Josiah Given

August 31,1828-February 3, 1908

Page 1

 

 
Funeral services Feb 6th, 1908, Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, IA.
 
Josiah Allen Given, Brig Gen. Comrade Given was born in western Pa, Aug 31, 1828. Ten years of infancy and young childhood were passed at his birthplace. In 1838, the family moved to Millersburg, Oh, which was his home till after the civil war. There he grew into a merry-hearted, quick-witted, intelligent young man.
 The war with Mexico set his pulse throbbing high when he was 17 yrs old. He enlisted as a drummer, but was rejected because of his youth.
Later he enlisted and served through the last year of the war as a corporal in Co. G, 4th Ohio Infantry, with courage and credit.
 Home from the war, popular as a soldier lad who could take to fine advantage the stories of marches and battles; hailed by the young as their hero-comrade, he was soon responsive to the call of love and when he was 23 years old became the husband of Miss Elizabeth Armour, who past out of  our sight 12 years before his translation - a gracious woman loved by all who knew her - leaving four sons and a daughter.
 The young soldier entered upon the study of law directly after his return to Millersburg and was admitted to the bar with the motion of  E.M. Stanton, Lincolns great War Secretary.
 Forming a partnership with Mr. Barcroft (afterwards Judge Barcroft of Des Moines) the firm located at Coshocton, Co seat of the county of the same name, and continued partnership practice for ten years. Then came 1861 and the war of the guns in Charleston Harbor echoed in the court room where Given was prosecuting in a legal battle. At once, he was again a soldier. The honor of the flag was to be maintained and the Union defended. The call came and he was ready, saying in effect with Coriolanus (???), "I love my country's good, with a respect more tender, more holy and profound, then mine own life."
 He raised a company, which became Co. K, 24th Ohio Volunteers and was soon in the field, serving for three months in Virginia, and then was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland where he was made Lieutenant Colonel of the 18th Ohio and served in Kentucky and Tennessee until the stress of the strife had removed further south.
 In June 1863 he was promoted to the Colonel of the 74th Ohio and in that position went thru the Atlanta Campaign, though for a part of the time commanding the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Div, 13th Army Corps.  His service was most active and strenuous. He seemed to be always on duty, always at the front, as Sherman, through fire and death, pushed down to Atlanta. He fought in 22 battles unhurt save once, having been wounded in the desperate fight at or near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
 After the fall of Atlanta in 1864 he sheathed his sword and come home with an enviable reputation as a great and skillful soldier.
 The firm of Bancroft and Given, in Iowa now resumed practice, 5 years after the close of the war.
 It was expected that with his military knowledge and spirit, he would be interested in and for the veterans of the wars, and studious to 
promote their welfare. He delighted to meet the "boys" of 61. A campfire was brighter and warmer when he was in it. He was the 1st commander of Cocker Post G.A.R. and as a member of the Iowa Legislature of 1876 he sought and secured legislation favorable to the men "who served".
 The martial fire never died in his breast. He was the 1st in Iowa to volunteer for the war with Spain, when 70 years old, with two wars 
behind him. He was identified with the best citizenship of Des Moines for 40 years caring for the welfare of the city. His legal ability was soon recognized after coming to the state. 
In 1880 he was elected Circuit Judge and served on the bench of that court and of the District Court for some 12 years. Then followed 13 years of services one of the Supreme Court Judges of the State.
 He was a man whom it was good to know. Intelligent, courteous, patriotic, serving his time and his county by the constant exhibition 
of a noble character. An optimistic, high-toned Christian gentleman. He will be remembered by his neighbors not so much as a soldier with a record or the lawyer with a wide reputation, but as the man Josiah Given, honored and beloved.
 Of late years, his summers have been passed in his Okoboji retreat,where, while still a judge, he studied and formulated his opinions, and where, when no longer holding office, he could retire from the stir and stress of the time, meet and entertained his friends and enjoyed the quiet beauty of the water and shore.
 There, with the years he happily grew old - not ______, not apprehensive, but with bright memories of a varied life, well lived, 
and with confident hope of what is to be hereafter.
 He was a valued member of the Presb. church, ever seeking to know well the foundations of his faith.
 After a somewhat prolonged decline, he passed on peacefully, Feb 3, 1908, in his 80th year.
 
 A. L. Frisbie
 R. W. Terrell
 W. R. Manning
  Committee
 From Journal of proceedings
 Thirty-Fourth Annual Encampment
 Department of Iowa G.A.R.
 Cedar Rapids, IA Jun 9, 10, 11, 1908
 
 
 
Graciously donated by 
Paul Ingels