1st Lt. Thomas Wilber Tefft

1st Lt. Thomas Wilber Tefft

     From Lebanon, Madison County New York.

   Settled in Elgin, Ill's. in 1835,

   Followed the gold rush of 1849 and returned to Elgin, Ill's.

   Listed in the 1859-1860 Elgin Directory as a Livery Stable Keeper with a shop, Thomas & Eli, on River St.

       From the Elgin Reserved Militia Rolls

1861 Elgin Class II Reserve Militia

   Signed the roll July 27, 1861.

1862 Elgin Class II Reserve Militia

   Signed the roll July 7, 1862.

       From the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois

Co. B       69th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Three Months Regiment

   Enlisted June 14, 1862.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Aged 38 years.
   Commissioned 2nd Lt. June 14, 1862 at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Ill's.
   Guard duties at Camp Douglas over Rebel prisoners.
   Mustered Out Sept. 27, 1862.

Co. B       141st Ill. Vol. Inf.

100 Days Regiment

   Commissioned June 16, 1864 at Camp Kane in Elgin, Ill's.
   Mustered Out Oct. 10, 1864 at Camp Fry in Chicago, Ill.

       Notice: Aug. 24, 1864 issue Weekly Gazette.
   FROM THE 141ST,-We learn that our regiment of "hundreddazers," the 141st, are likely to smell gunpowder and see a speck of war.  Gen Paine has been getting up an expedition to clear out Johnsons rebel raiders who lately invaded Illinois and took several steamers loaded with cattle, and the 141st were counted in, and left Columbus on Tuesday last to join Gen. Paine at Paducah.  Large numbers of cattle and supplies have been retakne from the rebels by this expedition, and also many horses and mules of resident rebels.  Late news reports that Gen. Paine has returned to Paducah.

Elgin Registered Voter in 1866.

       From the 1870 Census #237/3360
Name - Thomas Tefft
Aged - 45 Years
Born - New York
Home in 1870 - Elgin, Kane Co., Ill.

       From the Post #49 files
Joined GAR Veteran's Post #49.

Member of the ‘Old Settlers of the Fox River Valley’.

       As recorded on the Elgin Sexton's ledger
Occupation, Farmer.  Died Jan. 8, 1912, 8:25 am at 405 Jewett St.  Aged 87/2/8.  Cause of death listed as A with Hypirtrophy of the Prostrate for 10 years.  Undertaker retained Wait & Ross Co.  Physician, N. L. Pratt.  Permit #13516.

       From the 1956 Kane Co. Honor Roll
Buried at - Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill.
Location - Lot 243, Section 12

Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc.
Militia forms filed for Elgin in 1861 & 1862.