Born at Canandaigua, New York, Thomas was the first child born to Luther Dean and Ruth (Brundage) Dean. He was about 6 years old when his father's family moved to Penfield, New York and about 8 years old when the family settled at Nankin, Livonia Twp., Michigan in 1832. His grandfather David Dean who fought in the American Revolution died in September 1838 when Thomas was 12.
At the age of 19, Thomas and his cousin Henry J. Dean went to the South for their education; spending time at St. Louis, New Orleans and Louisville. While in Kentucky, Thomas met Nancy Emily McKinney and the two were married in Daviess County on August 30, 1848; their first child, James L. Dean, was born in Kentucky in March 1849. Later that year Thomas returned to Michigan with his new family and settled in Nankin Twp. near the grist mill on the River Rouge that his father owned and where his brother William was working and living; there he farmed and during the winters taught school.
"...In the early part of the late war, Thomas J. Dean, then about 36 years of age entered the service as second Lieutenant of D. Company, Fifth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry....Lieutenant Dean [was soon] promoted to the First Lieutenancy, and at the battle of Gettysburg, his courage and fighting qualities attracted [special attention]. After that battle, Dean, though but a First Lieutenant, generally commanded his company during the battles and engagements that followed up to the engagement at James City, Virginia, October 11, 1863. While leading his company in a [dashing] charge, at James City, [against] a heavy force of the enemy's infantry [fighting from] behind a [stone] wall, Lieutenant Dean was [missed], as his column recoiled back on its support for a second charge.
It was not known by any in his command whether he was killed or taken prisoner. Many months passed before anything was learned of him, and several other officers of his regiment reported "missing in action." News [finally] came, through indirect sources, that he was a prisoner in Libby prison and afterward at Andersonville.
For a year Lieutenant Dean fought [hunger] and starvation in Confederate prisons until exchanged. On his return to his regiment [his] Colonel, S. H. Hastings, soon promoted him to Captain and under that rank he [continued to serve] through all the campaigns and battles of the Army of the Shenandoah and the Army of the Potomac until the surrender of Lee and close of the war, being mustered out of service July 5, 1865.
It is learned from the commander of his regiment, who resides in Denver, that Captain Dean was always a faithful, true and obedient officer. His courage and [disposition] could always be relied upon, and he never shirked a responsibility.
Though quick and excitable, he was [resolute and impervious], always found where duty called him in action, leading his command. Besides the characteristics mentioned, he always showed a noble heart, clearly [seen in] his liberal disposition toward others. He never mistreated his command and always showed the most generous and kind disposition toward prisoners of war.
He had his foibles, like other men, but his errors were not of the heart."
[Denver [Colorado] Republican, July 10, 1883, p.1, "Grand Lake Horror" Captain Dean's War Record]
[More to follow]
Thomas & Nancy had 6 children:
James, Elvina, William, Rodman, Ida & Fred
At the age of 19, Thomas and his cousin Henry J. Dean went to the South for their education; spending time at St. Louis, New Orleans and Louisville. While in Kentucky, Thomas met Nancy Emily McKinney and the two were married in Daviess County on August 30, 1848; their first child, James L. Dean, was born in Kentucky in March 1849. Later that year Thomas returned to Michigan with his new family and settled in Nankin Twp. near the grist mill on the River Rouge that his father owned and where his brother William was working and living; there he farmed and during the winters taught school.
"...In the early part of the late war, Thomas J. Dean, then about 36 years of age entered the service as second Lieutenant of D. Company, Fifth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry....Lieutenant Dean [was soon] promoted to the First Lieutenancy, and at the battle of Gettysburg, his courage and fighting qualities attracted [special attention]. After that battle, Dean, though but a First Lieutenant, generally commanded his company during the battles and engagements that followed up to the engagement at James City, Virginia, October 11, 1863. While leading his company in a [dashing] charge, at James City, [against] a heavy force of the enemy's infantry [fighting from] behind a [stone] wall, Lieutenant Dean was [missed], as his column recoiled back on its support for a second charge.
It was not known by any in his command whether he was killed or taken prisoner. Many months passed before anything was learned of him, and several other officers of his regiment reported "missing in action." News [finally] came, through indirect sources, that he was a prisoner in Libby prison and afterward at Andersonville.
For a year Lieutenant Dean fought [hunger] and starvation in Confederate prisons until exchanged. On his return to his regiment [his] Colonel, S. H. Hastings, soon promoted him to Captain and under that rank he [continued to serve] through all the campaigns and battles of the Army of the Shenandoah and the Army of the Potomac until the surrender of Lee and close of the war, being mustered out of service July 5, 1865.
It is learned from the commander of his regiment, who resides in Denver, that Captain Dean was always a faithful, true and obedient officer. His courage and [disposition] could always be relied upon, and he never shirked a responsibility.
Though quick and excitable, he was [resolute and impervious], always found where duty called him in action, leading his command. Besides the characteristics mentioned, he always showed a noble heart, clearly [seen in] his liberal disposition toward others. He never mistreated his command and always showed the most generous and kind disposition toward prisoners of war.
He had his foibles, like other men, but his errors were not of the heart."
[Denver [Colorado] Republican, July 10, 1883, p.1, "Grand Lake Horror" Captain Dean's War Record]
[More to follow]
Thomas & Nancy had 6 children:
James, Elvina, William, Rodman, Ida & Fred
Born at Canandaigua, New York, Thomas was the first child born to Luther Dean and Ruth (Brundage) Dean. He was about 6 years old when his father's family moved to Penfield, New York and about 8 years old when the family settled at Nankin, Livonia Twp., Michigan in 1832. His grandfather David Dean who fought in the American Revolution died in September 1838 when Thomas was 12.
At the age of 19, Thomas and his cousin Henry J. Dean went to the South for their education; spending time at St. Louis, New Orleans and Louisville. While in Kentucky, Thomas met Nancy Emily McKinney and the two were married in Daviess County on August 30, 1848; their first child, James L. Dean, was born in Kentucky in March 1849. Later that year Thomas returned to Michigan with his new family and settled in Nankin Twp. near the grist mill on the River Rouge that his father owned and where his brother William was working and living; there he farmed and during the winters taught school.
"...In the early part of the late war, Thomas J. Dean, then about 36 years of age entered the service as second Lieutenant of D. Company, Fifth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry....Lieutenant Dean [was soon] promoted to the First Lieutenancy, and at the battle of Gettysburg, his courage and fighting qualities attracted [special attention]. After that battle, Dean, though but a First Lieutenant, generally commanded his company during the battles and engagements that followed up to the engagement at James City, Virginia, October 11, 1863. While leading his company in a [dashing] charge, at James City, [against] a heavy force of the enemy's infantry [fighting from] behind a [stone] wall, Lieutenant Dean was [missed], as his column recoiled back on its support for a second charge.
It was not known by any in his command whether he was killed or taken prisoner. Many months passed before anything was learned of him, and several other officers of his regiment reported "missing in action." News [finally] came, through indirect sources, that he was a prisoner in Libby prison and afterward at Andersonville.
For a year Lieutenant Dean fought [hunger] and starvation in Confederate prisons until exchanged. On his return to his regiment [his] Colonel, S. H. Hastings, soon promoted him to Captain and under that rank he [continued to serve] through all the campaigns and battles of the Army of the Shenandoah and the Army of the Potomac until the surrender of Lee and close of the war, being mustered out of service July 5, 1865.
It is learned from the commander of his regiment, who resides in Denver, that Captain Dean was always a faithful, true and obedient officer. His courage and [disposition] could always be relied upon, and he never shirked a responsibility.
Though quick and excitable, he was [resolute and impervious], always found where duty called him in action, leading his command. Besides the characteristics mentioned, he always showed a noble heart, clearly [seen in] his liberal disposition toward others. He never mistreated his command and always showed the most generous and kind disposition toward prisoners of war.
He had his foibles, like other men, but his errors were not of the heart."
[Denver [Colorado] Republican, July 10, 1883, p.1, "Grand Lake Horror" Captain Dean's War Record]
[More to follow]
Thomas & Nancy had 6 children:
James, Elvina, William, Rodman, Ida & Fred
At the age of 19, Thomas and his cousin Henry J. Dean went to the South for their education; spending time at St. Louis, New Orleans and Louisville. While in Kentucky, Thomas met Nancy Emily McKinney and the two were married in Daviess County on August 30, 1848; their first child, James L. Dean, was born in Kentucky in March 1849. Later that year Thomas returned to Michigan with his new family and settled in Nankin Twp. near the grist mill on the River Rouge that his father owned and where his brother William was working and living; there he farmed and during the winters taught school.
"...In the early part of the late war, Thomas J. Dean, then about 36 years of age entered the service as second Lieutenant of D. Company, Fifth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry....Lieutenant Dean [was soon] promoted to the First Lieutenancy, and at the battle of Gettysburg, his courage and fighting qualities attracted [special attention]. After that battle, Dean, though but a First Lieutenant, generally commanded his company during the battles and engagements that followed up to the engagement at James City, Virginia, October 11, 1863. While leading his company in a [dashing] charge, at James City, [against] a heavy force of the enemy's infantry [fighting from] behind a [stone] wall, Lieutenant Dean was [missed], as his column recoiled back on its support for a second charge.
It was not known by any in his command whether he was killed or taken prisoner. Many months passed before anything was learned of him, and several other officers of his regiment reported "missing in action." News [finally] came, through indirect sources, that he was a prisoner in Libby prison and afterward at Andersonville.
For a year Lieutenant Dean fought [hunger] and starvation in Confederate prisons until exchanged. On his return to his regiment [his] Colonel, S. H. Hastings, soon promoted him to Captain and under that rank he [continued to serve] through all the campaigns and battles of the Army of the Shenandoah and the Army of the Potomac until the surrender of Lee and close of the war, being mustered out of service July 5, 1865.
It is learned from the commander of his regiment, who resides in Denver, that Captain Dean was always a faithful, true and obedient officer. His courage and [disposition] could always be relied upon, and he never shirked a responsibility.
Though quick and excitable, he was [resolute and impervious], always found where duty called him in action, leading his command. Besides the characteristics mentioned, he always showed a noble heart, clearly [seen in] his liberal disposition toward others. He never mistreated his command and always showed the most generous and kind disposition toward prisoners of war.
He had his foibles, like other men, but his errors were not of the heart."
[Denver [Colorado] Republican, July 10, 1883, p.1, "Grand Lake Horror" Captain Dean's War Record]
[More to follow]
Thomas & Nancy had 6 children:
James, Elvina, William, Rodman, Ida & Fred
Inscription
[BACK]
CAPT
T. J. DEAN
CO. D.
5 MICH. CAV.
[FRONT]
THOMAS J. DEAN
MAY 22, 1826-JULY 17, 1883.
GRAND COUNTY PIONEER
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