Church, Gilbert Warn 1842-1880

CHURCH, WYNNE, PERSALL

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 11/24/2019 at 18:40:28

Died - In McGregor, Sunday afternoon, Gilbert Warn Church, aged 38 years and 10 months.

The deceased enlisted in the service of the United States, in Co. G, 140th New York Volunteers, August 25th, 1863, and received an honorable discharge at Elmira, New York, on the 30th day of June, 1865. His regiment being attached to the army of the Potomac, engaged in the Grant campaign commencing with the Wilderness eight days' light. On the 19th day of August, 1864, he was taken prisoner in front of Petersburg, Va., being first confined in the Libby prison at Richmond, then transferred to the Belle Island, and from there to the Saulsbury prison. He was exchanged and returned to the Union army March 4th, 1865.

During his imprisonment he suffered very much, living the first three or four days on a half pint of flour, and during the balance of the term suffered with his companions for the want of good wholesome food, and for the want of sufficient clothing to keep the person decently covered. Any who have read the sketches of rebel prison life know how much and how severe the Union boys suffered in those pens. It was while in these pens that he contracted the disease which finally terminated in his death. He had never seen a well day since his discharge from the army.

In the winter of 1865-6 he came to McGregor and was soon after appointed to a clerkship in the city postoffice under the administrations of Capt. Benton and Robert Tompkins.

In 1871 he married Miss Sarah Wynne. The marriage was a happy one - religiously devoted to each other. Two children were born to them, a boy now eight years old, and a daughter now three years old.

For a number of years he has been in business on his own account. Mr. Church was well thought of in the community, and though long a sufferer, he bore up manfully and with a will that challenged the admiration of all who knew him. He was kind and indulgent and drew around him an army of steadfast friends who will join in sorrow over his death in the prime of manhood.

The widow and fatherless children have the sympathy and condolence of the community. And while they accept the will of Him who has taken the husband and father unto Himself, let them be guided with the surety that he has gone to join the great army of comrades in the peaceful walks of the chambers of heaven, where, again in communion with the comrades who suffered with him in Libby and Saulsbury, he knows no pain, no sorrow or trouble. It is a fit reward for the brave suffering soldier whose life was slowly undermined by the ravages of consumption. Surely God will welcome this hero of Spotsylvania and the Wilderness into the great camp above.

The deceased leaves a large circle of intimate friends and acquaintances who will keep fresh the memory of his genuine worth as a man an das a neighbor. Among the relatives are Mrs. Amos Pearsall and Lafayette Church, of this city; George Church of New Hampton, and Frank Church, agent of U.S. Express Company.

The funeral occurred on Tuesday, the services being conducted by Rev. C.C. Ciagin. The Veteran Soldiers' Association attended in a body, the McGregor Band escorting the procession to the head of Giard avenue, of which latter organization Mr. Church was the founder and first leader.

~North Iowa Times, Thursday, October 21, 1880