Samuel Easley - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Photo taken 1911 (according to Bishop Post minutes)

SAMUEL EASLEY

Samuel Easley was born in Crawford County, Ohio on May 31, 1839.  Samuel's parents, Jakob and Barbara, were born in Switzerland-Germany, according to the census...perhaps the Alsace region.  As a twenty-two year old man, Samuel enlisted in Company F, 64th Regiment, Ohio Infantry on October 8, 1862 and served nine months.  He was discharged on August 5, 1863.  

He married Helen Shasteen on July 6, 1871 and settled in Defiance County.  
On the 1890 Veterans Census, he was enumerated in Jewell and listed his disabilities as diarrhea, and problems with the liver, stomach and rectum. 

Samuel and Helen had children: Orlis, Lucian, Edgar, Samuel Burton, Charles, Grace, and Lawrence.  The censuses referred to him as a farmer, living in Richland Township.

Pension card

He filed for his pension on June 11, 1887, and, after his death on December 30, 1910, his widow applied for her portion on January 6, 1911.  By the 1910 census, Samuel 70, and wife, Helen, 56, had moved to Defiance City and were living on High Street.  Their children, Charles G., 27, a conductor on the street car; Grace E., 24, a piano teacher; and Lawrence, 20, a delivery clerk at the freight office, were living with them.  Samuel B. was not working, but also lived with them.

OBITUARY

"SAMUEL EASLEY

Samuel Easley died Friday afternoon at 2:15 at his late residence at 1122 High Street.

The deceased was born May 31, 1839, in Crawford County, and at the time of his death was aged 71 years, 6 months and 29 days.  He was a member of the 64th O.V.I. and a member of the local post of the G.A.R.

Beside a widow, he is survived by five sons, and one daughter. They were Otis J. Easley of Cleveland, Lucian J. Easley of Ft. Wayne, S. Burton Easley of Defiance, Chas. G. Easley of Cleveland, Miss Grace L. Easley and Lawrence D. Easley of Defiance; also three sisters - Mrs. F. Springer of Crawford County, Mrs. Anna Peters of Council, Idaho, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hetich of Albany, Texas.

The funeral will be held Monday morning at nine o'clock at the late residence and at ten o'clock at Independence church.  Interment will be at Independence.  Rev. W.W. Lance, pastor of the St. Paul's Methodist church will officiate."

Defiance Democrat - January 4, 1911

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army, who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)