Pvt. George Washington Underhill

Pvt. George Washington Underhill

     Listed in the 1859-1860 Elgin Directory as a Carpenter living on Ball St.

   Served as a private in the Mexican War. (unit unknown)

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

K Co. 52nd Ill. Vol. Inf.

Three Years Service

The Lincoln Regiment

   Enlisted Sept. 6, 1861.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   33 year old Carpenter.
   Mustered in at Camp Lyon in Geneva, Ill's. on Oct. 25, 1861.
   Issued .58 rifled musket.
   Wounded in Action in the Foot (action not listed in records).
   Discharged Dec. 22, 1862.
                Known Actions;
Fort Donelson, Tenn. Feb. 17, 1862
Shiloh, Tenn.              April 6, 1862
Iuka, Miss.                  Sept. 19, 1862
Corinth, Miss.            Oct. 2, 1862

       From the Post #49 Files
Joined Elgin GAR Veteran's Post #49 May 5, 1884.

       Obit: March 12, 1894 issue The Elgin Daily News.
   George Washington Underhill, a veteran of two wars, died at 10:30 o'clock Saturday night.  He had a complication of disorders.  Three years ago he suffered a paralytic stroke,  Last November he had a slight recurrence of it, and about a month ago a third stroke, quite light.  He also had inflammatory rheumatism, followed by bronchitis and pneumonia.  The last named caused his death.  For thirty-six hours he had been unable to lie down and died sitting in bed.  He was conscious to the last, although not able to speak the final words he wished to say.  He tried to write them, but was too feeble, and passed away just after making the attempt.
   Mr. Underhill was born in Chautaugua county, N.Y., and lived 66 years, 7 months, and 8 days.  He came to Elgin in 1839.  When the Mexican war broke out he enlisted through scarcely more than a boy, serving through it as a private.  In the civil war in this country he was a brave soldier, a member of Co. K, 52d Illinois infantry volunteers.  He remained in the army until discharged on account of physical disability.  He contracted a chronic disease, from which he never recovered, and was wounded in his foot in a battle.
   For many years he worked at his trade, as carpenter and contractor, and for a number of years had conducted a grocery store on Bent street.  He had accumulated considerable property, owning a store and tenement on National street, besides his residence, store, etc., on Bent street.  Mr. Underhill was a republican in politics.  He received for a short time a small pension for his services in the Mexican war, but it was stopped after the democratic administration came into power.  He was a member of the First M.E. church.
   His family consists of seven children, his wife dying about two years ago.  The children are: Mrs. D.C. Smith (Alice) of Rapid City, S.D., Miss Belle Underhill and Mrs. T.F. Frazier (Annie), at home, Frank and Charles of Denver, Col., Will, at home, and John, who is in the service of the United States on the warship Adams, now stationed at Honolulu.  Two children are dead.  There are three sisters, Mrs. Horace Benham of Elgin, one in Durand, Ill., and the other in North Dakota.
   The funeral will be held on Tuesday, at 2 at the residence, 110 Bent street, and at 2:30 at Immanuel Baptist church.  It is expected Rev. Samuel Earngey will officiate, assisted by Rev. L.D. Osborn, pastor of Immanuel church.  Veteran Post 49, G.A.R., of which deceased was a member, will attend in a body.  Burial will be in Bluff City.

       From the 1956 Kane Co. Honor Roll
Interred at - Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill.
Location - Lot 64, Section 4

Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc.

From the collection of Ken Gough

1861 Springfield Rifled Musket

Used with permission Dan Mallett

Many members of Post #49 sewed watch faces to their ribbons to show they were from Elgin.