Captain William Davis Templin

TEMPLIN

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/8/2010 at 17:20:08

Captain William Davis Templin, an honored veteran of the Civil war, residing at No 904 Marion street, was born October 22, 1832, in Delaware county, Indiana, a son of Dr Isaiah and Elizabeth (Clevenger) Templin. The father was a medical practitioner in Indian and in 1851 removed westward to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he practiced until his death n 1866. He was born in Hillsboro, Ohio and his wife was a native of Clinton county, that state. Her people, however, came form Virginia, while the Templin family were from Kentucky, the grandfather, Robert Templin, there making his home prior to going to Indiana. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church. Unto Dr and Mrs Isaiah Templin there were born six sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter are yet living, William Davis, Cyril, a resident of Hoskins, Nebraska James of Iola, Kansas, and Mrs Serena J Cone of Oklahoma.
When twelve years of age Captain William D Templin, who was the second in order of birth in his family, went to Piatt county, Illinois, where he remained until 1855. He then came to Boone county, Iowa, establishing his home here prior to the Civil war. He at first engaged in farming and also conducted business as a stationary engineer. After the war and until a recent date, when he retired, he was in the pension claim service and was also justice of the peace for fourteen years.
Captain Templin proved his loyalty to his country by enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company D, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for six months as a private. He was then elected second lieutenant, in 1862 returning home and in one day raised Company D, of the Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, numbering one hundred and ten men, seventeen of whom are still living. A reunion is annually held on August 11, the date of their enlistment. Mr Templin went to the front as first lieutenant of that company and during most of the time commanded the company. He served from August 12, 1816 until March 30, 1865, and participated in many hotly contested engagements. He was wounded at Yellow Bayou, Louisiana, in the family Red River campaign, which caused the loss of his left limb. The other lag being broken by a shot. He never suffered from illness, however, throughout the long period of his connection with the army. It was meet that he should be given a government position, so ably and faithfully had he served his country and so great was the sacrifice which he made for the Union cause in losing his leg.
On December 12, 1858, at Boone, Captain Templin was married to Miss Catherine Olson, whose people came to this country about 1856. Two of her brothers are still living: William a resident of Des Moines, and John who is in Oklahoma. Mrs Templin died October 6, 1891, at the age of fifty-six years, and of her seven children four daughters and one son survive. IN order of birth the children were as follows: Ida M now the wife of W R Vernon, of Julesburg, Colorado, Mellie the wife of Jacob Odendeahl, of Des Moines, Edward E of Redfield, South Dakota, who is a farmer and married Mabel Jays, Annie the wife of J A Benson of Sheldon, Iowa, Jessie M at home, Emma who was the wife of G William Rinehart and died February 21, 1889, and Willie, also died in infancy.
Captain Templin is a member of the J G Miller Post, No 67, G A R of which he was the first commander, and since that time he has held various other offices in the organization. For the past ten years he ahs acted as quartermaster. At one time he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Captain Templin is widely known in this county, where he has now made him home for fifty-nine years. He has not only been an interested witness of the great changes which have occurred but has taken an active and helpful part in promoting them, and his influence and aid have ever been on the side of progress and improvement. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life’s journey and his is a creditable record, not the least important feature of which has been his life long fidelity to his country and her best interests, his spirit of patriotism being one of his predominant characteristics.

1914 Boone County History Book