Elon I. IMUS was born in Genesee, Genesee County, New York, on April 21, 1824, the son of Charles Lemuel and Lucinda (BURLINGAME) IMUS. He was the brother of Horatio M. IMUS (1812-1854).

In his youth, and up to the time of his death, Elon enjoyed moving from place to place, going when a very young man to Michigan, where he remained but a short time, soon returning to Coshocton County, Ohio. The 1850 census lists him in District 26 of Oxford township of Coshocton County, Ohio. There he built a little home, leaving it, however, for Illinois where he, settled in Peoria County. Proceeding to Iowa in 1855, he bought land in Ringgold County, where he acquired a reputation for land trading.

When the Civil War broke out, Elon did not enlist for service because his family was dependent upon him. When it was evident that the Civil War was not near its close. Elon saw his duty and left the home. He enlisted on August 9, 1862 at Council Bluffs, Iowa and was mustered into service at Camp Dodge, Iowa, on December 1, 1862 as a private in Company C of the 29th Regiment Iowa Infantry. He was absent sick from January 5, 1863 to April 8, 1863 in the hospital at Columbus, Kentucky. He was sick during the time of the Battle at Helena; was with the expedition from Little Rock to Camden; participated in the Battles of Terre Noir Creek, Elkins Ford, Prairie Deamne and Camden; was in the campaign that resulted in the capture of Mobile; was at the siege and capture of Spanish Fort and Blakley; was with the expedition from Mobile to Texas, arriving at Brazos on the Rio Grande on June 10, 1865. He was sick at General Hospital at New Orleans, Louisiana, August 6, 1865. Elon was discharged September 11, 1865 at St Louis, Missouri.

Mrs. Soloman LESAN had gone to St Louis to visit her husband, but arrived too late to see him. She found that Elon IMUS was in the hospital, but was too ill to travel. Mrs. LESAN wrote Elon's wife and cousin Andrew IMUS, who had just returned from the Army himself. [sic, Andrew would have been his nephew, the son of Horatio M. & Mary (DOLBIER) IMUS.] Andrew went to St. Louis, and after a short time, brought Elon home. The stage left them at the Chris SALTZMAN's home. They fixed a bed in a wagon and took Elon the remaining three miles to his home. As they drove into the yard at his home, his oldest daughter came toward the wagon. He raised up a little and said, "There is Cindy."

Elon I. IMUS died October 8, 1865 and was given a military funeral. He was interrred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

On October 23, 1865 Matilda IMUS applied for a widow's pension. She sent the following letter, on April 21, 1879:

To the Commissioner of Pensions:
I, Matilda A. IMUS, a pensioner Certificate No. 142052, hereby apply for the arrears due me under the act granting arrears of pensions approved January 25, 1879.

Matilda moved to Missouri where she married Mr. BEALE.

Submission by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010