Please direct any comments/corrections/additions
to:
malaun@hotmail.com
April 20, 2001;
revised 7/19/2003
Abraham Pruett (1833-1884)
comes to La Crosse (1853)
Note: this tintype was found in Elizabeth
Pendergast's files. Because of the age
of the tintype and because it appears that the older man may have had an injury
to his arm (similar to Abraham's Civil War injury), I have included it here for
your review.
In 1850, Abraham (who would have
been 17 at the time), is listed in the Parke County, Indiana Census[i]
along with his parents Stephen and Naoma Moore, his sister Alice, and his
brother Perry. The earliest mention of
a Pruett ancestor is made in the History of La Crosse County, published
in 1881:
The first
settlement in the present limits of the town of Greenfield, was
made in 1853. Early in this year, a W. Symes, Daniel Raymond, Samuel McGowen
and A. Pruett made their appearance here, and becoming fascinated with the
fertile valleys and weird scenery of the surrounding bluffs, determined to make
it their future home. Each of the
above-named gentlemen selected allocation, made his claim, and having erected a
small log-cabin on each, proceeded to pave the way for succeeding adventurers
in search of a home in the West, and a locality wherein all might live
contented and happy…During the summer and fall of 1854, large numbers flocked
to the "cooleys" of Greenfield and took up claims, which were
increased by additions from time to time, until their incipient farms, by
constant care, have developed into beautiful and valuable homesteads.[ii]
Abraham is listed as acquiring a
land grant of 40 acres in 1857, one year following his father's grant. [Although we don't know how he is connected,
I also found Egbert H. Pruett listed with a claim in 1875 in Washburn County
(80 acres).] Abraham Pruett married
Eveline Bell in La Crosse on May 25, 1859. [iii] [see Bell family notes}
Although Greenfield, Shelby and
the city of La Crosse were separate townships, they were later brought together
under one town government. Census
record of {check it out].
The first record of the town of
Greenfield is 1856. Abraham Pruett was
listed in the Greenfield official record as Assessor (1861). Along with this early mention of the Pruett
family, there is a marriage record for an "Elsie Pruett" who married
H. W. McNeil, August 2, 1855.[iv] This seems to be "Alice," who is
also cited alternately as Elsa in the
census records. She is the daughter of
Stephen and Naoma Pruett, and sister to Abraham. Elsa would have been 20 at the time.[v] Abraham served a partial term as Assessor of
Greenfield with his sister Elsie’s husband H. W. McNeil who was Chairman of the
"Supervisors of the Town of Greenfield." This term was a short one since Abraham enlisted in the Wisconsin
Infantry in the Fall of 1861.
Abraham was a farmer and was
described by his Army discharge papers (PruettAbramdischarge.jpg)
as "born in the state of Indiana, is twenty-eight years of age, five feet,
six inches high, light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and by occupation,
when enrolled, a farmer. He was a veteran of the Civil War (8th Wisconsin
infantry) and (oral tradition reveals that he) served as a Methodist minister
after the war.[vi]
In 1861, the call came for
soldiers for the Union side of the Civil War.
Abraham "joined for duty and enrolled" for three years as a
Private in the "Eagle Regiment," Company I of the 8th Wisconsin
Volunteers Infantry. He enlisted on
September 10, 1861 in La Crosse, just two days before his 28th birthday.[vii] His younger brother Perry also enlisted and
served in Wisconsin Volunteers, Company D of the second cavalry.[viii]
"The
Eighth Regiment, known as the "Eagle Regiment" contained one company
enlisted in La Crosse at a period in the history of the war when the outlook
was far from encouraging. At that
time…the duration of the war was admittedly beyond the ken of prophets, and the
decision of the arbitration one of doubt, to say the least. …The shadows had begun to grow thicker and darker
with the coming of the first winter of the war; many homes had been shaded with
sorrow and draped with mourning, and the clash of arms had disturbed the
peaceful pursuits of life to supply the increasing demand for human material. The recruits mustered in for a period of
three months no sooner became efficient than the expiration of their term of
service incapacitated them for duty. The three years' recruits had scarcely
attained sufficient proficiency in the knowledge of was to render them effective
against the drilled forces they were expected to put to flight. Under embarrassments thus suggested, the
Eighth Regiment was organized…and became one of the most reliable, brave and
successful organizations that was sent into the field from the Badger State."[ix],[x]
The company left Camp Randall for
service on October 12th and served in St. Louis, New Madrid, Island No. 10,
Farmington, Tenn., Iuka, and Memphis.
Abraham Pruett was listed as "wounded side, slightly" according
to a "Casualty Sheet of Wounded" at Vicksburg (May 23, 1863), but it
was at the battle of Lake Chicot (in the vicinity of Vicksburg, Memphis) where
Abraham was permanently disabled on June 6, 1864. The account of this battle is
taken from the database American Civil War
Battle Summaries:
June 6th, 1864
Old River Lake,
Ark., June 6, 1864. Detachment of 16th Army Corps. Brig.-Gen. Joseph A. Mower
with the 2nd and 3rd brigades of the 1st division, embarked at Sunnyside
landing on the evening of the 5th, and after bivouacking on the bank of the
river, took up the line of march next morning for Lake Village, 8 miles
distant, the cavalry in advance. After proceeding 4 miles the main body came up
with the cavalry which was skirmishing with the enemy. A line of infantry was thrown out by Mower,
the cavalry withdrawn and the Confederates were pushed back 2 miles, where a
larger force was found in position on the opposite side of a bayou. The 3rd
Ind. battery was ordered up and kept up a continuous fire while the infantry
moved forward and engaged the enemy, who from his position in the timber was
enabled to pour a galling fire upon the Federals. After a time this fire was
silenced and the two brigades were moved forward across the bridge. The Union loss was 15 killed, 57 wounded and
2 missing. The Confederate casualties were 4 killed and 33 wounded.[xi]
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6 (He is recorded as being in the Adams
Hospital in Memphis (June-September 1864) and mustered out on September 16th,
1864.)
Another account is found in the Military
History of Wisconsin in the Civil War:
The rebels
having attempted to blockade the Mississippi at Columbia, Arkansas, on the
sixth of June, General Smith sent forward General Mower's division of 1500
infantry, and a battery. The enemy were
found strongly posted between two bayous, which covered his flanks, while he
had a good supply of artillery posted in the narrow passage between the two
bayous. After a severe contest, the
enemy were driven from their position and pursued several miles. This is known
as the Battle of Lake Chicot 3 killed;
11 wounded. [Note: Abraham was one of the 11 wounded.].
When he applied for an increase
in his pension, his attorney narrated the extent of his injuries:
At the battle
of Lake Chicot, in the state of Arkansas, on or about the 6th day of June 1864,
he was wounded by a [?] musket ball, in the right arm, the ball entered about
four inches below the shoulder joint and followed up the arm and came out at
the shoulder joint which lacerated the cords and tendons and injured the
nerves. Said disability was incurred at the military service of the United
States while a private in Company J in the 8th Regiment of Wisconsin
Volunteers. That he believes himself
entitled to an increase of pension on account of the increase of [?] disability
as follows: His right arm is withered
away and is so paralyzed that it is not subject to the control of his will and
is perfectly useless, and that said disability is equivalent to the loss of the
arm. That he cannot dress himself or
cut his own food at his meals, but requires the assistance of others. That the condition of his arm has so
affected his general health that he is unable to perform any labor. That he believes himself entitled to
eighteen dollars per month under the act of Congress is such case made and
provided.[xii] [note: A monthly pension of $18.00 was granted and
reported in the Chronicle…[check cite]
(January 15, 1884, C 3-1)
"Pruett, Abram, w. [wounded?] r.arm…$18.00"
The Regiment, it may be noted,
mustered out September 5, 1865, having marched 4,004 miles and traveled 10,810
miles by rail and river. The eagle,
which they took with them as their mascot, survived all the campaigns of the
regiment and enjoyed "excellent health and undiminished appetite until the
spring of 1881, when he died."[xiii].
After the war, Abraham returned
to Mormon Coulee where he lived the rest of his life. It has been passed down through oral tradition that Abraham was a
Methodist minster after the war. When
Bill Pruett visisted La Crosse, in 1945, a church was still standing on the family property. The reference librarian at La Crosse told me
in 1999 that the church was disassembled when the highway went through and the
brick was used for another house in La Crosse.
An article by Emil J. Bernet's
article titled "Beginnings of the Salzer Memorial Methodist Church"
in the La Crosse County Historical Sketches
(series 7) published in 1945, described the
"people in Chipmunk Coulee and on Brecken Ridge [later called
Brinkman Ridge bordering La Crosse and Vernon counties] were largely German
Bohemians, most of whom were Catholics. In Mormon Coulee there were chiefly
Swiss and in other places there were German Lutherans.
These settlers
were pious, God-fearing people with religious training in school in youth; but
even with this religious background they had been entirely neglected by their
churches before this time. There was an occasional priest in the towns who
could be called upon to baptize, marry, or bury. The Methodist circuit riders
were ready to pray with a penitent sinner under a tree in the woods or on the
lee side of a hay stack, and administer all religious rites when necessary.
Literally left as 'sheep without a shepherd' by their own churches, there was
an immediate response to the earnest, sincere preaching of the gospel according
to Methodist principles. Meetings were held in homes and schoolhouses whenever
anyone would listen."
[i] 1850 Census, Parke County,
Indiana lists Stephen (51, farmer, born North Carolina); Naoma (48, born
Tennessee); Abram (17, born Indiana); Alice (15, born Indiana), and Perry (9,
born Indiana). It is assumed that the
older children were already married and out of the home: Jemima Thorton Thrush
Pruett (27), Telitha Ann Pruett (24, married Zopher Coleman in 1844); Mahala (23, married Jeremiah Branson in
1842); Marshall Pruett was born in 1850
so he is not reflected in the 1850 census.
[ii] History of La Crosse County.
1881. p. 727. Another book Memoirs
of La Crosse (1907) provides the
identical information (page 221-222).
[iii] This may certify that on the
25th day of May 1859 in the city of La Crosse, La Crosse County, State of
Wisconsin, I solemnized the marriage relation between Mr. Abraham Pruett and
Miss Eveline Bell according to the laws of said state. Register of Deeds record/ 8/12/1855: Received August 6, 1859. Volume 1, page 48.
(An article appeared in the Independent Republican, page 3, C 4: Also, in La Crosse, [Married], 26th, by the
same [Rev. J. C. Sherwin], Mr. A. Pruett and Miss Evaline P. Bell."
[iv] Independent Republican,
8/8/1855, page 2, C7: "Married, In
La Crosse on the 2nd inst. by Rev. J. C. Sherwin Mr. Henry W. McNeill and Miss
Elsie Pruett."
[v] "Elsie Pruett and H. W. McNeil.
Register of Deeds record/ 8/12/1855:
"I do hereby certify that
on the 2nd day of August, AD 1855, I the town of La Crosse, La Crosse City,
state of Wisconsin, I solemnize the marriage relation between Mr. Henry W.
McNeil and Miss Elie Pruett in the presence of Charles Wilbur and Maria Wilbur,
having previously knows said Henry W. McNeil under oath and found no legal
impediment to marriage." La
Crosse. August 2, 1855. Signed John C. Sherwin, minister of the gospel. Filed August 2, 1855 by H. C. Hubbard, starr
deputy.
[vi] METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Source: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck/religion.htm
Methodism reached the 13 colonies [from England] in
1760. By 1777 there were some 6,000 Methodists and by 1789 there were
15,000.
John Wesley was conservative and loyalist in his politics
and issued a public appeal to the colonies urging submission to the King, but
religious zeal overcame this. John Wesley did not intend that the Methodists be
an independent church. The Methodists were a group "within" the
Church of England. The Bishop of London had refused to ordain ministers
for America, so two men John Wesley had appointed to superintend and ordain
ministers, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, were soon called Bishops, and the
Methodist Episcopal Church was founded.
Methodism grew rapidly as the population was starving for
religion that was new, virile and hopeful. The Methodist preachers were
men of the people, speaking the language of ordinary folk. Growth was
predominantly in the rural sections and on the frontier. The circuit plan
and the system of local and travelling preachers was admirably adapted to this
type of work. Under the district superintendents, were circuit riders
with assigned areas to cover, some as much as 500 miles. It had to be
traversed by whatever conveyance was possible -- on horseback, by canoe or
where these failed, on foot. The circuit riders spoke wherever they could
gain a hearing. In log cabins, court houses, school houses, taverns or in
the open air.... They preached and sang the love of God in Christ.
They desired above all things conversions. In addition to the circuit
riders there were local preachers, exhorters, quarterly meetings, which
gathered the members from farms and villages for fellowship and camp meetings.
From Emil J. Bernet's article
titled "Beginnings of the Salzer Memorial Methodist Church" in the La Crosse County Historical Sketches
(series 7) published in 1945, described:
the
"people in Chipmunk Coulee and on Brecken Ridge [later called Brinkman
Ridge bordering La Crosse and Vernon counties] were largely German Bohemians,
most of whom were Catholics. In Mormon Coulee there were chiefly Swiss and in
other places there were German Lutherans.
These
settlers were pious, God-fearing people with religious training in school in
youth; but even with this religious background they had been entirely neglected
by their churches before this time. There was an occasional priest in the towns
who could be called upon to baptize, marry, or bury. The Methodist circuit
riders were ready to pray with a penitent sinner under a tree in the woods or
on the lee side of a hay stack, and administer all religious rites when
necessary. Literally left as 'sheep without a shepherd' by their own churches,
there was an immediate response to the earnest, sincere preaching of the gospel
according to Methodist principles. Meetings were held in homes and schoolhouses
whenever anyone would listen."
While the main La Crosse church
began to have regular preaching services in 1858 and a small church building
was erected, missionary work outside La Crosse was growing. Revival meetings
during the winter season and camp meetings in the summer time to which people
came from long distances were popular. Spiritual interest was shown and the
preaching of the gospel became more widespread. The missionary societies were
established by 1860. These included La Crosse (main church), Brecken Ridge
[Brinkman Ridge], Chipmunk Coulee, Mormon Coulee, Burr Oak and Jacksonville
(Monroe Co.).
In the [Record of] Church
Organization, vol. 1, p. 39 [La Crosse County Register of Deeds Office] dated
Dec. 15, 1865, organizers Georg Heinack, John Pfaff, John Jung, John Voelker,
August Strangman filed with the county as a church congregation. Rev. Herman
Richter was listed as being in charge of both the La Crosse and Burr Oak
congregations. A deed recorded June 26, 1866, notes a transaction between John
Pfaff and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Burr Oak [La Crosse County Register
of Deeds, volume 29 page 301]. Early family names that joined the Burr Oak
church included Heinack, Jung, Pfaff, Voelker and Strongman/Strangman. In 1872
the society or mission church became its own church and separated from the main
church in La Crosse.
The farm of Ed Rhyme borders the
cemetery. Because of the interest of the Rhymes family and Herman Harder, the
cemetery was saved from total disintegration in 1966, when it was brought to
the public's attention that two Civil War soldiers were buried there. The two
soldiers were John Pfaff, born November 17, 1825, and died December 6, 1880,
who served as a private in Company F, 25th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry and
Christian Arttus. A fence was soon erected as the law suggested, and eventually
proper care of the site and markers resumed.
We don't know much about this
cemetery or the church after 1872 when it broke away from the Salzer Methodist
Church in La Crosse. If you have information on this cemetery you would care to
share with us, please contact us at archives@lacrosse.lib.wi.us,
or by mail:
Archives & Local History
La Crosse Public Library
800 Main St.
La Crosse, WI 54601-4122
(608) 789-7136
Census List Details:
Burr Oak Methodist Cemetery |
|||
Alternate Name: Salzer Methodist - Burr Oak Cemetery |
|
||
Town: |
Farmington |
|
|
Legal Description: |
Township:
18 North Range: 6 West Section: 11
Quarter Quarter: 24 |
|
|
Location: |
On
Hwy 108 .2 mi no. of Co. A Jct. West of Burr Oak |
|
|
Census Last Taken: |
1984 |
|
|
Census Taker(s): |
Connie
Kjos |
|
|
Contact: |
Sarah
Pfaff |
|
|
Comments: |
Fenced;
inactive; 0.898 acres |
|
|
[vii] Wisconsin 8th Infantry, Company
Muster-in Roll.
[viii] Roster of Wisconsin
Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Madison, Wisc., Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1886. [also http://www.shsw.wisc.edu/roster]
[ix] History of La Crosse County,
428.
[x] Database: American Civil War
Battle Summaries: Old River Lake, Ark, Also known as Lake Chicot, Ditch Bayou,
Fish Bayou, and Lake Villiage. June 6th, 1864.
Detachment of 16th Army Corps. Brig.-Gen. Joseph A. Mower with the 2nd
and 3rd brigades of the 1st division, embarked at Sunnyside landing on the evening
of the 5th, and after bivouacking on the bank of the river, took up the line of
march next morning for Lake Village, 8 miles distant, the cavalry in advance.
After proceeding 4 miles the main body came up with the cavalry which was
skirmishing with the enemy. A line line of infantry was thrown out by Mower,
the cavalry withdrawn and the
Confederates were pushed back 2 miles, where a larger force was found in
position on the opposite side of a bayou. The 3rd Ind. battery was ordered up
and kept up a continuous fire
while the infantry moved forward
and engaged the enemy, who from his position in the timber was enabled to pour
a galling fire upon the Federals. After a time this fire was silenced and the
two brigades were moved forward across the bridge. The Union loss was 15
killed, 57 wounded and 2 missing. The Confederate casualties were 4 killed and
33 wounded. Source: The Union Army,
vol. 6.
[xi] The Union Army, v. 6
[xii] Source: Pension Records, State of Wisconsin, County
of La Crosse
On this 13th day of April, A.D.
1882 came personally before me a clerk of the circuit court within and for its
county and state of Wis., Abram Pruett, aged 48 years a resident of the town of
Shelby, in the county of La Crosse, State of Wisconsin, who being duly sworn
according to law, declares that he is a pensioner of the United States,
enrolled at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Pension Agency at the rate of six dollars
per month, by reason of disability as follows, to wit, "At the battle of
Lake Chicot, in the state of Arkansas, on or about the th day of June 1864, he
was wounded by a [?] musket ball, in the right arm, the ball entered about four
inches below the shoulder joint and followed up the arm and came out at the
shoulder joint which lacerated the cords and tendons and injured the nerves.
Said disability was incurred at the military service of the United States while
a private in Company J in the 8th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. That he believes himself entitled to an
increase of pension on account of the increase of [?] disability as
follows: His right arm is withered away
and is so paralyzed that it is not subject to the control of his will and is
perfectly useless, and that said disability is equivalent to the loss of the arm. That he cannot dress himself or cut his own
food at his meals, but requires the assistance of others. That the condition of his arm has so
affected his general health that he is unable to perform any labor. That he believes himself entitled to
eighteen dollars per month under the act of Congress is such case made and
provided. That he files this
application as supplementary to his claim for increase of pension no. 144,638,
now on file. That he hereby appoints Jerome
E. Parker of La Crosse, Wisconsin his attorney to prosecute this claim. His post office address is La Crosse, La
Crosse Co., Wisconsin. In presence of
Chr. Koering Inv. Lieulokken
his
Abram X Pruett
Mark
Also personally appeared Chr.
Koenig and John Lienlokken residing at La Crosse in the county of La Crosse in
the state of Wisconsin, persons who I certify to be respectable and entitled to
credit, and who being by one duly sworn, say; they were present and saw Abram
Pruett, the claimant sign his name to the foregoing declaration; that they have
every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their
acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to
be; and that they have no interest in the resuscitation of this claim.
x
Chr. Koenig
x
Jno. Lieulokken
Sworn to and subscribed before
me this 13th day of April A.D. 1882 and I hereby certify that the contents of
the above declaration to, were fully made known and explained to the applicant
and witnesses before swearing and that I have no interest direct or indirect in
the prosecution of this claim.
Charles
Smith
Clerk
of the Circuit Count
La
Crosse, Co.,Wis.
[xiii] History of La Crosse County,
428.