There is little known about George's childhood, but he was one of 10 children, the youngest of the 6 boys. He joined the Kentucky Volunteers in 1861 and served on the northern side during the Civil War. He volunteered on December 8, 1861 for a three-year tour in Captain Northup's Company (known as Co. B) of the newly created 23rd Infantry Regiment of Kentucky at the Newport Barracks in Campbell County. This Unit was one of 4 new regiments boing combined into a new 23rd Brigade. The other units were 9th, 18th, and 19th Infantry regiments.
The 23rd Infantry Regiment was organized by Col. Marc Mundy and it's camp of organization was at Camp King, near Covington, KY. One of the four companies came from Pendleton County, another from Boone County, a third from Mason County and the 23rd was from Campbell and Kenton Counties. George reported for duty at Camp King.
George's army career was unusual to say the least. As a new private he deserted. George was apprehended in June 1863 and was court marshaled. But there is something very strange about this case, since the only punishment he received was a $5 fine and loss of pay while he was absent. There might have been good reason for the absence, but his official service record sheds no light on this mystery.
He rejoined his unit in Manchester, TN and his Army career sky rocketed. He received promotions to Corporal in only 6 months after this incident and more amazingly he reached the rank of Sergeant Major only 13 months later.
The 23rd Infantry continued it the Tennessee campaign pursuing General Braggs organization. For another year in some fierce encounters, such as Chattanooga Valley, where the commander, Col Foy, said that the fire power was very hot as it appeared every third man was struck. A bullet went through Coy's coat and the regiment was under heavy cross fire. In a change of troops, the 23d was to hold a position that five regiments had been holding. The unit received special commendations in several reports of the fighting, It then moved on to Chattanooga where it then began operations under General Grant. From there it helped reopen the Tennessee River and fought in the "Brown's Ferry" battle. Of its sixteen battles general Grant authorized the colors (unit flag) to be inscribed "Brown's Ferry". They continued on towards Knoxville and the relief of General Burnsides, who was besieged by Longstreet. They continued in to move around Knoxville in December - Morristown, Powder Springs, Strawberry Plains , New Market and Blain's Crossroads. It was at this last place where the 23rd tried to get all troops to reenlist. On Jan 5, 1864 almost all, including George reenlisted for 3 more years. His service records show he was discharged of his old volunteer service agreement and at the same time mustered in again for 3 more years. What is so amazing is that the fighting and starving and weather had been so bad that as many men signed as did. Early winter in 1864 was the coldest weather ever known in that area.
He was promoted to Corporal in February and was able to get home to marry Athalinda Florence Murphy (daughter of William Murphy and Nancy Revel) on March 16, 1864.
He rejoined the 23rd as it moved on to the join in the Battle for Atlanta, which the soldiers called the battle of "May, June, July, and August". It was during this hard fought campaign that George was severely wounded in his left thigh near Kennisaw Mountain on June 21, 1864. He was sent back to Nashville Hospital for treatment. He then was permitted to take leave to go home to Cincinnati Ohio where his wife could care for him during his recovery. In all he stayed on leave 6 months recovering from his serious gunshot wound and foot disease.
George returned to his unit in January 1865 at Huntsville, Alabama and joined in the chase of what was left of General Hood's severely beaten Confederate forces. The 23rd continued to Lick Creek, East Tennessee and on to Nashville, where they stayed in April and May of 1865. It was then sent to Green Lake, Texas where it camped until the end of September. It continued on to Lamar and arrived in Victoria, Texas, where it was mustered out on December 27, 1865.
After service George returned to Cincinnati to live with Athalinda and their first son, Charles E., born 25 May 1865 (Bob Parsons grandfather). Athalinda became pregrent while Sergeant Parsons was home during leave. A couple years later they had another son Walter M, born in September 1867.
Then they went their own ways and it has not been determined what caused the divorce. Bob Parsons suspects that due to the severity of his disability George was unable to secure or hold a sufficient job to provide adequately for Athalinda and their boys.
By 1870, they had divorced and George was residing alone in Ward 14 in Cincinnati. After the divorce, Athalinda was unable to support the boys, so she placed them in the Ohio Sailors and Soldiers Home in Xenia until they reached age 14.
What is known is that Athalinda remarried twice, with both husbands dying fairly early and he didn't remarry for 12 years and then after he had been granted disability a pension. His second wife was Nancy Beagle from Cincinnati (born in Boone County, KY). They had eight children, five of whom survived: Daniel born in 1885, Clarence born in 1888, Flora born in 1891, Addie born in 1894 and Mabel born in 1901.
Nancy survived 17 years after George died and was buried at Wesleyan in 1912. She supposedly was also buried there in June 1929.
He is found in census records and City Directories from 1890 to 1910. In the 1890 census, he lived with Nancy and four children in Kenton County, Kentucky. By 1891, he was residing in Cincinnati, and working as a painter or laborer.
Donna
You are visitor
since 5 August 2001.
Problems or bad links should be reported to the webmaster.
