HENRY, Thomas P.: 1841-1900

HENRY, BENNETT

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/25/2013 at 05:56:04

Life and Death of Thos. P. Henry.

Thomas P. Henry was born near Vernon, Van Buren county, Iowa, July 21, 1841, and died at his home in Bonaparte, January 23, 1900, at the age of 58 years, 6 months and 2 days. With the exception of a few months' residence in Burlington during the winter of 1896-97 the deceased resided in his native county all his life.

In the spring of 1861 he commenced attending school at Keosauqua, but upon the receipt of the news of the fall of Fort Sumter he felt that his country needed his services more than he needed an education and at once left the school for the tented field. He enlisted as a private in Co. F, Second Iowa Infantry at Keosauqua, April 24, 1861, and on the 27th of May following was mustered into the U.S. service at Keokuk, Iowa. He participated in the battle of Ft. Donelson February 15, and 16, 1862, where he received a gunshot wound; in the battle of Shiloh April 6 and 7; and in the battle of Cornith Oct. 3 and 4. At Corinth he was severely wounded in the side and arm by a fragment of a shell, and for a time grave doubts were entertained as to his recovery. On January 8, 1864, at Pulaski, Tenn., he re-enlisted as a veteran, to serve until the close of the war, and in December of that year was promoted to the office of sergeant. He participated in the Atlanta campaign from May to September, 1864, marched with Sherman's army to the sea, thence north though the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington D.C., where on May 24, 1865, he took part in the grand review of Sherman's army. He was honorably mustered out of the U.S. service by reason of the close of the ar at Louisville, Kentucky, July 7, 1865.

He at once returned to his native county and settled in Vernon, where he engaged in business and later became the proprietor of the Vernon and Bentonsport ferry across the Des Moines river, which he continued to operate until the spring of 1880, when he sold out and retired to a farm he had purchased on Vernon Prairie, where he continued to reside, with the exception already noted, until the fall of 1897, when he moved to his new and last home in Bonaparte.

On February 16, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bennett, who, with their only child, a son, Lemuel H. Henry, is left behind in life to mourn together the unspeakable loss of a loving husband and father. In addition to the loved ones of the immediate home circle, he is survived by his venerable mother, three sisters and two brother.

Thomas P. Henry was an honest and trusted citizen and a man that enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow men to and (missing)a remarkable degree. For thirteen consecutive years he was elected to the office of justice of the peace of the township in which he resided. The hardships, wounds and disabilities incurred during his service (missing) gradually under- (missing) robust con- (missing)

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 162, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA