David Christian Ely

Biography of Sgt. David Christian Ely

 

b. 21 AUG 1834, Catawissa, Columbia Co, PA d. 29 July 1911, Morrow County, Oregon, Buried Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Portland, Oregon: August 1, 1911   Father: David ELY Mother: Sarah Ann BROBST   Marriage 1 Sarah A. WEAVER Marriage 2 Mary E. NASH Married: 10 SEP 1874 Occupation: Schoolteacher (1860); census enumerator (1870); grocer (1880); editor, The Miner newspaper in Marysville, Marion County, Iowa.   Military History: Residence Marysville, IA; 27 years old. Enlisted on 7/1/1861 as a Wagoner. On 7/17/1861 he mustered into "E" Co. IA 6th Infantry He was discharged for disability on 1/16/1862 at Memphis, TN Promotions: Wagon Master 10/1/1861 Wagoner 10/1/1862 (Returned to company) Intra Regimental Company Transfers: 10/1/1861 from company E to Field & Staff 10/1/1862 from Field & Staff to co. E.

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Account of D.C.Ely’s Civil War service written in his own hand on his 75^th birthday, 21 Aug 1909. 

 

I enlisted for the Civil War in the 6^th Iowa Infantry Co. E  in June 1861.  Was mustered into the U.S.Service July 17, 1861 as Sergeant and at the same time was appointed Commissary Sergeant and in a short time served as Commissary and Quartermaster Sergeant in the dual capacity.  At Jefferson City, Mo, in Oct. ’61 while Gen. Fremont was concentrating his forcers to go after Rebel Gen. Price in Southern Mo. I had the entire charge at RR Depot in receiving and distributing all stores arriving by mail at that place. 

 

While working at the depot I was appointed by order of Gen. Fremont to take charge of transportation in which capacity I served until the last of January, 1862 when I was appointed  Reorienting Sergeant and was sent to Centerville, Iowa where I secured 22 recruits for our regiment. 

 

Upon returning to the regiment on account of broken health, I was appointed 1^st Clerk in the Brigade Adj. General’s Office in which capacity I served until I left the service as an enlisted man, January (July?) 16^th 1863.   After this I remained with the army serving at times in the Secret Service in Provost Marshall’s Dept.  Until August 1863 when I went home on account of poor health and also for the purpose of assisting in breaking up the organization known as the “Knights of the Golden Circle”. An organization formed to resist the draft and also keep control of all the county offices they were holding and doing all in violation of all law and by violence and murder if necessary.

 

Just before or about the time I arrived at my home in Marysville, Iowa, this same cowardly rebel organization shot down in cold blood on the breaks of the Skunk River, two U.S., Marshals; Lieut. Gashore and Sergt. Woodruff.  Also, in Marion County the incumbent County Clerk a full fledged Copperhead and K.G.C. had been defeated twice for office he occupied but refused to give it up just because he thought he had the power to hold it. 

 

On account of the murder of these two U.S. Marshals, the cripples, sick and old Union men who were unable to go into the service were afraid even to act for their rights.  As soon as it was known that I was at my home (with my mother) a delegation visited me to ascertain my opinion as to what to do under the (circumstances) premises and asking my assistance in securing their legal right, as guaranteed there by the laws of the country.  They as well as myself knowing that to do anything as against this lawless organization was taking one’s life in his own hands and to be in more danger of losing life than on the battlefield. 

 

Yet, notwithstanding the imminent risk, I accepted the work, and carried it through to a finish in securing the rights of those Union men elected to office and breaking up this band of traitors in Marion County, (Iowa).

 

After accepting the work, I went to the Capital of the State and laid the matter before the Governor (Kirkwood) and with him went to the office of Supreme Judge C.C. Cole, and after a full investigation of the conditions I returned to Knoxville the

Account of his Civil War Service written in his own hand by D.C. Ely on his 75^th birthday, 21 Aug. 1902.

 

.  I enlisted for the Civil War in the 6^th Iowa Infantry Co. E  in June 1861.  Was mustered into the U.S.Service July 17, 1861 as Sergeant and at the same time was appointed Commissary Sergeant and in a short time served as Commissary and Quartermaster Sergeant in the dual capacity.  At Jefferson City, Mo, in Oct. ’61 while Gen. Fremont was concentrating his forcers to go after Rebel Gen. Price in Southern Mo. I had the entire charge at RR Depot in receiving and distributing all stores arriving by mail at that place. 

 

While working at the depot I was appointed by order of Gen. Fremont to take charge of transportation in which capacity I served until the last of January, 1862 when I was appointed  Reorienting Sergeant and was sent to Centerville, Iowa where I secured 22 recruits for our regiment. 

 

Upon returning to the regiment on account of broken health, I was appointed 1^st Clerk in the Brigade Adj. General’s Office in which capacity I served until I left the service as an enlisted man, January (July?) 16^th 1863.   After this I remained with the army serving at times in the Secret Service in Provost Marshall’s Dept.  Until August 1863 when I went home on account of poor health and also for the purpose of assisting in breaking up the organization known as the “Knights of the Golden Circle”. An organization formed to resist the draft and also keep control of all the county offices they were holding and doing all in violation of all law and by violence and murder if necessary.

 

Just before or about the time I arrived at my home in Marysville, Iowa, this same cowardly rebel organization shot down in cold blood on the breaks of the Skunk River, two U.S., Marshals; Lieut. Gashore and Sergt. Woodruff.  Also, in Marion County the incumbent County Clerk a full fledged Copperhead and K.G.C. had been defeated twice for office he occupied but refused to give it up just because he thought he had the power to hold it. 

 

On account of the murder of these two U.S. Marshals, the cripples, sick and old Union men who were unable to go into the service were afraid even to act for their rights.  As soon as it was known that I was at my home (with my mother) a delegation visited me to ascertain my opinion as to what to do under the (circumstances) premises and asking my assistance in securing their legal right, as guaranteed there by the laws of the country.  They as well as myself knowing that to do anything as against this lawless organization was taking one’s life in his own hands and to be in more danger of losing life than on the battlefield. 

 

Yet, notwithstanding the imminent risk, I accepted the work, and carried it through to a finish in securing the rights of those Union men elected to office and breaking up this band of traitors in Marion County, (Iowa).

 

After accepting the work, I went to the Capital of the State and laid the matter before the Governor (Kirkwood) and with him went to the office of Supreme Judge C.C. Cole, and after a full investigation of the conditions I returned to Knoxville the County Seat of Marion County with the instructions to secure duplicate keys and help sufficient to hold at all hazards every advantage we might gain.  And on a certain night designated myself in company with 3 others (5 had promised) we went to the Courthouse about three o’clock A.M.  Not being able to be there and have success earlier on account of the K.G.C. having a meeting in the Clerk’s office lasting until nearly 2 A.M.  We went and found the office dark and unoccupied and took possession and then the thunder commenced rumbling and threats were made but we held our ground, and without help I guarded the Courthouse every night for two weeks until the culmination of the great turmoil came by the conquering of the enemy after they, 150 strong, had tried to force us out of the office.  Having the Supreme Court , the Governor and all legal citizens with us and especially the loyal women which were a bulwark of themselves in the great encouragement given at this great crisis. 

 

The outcome was that they (K.G.C.) (asked) sued for peace and made final and peaceable surrender of the office.  The leaders moving to Montana and elsewhere.  And thus ended what at one time was feared would result in death to myself and a number of others but more especially myself, as at the outcome the enemy knew what I had done in the matter. 

 

I then raised a Company for Continued Service was elected Captain but on account of severe sickness nigh until death I could not take my Company and Capt. McCormac took my place and the Company was mustered into the Service in the 46^th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.  

 

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"The Spokesman Review" says: 8-5-1911 News of the death of Sgt. D. C. Ely, former auditor of Stevens Co. was received in Colville by his Son-in-Law, G. G. Dorman from Mrs. Dorman who was at her Father's bedside in Ione, Oregon.

Twelve years ago he was elected County Auditor, serving two years. He then moved to Ione, Oregon and entered the Real Estate business. During the last two sessions of the Oregon state legislature, he was Sgt. of Arms of the House of Representatives at Salem. Member of the G.A.R. Post of Chewelah.

Sources:

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tbrobst&id=I02101 http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=475&id=I4522 (errors corrected)
 

Burial: Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Portland, OR Plot: Section 5, lot 98

 

Knoxville Journal, (Knoxville, IA) 100 Years of Progress: 1955

 

MARION COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.

 

At the great Battle of Shiloh, Iowa had on the field nine full regiments and on that field where nearly 100,000 full blooded Americans who for two days contended for the mastery, the 6^th Iowa lost the greatest number of killed of all the Union commands engaged.