Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Philo Rutherford

60^th OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: February to May, 1864
Mustered In: 5/1/1864 Camp Chase Cleveland, OH
Mustered Out: 7/28/1865 Delaney House Washington, D.C.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: 

The 60^th Ohio was a three year infantry regiment. Its period of enlistment was served with the Army of The Potomac in the eastern theater of the American Civil War (ACW).
 

Creation of the 60^th was somewhat unusual.  By early 1864 when many short term, non-combat organizations were being formed, the 60^th - from the start - was to be a three year fighting unit.
 

Companies "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F" and "I" were organized in Cleveland and Columbus from February to May, 1864 to serve three years. Company "K" was organized in November and December, 1864 to serve one year, while the 9^th and 10^th independent companies of Ohio sharpshooters were transferred to the 60^th in February, 1865 as companies "G" and "H".
 

Upon completion of its first six companies the 60^th was ordered into Virginia. It crossed the Rapidan River and participated in the Battle of The Wilderness (5/5 - 7/1864). It then led the advance of a column in an attack on Marye's Bridge over the NY River. During this attack it was especially commended for crossing the stream, storming and capturing the enemy's positions.
 

The 60^th participated in all the Federal actions around Spotsylvania (5/8 - 21/1864). During this period it suffered greatly. It next honorably served at the North Anna River (5/23 - 26/1864), Cold Harbor (5/31 - 6/12/1864), the siege of Petersburg and actions around Richmond. Final muster came on 7/28/1865.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 3; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 110; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 130.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Columbia Meigs County, OH   Age: 17.4 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 2/24/1864   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 4/15/1864
Mustered Out: 7/28/1865 Delaney House Washington, D.C.
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of Philo Rutherford was created in September, 2021 during the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It contains less depth of detail than many other biographies within this website because military service, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time those documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative which follows.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Philo Buckingham Rutherford was born 10/14/1846. His place of birth was Columbia Meigs County, OH.
 

Parenting Philo were John Henderson Rutherford (b. 6/13/1802 Gallia County, OH - d. 1864) and Prudence (nee Davis b. 2/22/1824 VA) Rutherford. In the U.S. Census of 1850 John noted his occupation as "farmer." A decade later, in 1860 it was "carpenter."
 

John and Prudence produced nine children. Of those nine, Philo was the eldest. His younger siblings were: Catherine Parker Rutherford (b. 11/13/1847 Columbia Twp. Hamilton County, OH), George Davis Rutherford (b. 4/1849 Columbia, OH), Almus Alvenus Rutherford (b. 10/22/1851 Columbia Meigs County, OH), John Benton Rutherford (b. 1854 OH), Charles Fremont Rutherford (b. 6/15/1856), Eliza Jane Rutherford (b. 8/3/1858 Columbia Hamilton County, OH) and Julius Homer Rutherford (b. 10/14/1861 Columbia Meigs County, OH).
 

In 2/24/1864 Philo enlisted in the U.S. Army He was not, however, mustered into Federal service until 4/15/1864.
 

John Rutherford died a few weeks after Philo's muster date. Very possibly his enlistment had been spurred by his father's failing health with Federal muster delayed for the same reason. All in all, Philo may have had an eye turned toward providing his mother and siblings with financial support. By 1864 new enlistees were being paid rather handsome enlistment bonuses or "bounties." On top of such stipends there was also the lure of a thirteen dollar per month paycheck.
 

Despite his regiment’s active combat history, based on available documentation, it appears Private Rutherford weathered the term without incident. In 7/1865 he returned to his birth family's home.
 

As of 1870 the Rutherford family home remained in Columbia Meigs County, OH. Within the household with the widowed Prudence were children Philo -occupation farm laborer - Almus, John, Charles, Eliza and Homer.
 

By 1879 Prudence and her brood had quitted Ohio and removed to the Puget Sound region of Washington Territory. Here, they took up farming in eastern King County (The U.S. Census a year later would note their residential community as being Snoqualmie.) As son George Davis  Rutherford was their "next door" neighbor, perhaps he had moved here earlier then convinced his mother and siblings to move west....far, far west!!
 

On 4/22/1891 Philo began the paperwork to receive a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. During his time with the 60^th Ohio Infantry he had not been wounded or taken ill, but because he had served his country he was eligible for a pension. A monetary payment was granted, but without accessing his pension files details of the stipend remain unknown.
 

Prudence Rutherford died on 9/22/1899. After her passing Philo continued to operate the family farm.
 

On 6/27/1907, in Seattle King County, WA Philo finally married. His bride was the previously wed Emma B. (nee Smith) Dunn. Emma had been born in Mobile, AL during 1864. Philo and Emma would produce no children.
 

The U.S. Census for 1910 found Philo and Emma farming in Snoqualmie, WA. A decade later, in 1920, their community of residence was noted as being Warren which was likely a voting precinct of Snoqualmie. Also under their roof was Anna S. Morgan. Anna was a widowed sister of Emma.
 

Philo B. Rutherford died in Snoqualmie King County, WA on 1/31/1920. He had been under a doctor's care for about eleven days. Cause of death was a heart problem with chronic myocarditis contributing. He was buried in the nearby Fall City on 2/2/1920.
 

Following Philo's passing Emma and her sister continued to reside and farm in Warren/Snoqualmie. The community location remained the same in 1930 and 1940.
 

Emma died on 6/2/1944. At passing she was not in King County, but north of there in Sedro Woolley Skagit County, WA.  The site of her death was Washington’s Northern State Hospital, a facility for the mentally ill. What had gotten her incarcerated there twenty days prior to her passing is not known. The cause of her death was lobular pneumonia she was/is buried beside Philo in the Fall City Cemetery.

Buried at Fall City Cemetery