Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Austin Waterhouse

Austin Waterhouse

Representing: Union


G.A.R Post

  • William Hall Post #107 Granite Falls, Snohomish Co. WA

Unit History

  • 44th Indiana Infantry C

See full unit history

Austin Waterhouse
Full Unit History

44th INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 1861
Mustered In: 10/24/61 Ft. Wayne, IN
Mustered Out: 9/14/65

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

 

  This three-year regiment left Indiana in December, 1861 for Henderson, KY.  It remained encamped until 2/62 when it was sent to Ft. Henry, thence to Ft. Donelson, participating in the siege and battle at the latter point. The 44th was engaged April 6 & 7, 1862 at Shiloh, near Pittsburgh Landing, TN losing 33 killed and 177 wounded.

   The unit then moved to the siege of Corinth, MS and was with Buell’s army throughout Alabama and Tennessee being under fire at Perryville. It lost 8 killed, 52 wounded and 8 missing at Sonte’s River, TN. The following spring the regiment moved with Rosecrans to Chattanooga via McMinnville, Bridgeport, Shell Mound, and Whiteside. It participated at Chickamauga, GA. and fought again at Missionary Ridge, TN. in November ’63.

    Provost duty at Chattanooga followed. Its ranks replenished by re-enlistments and transfers from other Indiana units, the 44th was mustered out 9/14/65. 

Soldier History

SOLDIER:
Residence: Not listed   Age: 26.8 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 11/23/61   Rank: Sergeant
Mustered In: 11-24-61
Discharged: 6/19/62
Highest Rank: Sergeant.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

 

[NOTE:  The original biographical profile on Austin P. Waterhouse was written during the early days of the Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State project. The profile rewrite which follows was completed in February, 2018. It

contains much more family data than the original. However, even though much improved, the profile still does not feature the documental details featured in current writings. 

  Austin Peckins Waterhouse was born on February 14, 1828. While some sources note his state of birth being Ohio, of more common consensus is the state of Kentucky. No specific community or county of birth has been found in available documentation.  Interestingly, none of his siblings were Kentucky born.,

Parents of Austin were Israel P. (b. 1815 NJ) and Mary Ann (nee Crantz b. 1806 NJ) Waterhouse. The U.S. Census for 1850 noted that Israel was a “farmer.”

As a member of a farm family, Austin had many siblings. There were four older than he: Adam (b. 1827 NJ), Mary Ann (b. 1831 NJ), Joshua (b 1833 NJ) and Sarah (b. 1837 PA). Those younger were: , Jane (b. 1841/d. 1841), Abigail (b. 1843 OH), Abijah (b. 1843 OH), Charles (b. 1846 OH), Catherine (b. 1848 OH) and Lydia (b. 1850 OH).

 

Although born in Kentucky, there is some indication that Austin was raised in Texas. This, however, seems somewhat unlikely when one considers that most of his brothers and sisters were born either in New Jersey or Ohio. Further, there is no census, or other data pointing to Austin’s father, Israel – or Austin himself - residing in Texas.

 

Somewhere along the way in his young life, Austin moved to Indiana where he settled in or near the community of Roanoke. There, on 11/23/61’61 the 5’10”, light complexioned, blue eyed, carpenter enlisted in the U.S. Army. His unit of choice was the 44th Indiana Infantry, Company “C”.

The following February at Fort Donelson, KY Sergeant Waterhouse received a slight gunshot wound to the hand. Then, on 4/6/62, during the first day’s fighting at Shiloh Church, near Pittsburgh Landing, TN., while acting as regimental color sergeant he received a more serious gunshot wound which smashed the ulna of his right arm.

Transferred to a hospital in Evansville, IN., following secondary hemorrhaging, Sgt. Waterhouse’s arm was amputated. His period of wartime and military service was over.


Returning to Roanoke, IN., Austin first applied for a disability pension. Then, on 9/25/62 in Kent County, MI he married 20 year old Jane Runna/Ruanna Goodwill (b. 3/29/42 OH).The marriage was the first  - and last – for both. The young couple set up house  in Solon Township, Kent County, MI

Austin and Jane would bring eleven children into the world:  Hatti (b. 1863 IN),Clara (b. 1/15/65 IN), Eliza(b. 1/9/68 MI), Hiram (b. 12/10/69 MI), Jemima “Mima” (b. 1871MI), Hanna P. (b. 11/2/71 MI), Frances (b. 11/24/73 MI), Israel (b. 4/4/76 MI),Rosa (b. 5/27/76 MI), Charles (b. 11/26/78 MI), Arthur (b. 9/15/81 MI) and Reserie Ruby (b. 9/6/85 MI).

 

  In March 1899 the Waterhouse family left Michigan and relocated to Granite Falls,   Snohomish County in WA State. What prompted the move west is not known. In Granite Falls Austin’s attentions turned to farming, but he would also serve as a justice of the peace and police judge.

 Austin died in Granite Falls, Snohomish County, WA on 1/23/08. Cause of death was arteriosclerosis and heart problems. Burial was not in Granite Falls, but south of there in the Snohomish, Snohomish County, WA Grand Army Of The Republic Cemetery.

 

The census of 1910 found widow Jennie Waterhouse residing alone in Granite Falls. That population tally noted that of the eleven children she had birthed, five were still living

1920. Another decade. Another census. That accounting found Jennie living in Everett, Snohomish County, WA with daughter Rosa and her husband.

Jennie remained in Everett until her death. She died on 5/30/26. She was/is buried beside Austin in Snohomish.

 

ADOPT-A-VET SPONSOR:  Gloria Renner & Richard Nelson Lebanon, Oregon
ADOPT-A-VET WEBPAGE:
ROW: 10   GRAVE:  2 

Cemetery

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Snohomish
Row: 10
Site: 2

Adopt-a-Vet Sponsor

Gloria Renner & Richard Nelson
Lebanon, OR


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