Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Eli Hewitt

1^st MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTILLERY
ORGANIZED: 9/1/64
MUSTERED OUT: 6/9/65

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

* Note:  this is the same regiment and Co. as Elisha Nye Row 12 site 2

   The 1^st Minnesota Heavy Artillery, a 12 company, one year unit, was organized during the summer of 1864, mustered in by companies, and ordered to the fortifications around Chattanooga, Tennessee that winter as it was thought Confederate Gen Hood would try and recapture the city. The regiment remained at Chattanooga until mustered out by companies June through September, 1865. 

SOLDIER:
Residence: not listed   Age: 36 years
Enlisted/Mustered In: 2/8/65 St. Paul, MN   Rank: Bugler (Pvt.)
Discharged: 9/27/65 Nashville, TN
Highest Rank: Musician (Pvt.)

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

NOTE:  The original birth – to – death biographical profile on Eli Hewitt was written during the early years of the Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State project. As a result it was limited in both size and access to research sources. The bio which follows was created in March, 2019. While it contains many more details than the original, it still lacks the depth of more recent additions to this website which draw heavily upon veteran-related documents housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

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  Eli D. Hewitt was born in the state of New York during the year of our lord 1829. Although no birth month has been located within available documents, there are hints that he was birthed in September.  A specific birth date has not been found.

Parents of Eli were George Anson (b. 1807 Jefferson C. NY) and Elizabeth “Betsey” (nee Bush b. 1810 NY) Hewitt. The Hewitts were a farm family.

As best as can be determined, Eli was the eldest of four Hewitt children. His younger siblings were: Ira B. (b. 4/16/32 NY), Maria M. (b. 1835 PA) and Albert K. (b. 1839 PA) Hewitt.

Eli was to marry Calista Bancroft (b. 1834 NY). Although the exact year is not known, it was most likely during the early 1850’s. The union would produce three children - Charles E. (10/30/55), Jennie (9/8/58), and Willard W. (7/5/65) - before Calista’s untimely death.  

At the time of the 1860 U.S. Census Eli and family were residing in Waupun Village South Ward, Dodge County, WI. Census takers noted Eli’s occupation as “cabinet maker.”
 

 By 1865 the Hewitts had quitted Wisconsin and were residing in Minnesota. However, exactly where, in Minnesota they were living is not known.

 During the waning months of the War of the Rebellion Eli entered the U.S. Army. At the age of 36 years he was far above the average (27.5 yrs.)  age of a Civil War combatant.

 Other than the fact that Private Hewitt served as an artillery bugler in the 1^st Minnesota Heavy Artillery we have little information pertaining to his period of enlistment. . He would later claim his service proved deleterious to his health.

His brief tenure with the military behind him, as far as is known, Eli returned to his wife and family in Minnesota.

In September, 1866 Calista died. No details are available pertaining to her passing. Also not available is where she was/is buried.
 

 Sometime in 1868 Eli remarried. His new bride Angeline E. Graham (b. 7/36 NY). Eli and Angeline would produce one child of their own, a son they named Merton B. (b. 1871 MN).
 

  As of 1870 U.S. Census the Hewitts were living and farming in Collins McCleod Co., MN. That was where on 9/20/70 Eli – likely drawing upon the fact that he was a Civil War veteran – he filed for a homestead. The fact that the family remained in McCloud for the following twenty years or so, indicates that Eli was ultimately granted patent (deed) to the property which was likely 160 acres of farmland. 

  Around 1890/91 the Hewitts moved westward from Minnesota and settled in Snohomish. There, at 61 years of age, the former Union soldier applied for a U.S. Government invalid pension claiming his months in the army had left him suffering from “catarrh (an inflammation of the respiratory system), asthma, rupture and piles.”  Although no documentation is available, likely he was granted a monthly stipend.
 

  Eli Hewitt died on 8/24/02. The cause of death was heart failure. He was aged 73 years and 8 months. At the time of his death Eli was post commander of Snohomish’s Oliver Morton Grand Army Of The Republic. Post # 10 located in Snohomish, WA. Burial was/is in the Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery in Snohomish.
 

In 1910 Angleine Hewitt was still residing in Snohomish, Snohomish Co., WA. She died in Seattle King County, WA on 12/17/18. She was/is buried in the G.A.R. Cemetery beside Eli.

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Snohomish
Row: 2
Site: 1

Carl Hoblitt
Edmonds, WA