Hugh Tomlinson - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

It was in the depths of winter, on February 14, 1836, when Hugh, the firstborn son of Jesse and Catharine (nee' Gaskill) made his appearance in what was then Pickaway County, Ohio.  Jesse was a farmer born in Maryland, and his wife, Catharine was a Pennsylvania native.

By the 1850 census of Union Township, Madison County, Ohio, Hugh, 15, was joined by his siblings: Leah, George, Melinda Catharine, Jesse and Albert.  Just seven years later, his father, Jesse would die on May 24, 1857, at the age of 59.  

Hugh was married by that time to Clara Eastman.  Jesse would have been 19 years old when the marriage took place on September 23, 1855, in Fayette County, Ohio.


Much searching led to a dead end as to the location of Hugh and Clara in 1860.  Their daughter, Alice Arabel was born on August 7, 1856, in Bloomingburg, Fayette County, Ohio.  

Hugh enlisted for three years service as a Private in Company K of the 90th Ohio Infantry, a unit consisting largely of Pickaway County men, on August 6, 1862.  A history of the 90th Ohio Infantry revealed that Hugh's short time in the service - only three months - was filled with hardships.  A little over 1100 men began with the unit and 468 of those were discharged with wounds or disease, a likely case for Hugh as he was discharged on a Surgeon's Act of Disability on December 18, 1862.  The unit actually lost 67% of its men before mustering out at the end of the war.

When Hugh began his journey in Kentucky, it was already cold and would only get colder. On September 3, 1862, the group marched 100 miles in 86 hours with only 16 hours sleep.  Men were forced to drink from stagnant pools of water causing illnesses.  Rations would not always arrive in time, so days would go by when they marched or survived on empty stomachs.  When the meager amount of food did arrive, they ate it all at once. 

A major snow appeared that year on October 22, leaving more than six inches of snow.  Many had no overcoats, having left them on a hedge during an early skirmish, and finding them gone later.  Many no longer had wearable shoes, and so rags were wrapped around the feet.  The unit history noted:

"Reader, imagine a day's tramp through a chilling wind, a scant supper prepared by your own hands, a short supply of firewood, a single, worn blanket to wrap around you..."

And so, Hugh returned home to his wife and daughters, Alice and Emma, in December, 1862, in time for Christmas.

 
 The 1870 Federal Census enumerator found the Tomlinson family in Blanchard Township, Hancock County, Ohio.  Hugh, by then 35, worked in a sawmill and his wife, Clara, was mother to three daughters: Alice, 13; Emma, 11; Elsie, 5. Elsie was born after the war in 1865.  The family had real estate worth $500 and a personal worth of the same.  

Clara passed away in 1879.  Hugh did not remarry until December 30, 1885, in Defiance, Ohio, when he married Amelia Barrack.  Together they had a daughter, Grace, born in 1890.   That same year, Hugh was enumerated on the Veterans Census in Defiance.  He did not list any disability.

Hugh was a faithful member of the Church of Christ and the G.A.R.  It was at a G.A.R. meeting that Hugh first became very ill, as the Defiance Evening News reported on October 7, 1895:

 Hugh could not overcome this stroke.  His obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on October 17, 1895.

An earlier obituary appeared in the Defiance Republican Express on October 14, 1895:

"Hugh Tomlinson was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, February 14, 1836.  He died at his late home on Seneca Street, Defiance, Ohio, October 10, 1895, being 59 years, 7 months and 26 days old.  He was married in Fayette County to Miss Clara Eastman in 1855.  To them were born three children who were present at the funeral.  They are Mrs. Williamson of Benton Ridge, Ohio; Mrs. Swinehart, wife of Rev. Swinehart of VanLue, Ohio, and Mrs. Church of Pomeroy, Ohio.  Mr. Tomlinson's wife died in 1879 at Benton Ridge, Ohio and was buried at Benton Ridge.

On December 10, 1885, he was married to Miss Amelia Barrack, of Defiance, who with one child, Grace, survives him.  The funeral services were conducted at the residence by J. W. Taylor, assisted by Rev. Pilgrim.  Interment today at Benton Ridge.

Mr. Tomlinson was a charter member of the church of Christ of this city.  He was faithful in the discharge of his Christian duties, as a fond and loving husband and father, and highly respected by all who knew him."

Hugh's wife, Amelia, lived until October 27, 1937, when she passed away in Toledo.  Her daughter, Grace, married Maynard Jordan.

(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!)