Henry Foss - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Born in Saxony, Germany in 1840, Henry (Johann Heinrich) Foss immigrated to the United States as a young man.

 The patriotic lad enlisted in the Ohio Infantry on October 7, 1861.  He served in two units - Company K, 21st Ohio as a private and Company B, 68th Ohio as a corporal.  On the 1890 census, he reported that he served four years.

On May 16, 1863, Henry was wounded at the Battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi.  He was one of 47 in his group hurt in this battle that just preceded Vicksburg.  It was said that most wounded just stayed with the regiment and continued on.  The link above goes to a first person account of Private Myron Loop of the 68th of that battle.

Henry Foss mustered out with his company on January 28, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky.  His service with the 21st, Company K was a three months' service.

Anna Marie Sauer became the bride of Henry Foss on April 25, 1867, in Henry County.  The first mention of the couple in Defiance County came in the 1880 census when Henry was 40 and working as a dry goods clerk.  Living with them was Anna's brother, Andrew, who worked as a bookkeeper.

Eventually Henry owned the store, called The Golden Rule Store.

Defiance County Republican Express - July 28, 1892

In that same year, 1892, Henry and Anna celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  The couple had no children together.

Defiance Democrat  - April 28, 1892

Henry and Anna lived at 646 Wayne Street until both of their deaths.  In 1900, Donald Abel, 20, boarded with them.  Henry had served as his guardian after Donald's parents' deaths.  Often the newspaper noted that Henry served as an executor of an estate, as well.  It seemed he was a trusted friend and citizen.

Henry was active in the Knights of Columbus as this article from the Daily Crescent of July 20, 1904 noted:

Henry lived until February 5, 1911.  The Defiance Democrat published this obituary on February 8:

His wife lived on until June 1925, and her obituary appeared in the Crescent-News on July 3, 1925:

Henry Foss and his wife, Anna M. were buried at Riverside Cemetery.

Henry Foss tombstone at 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!)