Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Solomon Otto


Solomon Otto / Kaw gay aw sung was born about 1839, the son of Waw-be-gaw-me-skum. O-may-yaw-we-ge-zhie-go-quay was Waw-be-gaw-me-skum's wife, but not proven as mother of the children.

Younger brother Marcus was born about 1845, sister Shaw-waw-naw-se-no-quay was born about 1850.

1859 Annuity Roll - #6 Waw-be-gaw-me-skum, one man, one woman, three children, received $21.35 under Chief Naw-we-ke-zhick

1860 Federal Census not yet located.

1861 Annuity Roll - #6 Waw-be-gaw-me-skum, one man, one woman, three children, received $21.35 under Chief Naw-we-ke-zhick

Solomon married Mary Nottawa, daughter of Chief Nottawa and Martha Chatfield, prior to 1863. 

There are entries for two soldiers who enlisted in Company K on the same date and place, that appear to be the same person.

Kar-ga-yar-sang, Solomon, Enlisted in company K, First Sharpshooters, May 18, 1863, at Isabella, for 3 years, age 24. Mustered May 26, 1863. No further record. [Page 51, volume 44, First Michigan Sharpshooters]

Brother Marcus enlisted the same day. Click here for his info.

Solomon is listed as #27 on the second page of the muster-in roll. [Archives of Michigan] This is the only military record with the Kar-ga-yar-sang name.






Otto, Solomon Isabella. Enlisted in company K, First Sharpshooters, May 18, 1863, at Isabella, for 3 years. Mustered May 26, 1863. Absent, wounded Sept., 1864. No further record. page 67, volume 44, First Michigan Sharpshooters]

All records from enlistment papers on use the Otto surname.









In May of 1864 Solomon is first marked absent sick.




Solomon is transferred to Mount Pleasant USA General Hospital in Washington DC. Diagnosis is scrofula (tuberculosis of the neck).


Solomon is again transferred, this time to Haddlington USA General Hospital in West Philadelphia, PA. Diagnosis is rheumatism.




Solomon received a 20 day furlough from Haddington Hospital on 28 Oct 1864.


On 22 Dec 1864 he is admitted to Harper General Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Diagnosis is again scrofula.












The treatment card for Solomon says discharged 2 May 1865, and he receives a disability discharge from the army and sent home.




Not knowing that he has been sent home, when the rest of Company K is mustered-out on 28 Jul 1865 near Delaney House, D.C. Solomon is marked "absent sick discharge not given."


Solomon never made it home to Isabella county. It is unknown when and where he died, possibly somewhere along the way.


The 1868 Gruett Roll lists the family on page 365. 

Waw-be-gaw-me-skum
O-may-yaw-we-ge-zhe-go-quay, wife
Kaw-gay-aw-sung, 25, dead
Markus, 23, married the above's widow
Shaw-waw-naw-se-no-quay, 18. 

[Transcription from Clarke Historical Library.]




Copyright (C) 2017 Vicki Wilson

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Thomas Smith


Thomas Smith / Shay-go-nay-be was born 14 Mar 1840 in Saginaw county, Michigan, son of William Smith. [From enlistment papers and death certificate]

Smith, Thomas. Isabella. Enlisted in company K, First Sharpshooters, 18 May 1863, at Isabella, for 3 years, age 23. Mustered May 26, 1863. Sergeant March 1, 1865. Discharged at Detroit, Mich., Aug. 11, 1865.



Muster In Roll - Thomas is listed on line 55. [From Archives of Michigan]


Service records and hospital cards:


Muster in thru Oct 1863


Nov 1863 - Apr 1864


USA General Hospital, Fairfax Seminary, Virginia - May-Jun 1864



Service Muster and Hospital Muster - Sickel Barracks, Virginia - Jul-Aug 1864




1 Aug 1864 admitted from the field to Second Division General Hospital - typhoid fever



On 4 Aug 1864 admitted to Second Division General Hospital from Washington Hall in Alexandria, VA - pneumonia



Furlough to City Point dated 7-8 Apr 1865




 Jan-Jun 1865. Promoted 1 Mar 1865.



Hospitals - From Lincoln Hospital to Armory Square in D.C. to Harewood in D.C. to Union Hospital in Philadelphia to Harper Hospital in Detroit.







Hospital muster Aug-Oct 1865









Muster out cards


Undated description of faithful duty.


Muster out roll [Archives of Michigan]




Thomas applied for a pension in 1865


Certificate of disability


Thomas' list of hospitals










Marriage - Isabella county 20 Jun 1875 to Nancy Penugo-ging


1880 Federal Census Isabella township, Isabella county

Smith, Thomas, 40, farmer, inflammation sore eyes, married
Nancy, 24, wife, keeping house, married
Johnstons, Julia, 74, so--d mother, keeping house, widowed


Thomas is listed in the 1888 Veteran Census as living in Calkinsville [Rosebush].

Dr Shaw physician's affidavit after 1888



1890 Federal Census - veterans schedule line 6 - Smith, Thomas, private, Co K, 1 Mich Inf served 18 May 1863 to 11 Aug 1865, 2 years 3 months 13 days, blind from inflammation caused by war


Pension papers - 1890




Affidavit from Amos Chamberlin and George Corbin




Surgeon's statement 1891



Affidavit from Amos Chamberlin 1891


Affidavit from Thomas Smith 1891



1892 Marcus Otto confirms Thomas' identity


1893 Affidavits from James Jackson, James Quoboway and physician:




1894 Affidavits from Elijah Pelcher and Mark Neyome:



Thomas is listed as living in Isabella Township, Isabella County in the "United States Soldiers of the Civil War Residing in Michigan, June 1, 1894" census.

1896 - Pension granted and corrected:




1900 Federal Census Isabella Township, Isabella County

Smith, Thomas, head, b. Mar 1840, age 60, married 25 years, no occupation given, Sha-qwon-a-bey, Thos., Chippewa

Smith, Nancy, wife, b. Sep 1850, age 49, married 25 years, no children born, She-baw-ge-zhig-o-quay, Nancy, Chippewa


1903 Pension increase declaration




1904 Affidavit from Jacob Tip-si-coe




Thomas died on 22 Apr 1909 from pneumonia.



He is buried in Bissing Cemetery in Rosebush [also called Nippissing Indian Cemetery]





From the Flint Journal 1 May 1909:






From the Bay City Times 1 May 1909






Nancy applied for a widow's pension on 26 Apr 1909











1910 Federal Census - Union township, Isabella county 
Smith, Nancy, head, 59, widowed, no children born, speaks English, no occupation


Nancy died 12 May 1910 in Union township.








Copyright (C) 2017 Vicki Wilson