William was 21 when his name was written on the draft registrations for Shelby and Logan Counties. But, he was 27 when he enlisted for a three year term of service in Company C of the 99th Ohio Infantry. His regiment was formed in Lima, Ohio, where 1700 men were recruited; however, before departing, 700 of them were transferred into the 118th Ohio.
His enlistment date was August 1, 1862, and soon after that he was on his way to Lexington, Kentucky.
According to one compiled history of this regiment,
"Hard marches and exposure in the warmest season of the year occasioned sickness from which the regiment suffered severely, and when it moved forward to take part in the battle of Stone's River, it could only muster 369 men, 2 field, 7 line and 3 staff officers for duty (out of the 1,021 men who left Ohio)."
This regiment also fought two days in Chickamauga, and then Lookout Mountain and the Kenesaw Mountain battle. "Indeed, during the whole campaign, it was under fire almost daily, but its most severe engagement was on the night of June 20, near Kenesaw mountain, where each man of the regiment fired upon average 150 rounds of ammunition, a growth of small timber in front of the line being mown down as if by a scythe." This regiment also took part in the assault on Atlanta in August, 1864. (Later on, the 99th would be consolidated with the 50th Ohio and the 99th would not exist.) William was mustered out in Nashville, Tennessee on June 20, 1865.
William married Louisa Haines (Haynes) and they moved to Defiance from Shelby County, where they had been enumerated on the census in 1870. William, a journeyman carpenter, and Louisa had one son, Alphonso, born about 1860. (A later census - 1910 - indicated that this was a second marriage for William and a first marriage for Louisa.)
William resumed his carpentry work in Defiance, where the family lived at 623 Wayne Street. An incident reported in the Defiance Democrat on January 8, 1909, gave insight into the kindness of Mr. McClary:
"ROBBED PEOPLE WHO WERE BEFRIENDING HIM
MR. AND MRS W. S. MCCLARY ARE OUT ABOUT $85 WORTH OF JEWELRY.
Acting the part of good friends, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. McClary were made the victims of one of the smoothest robberies ever worked in this city, Sunday, and have lost jewelry to the value of about $85 and a small sum in currency. No trace of the man who pulled off the game has been found and the chances are that Mr. and Mrs. McClary will never recover their property.
During the last street carnival, a young man giving his name as James Dixon, claiming his hometown as Jamestown, Pa., and his age at 26, in company with his brother, roomed at the McClary home. The young man acted the part of a gentleman and when he again visited this city shortly before Christmas and applied at the McClary home for a room, he was given it.
Saturday night, he stated to Mr. McClary that he had not received his check and asked if Mr. McClary could wait several days. This request was granted. He also asked Mr. McClary to call him about 10 o'clock Sunday morning as he said that he had an engagement for dinner. Mr. and Mrs. McClary, before leaving for church, called the young man according to his request. When they returned from worship, they found that during their absence, the roomer had turned robber and had looted the entire house. The police were notified, but were unable to secure any clue to Dixon. It is thought that he took the west bound B. & O. noon train for Chicago.
Dixon claimed that he was a horse jockey and intended going to Santiago, Cal. where he was to ride in races in that city.
Mr. and Mrs. McClary were not the only victims of young Dixon. During his short stay here, he formed the acquaintance of Allen Maxwell who is interested in horses, and Saturday night he borrowed $10 from Mr. Maxwell, which that young gentleman is still looking for. He also attempted to borrow rings from a number of young ladies, with who he had formed an acquaintance, saying that he desired to wear them over Sunday.
His description is given as very short of stature, brown curly hair, smooth face, wore light brown coat and dark brown vest.
From the McClary home,he took the following: solid gold neck chain, valued at about $30; gold breast pin, containing five amethysts set in a leaf shape; small stick pin, amethyst; gold ring, square garnet set with six small diamond chips, E. K. engraved on inside of ring; solid gold K. of P. badge and about $2 in currency."
In 1910, William S., 74, and his wife, Louisa, 66, still lived at the Wayne Street address. William had a home shop for his carpentry business. On November 22, 1916, William died, leaving his wife and son, Alphonse.
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| Riverside Cemetery - www.findagrave.com |
(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!)
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