Jesse Mills was my Great Great Grandfather. My mother's mother's mother's father.

Enlisted as a Private on 15 August 1862.
Captured at Sabine Cross Roads, LA on 8 April 1864.
Mustered out on 21 June 1865.
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my great grandfather

Born Mar. 13, 1840 in Richmond, Crawford Co., PA. He was the son of Gilbert and Lorain Gray Cannon. His family moved to Wisconsin in 1854.

On Aug. 15, 1862 in the town of Scott, Columbia Co., WI he enlisted for three years. Israel fought in the siege of Vicksburg, MS during May - July 1863. His name is included on the Wisc. Civil War Memorial there. He was captured at the Battle of Carrion Crow in Louisiana on Nov. 3, 1863. A prisoner exchange allowed him to return to his company. He was again captured by the enemy at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, Louisiana on Apr. 8, 1864. He was held at Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas for over a year, until he was paroled and returned to his company for service on May 27, 1865. He was mustered out with his company.

After the war he returned to Wisconsin. He was a charter member of the G.A.R. Irving Ramsdell Post No. 79 which was organized May 11th 1883 in Marion.

On July 11, 1886 in Marion, Waupaca Co., he married Parthena Quimby Lindsey. They settled in the Waupaca Co. area and there they had six children together; Amelia L., Benjamin E., Cecil R., Eva R., Stillman J., and Adeline L.

Israel and his wife placed their four youngest children in the State Public School at Sparta, Monroe Co. on April 26, 1905. The children were then indentured out to live and work for area families until they reached age of 18.

'Soldier Cannon was for four years at the Milwaukee Home for Veterans, after which time, in 1905, he entered the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Waupaca.' Records from the Wisconsin Veterans' Home in King, Waupaca Co. indicate Israel's first admission there was on June 30, 1905. His occupation was listed as day laborer and it was noted he was destitute and unable to support his wife and children due to health disabilities. Israel and Parthena separated in Nov. 1905. A divorce was granted them on June 17, 1909; the stated cause was Parthena's desertion of the family.

Israel was admitted and discharged from the Veterans' Homes in King and Milwaukee several times in the subsequent years. His last admission was on May 7, 1925 to the Veterans' Home in King, Waupaca Co., where he remained until his death.

The occasion of Israel's 100th birthday was celebrated in March 1940 with a reception at the Veterans' Home sponsored by the Daughters of Union Veterans, Ida McKinley Tent No. 16. Local newspapers featured the story.

Israel died on May 16, 1941 of acute cardiac failure. He was approximately 101 years and 2 months old. Funeral services were conducted May 20th with military honors. An observance was conducted by the ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Daughters of Union Veterans, and brief remarks were given by the sole surviving Union veteran at the Home, Charles Cowan.

Israel was buried May 20, 1941 in the Wisconsin Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in King in Section 8, Lot 23, Grave 6. His headstone can be viewed at www.findagrave.com

William Ward enlisted in August 1862. He became ill while in Louisana in October 1863 and was discharged in January 1864. He died within the month at home in Portage WI. He was one of three brothers who served in the Wisconsin infantry during the Civil War.

Ezra Goin Seamans enlisted on August 15, 1862 at Westfield, Sauk, Wisconsin in the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry, Co. F. He was thirty-three years of age and was described as having blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion and stood 5'11'. He saw action at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, Arkansas Post, Arkansas, Greenville, Mississippi, and Cypress Bend, Lousiana. Ezra became ill while in the swamps of the Yazoo and was discharged on June 5, 1863. He returned to Logansville, Wisconsin where he died June 6, 1863.

Slightly wounded at Carrion Crow Bayou in western Louisiana, he lived the rest of his life in Wyocena, Wisconsin where he farmed. He also served as town clerk, town treasurer and Justice of the Peace there.

Albion Caleb enlisted August 2, 1862. Discharged with a disability on January 13, 1864

Enlisted 08/13/62 Sauk County, Wisconsin
Mustered out 07/04/65
Served until the end of the war

Enlisted 08/13/62 Sauk County, Wisconsin
Discharged due to disability 05/15/63