KELLAMS BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== KELLAMS, C. D. - b: 1844 Lawrence Co, IL source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 831 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp C. D. Kellams, an honored Union veteran of the Civil War, now residing at Clinton, Missouri, was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, February 14, 1844. He is a son of Otho and Eliza (Douglas) Kellams, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. The mother died when C. D. was a child. Mr. Kellams was reared and educated in Sangamon County, Illinois. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Sangamon County August 13, 1861, for a period of three years, and was mustered into the United States service at Springfield, Illinois, August 21, 1861, in Company B, 30th Regiment Illinois Infantry, under Col. Philip Fouke. Capt. John P. Davis commanded his company. The regiment was organized at Camp Butts August 28, 1861, and September 1 moved to Cairo, Illinois, where it was assigned to Gen. John A. McClermand's Brigade, Gen. U. S. Grant in command. The regiment was later assigned to Second Brigade, First Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of Tennessee, and afterwards 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, and participated in the following engagements: Bellmont, Missouri; Fort Henry and Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Britton's Land, Jackson, Tennessee; Raymond, Champion Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Siege of Atlanta, Meridian Raid, Ezra Church, March to the Sea, Siege of Savannah, Campaign of the Carolinas, including Pocataligo; Orangesburg, Columbia, Cherow, Fayettesville, and a number of minor engagements. The command marched via Richmond and Alexander, Virginia, to Washington, D. C., and took part in the Grand Review, May 24, 1865. During the course of his military career Mr. Kellams was struck by lightning while at Jackson, Tennessee. The shock caused the loss of the sight of one eye at the time and since then has resulted in the loss of the sight of both eyes. After being struck by lightning Mr. Kellams was unconscious for six hours, during which time he was supposed to be dead. This was during the latter part of the night, and the next morning his comrades dug his grave and when they were getting ready to bury him one of the soldiers thought that he was not dead, and accordingly they took him to a hospital and he soon afterwards regained consciousness. He remained, however, but a short time in the hospital and he was with his regiment again. He was captured at Britton's Lane, with some others while on the march, but was paroled the next day and sent to Jackson, Tennessee, and later to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri. He did not remain there though until he was exchanged, but joined his regiment again at Lake Providence, Mississippi, and was shortly afterwards detailed as teamster, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. During the course of his military career Mr. Kellams was with his command practically all the time and participated in all of its engagements. He was honorably discharged at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864. He was faithful in the discharge of every duty and took a gallant part in all of the service of his regiment and rendered heroic and meritorious service, of which his children and descendants may feel justly proud. At the close of the war Mr. Kellams returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1888, when he went to Nebraska. In 1894 he came to Missouri, settling at Blue Lake Springs, Saline County, and in 1898 came to Sedalia. In 1903 he returned to Springfield, Illinois, where he remained until 1909. He then went to Parsons, Kansas, where he remained a few months and in September, 1909, came to Clinton, where he has since resided. Mr. Kellams was united in marriage December 14, 1865, to Miss Margaret J. Sanders, a native of Springfield, Illinois, born February 25, 1848. She is a daughter of William James and Elizabeth (Hall) Sanders, both natives of Ohio. The father was a Civil War veteran, having served in Company A, 73rd Regiment Illinois Infantry. He and his wife went to Arkansas City, Kansas, in 1882 and spent the remainder of their lives there. To Mr. and Mrs. Kellams have been born eleven children, nine of whom are living: Laura Jane, married Hy Felten, Lake Fork, Illinois; Etta Frances, married Alonzo Tegardner, Galesburg, Illinois; Horatio Francis, Ripley, Tennessee; William H., Hiawatha, Kansas; Arthur C., South Union, Kentucky; Thomas A., Hebron, Nebraska; Anna E., resides at Clinton with her parents; Harry E., Decatur, Illinois, and Hattie N., married Martin Bush, Sedalia, Missouri. Mr. Kellams was formerly a member of Samuel Walker Post No.205, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Illinois, and while a resident of Nebraska Mrs. Kellams was a member of the Relief Corps. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Kellams has been a life long Republican. When a young man, while living in Sangamon County, Illinois, he knew Abraham Lincoln well, saw him many times and talked with him on numerous occasions. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================