Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Thomas Maison

10^th OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: 10/62 - 7/25/63 Camp Cleveland & Camp Chase, Cleveland, OH
Mustered Out: 7/24/65 Lexington, NC

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

  The 10^th, a three-year "western theater" regiment, left Ohio in early spring, 1863 destined for Nashville, TN. At the time of its departure, final composition of the unit had not been formalized.

  Once in Tennessee the regiment was ordered to Murfreesboro where it remained performing picket and scout duty until the Army of the Cumberland opened its campaign against the forces of Confed. Gen. Braxton Bragg. During this period it did a vast amount of marching and counter-marching.

  In 1864, during Union Gen. W.T. Sherman's movements to capture Atlanta, GA, the 10^th participated in all cavalry movements commanded by General Judson Kilpatrick. This meant frequent engagements with Rebel forces.

  The following is a list of battles in which the 10^th took an honorable part: Chickamauga, GA, Cosby Creek, TN, Tunnel Hill, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Sweetwater, Bear Creek Station and Waynesboro, GA, Aiken, SC, Monroe crossroads and Averasboro, NC.

  Total regimental losses: 3 officers killed or mortally wounded; 1 officer died of disease, accidents, etc.; 39 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded; 158 enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc. 

SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail. Age: 20.0 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 6/11/63 Camp Chase, Cleveland, OH Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 7/23/63
Mustered Out: 7/24/65 Lexington, NC
Highest Rank: Qtr. Mstr. Sgt.

PERSONAL HISTORY:

  Thomas Maison was born 6/11/43.  While one source indicates his birthplace was Canada West, the preponderance of evidence points to Lowell, Massachusetts. His father was likely from England, his mother Ireland. Beyond this nothing is known about his birth family, childhood, formative or teenaged years.

  The first available information pertaining to Thomas comes from his U.S. Army enlistment papers. Thomas enlisted in 1863 on the date of his twentieth birthday. At that time the 5'8-1/2” or 10", dark-complexioned, grey- eyed, brown-haired Maison was listed as a laborer who was then employed as a pile driver. Although his enlistment was as a private, within approximately a month and a half he had been appointed quarter master sergeant for his company. He would maintain this rank throughout his term of service.

  Sergeant Maison's military tenure appears to have been fairly benign. The only notations in his service file reflect a period of detached service, enlistment bonus/bounty monies due, a clothing account settlement and at one point his owing the U.S. Government the amount of $20 for loss of one Remington pistol. Beyond these entries, the only notation of interest is that on company muster rolls his surname flip flopped from Maison to Mason and back again on more than one occasion. At War's end this scribner's error was corrected as per an order under the name of Union Gen. William T. Sherman.

  In later years when applying for a U.S. Government invalid pension for continuing ailments/illnesses which he traced back to his soldiering days,  Thomas would claim that while on duty at Lexington, NC he was treated by the regimental surgeon for disease of the stomach and heart as well as rheumatism. Other service-related ailments included loss of his teeth, eye problems and general debility. That the pension petition was granted is evidenced by the fact that, at death, he was receiving a $12 per month stipend.

  After separation from the service we know Thomas settled in Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota. After that, however, as seemingly often happened with Civil War veterans, his whereabouts and activities are unknown for the next eighteen years.

  The next time Thomas surfaced was on June 2nd or 12th, 1883 when, likely in Stillwater, he married Ann Hurley (nee Sutton b. 2/8/47 New Castle, New Brunswick, Canada). Having been previously wed to a Mr. Edward Hurley, but widowed in 1880, Ann brought four daughters - Kate, May, Ann/"Annie" and Cecelia to the relationship. Thomas and Ann would produce two children of their own: George Frank (b. 1/12 or 4/12/85) and Maria "Rhi" Antoinette (b. 12/14/86 or '88 Washington Co., MN).

  Interestingly, in the 1900 census taken in Stillwater Thomas listed his occupation as "explorer." That same year, obviously after the census, he left his family and that community to go “travelling” for four years. Where he travelled to during that time is not documented, but likely it was to the Puget Sound area of Washington State because, upon his return to Minnesota he packed up his family and removed to Everett, Snohomish County, Washington. In both 1907 and 1910 the Maison residence was registered as 3222 Rucker Avenue.

  In 1910 Thomas' occupation was listed as "forestry."  On May 25^th of that same year former Civil War trooper Thomas Maison died in Everett's Providence Hospital. Cause of death for the old soldier was listed as pancreatic cancer. Burial was in Everett's Evergreen Cemetery.

  After her husband's passing Ann obtained the services of local attorney Robert Warner to request continuing to receive at least a portion of Thomas' Civil War-based pension. Witnessing the necessary paperwork were Edwin Warner and Theopolis Rock. All three were Civil War veterans. The Warner brothers are buried in the Snohomish Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery east of Everett, while Mr. Rock is buried at Evergreen.

  How long Ann remained in Everett is not clear, but by 1917 she was living south and east of there in the small, rural King County community of Duvall. By1920, however, she was back in Everett residing in the home of her married daughter Cecelia.

  Ann died in Everett on 1/18/24. At death she was receiving a $30 per month pension stipend. She was buried at Evergreen Cemetery next to Thomas and their son George who had died of tuberculosis in 1909. 

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery Everett
Row: 15
Site: 363