Saturday, May 12, 2012

Bovina in the Civil War - Soldier Biographies V

Alexander Gill was born in Bovina in January 1839, the son of James and Mary Gill.  He enlisted in September 1862 in the 144th NY Volunteers as a corporal.  He was a sergeant at his discharge on July 12, 1865.  Alexander married Agnes Radeker in Downsville.  He moved to Montrose, Pennsylvania, working as a carpenter.  He died in March 1899 in Pennsylvania.

William T. Gillie was born in Bovina in Apirl 1844.  He enlisted in August 1862 in the 144th NY Volunteers, Company E and was paid $100 for doing so.  He died of typhoid fever at a hospital in Washington, DC on August 6, 1863 and was buried near the hospital.  He was only 19 years old.  There is a memorial stone for William Gillie in the Bovina Cemetery.

Thomas Gordon was born in Scotland and was a resident of Delhi when he served in the war.  He was in the 79th NY Infantry, enlisting September 7, 1864.  He was discharged May 30, 1865.  Thomas was married twice, first to Mary J. Oliver, who died in 1897, and then to Mary R. Scott, who survived him.  He taught in Bovina schools for many years and was noted for his excellent penmanship, which was useful in the years he was Bovina's Town Clerk.  Thomas was active in the local veterans organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).  Gordon was Town Clerk when he died unexpectedly in April 1921.  His daughter Margaret was a noted Social Studies teacher at Delaware Academy.

Francis Gowanlock was born in March 1843 in Bovina.  He enlisted in August 1962 in the 144th NY Volunteers and was mustered out in June 1865, returning to Bovina.  Gowanlock worked as a stone mason and in 1874, married Jane Liddle.  In the 1890 special census, he reported that he suffered from fever and ague as a result of his service in the war.  He also noted that he was shot in the leg.  Gowanlock died New Year's Day, 1918 and is buried in Bovina.

George W. Graham
was born in Bovina in 1845.  He enlisted in August 1862 in the 144th NY Volunteers as a private and was paid a bounty of $100 for doing so.  Promoted to 2nd lieutenant, Graham later had to resign because of ill health in September 1864.  He left Delaware County sometime after the war and settled in West Virginia, where he married Sophia Bilson in Harper's Ferry.  Later, he married Jennie E. Marshall as his second wife in Woodstock, VA.  In the 1900 census, he was a life insurance agent and on the 1910 census, he said he was an attorney.  George died in 1916 and is buried in the Bolivar Cemetery in Jefferson County, WV, outside of Harpers Ferry.

3 comments:

  1. Hi My name is Debra Care. My Father was William Graham Care. His mother was Catherine Graham, daughter of George W. Graham. Both Father and daughter are buried in the Bolivar, WV cemetery, outside of Harpers Ferry, WV. I also obtained information that Lt. George W. Graham was also a Capt. in the 1st West Virginia Light Artillery Battery F. I have pictures of him, Swords, hats and uniform Jacket. The county is Jefferson. Thank you.

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    1. Debra, would you be able to send me your e-mail address? I would like to share more info on George W. Graham and see if it matches what you have. It appears he had a busy career in Virginia, first working for the Freedmen's Bureau in Mecklenberg Co, Virginia, then serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and later in the State Senate. All very interesting.

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  2. I will correct the burial information. Was Graham in the 1st West Virginia during the war or after? Thank you for sharing the information. I wouldn't mind having a picture of him for my collection. My e-mail is bovinahistorian@gmail.com.

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