Stone marks service of Civil War veteran
By David L. Felts Daily News Editor
Ferris Township--His great-great-grandson thinks James Reynolds Probably missed "seeing the elephant"--the curious phrase Union soldiers used for enduring the heat and roar of combat.
By the time Reynolds enlisted on Feb. 14, 1865, the worst of the war was over. Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg -- all bad memories seared into the nation's consciousness.
But Greenville's Dick Barnes was interested in his ancestor's service and researched his records, finding that he was willing to help the Union cause.
Reynolds joined Company K of the 151st Indiana Volunteer Infantry in Feb., 14, 1865, giving his occupation as a farmer. He was 20 years old and described as "5 feet, 11 and one-half inches, of fair complexion, hazel eyes and light hair."
The war slowed dramatically with the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army or Northern Virgina in April 1865. By May it was all over. Reynolds stayed with the 151st until he mustered out in Nashville, Tenn., as a corporal on Sept. 19, 1865.
Some time ago, Barnes discovered that Reynolds, who was christened Israel James, but went by "James I." was buried in an unmarked section of a Church-Reynolds family plot in Ferris Township in northern Montcalm County.
Barnes learned that because of his Civil War service, Reynolds was eligible for a government marker, which the family obtained using Barnes' research of his distant grandfather's pension records.
"Once we got the stone, we thought it would be nice to invite family members and have a little ceremony," Barnes said.
The ceremony was provided by Civil War re-enactors from Grand Rapids. they are part of The General John A. Logan, Camp No. 1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, along with Sisters of the Champlain Corps, No 41, Women's Relief Corps and the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Co. K.
Although the family didn't plan it that way, Barnes noted that the ceremony took place exactly 83 to the day that Reynolds was buried: June 23, 1918.
In an interesting aside, Barnes said that Reynolds grandparents, Benjamin and Elizabeth [sic Anna] Reynolds were devout Quakers opposed to conflict of any kind. However, two of their sons, 17 of their grandsons --including James Reynolds -- and three grand-sons-in law all served during the Civil War. All fought for the Union; four were killed or died of their wounds.
Following the death of his wife Lucy he married Hannah [Pelton] Cornell in Jan 20, 1900.
By David L. Felts Daily News Editor
Ferris Township--His great-great-grandson thinks James Reynolds Probably missed "seeing the elephant"--the curious phrase Union soldiers used for enduring the heat and roar of combat.
By the time Reynolds enlisted on Feb. 14, 1865, the worst of the war was over. Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg -- all bad memories seared into the nation's consciousness.
But Greenville's Dick Barnes was interested in his ancestor's service and researched his records, finding that he was willing to help the Union cause.
Reynolds joined Company K of the 151st Indiana Volunteer Infantry in Feb., 14, 1865, giving his occupation as a farmer. He was 20 years old and described as "5 feet, 11 and one-half inches, of fair complexion, hazel eyes and light hair."
The war slowed dramatically with the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army or Northern Virgina in April 1865. By May it was all over. Reynolds stayed with the 151st until he mustered out in Nashville, Tenn., as a corporal on Sept. 19, 1865.
Some time ago, Barnes discovered that Reynolds, who was christened Israel James, but went by "James I." was buried in an unmarked section of a Church-Reynolds family plot in Ferris Township in northern Montcalm County.
Barnes learned that because of his Civil War service, Reynolds was eligible for a government marker, which the family obtained using Barnes' research of his distant grandfather's pension records.
"Once we got the stone, we thought it would be nice to invite family members and have a little ceremony," Barnes said.
The ceremony was provided by Civil War re-enactors from Grand Rapids. they are part of The General John A. Logan, Camp No. 1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, along with Sisters of the Champlain Corps, No 41, Women's Relief Corps and the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Co. K.
Although the family didn't plan it that way, Barnes noted that the ceremony took place exactly 83 to the day that Reynolds was buried: June 23, 1918.
In an interesting aside, Barnes said that Reynolds grandparents, Benjamin and Elizabeth [sic Anna] Reynolds were devout Quakers opposed to conflict of any kind. However, two of their sons, 17 of their grandsons --including James Reynolds -- and three grand-sons-in law all served during the Civil War. All fought for the Union; four were killed or died of their wounds.
Following the death of his wife Lucy he married Hannah [Pelton] Cornell in Jan 20, 1900.
Stone marks service of Civil War veteran
By David L. Felts Daily News Editor
Ferris Township--His great-great-grandson thinks James Reynolds Probably missed "seeing the elephant"--the curious phrase Union soldiers used for enduring the heat and roar of combat.
By the time Reynolds enlisted on Feb. 14, 1865, the worst of the war was over. Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg -- all bad memories seared into the nation's consciousness.
But Greenville's Dick Barnes was interested in his ancestor's service and researched his records, finding that he was willing to help the Union cause.
Reynolds joined Company K of the 151st Indiana Volunteer Infantry in Feb., 14, 1865, giving his occupation as a farmer. He was 20 years old and described as "5 feet, 11 and one-half inches, of fair complexion, hazel eyes and light hair."
The war slowed dramatically with the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army or Northern Virgina in April 1865. By May it was all over. Reynolds stayed with the 151st until he mustered out in Nashville, Tenn., as a corporal on Sept. 19, 1865.
Some time ago, Barnes discovered that Reynolds, who was christened Israel James, but went by "James I." was buried in an unmarked section of a Church-Reynolds family plot in Ferris Township in northern Montcalm County.
Barnes learned that because of his Civil War service, Reynolds was eligible for a government marker, which the family obtained using Barnes' research of his distant grandfather's pension records.
"Once we got the stone, we thought it would be nice to invite family members and have a little ceremony," Barnes said.
The ceremony was provided by Civil War re-enactors from Grand Rapids. they are part of The General John A. Logan, Camp No. 1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, along with Sisters of the Champlain Corps, No 41, Women's Relief Corps and the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Co. K.
Although the family didn't plan it that way, Barnes noted that the ceremony took place exactly 83 to the day that Reynolds was buried: June 23, 1918.
In an interesting aside, Barnes said that Reynolds grandparents, Benjamin and Elizabeth [sic Anna] Reynolds were devout Quakers opposed to conflict of any kind. However, two of their sons, 17 of their grandsons --including James Reynolds -- and three grand-sons-in law all served during the Civil War. All fought for the Union; four were killed or died of their wounds.
Following the death of his wife Lucy he married Hannah [Pelton] Cornell in Jan 20, 1900.
By David L. Felts Daily News Editor
Ferris Township--His great-great-grandson thinks James Reynolds Probably missed "seeing the elephant"--the curious phrase Union soldiers used for enduring the heat and roar of combat.
By the time Reynolds enlisted on Feb. 14, 1865, the worst of the war was over. Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg -- all bad memories seared into the nation's consciousness.
But Greenville's Dick Barnes was interested in his ancestor's service and researched his records, finding that he was willing to help the Union cause.
Reynolds joined Company K of the 151st Indiana Volunteer Infantry in Feb., 14, 1865, giving his occupation as a farmer. He was 20 years old and described as "5 feet, 11 and one-half inches, of fair complexion, hazel eyes and light hair."
The war slowed dramatically with the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army or Northern Virgina in April 1865. By May it was all over. Reynolds stayed with the 151st until he mustered out in Nashville, Tenn., as a corporal on Sept. 19, 1865.
Some time ago, Barnes discovered that Reynolds, who was christened Israel James, but went by "James I." was buried in an unmarked section of a Church-Reynolds family plot in Ferris Township in northern Montcalm County.
Barnes learned that because of his Civil War service, Reynolds was eligible for a government marker, which the family obtained using Barnes' research of his distant grandfather's pension records.
"Once we got the stone, we thought it would be nice to invite family members and have a little ceremony," Barnes said.
The ceremony was provided by Civil War re-enactors from Grand Rapids. they are part of The General John A. Logan, Camp No. 1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, along with Sisters of the Champlain Corps, No 41, Women's Relief Corps and the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Co. K.
Although the family didn't plan it that way, Barnes noted that the ceremony took place exactly 83 to the day that Reynolds was buried: June 23, 1918.
In an interesting aside, Barnes said that Reynolds grandparents, Benjamin and Elizabeth [sic Anna] Reynolds were devout Quakers opposed to conflict of any kind. However, two of their sons, 17 of their grandsons --including James Reynolds -- and three grand-sons-in law all served during the Civil War. All fought for the Union; four were killed or died of their wounds.
Following the death of his wife Lucy he married Hannah [Pelton] Cornell in Jan 20, 1900.
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