CORP. CO. A 22 IOWA INF.
GAR marker
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday March 20, 1941 [p. 1]
Oldest veteran dies at Gravity
Benjamin Franklin Akers was born in Pike County, Penn., Nov. 30, 1842 and died Monday, March 17, 1941, at the age of 98 years, 3 months and 17 days.
He came with his parents to Iowa in 1857. At the age of 18 he joined the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. A, in June 1862. He was promoted to corporal in 1863. He saw active service in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Mississippi; Black River Bridge Assault and Siege of Vicksburg; Winchester, Virginia; Fisher Hill Cedar Creek, Virginia; and numerous skirmishes, forced marches, etc. He was never off duty a single day during his three years of service.
After being discharged on July 25, 1865 he doffed the Union Blue of the Army and donned the jeans of a farmer, which business he successfully followed.
In 1867 he was married to Harriet J. Bannister, a native of Illinois. To them were born nine children, four of whom died in infancy. His wife died May 4, 1926; Cora A. on Feb. 4, 1928; and Luta E. Feb. 3, 1929.
Surviving are three sons, Robert H. Akers, Chester A. Akers, and Ray Akers, all of Gravity. There are twenty grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
He spent 72 years in Taylor County, most of that time on his farm and the remaining few years at his home in Gravity. He was the last remaining member of a large family. He was a good father and neighbor, and a fried to all who knew him.
Mr. Akers was the last surviving Civil War Veteran in Taylor County and one of the few in the state. Military funeral services were held in Gravity Wednesday afternoon and burial was in the Gravity cemetery.
GAR marker
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday March 20, 1941 [p. 1]
Oldest veteran dies at Gravity
Benjamin Franklin Akers was born in Pike County, Penn., Nov. 30, 1842 and died Monday, March 17, 1941, at the age of 98 years, 3 months and 17 days.
He came with his parents to Iowa in 1857. At the age of 18 he joined the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. A, in June 1862. He was promoted to corporal in 1863. He saw active service in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Mississippi; Black River Bridge Assault and Siege of Vicksburg; Winchester, Virginia; Fisher Hill Cedar Creek, Virginia; and numerous skirmishes, forced marches, etc. He was never off duty a single day during his three years of service.
After being discharged on July 25, 1865 he doffed the Union Blue of the Army and donned the jeans of a farmer, which business he successfully followed.
In 1867 he was married to Harriet J. Bannister, a native of Illinois. To them were born nine children, four of whom died in infancy. His wife died May 4, 1926; Cora A. on Feb. 4, 1928; and Luta E. Feb. 3, 1929.
Surviving are three sons, Robert H. Akers, Chester A. Akers, and Ray Akers, all of Gravity. There are twenty grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
He spent 72 years in Taylor County, most of that time on his farm and the remaining few years at his home in Gravity. He was the last remaining member of a large family. He was a good father and neighbor, and a fried to all who knew him.
Mr. Akers was the last surviving Civil War Veteran in Taylor County and one of the few in the state. Military funeral services were held in Gravity Wednesday afternoon and burial was in the Gravity cemetery.
CORP. CO. A 22 IOWA INF.
GAR marker
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday March 20, 1941 [p. 1]
Oldest veteran dies at Gravity
Benjamin Franklin Akers was born in Pike County, Penn., Nov. 30, 1842 and died Monday, March 17, 1941, at the age of 98 years, 3 months and 17 days.
He came with his parents to Iowa in 1857. At the age of 18 he joined the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. A, in June 1862. He was promoted to corporal in 1863. He saw active service in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Mississippi; Black River Bridge Assault and Siege of Vicksburg; Winchester, Virginia; Fisher Hill Cedar Creek, Virginia; and numerous skirmishes, forced marches, etc. He was never off duty a single day during his three years of service.
After being discharged on July 25, 1865 he doffed the Union Blue of the Army and donned the jeans of a farmer, which business he successfully followed.
In 1867 he was married to Harriet J. Bannister, a native of Illinois. To them were born nine children, four of whom died in infancy. His wife died May 4, 1926; Cora A. on Feb. 4, 1928; and Luta E. Feb. 3, 1929.
Surviving are three sons, Robert H. Akers, Chester A. Akers, and Ray Akers, all of Gravity. There are twenty grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
He spent 72 years in Taylor County, most of that time on his farm and the remaining few years at his home in Gravity. He was the last remaining member of a large family. He was a good father and neighbor, and a fried to all who knew him.
Mr. Akers was the last surviving Civil War Veteran in Taylor County and one of the few in the state. Military funeral services were held in Gravity Wednesday afternoon and burial was in the Gravity cemetery.
GAR marker
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday March 20, 1941 [p. 1]
Oldest veteran dies at Gravity
Benjamin Franklin Akers was born in Pike County, Penn., Nov. 30, 1842 and died Monday, March 17, 1941, at the age of 98 years, 3 months and 17 days.
He came with his parents to Iowa in 1857. At the age of 18 he joined the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Co. A, in June 1862. He was promoted to corporal in 1863. He saw active service in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Mississippi; Black River Bridge Assault and Siege of Vicksburg; Winchester, Virginia; Fisher Hill Cedar Creek, Virginia; and numerous skirmishes, forced marches, etc. He was never off duty a single day during his three years of service.
After being discharged on July 25, 1865 he doffed the Union Blue of the Army and donned the jeans of a farmer, which business he successfully followed.
In 1867 he was married to Harriet J. Bannister, a native of Illinois. To them were born nine children, four of whom died in infancy. His wife died May 4, 1926; Cora A. on Feb. 4, 1928; and Luta E. Feb. 3, 1929.
Surviving are three sons, Robert H. Akers, Chester A. Akers, and Ray Akers, all of Gravity. There are twenty grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
He spent 72 years in Taylor County, most of that time on his farm and the remaining few years at his home in Gravity. He was the last remaining member of a large family. He was a good father and neighbor, and a fried to all who knew him.
Mr. Akers was the last surviving Civil War Veteran in Taylor County and one of the few in the state. Military funeral services were held in Gravity Wednesday afternoon and burial was in the Gravity cemetery.
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