Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Josiah Byron

Josiah B Byron

Representing: Union


Unit History

  • 15th Maine Infantry E
  • 2nd Maine Cavalry M

See full unit history

Josiah Byron
Full Unit History

15th MAINE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY:
Organized:
12/1861 – 1/1862 Augusta, ME
Mustered In:
1/23/1862 Augusta, ME
Mustered Out:
7/5/1866

2nd MAINE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: 12/1863 Augusta, ME
Mustered In: 1/1/1864 Augusta, ME
Mustered Out: 12/6/1865

 

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (15th)

The 15th Maine was a three year infantry regiment  that served during the American Civil War (ACW). For most of The War it was stationed in the western theater of the Deep South. Near the end of the conflict, however, it was assigned to the eastern theater of operations.  

On 3/6/1862 the regiment travelled by ship to Mississippi. From there it marched into Louisiana where it remained encamped from 5/19 – 9/1862. During this period the men suffered greatly from malarial diseases.

In 9/1862 the 15th moved from Louisiana to Florida where it remained until almost 7/1863. Amazingly, while in Florida the unit’s over all health improved markedly.

During it’s first year of existence the 15th was never in battle. Still, it lost three hundred twenty nine (329) men by desertion, discharge and disease-caused death.

Returning to Louisiana in 6/1863 the unit joined Union Gen. Banks’ expedition into Texas. During that campaign it helped in the capture of a Rebel fort located in Matagorda Bay. Also, while in Texas three-quarters of the unit’s men re-enlisted for another three years.

1864. March of that year saw the 15th join Gen. Banks’ Red River Expedition. During that campaign it experienced action on several occasions.

7/1864 saw the 15th transferred northward to Fortress Monroe, VA. From there a portion of the unit was assigned to Bermuda Hundred, while another section was moved into the Shenandoah Valley.

In October, 1864 the re-united 15th marched to Martinsburg, VA. It remained there until 1/1865 when it was forwarded to Camp Berry Portland, ME for re-organization. This incarnation of the 15th served in North Carolina until mustered out and discharged in 7/1866.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  0; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  3; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 5; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc. 340.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (2nd)

The 2nd Maine was a three year cavalry regiment. During its approximately two years of existence it was stationed in the Deep South’s western theater of the American Civil War (ACW).

In early 1864 the regiment departed Maine for New Orleans, LA. Arriving there in April, a portion of the unit participated in the Red River Expedition. In August, the 2nd moved into Florida where, during the next year, it performed fatigue duty and took part in raids into Alabama. Besides the enemy, the heat and disease took a toll on the troopers.

On 3/19/1865 the 2nd aided in the capture of Mobile, AL. Then, The War having ended, the unit returned to Florida where it remained until final muster.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded:   2; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  8; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 334.

 

Soldier History

SOLDIER: (15th)
Residence:
 Linnaeus Aroostook County, ME   Age: .17.1 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 12/14/1861   Rank: Pvt.Mustered In: 12/14/1861
Discharged: 6/15/1862 (est.) Augusta, ME
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

SOLDIER: (2nd)
Residence: Linnaeus Aroostook County, ME   Age: 20.0 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled:
1/2/1864**   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In:
1/2/1864
Discharged For Disability:
7/6/1865
Highest Rank:
Pvt.
Rank At Discharge:
Pvt.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Josiah B. Byron was born 11/12/1844. His place of birth was Linnaeus Aroostook County, ME.

Father of Josiah was Samuel Byron.  His mother was Sarah (nee Sareyes) Byron.

In 12/1861 Josiah enlisted in the U.S. Army. His unit was the 15th Maine Infantry. The enlistment was to have been three years, but, after being injured in New Orleans, LA, Private Byron was discharged in 6/1862.

Whatever may have been the reason for his discharge from the 15th, in 1/1864 Josiah reenlisted. On that occasion his unit was the 2nd Maine Cavalry. Again, for a currently unknown reason, he was granted a disability discharge in 1/1865.

With military life behind him, Josiah returned to Maine. There, circa 1865 he married. His bride was Susan "Susie" H (nee Richardson) Byron.               

The 1870 U.S. Census for Linnaeus Aroostook County, ME found Josiah, Susan and their two children – Horace C. Byron (b. ca. 1868 ME) and Xavier Byron (b. ca. 1870 ME) – living and working on his parents’ farm. Somewhere along this timeline, however Josiah reportedly quit farming and entered the “general merchandise” business.

In early 1876 Josiah reportedly made a trip westward to the Pacific Northwest. Here, he settled and remained in Washington Territory’s (WT) Skagit County for two years. Returning to Maine, he once again, established a business.

In 1880, Josiah and family were still in Aroostook County, ME. By that time, however, their community of residence was listed as Oakfield. Also in the home, besides Josiah, Susan and the two previously-mentioned children were two additional mouths to be fed: Ocena M. Byron (b. ca. 1872 ME) and Edna V. Byron (b. ca. 1874 ME).

No longer satisfied with his “old environment’, in 1890 Josiah, with his family, in tow returned to the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest. On this occasion the Byrons settled in New Whatcom (Bellingham) Whatcom County, WA.

In the years that followed, Josiah – as a prominent resident of New Whatcom/Bellingham - held a number of positions of trust in the city affairs.  Of these, he was a Whatcom councilman for four years. During those years he was “accredited great honors for his excellent services.”

Josiah Byron died in Bellingham Whatcom County in 5/1908. Although the cause of his passing is not known, according to one account, his death was “directly” connected to his wartime New Orleans injury. He was survived by his widow, two sons and one daughter residing in Bellingham, plus one daughter living in nearby Lynden, WA. .Burial was/is in Bellingham Whatcom County’s Bayview Cemetery.

Dropping back many decades, on 5/9/1866 Josiah applied for and was granted a U.S. Government disability based on injuries/illness which he traced back to his days of Civil War soldiering. A monthly payment was granted.

Following her husband’s death, the widow Byron petitioned the U.S. Government to continue receiving at least a portion of Josiah’s monthly pension stipend. Although the petition request was granted, and Susan was granted a monthly stipend, the details of that stipend are not known.

Susan Richardson Byron died in 1925. At the time of her passing she was living in the Bellingham home of one of her married daughters. She was/is buried in Bayview Cemetery beside Josiah.
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* The American Civil War Research Database erroneously lists Mr. Byron’s first name as Isaiah.

** On this same date Jacob T. Byron – likely Josiah’s brother -  enlisted in the 2nd Maine Cavalry Co. “M.”  He did not survive The War.
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NOTE: The preceding courtesy of the Whatcom Genealogical Society. Please see our Links page for details on how to obtain the download– Civil War Veterans in Whatcom County (including June 2014 updates) – from which much of the above information was obtained.

Posted: 12/15/2023
Updated: 

 

Cemetery

Buried at BayView Cemetery Whatcom Co.
Row: SECTION B, Lot 71
Site: Grave 2-A


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