Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - John Grant

138^th INDIANA INFANTRY
Organized: 5/27/64 Indianapolis, IN
Mustered Out: 9/22/64 Indianapolis, IN

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

  In May, 1864 Union armies moved into Virginia and other parts of the deep-south in what was to become the final push to end years of bitter Civil War. .  These moves would, in April, 1865 bring an end to four years of bloody Civil War. In order to provide these campaigns with as many "seasoned" troops as possible, soldiers/regiments were pulled from rear echelon - garrison and fort assignments, railroad guarding, etc. - and placed into the field. In order to fill the void this reassignment created a number of short-term (100 day, l year, etc.) regiments were recruited, formed and deployed.  The 138^th Indiana was one of those regiments. 

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   The 138^th was one of eight Indiana's quota of "100 day" regiments formed during the spring of 1864.  This "western theater" unit left the state for Tennessee immediately following Federal muster.

  Upon reaching Nashville, the 138^th, like its sister regiment was assigned to railroad guard duty along the lines of one or more of the local railroads: the Nashville & Chattanooga, Tennessee & Alabama or the Memphis & Charleston.  It/they were kept constantly engaged in this work until the latter part of August, 1864 (serving beyond the time for which they had been enlisted)  keeping Union General William T. Sherman's communication and supply lines open as his armies moved eastward toward Atlanta, GA.

  Regimental losses: Officers killed or Mortally wounded = 0; Officers died of disease, accidents, etc. = 0; Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded = 0; Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc. = 8; enlisted men deserted = 1.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Stark Co. OH      Age:
Enlisted/Enrolled:     Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 5/27/1864 Indianapolis,  IN
Mustered Out: 9/22/1864
Discharged:
Highest Rank: Cpl. 

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

  John Austin Grant was born in the year of our lord 1837 in Stark County, Ohio. His location of birth may have been in or near the community of Milton which is where the U.S. Census found the Grant's in 1840. The month and day date of his entering this world are not documented. 

  John's parents were Joseph (b. 1787 NJ) and Margaret (no nee b.1l806 PA) Grant.  Joseph was a farmer and seeded a farm-size family as John was the sixth of at least nine known children. His older siblings were: Rebecca (b. 1824 OH), Hezekiah (b. 1826 OH), Joseph, Jr. (b. 1829 OH), Cassandra (b. 1830 OH) and Edward (b. 1834 OH).  Younger sibs were: Jessie (b. 1839 OH), Alonzo (b. 1843 OH) and Melissa (b. 1843 OH).

  In 1860 John was residing with his farming parents in Sugar Creek, Stark County, Ohio.  However, in 1864 when, on May the 2^nd, he enrolled to serve in the U.S. Army for a period of 100 days, he was in Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana with that enrollment credited to Bourbon in Marshall County. Interestingly, no vital statistics such as height, complexion, hair and eye color are available from his time of enrollment.

  First existing military service information pertaining to John's enlistment comes from Indianapolis, Indiana on 5/27 when he was promoted from the rank of private to that of corporal. Notations from the following month pertain to his being treated in the regimental hospital for a "griping" cold and gas/dysentery.  Later, in September, he was admitted to a U.S.A. General Hospital in Tullahoma, TN for intermittent fever. Admitted on 9/11, he was returned to duty on 9/14.    Beyond these notes, his period of service was apparently benign.

  Exiting the military in September, 1864, John returned to civilian and farming life in Indiana. Likely, his place of settlement was Bourbon in Bourbon Township, Marshall County. It was there on 5/27/66 he wed Angie Baxter (b. ca. 1848/49). The couples' first child, son Claudius C. "C.C." was born January 20^th of the following year in Iowa. Six additional children, the names of only four of which are known, would follow:  James S./L. (b. 6/18/74 KS), Jennie (b. 1876 KS), Stacy L. (b. 6/18/83) and Nellie C. (b.8/12/90 WA).

  1870 found the Grants farming in Crawford, Crawford County, Kansas.  A decade later the U.S. Census found them still Kansas farming, but by this time in Washington, Crawford County. 1883 found the family still in Kansas, but in Howard City where child Stacy L. was born.  Two years later, the Grants were in or near the Elk County Community of Greenfield. Then, for some undocumented reason - and on some undocumented date - came a quantum leap as 5/6/88 found the Grants - John, Angie and four children - homesteading on an 80 acre tract of river bottom and timbered land in Trafton, near the community of Arlington in Snohomish County, Washington Territory. Exactly when and why the move was made is not known.

  Initial housing on the homestead tract was a building constructed by John.  No description of that dwelling remains. However, by the time the homestead was deeded to the Grants in March of l895 the family was residing in a home characterized as follows: 26' x 28' 1.5 story house constructed of hewn logs and lumber with 8 windows and 4 doors.  Also on the property was a 20' x 40' barn and a 32' x 40' shed.  With fencing, etc., the property, which had 10 acres cleared for crop raising (7 seasons) was valued at approximately $1,750.   This would be John Grant's final place of residence.

  Former Civil War soldier John Grant died in or near Arlington, Washington on 1/6/99. At death he was noted as being sixty two years of age.  Cause of his passing was listed as chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis complicated by pneumonia. Burial was in the Arlington Cemetery. (The old Arlington cemetery which is no longer a cemetery down the street from Harwood but he is the only one there now! His tombstone was left to memorialize the old cemetery!  
 
  With his demise John Grant left behind at home his widow, Angie and two children under the age of sixteen years: Stacy and Nellie. His widow quickly registered for and was granted a portion of her late husband's Civil War disability pension. (Exactly when that pension had commenced and for what amount is not known).  Commencing on 2/27/99 her monthly stipend was $8 per month with an additional $2 per month for her "under 16 years of age" children.

  The census of 1900 found Angie having remained in Arlington. Her occupation was listed as "farmer." In her home at the time were children Stacy and Nellie.

  On December 4, 1906 Angie last received a widow's pension payment.  The reason was her remarriage to an otherwise unnamed man surnamed Ward. The marriage, for whatever reason, apparently did not last long as the U.S. Census for Trafton in 1910 listed only Angie Ward. (Married twice, 3 yrs., own income.) Also in the home her daughter Nellie and her husband August Vail.

  Angie Grant/Ward died in Arlington, WA on August 15, 1913.   She was buried in the Arlington community cemetery in the same plot as her daughter Nellie Vail. 

Buried at Arlington Pioneer Cemetery
Row: 1
Site: 1

Robert D. Huson
Everett, WA