Abraham J. Mavis - Civil War Soldier Buried in Farmer Cemetery

Abraham J. Mavis (sometimes called Abram) was in Farmer Township as early as 1850, when the census enumerator came around,  Born in 1840 in Knox County, Ohio, Abraham lived with his parents, Andrew and Mary (Husted) Mavis and siblings, Thomas H., George R. and Robert in 1850.  His father farmed in Farmer Township.  Abraham's whereabouts could not be found in the 1860 census, but he was ready when war broke out in 1861.

Abraham enlisted right away in Bryan on August 15, 1861 into Company A, 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  After serving that term, he then reenlisted again at Chattanooga on November 21, 1863 for a three year term as a veteran.  His reenlistment papers described him as 6 foot, 7 inches tall, with hazel eyes and black hair, 22 years old.  This regiment was involved in some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and it was at the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Tennessee that Abraham was shot in his left side, severely wounded.

 

Battle of Missionary Ridge, lithograph, 1886

One would guess that Abraham spent some time in the hospital to heal before rejoining his unit, and his papers do note that his mustering in was December 26, 1863. He served the entire war, with a promotion to Corporal on September 14, 1864.  Abraham's final mustering out was July 12, 1865, in Louisville, Kentucky.

About eight months after arriving home again in Farmer Township, he married Carolina Stahl and they began their farming life at home.  Together they had eight children.  Clayton, their youngest son, stayed at home and helped with the farming through 1910.

In August, 1915, Abraham lost his wife of almost fifty years when Caroline passed away.  The Hicksville Tribune printed this obituary on August 12, 1915 on page 1: 

"MAVIS.  
Caroline, daughter of Peter and Catharine Stahl, was born near Carey, Wyandotte County, January 6, 1844, and lived there until about fourteen years of age when they moved to Williams County and lived there until her marriage.  
 She was baptized when a child, and at an early age united with the United Brethern Church and lived a consistent Christian life. 

She was married March 11, 1866, to Abraham Mavis.  To this union, eight children were born, all of whom are living to mourn the loss of a loving and devoted mother.  They are Tillie Hesrich and Elsworth Mavis of Bryan, Jennie, Katie Hoffman and Clayton Mavis of Edgerton, Charles Mavis of Toledo, Nettie Showalter of Quincy, Mich., and Nellie Burgess of Angola, Ind.  These, with her husband and three sisters and one brother, twenty-three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, survive her.

She became ill about five weeks ago and remained patient until called home Sunday, August 1s, at the age of 71 years, 6 months and 26 days.  Funeral services were conducted from the home in Farmer Township Tuesday afternoon by Rev. J. W. Lilly.  Interment at Farmer." 

Daughter, Jennie, single, stayed home and took care of her father until his death in 1927.  Just before his death, Abraham celebrated his 87th birthday and the Crescent-News reported on the celebration on February 16, 1927.

 Then, on the 15th of May, the old soldier, Abraham Mavis, died at his home in Farmer.  His obituary appeared in the Crescent News the very next day.

Another obituary, adding even more information, appeared in the Bryan Democrat on May 20, 1927:

"Abram Mavis died Sunday, May 15, at the age of 87years on February 3.  He was born in Knox Co., O. (unreadable line) ...a very young boy, his father dying while he was but 11, leaving him to care for the family of small children and his mother.  All of his five brothers except one, Ambrose of Lorain, preceded him in death, as did also his wife, Caroline, to whom he was united in marriage, March 11, 1866, and who was taken from him August 1, 1915.

His children, eight in all, remain to mourn their loss.  They are Mrs. George Hesrick of Bryan, Charles Mavis of Toledo, Miss Jane Mavis at home, Mrs. Kate Huffman,Bryan, Mrs. Nettie Showalter, Coldwater, Mich., Ellsworth Mavis and Mrs. Foed (Ford?) Willennar of Auburn, Ind. and Clayton Mavis of Edgerton.
Besides these are 23 grandchildren and 35 great grand-children. 

Mr. Mavis served the whole four years in the Union Army 1861 - '65, and was an active member of G.A.R. at Farmer so long as it held together.  His taking away leaves but two old Farmer Twp. soldiers, W. S. Tomlinson and J. W. Donley.  Mr. and Mrs. Mavis lived in the same neighborhood all except about the first year and a half of their married life."