Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Byron Chisom

125^th OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 9/16/1862 to 12/5/1863 Columbus and Camp Cleveland Cleveland, OH
Mustered In: 10/1862 est. al.
Mustered Out:  9/25/1865 Camp Irwin Irwin, TX

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 125^th was a three year infantry regiment. Its period of service was within the western theater of operations during the American Civil War (ACW).

What became known as the “Tiger Regiment of Ohio”, the 125^th participated in a laundry list of important battles including the following: Franklin, TN (3/10/1863), Missionary Ridge/Chattanooga, TN (8/21/1863)Chickamauga, GA (9/18 – 20/1863), Dandridge, TN (1/17/1864), Rocky Face Ridge, GA (5/7 – 13/1864), Resaca, GA (5/13 – 15/1864), Adairsville, GA  (5/17/1864), New Hope Church, GA (5/25/1864), Kennesaw Mtn., GA (6/27/1864) , Big Shanty, GA  ( 4/12/1862), Peachtree Creek, GA  (7/20/1864), Atlanta, GA ( 7/22/1864), Lovejoy’s Station, GA (  8/20/1864), Jonesboro, GA (8/30 – 9/1/1864), Spring Hill, TN (11/29/1864), Franklin, TN (11/30/1864) and Nashville, TN  (12/15 – 165/1864). 

Final muster came in Texas on 9/25/1865. 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers killed or mortally wounded: 7; Officers died of disease, accidents, etc.:0  ; Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 104; Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc. 114.

SOLDIER: 
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.  Age: 20 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/3/1863   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 12/5/1863
Mustered Out: 5/15/1865Highest   Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Byron Chisom was reportedly born during 6/1842.* His place of birth was within New York State.

No information has been found pertaining to Byron’s parentage. The same holds true for possible siblings.

September of 1863 found Byron enlisting in the U.S. Army. His unit was the 125^th Ohio Infantry. Without accessing Private Chisom’s military service records, all that can be said about his period of enlistment is that he survived the trials of army life and returned to being a civilian in Prattsburg, NY.

The 1891 Directory of Steuben County, NY noted Byran as (still) residing in Prattsburg. His occupation was then listed as”cooper.”   

The dawning of the twentieth century also found Byron in Prattsburg, but by this time married and with children. His wife is identified only as Margaret A. Chisom (b. 2/1848 Canada). His children were Frederick Chisom (b. 6/1869), Lucitty/Lucitta Chisom (b. 1/1872), Frank Chisom (b. 9/1875), William (b. 7/1882) and Adeline M. Chisom (b. 3/1893). All the children were birthed in New York.   

By 1913 the Chisom’s had moved westward to Bellingham Whatcom County, WA. Exactly who first made the move, and when, is not known. It can be surmised, however, that one or more of the adult Chisom children first came west and Byron and Margaret followed.

Byon Chisom died in Bellingham on 10/18/1913. A local newspaper, in part, recorded his passing as follows: “(Mr. Chisom), aged 70 years, passed away at a local hospital after being in poor health for a number of years. (He) has been a resident of Bellingham for past three years having come here from Prattsburg, New York. He is survived by his widow, three sons and one daughter. Interment will be in Bay View cemetery, according to the ritualistic burial service of the Grand Army Of The Republic.”

Looking back some years, on 3/7/1885 Byron had applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Although we know the pension was granted, without accessing the old soldier’s pension files the size of his monthly stipend remains unknown.

Following Byron’s death Margaret, on 11/1/1913, petitioned the government in order to continue receiving at least a portion of her late husband’s stipend. The petition was granted but, again, without access to her Widow Pension file, the size of her allowance is unknown.

In 1920 Margaret was living in Bellingham with children Lucitta and Frank.  She died on 3/31/1924 and was buried beside Byon in Bayview. 
 _________________________________________________________________________________________________

* According to the Whatcom Genealogical Society the U.S. Census for 1850 Prattsburg Steuben County, NY shows Byron, aged seven months living with Martha (aged 60) and Harriet Niles (aged 30). 

Posted: 3/25/2024
Updated: 

Buried at BayView Cemetery Whatcom Co.
Row: SECTION O, Lot 1114
Site: Grave 4-A