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

Samuel Singles was a man who would work hard to acquire his farm and make it his, and who would devote over four years of his life to fight with the Union Army.
Born in Knox County, Ohio, in about 1837/1838, the names of his parents could not be located. No birth record was found, and his death certificate only says "don't know" for parents' names.

Already in 1850, he was living with the Onwillen family in Chesterfield Township, Fulton County, Ohio.  James, 31, and Maria,30.  The Onwillens had three children with them and Samuel Singles, 12, who attended school.  Since this census does not give relationships, Samuel might or might not be related to the family. He could even just be taken in as an orphan.



In 1860, Samuel lived with a different man, James Onneller, 24, and wife, Mary, 25 - obviously by their ages not the same group, .  The children's names also differed.  Samuel, 21, was listed as a laborer on the farm.  

On July 1, 1861, Samuel enlisted into the 44th Regiment, Company D, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  He mustered in at Chicago, Illinois, although he enlisted in Wauseon, Ohio.  The Illinois Veterans' Database has his description as:  5'6", black hair, hazel eyes, dark complexion.  At the end of his term, he reenlisted on January 2, 1864, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and served a total of four years, two months and twenty days, being discharged on October 20, 1865.  He fought in many of the large battles of the war and ended his career at Fort Irwin, Texas, with the rank of Sergeant.  He appeared in the 1890 Soldiers' Census of Damascus Township, Henry County, but his residence was listed as Fulton County.  He claimed a disability of a disease of the lungs, caused by measles.

 Either on a furlough, on sick leave, or between enlistments, Samuel married in March, 1865, to Mary Magdalena Murray.  She was about ten years younger than Samuel, and also a resident of Fulton County.  The two settled on farmland acquired by Samuel in Chesterfield Township.  On the Agricultural census of that year 1870, Samuel was doing well as a farmer with 80 acres of improved land and 10 acres of woodland, valued at $2400.  He had some livestock and crops, as well.  By 1870, he also was the father to Lewis Elwood, 2, and Ida Adel, 6 months.  Elmer L. came along in 1872, followed by the last child, Ethel M., in 1878.

The census enumerator found the Samuel Singles family in Napoleon, Henry County, in 1880.  Samuel had given up farming for a job as laborer.  He was 42, and Mary was 32, and all four children were at home with them. By the year 1900, they had finally moved to Defiance, Ohio.  Samuel, 63, worked as a day laborer, and Mary, 53, were alone now. They owned a house in Ward 4, perhaps at 37 Main Street.  Samuel, at 72, still did light labor.  In 1902, he was granted an increase in his pension from $8 to $10.

In 1908, while helping out at his farm, he was up in the haymow when boards gave way and he fell about fourteen feet to the ground.  Amazingly, he broke only his collarbone and shoulder blade; he was 68 years old at the time.  The next year, Samuel and Mary's daughter, Ethel (Singles) Smith died in Toledo, and her body was brought back to their home for services and then a burial in Riverside.

Samuel and Mary stayed in Defiance, but moved to 410 Franklyn Street by 1910.  On October 4 of that year, Mary Singles died, and her obituary appeared in all the Defiance papers.  The Defiance Democrat, November 2, 1910, p. 3:

"MRS. SAMUEL SINGLES

The funeral of Mrs. Samuel Singles was held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the late residence on Franklin Street, with burial at Riverside.  Rev. W. F. Barber, pastor of the United Brethren Church, of which the deceased was a member, officiated.

Mary M. Murray was born in Liberty Township, Henry County, Ohio, March 22, 1847. December 10, 1865, she was married to Samuel Singles.  To this union were born four children, two girls and two boys. With her family, Mrs. Singles lived for some years in Fulton County.  In 1892, she removed to Defiance County where she resided until her death.  

For a number of years, she has been afflicted and much of the time was unable to attend to her usual household duties. Four weeks ago, she came much worse, and since that time, she has been confined to her bed, her death occurring Friday morning. 

She is survived by a husband, two sons and one daughter, Elmer of Lancaster and Louis of East Jordan, Mich., and Mrs. Martin Yackles of Defiance, also one sister and one brother.  One daughter and one sister preceded her to the spirit world.

Mrs. Singles was converted when she was but sixteen years of age.  She was much interested in church work, and was a liberal supporter of the institution.  She was a woman of beautiful character and was much loved by all who knew her."

In January, 1913, Samuel fell on the ice and had an operation for a strangulated hernia when he lived on Franklyn Street.The widowed Samuel moved in at some point then with his daughter, Ida, her husband Martin, and three children: Karel, Dessie and Ruth.  He was there for the census enumerator of 1920.  Samuel was over 87 years old when he died on June 27, 1925.  

His obituary from the Defiance Crescent-News, June 29, 1925, page 1:

 "SAMUEL SINGLES, G.A.R. VET, DIES

Was Wounded and Promoted to Sergeant During Service in Union Army 

Samuel Singles, 87, veteran of the Civil War, succumbed to an attack of heart disease at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Martin Yeckels, 105 North Clinton street at 10 p.m. Saturday.

Mr. Singles was born at Danville, O., and moved to a farm near Morenci, Mich. where he was living when the call for volunteers came in 1861.  He enlisted in the 44th Illinois infantry, and served in that regiment for three years.  He was promoted to the rank of sergeant before he was discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn.  He reenlisted for another three year period immediately, and was wounded in the left shoulder during the fighting in the latter part of the war.  He was mustered out of service at Camp Irvin, Texas, in September, 1865.

Sergeant Shingles came to Defiance about 32 years ago.  His daughter, Mrs. Ethel Smith died about 15 years ago.  Two sons, Lewis E., of Flint, Mich. and Elmer L. of Wyandotte, Mich. and his daughter, Mrs. Yeckels, survive. 

Funeral services will be held at the home at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Baptist church at 2 p.m. with Rev. E. F. Randall officiating.  Interment wll be made at Riverside Cemetery."

(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!)