Anthony Moser Autobiography
MOSER
Posted By: Elizabeth Stack (email)
Date: 6/2/2012 at 19:35:33
Autobiography of Anthony D. Moser, 6 August 1907, (typed without corrections)
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Mr. A. D. Moser, Father of W. T. Moser of Lamar, Colorado, gives the following biography of his life.
I, Anthony D. Moser, born on the 5th day of April 1834 in Basel, Canton of Basel of Switzerland, a Republic State of Europe.
In the year 1846 in October, my parents emigrated with us to North America. Starting towards Texas. Embarked or rather went aboard on a passenger train at St. Louis, France, a station just outside of the city limits, city of Basel to Strassburg, France, about 120 miles, from there to Havre, France a harbor on the Atlantic coast, on steamboats on the River Rhine, by Cablinec, Collogne, Frankfort, Rotterdam there by the English Channel to Havre, being delayed on account of some shipwrecked vessel. We were delayed 1 month in Havre. Dec. 1st we took sail for New Orleans and after 5 weeks sailing landed there on a Saturday, remained until Monday night, when we boarded on a Mississippi packet for St. Louis, Mo. which was to take us in 6 days. But being froze on several places and impassable we were 17 days. Landed at St. Louis, my father and other passengers of the journey went over across the river into Illinois about 34 miles East to settle down in a civilized country instead of the disreputed Texas, then inhabited by desperatoes or highway men, robbers and cowboys. After 3 ½ years farming at Highland, Madison Co., Illinois, emigrated again further north and landed at Dubuque, Iowa in Nov. 1850. In Feb following moved to Guttenberg, where he bought (74 or ¼) feet of timberland cleared a big part of it and farmed and lived there until he died on the 14 Nov 1875. Being then 80 years, 3 months and 7 days old. My oldest brother and my mother remained together.
In the year 1861 I was married on the 15th June, the following April a girl baby was born to us and on the 25th of August I enlisted in the Army. A private in Company C 16th United States Infantry for 3 years. For $13 per month and $100 bounty. Then drew uniform in Dubuque and a 20 day furlough. I went home and stayed until end of 20 days. Then to Dubuque, then to Chicago until 12 Dec. Then to Fort Ontario, Oswego, New York until the 15th of March 1863 then to Memphis Borrow Tenn by railway transportation by way of Seraquese, Rochester, Buffalo, New York, Cleveland, Culumbus, Cincinaty, Ohio. Then on the steamboat on the Ohio River to Fort Donahue up the Cumberland River to Nashville, Tenn. The marched out to Murphesborrow then to Talahoma, Deckered, Cowen Tenn. Then to Stevenson Alabama, from there to Chickmaug, Georgia, where I was captured on the 19th Sept. 1963. We were marched to Tennel Hill from there on the cars to Richmond, VA, by way of Dalton Atlanta searched of everything of valuables, knife, fork, spoon, money, watches, knapsacks, blankets, tents, fingerings and all kinds of jewelery. From there to Augusta GA. Culumbia S. C. Raleigh, Ringgold
Goldsburro North Carolina to Petersburg Richmond VA. Libby Prison 12 Dec following, down to Danville, where on the 1st. of Jan I contracted the smallpox, until then I was well and hardy, but reduced to a skeleton by starvation, with out any bed cloting or bed, ½ (hld) of bread, 2 ounces of some kind of meat. The reader of this must guess what kind. I guess it was mule flesh. For a days ration we had river water.
In prison without a chair, bed, table, stove, bed clothing, on 1st Jan 1864 I took smallpox, absass, erasipible on my head. In April we were removed to Richmond after 6 days parolled. Sent down the James River on a Flag of Truce transport to City Point VA. and was exchanged, once more on a vessel with the Stars and Stripes and were transport around by Fortress Monroe and up the Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis, MD. In the St John’s Collegge Hospital landed 2nd May remained until 18 July when I received a box of provisions, 2 months monthly pay $32 and a furlough for 30 days to go home to Millville Iowa and returned after 50 days. Charged with desertion, which was nearly true to my ward in the same place, where I was before. On Thanksgiving Day I ordered to be removed to Germantown PA. Hospital then still a running sore on my back apears and lame arm remain 2 wks. Removed to Camp Distribution, Washington D C. I remained in camp and hospital until about 18 Feb 1865 when called to headquarters Fort Ontario Asmego N.Y. And then after 10 days at the fort was ordered to the Regiment on Lookout Mt. Tenn. We started about the 26 Feb. and arrived about 1st March remained there until the 25 Aug. when I was discharged. But I suffered some punishment in the guard house for taking a few ears of corn out of a rebels widow cornfield, carried cordwood and being tied up the wrists overhead 1 ½ days just 3 wks. before discharge, that did not go very good. It kind of choked me. I would not reinlist any more. I started home, Friday evening the 25 Aug. by Chattanooga, Murphisburrow, Nashville, Tenn. Louisville, Kentucky. Jeffersonville Indianapolis and Kokomo Ind. Chicago, East Dubuque Ill. Dubuque and Millville Iowa Home on the evening of the 1st Sept 1865.
When I build me a house and lived there until May. I sold and moved to Norfolk, Nebrask, took a free homestead lived on it for 5 years and prove up and departed back to Iowa in the county as before, remained 17 yrs. Then returned to Norfolk and took up another claim held it 7 yers then couldn’t hold it any longer lawfully. Sold for what I could get for the improvement 60 acres under cultivation, house barn, granery, corn crib, henhouse well and cellar, fences, 40 acres pasture fenced fruit. I realysed $150. That was at Stoney Butt, Raymond TP, Knox Co. Nebraska.
In 1901 I build up in Osmond. I bought 1 acre in town, built a house and everything necessary. That cost me somewheres near $450 and after 5 years I sold for $575. I went to visit some of my children, Colo., Texas, Wyoming back east to the Black Hills S.D. Osmond Nebraska, Childress Texas, Lamar Col. Now will start for Ogden Utah in a few days. This 6th day of August 1907 At Lamar Colorado
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