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Our Window To The Past... Other CSA Soldiers Buried in Polk CountyKnichen Hardy Howell
On May 26, 2010 descendant, Richard Howell of Pennsylvania,
contacted me in regards to his ancestor. He was in town for the
Memorial Day holiday and could not locate his ancestor’s grave.
He was asking for assistance in locating information on his ancestor
and burial location.Farmer and Confederate Veteran I contacted Mr. Howell with the following information: Knichen Hardy Howell was born on May 12, 1828 in Darlington County, South Carolina. He met and married Miss Nancy Jane Stokes on February 16, 1860 in Alachua County, Florida. She was born on October 16, 1839 in DeSoto County, Florida. Their children from this union: ‚ Laura E, born in 1861, Alachua County ‚ Charles, born in 1863 ‚ Frances M., born in 1865 ‚ Turner E., born August 1869 ‚ Saphronia, born February 1870 ‚ Early, born April 1876 In 1860 the Howells resided in the small community of Archer in Alachua County. Howell, age 30, worked as a farm laborer and Nancy, age 21, kept the house. On January 10, 1861 Florida seceded from the union and the War Between the States began April 12, 1861. Howell enlisted as a private on January 25, 1862 in Company D, 7th Florida Regiment, Confederate States Army. He served under Captain Tillman Ingram in Alachua County. The 7th Infantry Regiment was organized at Gainesville, Florida, in April, 1862. Its companies were recruited in the counties of Bradford, Hillsborough, Alachua , Manatee, and Marion. During the war it served in R.C. Trigg's, Finley's, and J.A. Smith's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 7th took an active part in the arduous campaigns of the army from Chickamauga, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee, then fought its last battle at Bentonville, North Carolina. It sustained few casualties at Chickamauga and in December, 1863, totaled 278 men and 206 arms. Howell was captured around May or June 1864 and transported as a prisoner-of-war to Camp Morton, Indiana. amp Morton, an Indianapolis civil war training camp and later a federal prison for captured confederate soldiers, was located in the area now bounded by Talbott Avenue to the west, Central Avenue to the east, Twenty-Second Street to the north, and Nineteenth Street to the south. Samuel Henderson, the first mayor of Indianapolis, originally owned this thirty-six acre tract, which contained scattered hardwood trees of mostly black walnut and oak and at least four good springs. This area became known as Henderson’s or Otis’ Grove. A creek flowed through this property upon which, after it was dredged in 1837, become known as State Ditch. State Ditch was later nicknamed the “Potomac” by the prisoners of Camp Morton. After being held captive for about nine months he was exchanged on March 1865. Howell was found to be unfit for duty by the Confederate States Army. Howell’s commander was in the process of giving him a furlough and sending home to recuperate when the war ended. The unit surrendered on April 26, 1865. Its commanders were Colonels Robert Bullock and Madison S. Perry, Lieutenant Colonel Tillman Ingram, and Major Nathan S. Blount. After the war Howell returned home and settled back into civilian life. By 1870 the Howell family relocated to Brooksville in Hernando County. Howell, age 40, worked as a farm laborer, Nancy, age 31, kept they house and cared for their five children: Laura 9, Charles 7, Frances 5, Turner 3 and new born Saphronia. Around 1900, at the turn of the century, the Howells were found living in Ft. Meade area, 2nd Precinct of Polk County, Florida. He worked as a farmer on rented land and Nancy kept the house and cared for their two sons Turner and Early. The had been married for 39 years, had 8 children, however, only 4 were living. On January 6, 1902 Howell, a resident of Fort Meade, submitted a Soldier’s Application for Pension. Howell states, “I am now over seventy years old and unable to earn a living from having lost an eye from a cansor (cancer), and also the loss of the use of one hand from what the Doctor’s termed a pinch frog in the palm of the right hand.” He signed his mark “x” on the application. Comrade T. J. Stokes gave statement that “(I) know he rendered the service above described in said regiment” and that he never deserted the Confederate Army. Former Captain D. C. Hart of Alachua County, stated on February 26, 1902 that Howell served under him. Physicians J. A. Garrand and F. M. Wilson, both of Bartow, gave statement that “that by reason of age and the loss of the use of his right hand and total loss of right eye is unable to do manual labor and unable, incapable of providing a living for himself.” His claim for pension, number 1296, was approved on May 1, 1902 paying at the rate of $96 per annum (year). Howell, at the age of 70, passed away on June 6, 1902 in Polk County. He was laid to rest at New Hope M.E. Cemetery, also known as Mount Pleasant Cemetery. It is located west of Fort Meade on Peeples Road; Section 5, Township 32, Range 25. On June 30, 1902 Mrs. Nancy Jane Howell, age 64 and a resident of Fort Meade, submitted a Widow’s Application for Pension. Her claim for pension, number 1508 was approved on July 15, 1902 at the rate of $120 per annum. At the time of the application she owed personal property valued at $25 and 6 head of cattle valued at $48. Her claim for pension, number 3208, was approved on September 6, 1909 retroactive July 1, 1909 at the rate of $120 per annum. I was not able to locate the death date of Mrs. Howell. Perhaps she is buried along side her husband in an unmarked grave or buried in DeSoto County. |
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