Cpl. Evelyn E. Rich

Cpl. Evelyn E. Rich

K Co.        141st Ill. Vol. Inft.

100 Days Service

   Enlisted, May 19, 1864
   Residence, St. Charles, Ill.
   Mustered In, June 16, 1864 as a Cpl.

   Notice: July 6, 1864 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
   FROM THE 141ST.-We learn that the 141st, our pet regiment of "hundreddazers,' has gone into camp at Columbus, Ky., but how long they will remain there is with us a mere matter of conjecture.  On their way down to Cairo, over the Illinois Central railroad, the heat was so oppressive that several of the boys fainted away.  There have been two deaths in the regiment since they left Elgin, one, TIMOTHY HAYES, a private in Capt. Herrington's company, drowned while bathing in the Mississippi river, and the other, a Swede whose name we did not learn of Capt. Beech's company of the tremens.  We hope to hear often from our 141st.

   Notice: Aug. 24, 1864 issue Elgin's 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 retaken 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.

   Mustered Out, Oct. 10, 1864

Post war;
   Listed on the 1870 Illinois State Census #237/444 as a 31 years old white male from Illinois, living in Rutland.

   From G.A.R. records;\
   Rank listed as a private.
   K Co., 141st Ill. Inft.
   Post No. #453 Nicholas Miller Post, in Hampshire, Ill.
   Date of death listed as Feb. 11, 1937.

   Obit; Feb. 11, 1937 Issue of Elgin's Courier News.
   Evelyn E. Rich, 97 years old, Civil war veteran pioneer farmer and stock dealer in the Hampshire region, and Kane county's oldest native born resident, died last midnight at his home in Hampshire.  He had made his home in that community for 48 years.
   Mr. Rich had suffered from a heart ailment for several years, and to this cause death was attributed.
   The veteran was born on April 26, 1839 in a two-story log house at Starks station, Rutland township.  His father, Elijah Rich, bought 210 acres of government land at Starks in 1835 paying $1.25 an acre, and in 1836 he brought his family from Vermont to their new home.
   During the war Mr. Rich served with Company K of the 141st Illinois infantry, and in 1864 he cast his first vote for president, voting for Abraham Lincoln while stationed with his company at Columbus, ky.  He was a past commander and the last surviving member of Miller Post of the Grand Army, at Hampshire.
   Returning to Starks after the war, Mr. Rich resumed his farming activities and subsequently branched into the business of selling horses and cattle.  In 1880 he moved to Hampshire and for several years thereafter was engaged in live stock selling in that community.  He retired several years ago.
   During a long and useful life, Mr. Rich had found time to serve his community, having been a former highway commissioner and school trustee in Rutland township.

   Mr. Rich is survived by three children, Henry E. Rich of Belle Fourche, S. D., Ralph E. Rich, Superintendent of the Methodist Deaconess Hospital at Rapid City, S. D., and Mrs. Adelaide Ball of North Chicago.  There are also 23 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.  His wife, Helen Doty Rich died in 1919, and four children, Arthur, Milton, may E. Brown, and Ethel Wright, also preceded him in death.

   The funeral service will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 from the Fredrick funeral home in Hampshire, and at 2:30 from the Hampshire Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Rich was a member.  The Rev. Glen Dunbar, pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Starks Station cemetery.