further, there was at least one rejection of the request before a stipend was granted. Exactly when that granting date was is not known. As of 12/3/02 Elba was receiving $8 per month. At the time of his death the monthly payment had risen to $30 per month.

 

Returning to the Gregorys' places of residence in Snohomish County, in 1895 their home locale was noted as being in the Hartford district. By 1902 the family had moved from rural Snohomish, Snohomish County a number of miles westward to Snohomish County’s  City of Everett. There the Gregory address was noted 3620 Hoyt Ave.

 

On 9/6/09 in Everett, WA Anna died. Details of her passing are not available. Burial was/is in the Machias Cemetery in Machias Snohomish Co., WA.

 

It appears that after the death of his wife Elba moved into the home of son Walter. In 1910 that residence was noted as being located in Everett's Ward 2 (RFD #2) of Snohomish County.

 

Elba S. Gregory died on 1/8/18 in Everett Snohomish Co., WA. Interestingly, at the time of passing his pension paperwork showed him with an Okanogan, Okanogan Co., WA address.  Burial was/is beside Anna in the Machias Cemetery. 

 

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[1] While a member of the 41^st Private Gregory’s first name would appear on company muster rolls as either Elber or Elba.

 

[2] Elba's older brother Horace Amos Gregory also served during the Rebellion. His units were the 7^th Iowa Infantry and the 47^th Iowa Infantry. Horace is buried in Machias Snohomish Co., WA.

Buried at Machias Community Cemetery