Josiah Elder's obituary, Petersburg, Monroe County, Michigan

Copyright © 2001 by Nancy Elder Petersen. This copy contributed for use in the 
MIGenWeb Archives.  

 

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Monroe Evening News, 23 December 1931
 Page one, Column two:

CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIES AT PETERSBURG
Josiah Elder, 83 years old, was GAR Post Commander for many years
-Special to the Evening News-

Petersburg, Dec 23 Josiah Elder, one of Petersburg's veterans 
of the Civil War and commander of the Morgan Parker Grand Army 
of the Republic Post here for many years, died this morning at 
his home after an illness since March.

Mr Elder entered the service when he was 16 years old and served a
little less than a year with the 179th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He 
served at Franklin and Chatanooga and was in several other engagements. 
During late years Mr Elder delighted in telling stories of his war 
experiences. Although participating in much of midwestern fighting 
in the late years of the war, Mr Elder came through the campaign 
without injury except for the contraction of erysipelas which affected 
him throughout his life and resulted in the loss of his eyesight five 
years ago.

The veteran enlisted at Sandusky, Ohio which was near his home village
of Portage in Wood county, where he was born on January 1, 1848. 
After his war service, from which he was discharged at Columbus on 
June 5, 1865, Mr Elder came to Petersburg in 1867 and had made his 
home in the village since that time where he has been occupied as 
a clothier and farmer.

On July 4, 1868, Mr Elder married Miss Emily A Trombley of Deerfield.
After her death he married Miss Mary A Lister of Petersburg on 
September 25, 1890 and she survives him.

Mr Elder was one of the charter members of the GAR post in Petersburg
which at one time had between 45 and 50 members. He was commander for 
the last 15 years of the active organization. Two GAR members survive 
him, Cerenus Dewey and John Spaulding.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Petersburg
Methodist Episcopal Church with the Rev CS Risley officiating. A 
funeral and burial will be given the veteran and burial will be in 
Pleasant View cemetery.

In addition to his widow, the veteran is survived by four sons, three
daughters, a sister, 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. 
The sons are Alfred of Petersburg, Martin of Eugene, Oregon, Edward 
of Deerfield and George of Detroit; the daughters are Mrs Ada Roe of 
Weston, Ohio, Ellen of Deerfield and Mrs Richard Nichols of Petersburg.
Mrs Jane Roe of Deerfield is a sister.