CIVIL WAR VETERAN
Co F First Inf

Denstadt, John-Civil War record. Enlisted in company F, First Infantry April 20, 1861, in Detroit, age 20. Organized at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich., and mustered into United States service May 1, 1861 (the only three-months Regiment from Michigan). Left State for Washington, D.C., May 13. Occupation of Arlington Heights, Va., May 24. Attached to Willcox's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia. Duty in the Defences of Washington, D.C., till July 16. Action at Arlington Mills June 1 (Co. "E"). Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Mustered out at Detroit, Mich. August 7, 1861.

Information taken from Record of service of Michigan vounteer in the civil war.

Source: History of the Great Lakes, Vol 2 by J.B. Mansfield-Written 1899

"Captain John J. Denstaedt Sr has been sailing the lakes for many years and is well known to marine men. He has owned nearly all the boats upon which he has labored and at the present time owns the Newell Hubard, which he has commanded over twenty years.

At the age of five years (1848)our subject came to America and settled in Detroit, where he has since made his residence. When twelve years of age he shipped out of Detroit on the scow Louisa, as a cook and remained one season, going the following year on the same boat, which he purchased and sailed. He then bought the Monitor and sailed her two seasons; later she was sunk in Lake Erie, after which he bought the Foam and sailed her two years.

At this time John became a Civil War Veteran by serving as a Private, in Company F, First Infantry, Michigan Volunteers. Mustered at Fort Wayne, May 1, 1861. Discharged 7 Aug 1861.

After serving four months, he came back to Detroit, bought the scow Ripper and sailed her three seasons. After he sold this boat, he built the scow Speed and after sailing her one year, sold her and built the Gipsey Queen, which he ran in the government employ in the lighthouse work on Lake Superior. He finally sold this vessel and bought the Money's Isle, which he traded after two years for the Venus, which he sailed one season. He then bought the schooner General Meade and sailed her four years, after which he traded her for the Newell Hubbard, which he still owns(1899).

Captain Denstaedt was married to Mary Welkenback, also a native of Germany. Their children are John, who is master of the Yacht Pathfinder of Chicago; Harry, who is master of the yacht Dawn, of Detroit; Annie & Peter who died in early childhood; William who is on the Pathfinder with his brother; Hiram, who died when young; Walter who is polisher in the Ireland; Mathew in a manufacturing company and George who is attending school in Detroit. Captain Denstaedt is a member of the Masonic Faternity and of the I.O.O.F. He has a large circle of friends in both societies.c"

John was 86 yrs 3 mths 26 days and died of Cancer of the stomach at 1451 Baldwin Ave, Detroit.