Those BOTKINS sure where a prolific bunch! I've posted about the Union soldiers in Indiana and the Confederate BOTKINS in Virginia and now the BOTKIN soldiers from Ohio. In particular one BOTKIN family that sent six sons off to war.
Abraham BOTKIN and Sarah "Sallie" WILKINSON BOTKIN were the parents of ten children, seven boys, two girls and one infant. When the Civil War broke out, six of the seven boys were still living and all six of them volunteered to serve.
Here are their stories:
George Walter BOTKIN was 29 years old when he enlisted in the 1st Infantry Kentucky, Company C. He mustered in 8 Jun 1861 and mustered out 18 Jun 1864. He married Sidney C. BAKER the 28 Jul 1864. He and Sidney moved to Kansas where he died 8 Jan 1892. George is buried in Hutchinson Eastside Cemetery in Hutchinson, Kansas. His FAG memorial can be found here.
William J. BOTKIN was 27 years old when he enlisted in the 45th Ohio Infantry, Company F. He mustered in 18 Aug 1862. On 15 Nov 1863 William was taken prisoner at Holston River, TN. He was held at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. He died there on 15 Jun 1864 of anasarca. He was 29 years old and the father of two young children. His FAG memorial can be found here.
Wallace BOTKIN was 25 years old when he enlisted in the 45th Ohio Infantry, Company K. He mustered in 19 Aug 1862. He was promoted to full Corporal on 27 Jan 1864. He died on 17 Dec 1864 from wounds he received in battle at Richmond, TN. He is buried in the Nashville National Cemetery. His FAG memorial can be found here.
Granville Moody BOTKIN was 24 years old when he enlisted in the 146th Ohio Infantry, Company I. He mustered in 2 May 1864 and mustered out 7 Sep 1864. Granville died on 24 Oct 1928 in Mechanicsburg, OH at the age of 88. His FAG memorial can be found here.
Joseph Bruce BOTKIN was 19 years old when he enlisted in the 44th Ohio Infantry, Company F. He was transferred into the 8th Cavalry Infantry, Company F on 4 Jan 1864. He mustered out on 30 Jul 1865. Joseph moved to Missouri where he eventually became mayor of the city of Mexico, MO. He died on 31 Dec 1929. Burial location is unknown.
Youngest brother Lycurgus BOTKIN was 20 years old when he enlisted in the 178th Ohio Infantry, Company B. He mustered in 22 Sep 1864 and mustered out 3 Jul 1865 in Washington, DC. In Jul of 1866 Lycurgus married Mary SHEEHAN and was the father of at least 4 children. Lycurgus and Mary moved to Missouri where he died 11 Mar 1927. He is buried in Centralia Cemetery in Centralia, MO. His FAG memorial can be found here.
Six sons. One left for war in 1861, two left in 1862 and three left in 1864. 4 returned. I can't imagine the mothers sorrow.
You touched on something I've wondered about myself. Two of my 2xgreat granduncles went off to war right after three of their siblings died of
ReplyDeletediptheria. I can't imagine how my 3xgreat grandmother would have coped if one or both of them had died in the War as well.
Thanks for contributing this to the Challenge!
Very interesting to read. Thank you, Steve Botkin
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