GAR Obituaries from Taylor to Tuttle

E. E. Taylor

"E.E. Taylor, 86, G.A.R. Veteran, Dies Suddenly,"
The Elgin Courier-News, December 29, 1932, pp. 1, 3.
Services Saturday For Commander Of Elgin Veterans Post.

E. E. Taylor, 86 years old, 314 East Chicago street, a resident of Elgin for the last 41 years, commander of Veteran Post No. 49, G.A.R., and widely and popularly known, particularly among members of patriotic societies of the city, died at Sherman hospital at 10:45 o'clock last night, death due to an acute attack of double pneumonia. He had been in declining health for some time and was taken to the hospital at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

His death removes from the city a man who had for many years taken an active and keen interest in the affairs not only of the G.A.R., but of other patriotic organizations. He had accumulated a wide circle of warm friendships among the veterans of Elgin as well as among other groups of citizens, to whom announcement of his death comes as a considerable shock.

Enjoyed Adventurous Life.

Mr. Taylor had an adventurous and colorful career. He was born in Woodstock, Ill., on October 19, 1846. As a young man he engaged in farming at Ringwood, relinquishing that occupation some years later to enter the windmill and pump business with his brother, the late Edward Taylor, at Hebron. From Hebron Mr. Taylor came to Elgin, 41 years ago, and entered the insurance business, an activity in which he was engaged for many years.

For the last 14 years Mr. Taylor had been custodian of the Memorial hall, and for the past 12 years had been commander of the Elgin Post of the G.A.R., having been successively re-elected each year. Mr. Taylor was accorded these positions in recognition of his interest in the welfare of the G.A.R. members, and in recognition also of his splendid and interesting war record.

He served nearly four years as a federal soldier in the Civil war, and participated in many of the important battles of that great conflict. In order to serve his country, it had been necessary to "romance" a bit about his age, for Mr. Taylor first enlisted when he was but 15 years old. With his brother, Nathan, 14 years old, they ran away from home to enlist. The boy Taylor looked 19 years old and an understanding recruiting sergeant admitted him to the army.

Served in Illinois Cavalry.

He first enlisted with the Fifth Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, on August 17, 1862. He was discharged on account of disability on September 25, 1863. Recovering from an illness, he re-enlisted with the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, Company G, on December 28, 1863 and received his discharge from service on January 25, 1866. In both enlistments he served as a private soldier.

Most of his army service occurred in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, where his outfit engaged in almost daily battle with those engaged in guerilla warfare, organizations of renegades who frequently preyed upon both confederates and federals. His cavalry detachment pursued and captured the confederate General Price and his men.

Mr. Taylor had always cherished the memory of Abraham Lincoln, for whom he voted, while a soldier stationed at Bowling Green, Ky. As a small boy Mr. Taylor's father introduced him to Lincoln, and the boy received from the great war president a wan smile and a pat upon the head. Private Taylor was stationed at Iron Mountain, Mo., when he received news of the assassination of Lincoln, and his company fired a tribute of 60 guns, Mr. Taylor working Gun No. 5 in that fusilade of shots.

Funeral Services Saturday

While he still resided in Ringwood, Mr. Taylor married Miss Eunice Madole of that city, his first wife. He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Edith Taylor; a daughter, Mrs. Cora Burdick, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; three sons, George E. Taylor, of Genoa City, Wis., C.C. Taylor, 768 Mill street, Elgin, and Milton Taylor, of Chicago; a step-daughter, Mrs. Buena Hazard, of Modesto, Calif., four grandchildren, and one great grandchild. A son, Newton J. Taylor, at one time a prominent Elgin grocer, died about a year ago.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, private, at Memorial hall and at 3 o'clock from the Norris chapel, the Rev. J.B. Martin, of Waukegan, formerly pastor of the First Methodist church here, to officiate, with burial in Bluff City cemetery. Members of the G.A.R. will act as an honorary escort, and will be attended by the Sons of Veterans. Members of the Spanish-American War Veterans will act as pallbearers, and a firing squad from Elgin Post No. 57, American Legion, will fire a salute and tribute at the grave.

Adolph Thies

"Obituary,"
The Elgin Daily News, October 24, 1921, p. 3.

Adolph Thies, a retired farmer of Hanover township, and a veteran of the Civil war, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Florence Volpp, 121 South Liberty street at 6:50 o'clock Sunday morning at the age of seventy-six years.

Born in Hanover, Germany, August 12, 1844, he came to this country when in infancy and lived on a farm near Palatine. In 1861 he enlisted in the army for service in the Civil war in which he served for four years with the 52nd regiment, Company G. He retired from active farm life more than ten years ago.

A prominent member of the First Evangelical church he was a member of the Men's league and active in other church affairs. He belonged to the G.A.R. post No. 49. His wife preceded him in death thirteen years ago.

Eight children survive him: Mrs. May Remington of Bowbells, N.D.; Samuel of Hanover; William, Mrs. Ellen Bloemke, Mrs. Amanda Brown, Mrs. Martha Johnson, Mrs. Florence Volpp and Miss Emma Thies.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock at Norris chapel and at 2 o'clock at the Evangelical church, Rev. F.F. Jordan officiating. Burial will be at Bluff City cemetery.

Hiram Thomas

"Oldest Foreman's Death Is Sudden,"
The Elgin Daily News, January 11, 1909, p. 1.
Hiram Thomas Had Been With Elgin Nat'l Watch Company Since 1867.
End Comes As Shock
Relatives, Friends, and Fellow Employes Prostrated
Upon Hearing of Sad Demise.
Hiram Thomas is dead.

Elgin's veteran watch maker, foreman of the plate room at the local factory for forty-one years, died very suddenly late Saturday afternoon at his home, 564 Chicago street. He had been ill less than ten hours, suffering from neuralgia of the heart. He was 65 years of age.

Death Was Very Sudden.

The end came at 5:45 o'clock and so quickly that it did not seem possible. His physician had examined him, said that he was greatly improved, and turned toward the door to go. He had not reached it when Foreman Thomas fell back in his chair, threw up his arms, and expired before the doctor or members of the family could reach him.

Mr. Thomas was stricken ill while reading his morning paper. He left his chair to pace the room, complaining the while of severe pains in his chest. A physician was summoned and after his visit the patient was much improved. He did not go to bed and during the afternoon felt so well that he talked with friends. His death came but a moment after he had said that the pain had nearly left him. Physicians believe a spasmodic contraction of the nerves in the heart caused the sudden death.

Sorrow at Watch Factory.

The wife of the stricken man was prostrated by the shock. News of the sudden demise spread like wild-fire about the city and was the subject for discussion wherever watch factory employes, who had known and respected him so many years, congregated. Many refused to believe until they had confirmed the report. A pall seemed to settle over the factory, especially in the dead foreman's room, when men and women realized their loss today.

Mr. Thomas was one of the oldest and best loved, by his fellow workmen, of the employes of the Elgin National Watch company. When 24 years of age he took charge of the plating department and for forty-one consecutive years directed the work in this branch of the industry. He was the second foreman the room ever knew, taking the place of P.S. Bartlett, who was sent abroad in the interests of the factory.

Besides being a well known watch maker the deceased was prominently affiliated with the Century club and with the Veteran Post, G.A.R., of this city. He was at one time a member of the board of directors of the former club. A man of unquestioned ability, honesty and thoughtfulness for the cares of others, he made friends wherever he went and was admired and respected by all of them.

Born at Hingham, Mass.

Hiram Thomas was born April 13, 1843, in Hingham, Plymouth county, Mass. The common schools of the town and Derby Academy gave him his education and when a young man he began his career as a watch maker as an apprentice for three years to John Palsey, a Roxbury, Mass., clockmaker. In December, 1861, he entered the watch factory at Waltham, Mass., where he remained until the civil war called him.

On August 6, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers. Less than two months later he was injured in an accident at the battle of Antietam. For weeks he was confined to a hospital and then unfit for active work in the field, he was detailed to clerical service. He was later attached to the hospital department in Philadelphia, where he remained until the close of the war. He received his honorable discharge May 11, 1865.

After the war he worked at Waltham and Newark, N.J. watch factories and then came to Elgin where he commenced May 21, 1867, in the plate room. The following year he was made foreman, a position he held continuously until death.

Married in Chicago in 1869.

Mr. Thomas married Miss Martha S. Proud in Chicago in 1869. They came to Elgin to live and the wife and only daughter, Mrs. Irving Peck, are the last remaining of a family of eleven children, his parents being William Thomas and Rachel Beal of Hingham, Mass.

Prominent watch factory men, headed by Superintendent George E. Hunter, will be pall bearers at the funeral. The men who will carry the casket of their brother workman to the vault where it will remain until spring are George E. Hunter, George Atherton, Alonzo Hobart, Samuel Treat, William B. Long and L.N. Jackman.

The service will be conducted by Rev. W.I.A. Beale of the Church of the Redeemer. It will be held at 2 o'clock at the house, 564 Chicago street, Tuesday. The body will be placed in a vault at Bluff City cemetery.

Alexander P. Thoms

"Capt. Thoms Dead Expires Suddenly,"
The Elgin Daily News, February 24, 1913, p. 1.
Widely Known War Veteran Stricken with Heart Disease at Home.
Found Dying By Sons
Was Member and Officer in Many Elgin Organizations--
Was Prominent in G.A.R.

Alexander P. Thoms, one of the oldest residents of this section, one of the best known members of the G.A.R. and a business man of the city many years, died suddenly this morning at his home, 624 South street.

He was at his place of business, 155 Milwaukee street on Saturday and yesterday complained of pain near his heart. Dr. O.L. Pelton prescribed for him and he was cautioned to keep quiet for a few days and forbidden to leave his bed.

This morning he was feeling much better and at 10 o'clock was resting comfortably. His sons, Will and Lawrence, left the house, being absent for five minutes.

When they returned their father was lying upon a couch in the living room and was breathing faintly. He died a few minutes later.

Dr. Pelton, who was called stated that death was due to neuralgia of the heart and that it had been sudden and painless.

Mr. Thoms was born July 9, 1842, in Glasgow, Scotland, and was a son of one of the early settlers of Elgin township. The family came to Elgin in 1850.

The family resided for many years on the farm which was owned by Capt. Thoms three miles west of this city.

At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Company B, Eighth Illinois cavalry and served in that gallant regiment through the campaigns of the great stuggle.

He was one of the oldest agents of the sewing machine trade in the west and had been established in business here for more than thirty years. He had been a member of the First Baptist church many years.

Member of Many Societies.

He was a member of Veteran Post No. 49 G.A.R. and of Silver Leaf camp of Woodmen, was one of the organizers of the Elgin Scottish society and was for several years its president. He was also a member of the Elgin Waltonian club. He was president of the Elgin Scientific society and was a member of Kane lodge I.O.O.F.

Will and Lawrence, sons reside here and John and Alexander in Chicago. There are two daughters, Mrs. Elmer Brentnall, who lives at Salt Lake City and Mrs. Frank Brown of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

He was survived by six brothers and two sisters.

Milton S. Townsend

"Veteran Employes of Big Shop Dead,"
The Elgin Daily News, November 26, 1915, p. 1.
Townsend Veteran of Civil War and Long Time Elgin Resident.sp;

Death has claimed two of Elgin's oldest and best known watch workers--Joseph A. Mark, 117 Washburne street, and Milton S. Townsend, 140 South Liberty street.

Mr. Townsend died at his home at 5:33 o'clock yesterday morning. He had been ill for the last eleven days. He was 73 years of age.

Both men were prominent Elgin citizens having resided here for years. Mr. Mark had been employed at the Elgin National watch factory for forty-seven years, while Mr. Townsend was employed at the big factory for twenty years.

Milton S. Townsend.

Milton S. Townsend was born in Dundee, N.Y., July 11, 1842. He came to this state in 1844, settling on a farm in Barrington Center. When he was 19 years of age he joined Company A, Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteers serving four and one-half years.

At the close of the war he came to Elgin and engaged in the grocery business with the firm of Stowe and Townsend. Later the business was sold to T.F. Swan and Mr. Townsend went to watch making, being employed in the Elgin factory, working there twenty years. He retired from work seven years ago.

Mr. Townsend was married to Jennie C. Lessenden. Two children were born to this union, Howard E. Townsend and Mrs. Charles A. Soper, both of Elgin.

Mr. Townsend was an active member of Veteran Post No. 49, G.A.R.

The funeral services will be held from the late home at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Services at Bluff City cemetery will be in charge of members of Veteran Post No. 49.

Charles B. Tuttle

"Obituary,"
The Elgin Daily News, April 27, 1923, p. 2.

Charles B. Tuttle died at 4 o'clock this morning at his home at 259 Cherry street, following a several weeks' illness of paralysis Mr. Tuttle was taken ill shortly after returning home from a winter sojourn at Biloxi, Miss.

He was born July 1839 at New Berlin, N.Y., and had made Elgin his home for the last fifteen years He was a member of the Elgin Lodge, No. 117, A.F. and A.M., the First Methodist church, Co. K, of the Ninth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry and G.A.R., Post No. 49.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Norman K., of Madison, S.D., and John W., of Albert Lea, Minn., twelve grand children, and a brother, Horace, of this city.

Funeral services will be held at the Norris Chapel, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock and the Rev. J.B. Martin will officate Burial will be at Bluff City cemetery.