Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Warren Stetson

Warren Conant Stetson

Representing: Union


Unit History

  • 9th Minnesota Infantry A

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Warren  Stetson
Full Unit History

9th MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 8/1/1862
Mustered In: Beginning 10/2/1862 by companies
Mustered Out: 8/24/1865 Ft. Snelling St. Paul, MN

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: 
 

The 9th Minnesota was a three year, western theater infantry regiment during the American Civil War (ACW). It essentially fought in two wars. The first was against Native American hostiles along the Minnesota/Dakota Territories border. The second was against Johnny Reb in the Deep South.
 

As they were mustered into Federal service companies of the 9th were scattered amongst garrisons and posts along what was then America's western frontier. In this vein, after being mustered in on 10/2/1862 Company "A" was attached to the 6th Minnesota infantry regiment and participated in those organizations movements during the fall. It spent the winter at Ft. Ridgley, MN and, in the spring of 1863, joined an expedition to Missouri. It returned to Ft. Ridgely that fall.
 

The Native American uprising quelled, the 9th came together for the first time on 5/26/1864 in St. Louis, MO. From there it moved south into Mississippi.
 

At the battle of Guntown, MS (6/1/1864) the 9th charged and routed a body of Rebs. It then covered the Federal retreat in good order for twenty three miles, but then became separated from the main column, but succeeded in reaching Collierville where it met a train carrying reinforcements.
 

In this affair the regimental loss was two hundred eighty six killed, wounded and missing, with an additional two hundred thirty three captured. Of those captured, one hundred nineteen later died in southern prisons. A report later stated: "That this disastrous undertaking did not result in the loss of the entire force is mainly due to the gallantry of the officers and men of this (9th) regiment."
 

After falling back to Memphis, TN in June, 1864 the 9th returned to Mississippi. It fought in the battle of Tupelo (7/14 - 15/1864) and participated in the Oxford raid. Back in Tennessee it again faced the enemy at the battle of Nashville (12/15 - 16/1864). Following pursuit of the fleeing Rebel force, on 1/9/1865 the 9th went into winter quarters at Eastport.
 

During the spring of 1865 the 9th turned its attentions to actions around Mobile, AL. During this period it took part in the siege of Spanish Fort (3/27 - 4/8/1865) and Fort Blakely (4/2 - 9/1865). It remained in Alabama until called back to Ft. Snelling for final muster.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 6; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 3; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 41; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 224.

Soldier History

SOLDIER:    
Residence:
Inf. St. Anthony Hennepin County, MN   Age: 21.9 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/14/1862 St. Anthony, Hennepin Co., MN   Rank:  Pvt.
Mustered In: 8/15/1862
Mustered Out: 8/24/1865 Ft. Snelling St. Paul, MN
Highest Rank: Cpl. 
Rank At Discharge: Cpl.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

Warren Conant Stetson was born 10/16/1840. The place of his birth was Lincolnville Waldo County, ME. 
 

Parenting Warren were Amasa Stetson (b.10/171811 Lincolnville Waldo County, ME - d. 1873) and Sarah Stafford/Safford (nee Thorndike/Thorndyke b. 2/2/1810 Waldo County, ME- d. 6/25/1905 Seattle King County, WA) Stetson. The Stetsons were farmers.
 

Amasa and Sarah produced at least eight children. Of those, Warren was second born. Older than he was John (b. 1838 ME). His younger siblings were Sarah Amanda Stetson (b. 1841), George W. Stetson (b. 1844), Percy Stetson (b. 1846 ME), Leroy W. Stetson (b. 1848), Horatio Alden Stetson (b. 1851) and Frank Loring Stetson (b. 1852).
 

The first we learn about Warren as a young adult is that, in 1860, he married. His bride was Catherine Griffin. Catherin had been born 12/24/1844 in the state of New York. How and where the two had met and, exactly when their marriage ceremony occurred are unknowns.
 

After marrying Warren and Catherine apparently set up their household in St. Anthony Hennepin County, MN.* It is surmised that was where the couples' first child - daughter Elizabeth Stetson- was birthed in 1862.
 

Exactly when Elizabeth was born in '62 is not known. What is known, however, is that 8/4/1862 Warren enlisted in the U.S. Army.  This means that not long before, or not long after the birth of his first child, Warren left hearth, home, wife and child to serve Uncle Sam. Although not documented, perhaps the financial incentives of enlistment bonuses and a monthly paycheck that could be sent home helped prompt the departure.
 

Service-wise we know that Warren enlisted as a private solder, but subsequently attained the rank of corporal. That, however, plus the fact that he survived The War, is really all we know about his military experience. 
 

With soldiering behind him, Warren returned to Catherine and children in Minneapolis Hennepin County, MN. We say "children", because he and Catherine's second child - daughter Aurilla C. Stetson had been birthed on 11/24/1864. Obviously, Private/Corporal Stetson had enjoyed a furlough while in the service.....................
 

Once he was back home, Warren and Catherine then continued to grow their family. In all, they would produce eleven children. Those born after Aurilla were: Leroy J. Stetson (b. 1866 MN), Earney Stetson (b. 1868 MN), Pearl Stetson (b. 1871 MN), Warren Lawrence Stetson (b. 1872 MN), Carrie Stetson (b. 1874 MN), Maud L. Stetson (b. 1875 MN) Daisy Stetson (b. 10/1877 MN), Sarah A. Stetson (b. 1878 MN)  and Bertha A. Stetson (b. 1883 MN). All were born in Minneapolis Hennepin County.  Sadly, in an era of high child mortality rates, in 1900 Catherine would report that at the dawn of the twentieth century, only three of the eleven - Aurilla, Warren Lawrence and Sarah - were then living.

As best as can be determined, the Stetsons remained Minneapolis for most of, if not all, the remainder of the nineteenth century. While there Warren listed his occupation as "mill sawyer" and "builder."
 

By 1900, however, Minnesota had been left behind in favor of Seattle King County, WA. Exactly when the Stetson family arrived here is unknown, but as far as what drew Warren and family to the Puget Sound Region of the Pacific Northwest it was the area's largely untapped timber resources. In that vein the 1900 U.S. Census listed Warren's occupation as "lumber manufacturer," while a decade later, in 1910 he was noted as "mill operator."
 

Catherine died in Seattle on 10/17/1904. As her death certificate has not been located, so the cause of her passing at the age of fifty nine years and nine months is not known. She was/is buried in Seattle's Lake View Cemetery located near the north end of that city's Capitol Hill.**
 

Warren died on 2/13/1911, not in Seattle, but in Eagle Harbor Kitsap County, WA. Cause of the retired capitalist's passing at the age of seventy years and nine months was attributed to myocarditis (heart disease). He was/is buried in Seattle's Lake View Cemetery with Catherine. ***
 

A Minneapolis newspaper reported the passing as follows:
 

WARREN C. STETSON DIES
 

Retired Lumberman and Minneapolis Pioneer Succumbs In West
 

"Seattle, Wash., Nov. 14 ----Warren C. Stetson, a wealthy retired lumberman, and one of the founders of St. Anthony, Minn., now Minneapolis, is dead at his home near Seattle, aged 71 years. He built the first government dam at St. Anthony Falls and served as chief of the Minneapolis fire department."
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 * St. Anthony was the original name of what is now Minneapolis, MN.
 

**Catherine died without having left behind a will. As a result, Warren had to take her case to probate court in order parcel out her rather sizable ($5500) to himself and their three surviving children.
 

*** On 4/9/1901 Warren applied for a U.S. Disability pension based on his years of Civil War soldiering. The request being granted, on 4/29/1901 he began receiving what was then a $6 per month stipend. At his passing he was in receipt of $15 per month.
 

POSTED: 5/4/23
UPDATED:

Cemetery

Buried at Lake View Cemetery Seattle


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