Category: Stories

Christopher Winehart was born Jan. 16, 1844, in Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey. His family moved to Peshtigo in 1863 to engage in the lumber business. He enlisted in June 1864 in Company B 1st Wisconsin Cavalry. He was in the command of General Sherman at the Victory of Atlanta. He was in the battles at Marietta, Hopkinville, Rome and other engagements hardly known in the pages of history.

Winehart returned to Peshtigo after his muster out of the service. He returned to the lumber business, and on the night of Oct. 8, 1871, was one of the heaviest sufferers of the fire. His father, mother, brothers Philip, George, and Fred and sisters Susan, Libbie, and Margaret were burned to death in the fire. Margaret’s husband, Charles Bruette, and 18-month-old son perished with her. Mr. Winehart survived and married Jennie Tourtilott on July 4, 1876, in Peshtigo and had four children.

Information from soldiers and citizens album of Biographical Record which contains personal sketches of Army men and citizens. A history of the Grand Army of the Republic was published by the Grant Army Publishing Company in 1888. Story provided by the Peshtigo Historical Society and was printed in The Peshtigo Times on Jan. 16, 2019.

John Utter was born on August 4, 1844, in Canada. His family lived in Michigan, and he enlisted in the Company K 22nd Michigan Infantry on August 7, 1862. His regiment was in the Battle of Chickamauga where he was taken prisoner on September 29, 1863. He was confined to Danville, Charleston, and Andersonville, where he endured the cruelties, hunger, and miseries of the rebel soldiers. At the time of his capture, he weighed 150 pounds; while in prison, he suffered from gangrene in his third tow which he amputated himself with a dull knife to save his life. He was a prisoner of war for 15 months and weighed 92 pounds when paroled on December 13, 1864.

After the war, Mr. Utter moved to Peshtigo to work in the lumber business. He married Ada Phillips, and they were residing in Peshtigo on the night of October 8, 1871. Mrs. Utter and her two children burned to death. Mr. Utter survived, and after the fire married Sylvia Phillips, aunt of his first wife.

The Peshtigo Historical Society, in an effort to bring greater awareness to the organization, shares stories taken from the soldiers and citizens album of Biographical Record which contains personal sketches of Army men and citizens. A history of the Grand Army of the Republic was published by the Grant Army PUblishing Company in 1888.

Warren Seymour, member of G.A.R. Post No. 207, was born Jan. 12, 1845, in Dexter, Michigan.

His parents moved to Oconto to engage in farming when he was ten years old. He enlisted Dec. 5, 1861, in Company I 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. His Company was to protect Union citizens, disperse guerillas, and take notes of rebel movements. In 1863, Company I was sent to escort post supply trains and encountered rebels at Cabin Creek. Later, at Honey Springs, and Baxter Springs, they encountered rebels disguised in Federal uniforms. Mr. Seymour was one of the few who escaped death. He was discharged on Sept. 25, 1866, with the rank of Corporal.

Mr. Seymour returned to Peshtigo where he married Catherine Leslie and had eight children. He was engaged in farming with his family on land near Peshtigo. On October 8, 1871, they passed through the horrors of the fire with devastated their entire property. They survived the fire except for his son Levi who died from the heat and exposure. Warren Seymour remained in the area and continued farming after the fire.

The Peshtigo Historical Society, in an effort to bring greater awareness to the organization, shares stories taken from the soldiers and citizens album of Biographical Record which contains personal sketches of Army men and citizens. A history of the Grand Army of the Republic was published by the Grant Army PUblishing Company in 1888. This article appeared in The Peshtigo Times on April 17, 2019.