Some Obituaries of Union County Civil War Soldiers
W.R. Bell, Civil War Vet, Dies (1939) --- William Robert Bell, 94, one of the three remaining Civil War veterans in Union County, died at 1:00 o’clock this morning at the Veterans’ Hospital in Des Moines after an illness of about two months. The body was returned to the Roland funeral home this afternoon. Completion of funeral arrangements is pending word from relatives.
Mr. Bell was born October 19, 1844, at Burlington, New Jersey, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bell. Surviving the three daughters, Mrs. Charles H McBride of Massena, Mrs. C.E. Marloe of Massena, Mrs. Edna L. Finigan of Ocean Beach, CA., and William R. Bell, J. of Chicago. Mr. Bell was a member of the Methodist Church in Creston and of the Odd Fellows lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Bell came to Creston 67 years ago and engaged in a retail harness business.

CLOUGH, GEORGE---Civil War Veteran, entered service as a Pvt on Dec 1, 1862, as a member of the 29th Iowa, Co. H. George was later a member of the Henry Keating Post # 211 at Afton. He had 36 months in the service. George is not buried in Union County. He might be buried in Nebraska (from past correspondence with relatives, no further info. George P. Clough married Emily Brown Dec 1, 1866 in Union County, Iowa. According to the 1876 Union County History Book, George P. Clough came to Union County, Pleasant township in 1856 and was a native of Maine. He lived on Sect 16 of Pleasant township, owning 120 acres at that time.

CHARLES R. COOPER---(AFTON STAR ENTERPRISE, January, 1931) Another veteran of the great Civil strife between the states has answered the call of the supreme commander. Before he served in the Civil War he was engaged in the Indian Warfare. For many years he had been a resident of this county, always doing his part in community affairs. Many of his friends have preceded him to another world, yet a host of friends remain. C. R. Cooper, son of Lydia and Andrew Cooper was born Nov. 10, 1837, in Hardin County, Ohio, near Canton. He departed this life at his home January 30, 1931, being aged 93 years, 2 months and 20 days. After his mother's death which occurred in April, 1838, he lived with his aunt until he was four years of age. His brother, William Andrew, and two sisters, Barbara Elizabeth McDaniels, and Mary Ann Butts, have all preceded him in death. In 1853 he came with his father to Iowa, coming to Union County in February, 1854. In the spring of 1857 he enlisted in the 13th Cavalry and was sent from St. Louis to the Western Frontier, going to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1858, and was ordered back to the states in 1859. In 1861 they went to Fort Scott, Arkansas. When the civil War broke out the 13th Cavalry started to joining the South. He, with 35 others got away and came to Kanasas and from there to Missouri. Being Union men they were forced to leave there and came to Iowa. He enlisted in Company H of the 29th Infantry, August 9, 1862, serving in that relation 3 years, and being wounded three times. In the fall of 1863 he was sent to Small Pox Island to help care for the sick and wounded, receiving his honorable discharge in August, 1865, after which he came back to Union County. He was united in marriage to Miss Ida Fredrick Soures, Nov. 25, 1866, and who died April 30, 1905. On Feb. 19, 1910 he was again married this time to Mrs. Anna Alenson Graham, she departing this life Feb. 19, 1920. To this union was born one son, Chas. R. Cooper Jr. and who also survives him. He was converted in January, 1885 and united with the Evangelical Church in Afton. There remains to mourn his departure, the one son, Charles R. Cooper, two step-daughters, Mrs. Jessie Wilson, of Indianola, Iowa, Mrs. Bessie Hathaway, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and one step-son, Arthur Graham, of Grant City, Mo.; 4 half- sisters, and 5 half-brothers. The funeral services were conducted from the Evangelical church in Afton, Monday afternoon, February 2, 1931, at 2 o'clock and interment in Greenlawn Cemetry, in charge of Rev. M. E. Shank, pastor.

JOHN H CRETERSs,--- was born at Lebanon, Ohio, March 7, 1846. He enlisted at the age of 16 in Company B, 79th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Lebanon, Ohio, June 1, 1862.
He served under General Buell, General Rosencrans, and Sherman from January 1864 until the close of the war. In the Atlantic campaign, Mr. Cretors was in the following important battles. The first was at the Resaca, Ga., on May 15, 1864, where the Union soldiers captured the fort and took 600 prisoners and the prize battery of Tennessee Confederate army. Other battles of the campaign fought in Georgia were the “Lost Mountain”, “Burnt Hickory,” Kenesaw Mountain,” “Peach Tree Creek” near Atlanta and the siege of Atlanta. The Atlantic campaign was followed by the famous “March to the Sea” of the Union soldiers. Later they marched through North and South Carolina and on to Washington where they were discharged in June 1865 and sent home. On the march through N Carolina the battles of Bentonville and Avrosborough were fought in March 1864 by the First Brigade 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps. Mr. Cretors served a continuous three year enlistment without a furlough. From all available records he is the last surviving member of the Company in which he enlisted. He celebrated his 90th birthday March 7, of this year at his home, 102 N. Birch Street, Creston, Iowa and while not in the best of health continues to be about his home,enjoying again the out of doors after the confinement to the house during the winter months. His residence in Union County covers a period of more than 50 years. He came to Creston Oct. 23, 1883, and entered at once upon his duties as foreman of the Paint Shops of the Burlington Rail Road in which position he continued until his retirement on pension by the Burlington Company in January 1922.
The above biography of Mr. Cretors was submitted by Miss Evelyn Boyd of Creston.

DR. DICKINSON Buried today (1939)---Final rites for Dr. C.L. Dickinson, 94, Union county’s last surviving Civil War veteran who died here Saturday evening, were held at the Methodist church at 2 p.m. today in charge of Rev. L. E. Watson. The American Legion conducted military rites with local post members serving as pall bearers. A firing squad from the Winterset post took part in the burial ceremony there. Representatives of several local veterans and civic organizations attended and music was furnished by a Legion and auxiliary quartet. Burial was in the Wintereset cemetery.

ALBERT N. KEYS ---At 8 o’clock Monday morning (January 13, 1917) occurred the death of A.N. Keys, in the family home, 400 South Park St., aged seventy-three years. Mr. Keys was a veteran of the Civil War, a member of Potter Post GAR, and one of the oldest reside3nts of Creston. He was taken suddenly ill about 12 o’clock Sunday night with a paralytic stroke and passed away next morning. He was born May 30, 1844, in Marshall, Ohio and came to Creston in 1885. Since that time he has made Creston his home. For the past few years he has been coroner of Union County, having been re-elected at the last general election. He has always made a good officer for the place and was well liked by all of the county and the residents of this city. Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters and one son. The daughters are Mrs. L.L. McGregor of this city and Mrs. L. C. Madden of Diagonal and the son is Frank A. Keys of this city.

ROBERT M. McKNIGHT Rites Will be Held Wednesday at Methodist Church Here---1937--- Funeral services for Robert M McKnight, 92 year old veteran of the Civil War, who died at his home in Creston Sunday night, will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the Methodist church. The rites will be conducted by the Rev. L.E.Watson and burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Mr. McKnight had been a resident of Union County since 1865 and operated a farm until the early part of the twentieth century, when he retired and moved to Creston. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Isadore Greenlee of Corydon, Mrs. Inestelle Martin of Los Angeles, and Miss Myrta McKnight of Creston. His wife died June 29, 1931. Mr. Smyth suffered no bad effects from his strenuous and exciting day and was still thrilled today by his experiences and happy over the success of his celebration.

EMORY A. SMYTH---Oct. 8, 1939, 100, one of the last two surviving Civil War veterans in Union County, died at 4 p.m. yesterday at his home in Cromwell. Mr. Smyth observed his 100th birthday on Sept. 17 and had been in failing health since that time, his death was attributed to old age. He was born in 1839 in Ohio, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smyth and had been a resident of Union county since 1900, engaging in the stock buying business before his retirement. He also served as an assessor at Cromwell for 22 years and was a member of the Methodist church. Three Daughters Survive. Mr. Smyth was married May 14, 1867 to Caroline Brock, who died Dec. 25, 1926. Surviving him are three daughters, Mrs. Stella Johnston of Chariton, Mrs. David Gault of Creston and Mrs. Fannie Kirkwood of Cromwell. Two sons, Clayton and Fred, preceded him in death. The veteran enlisted in the Union Army at Richmond, Ohio on Aug. 16, 1862 with the 52nd regiment Company G, Ohio Infantry, served until the close of the war. He was mustered out a corporal at Columbus, Ohio on June 7, 1865 and was food commissary during the last year of service. Smyth fought at Perryville, Ky., then at Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Chickamauga and the Atlanta campaign. He marched with General Sherman to the sea, crossing six states, Jonesboro being the last fight of the Atlanta campaign. He was taken captive at Goldsboro, N.C. and served several days in various southern prisons before an exchange of prisoners could be arranged. After the war closed, Mr. Smyth taught school and then took up the cattle business. He is the last surviving survivor of the John A. Adams post, G.A.R. No. 195 at Cromwell. Burial was in the Cromwell cemetery.

GEORGE W. LaMASTERS, 95, pioneer resident of Union County and one of the three remaining Civil War veterans, died at his home in Kent, Wednesday at 9 p.m. following a short illness. He observed his ninety-fifth birthday last Monday in apparently good health considering his advanced age.
Mr. LaMasters was born in Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio, March 13, 1844, the son of John and Rebecca LaMasters, and moved to Union county in 1868. He had resided in Union county since that time with the exception of a year in Taylor County. He farmed in Platte Township until 1920 when he retired from active work and moved to Kent, where he lived until his death.
161st Ohio Infantry.
Mr. LaMasters enlisted in the Civil War with the 161st Ohio Infantry in 1864 and later was transferred to Company E of the 78th Infantry where he served until his discharge in July of 1865. He took part in the Martensburg, Harper’s Ferry, Kingston, N.C., Goldsburg, Look Out Mountain and Chickamauga campaigns and was with Gen. William Sherman in his march to the sea.
He was a prominent farmer in Platte Township before retiring and served as township trustee from 1906 to 1918 and as constable from 1878 to 1880.
On Feb. 3, 1870 he was married to Miriam J. Madden who died on Jan. 3, 1937. Surviving are two sons, Walter W. LaMasters of Kent and Jay Truman LaMasters of Creston and two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Lucas and Mrs. Fred Lucas, both living near Kent.
LaMasters Rites Held
Funeral services for George W. LaMasters, one of Union county’s four remaining veterans of the War Between the States, who died Wednesday evening, were held at the Methodist church in Kent Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Evan R. Mills conducted the rites and burial was in Grove Chapel cemetery. Pallbearers were Walter Riggs, John Smith, John Mayer, Arthur Elliott, Leonard Madden and James R. Cort. Members of the American Legion’s firing squad, which conducted its ritual at the grave, were honorary pallbearers.
Members of the Women’s Relief Corps, auxiliary to the G.A.R. of which Mr. LaMasters was a member attended in a body.
Mr. LaMasters was 95 years old at the time of his death, having observed his birthday a week ago today. He served in a number of important engagements in the War and operated a farm in Platte Township for many years, retiring and moving to Kent in 1920.
Obit dated 2-16-1939 copied from Ethel Baxter Scrapbook

GEORGE WALLACE --- was born July 31, 1844 in Kent, England and died on May 25 at the home of his daughter Mrs. A H Horton.
He enlisted in military service in the Civil War in July 1861 and served in Company D of the Fourth West Virginia Infantry. He was given his honorable discharge papers on July 8, 1864 at Wheeling, W.VA. Later he joined T.J. Potter Post of which he was a member when he died.
His wife, Mary, preceded him in death on May 22, 1933. He died just two years after the day she was buried. Eight children survive, W.W. Wallace of Kansas City, MO, Mrs. J.W. Boyer of Chadron, NE, Mrs. V.B. Holliday of Keokuk, G.W. Wallace, Mrs. A.H. Horton, Mrs. George Lines, Mrs. Frank Keehn and Mrs. Ed Joneson all of Creston.
Funeral services were held at the Horton home on May 28 with Rev. A H Baker officiating. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery.

J. R. YOUNG Dies--- J.R. Young is one of Union county’s old veterans, having served under the old flag during the civil war. Mr. Young is a New Englander, the son of E.R. Young, a wholesale grocer. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, August 17, 1837. He attended school in that city and graduated from the Providence high School afterward working in a store. When a young man he came west and for three years worked in a Chicago mercantile establishment. He then went to Bureau County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. In 1863, he enlisted in the 1465h Ill. Volunteers and served to the close of the war. He was one of six brothers, all of whom served in the Union army. He was in the western army in Hooker’s division and saw hard service, being in several sharp engagements.
In 1861, Mr. Young was married to Julia S. Powers, a daughter of a prominent Bureau County farmer. They have two children, a son, Ed. Young, who resides on his father’s farm northeast of Creston, and Mrs. A.M. Collins, of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Young came to Union County in 1873 and located in Lincoln Township, where they own a fine 160 acre farm. In 1867, Mr. Young was elected county treasurer on the republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1889 and again in 1891, serving six years. He was a model officer and gave the best of satisfaction. When the county seat was relocated at Creston, Mr. Young moved to this city, where he now resides. He has a nice home on west Mills street. Since his term of office expired, Mr. Young has taken the easy, looking after???and other business. He is regarded as one of the county’s best citizens and most progressive and enterprising men.


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