|
a.
|
Note: Obituary: Steuben Co Republican, pg. 3, 8-3-1870. Our Fremont correspondent informs us that Joshua Taylor, residing a few miles north of Hall's Corners in Mighigan, committed suicide on Saturday last by taking strichnine. This man was brought from Pleasant Lake last spring, and place in the county jail on a charge of wife whipping. Fits, domestic trouble and insanity will make most anyone commit suicide. Joshua E. Taylor served in Co. A (Jenkins') of the 29th IN Infantry. He enlisted 8-10-1861 in Steuben Co, IN for a term of 3 years. He was a Teamster/Wagoner. In November, 1862 he was taken prisoner at Lawrenceburgh, KY, but was apparently returned shortly thereafter. Joshua was discharged 12-15-1862 at Camp Wallace in Ohio for "deformity and disability of left arm, which chiefly existed before enlistment." Joshua still wanted to take part in the War so in April, 1863 he joined up with the 22nd Independent Battery Ohio Light Artillary. Joshua E. Taylor enlisted in the 29 Regiment Indiana Infantry Co. A on August 10, 1861 in Angola, Steuben Co. Indiana for a period of 3 years. He was mustered into service at Camp Jackson on August 23, 1861. He is listed as a Wagoner in this regiment. From May to July of 1862 he is listed as a Teamster. Sometime between July and November 1862 he was taken prisoner at Lawrenceburgh, Kentucky. December 13, 1862, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, he was dicharged from the military on physical disability. He is also listed as being discharged November 15, 1862 in Louisville, Kentucky for the same reason. From May 1 to October 31, 1862 he is listed in Co. I of the 4th Regiment Paroled Prisoners, U.S Army. This organization was formed from paroled prisoners of war for duty campatible with their parole by G.O 72, A.G.O., of June 28, 1862, and the members were returned to their commands, from time to time, by G.O. No. 10, A.G.O.. of Janaury 10, 1863 and subsequent orders from the A.G.O., declaring the exchange of paroled prisoners and directing their return to their commands. One description of Pvt. Joshua E. Taylor lists him as 21 years old, 6 feet tall with dark complexion, dark eyes, dark hair. On his disability for discharge papers he is listed as being 23 years old, 6 feet tall, light complexion, light hair, grey eyes. he is also listed in these papers as being a farmer residing in York Center, Steuben Co, Indiana, and being born in Butler Co. Pennsylvania. According to his Discharge papers, dated December 15, 1862, Camp Wallace, it states that he is unfit for duty and discharged by reason of Surgeons certificate and G.O. #36 of 1862. The reason goes on to stated that his discharge is due to a deformity and disability of his left arm which chiefly existed before enlistment. In a notation from the War Department Record and Pension Division dated March 11, 1891, it states that Joshua E. Taylor is a veteran by reason of subsequent service in the 22nd Ohio Battery Light Artillery. Addition information on Joshua's service in the 22 Batt. Oh. L.A. comes from the Records and Pension Division. It states that Joshua E. Taylor enrolled as a private in ths regiment on March 7, 1863, and mustered out with this regiment on July 13, 1865. He held the rank of Private while in this regiment. Description of service states that on August 31, 1863 he was absent with leave (detailed on fatigue duty). On December 31, 1863 he was absent and had gone to Richmond, Kentucky with ambulance by order of the Col. On April 30, 1864 he is listed as deserted from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee on March 5. On February 28, 1865 he returned from desertion without loss of pay or allowances. It was later determined from military records that Joshua's charge of Desertion on March 5, 1864 were false. He was captured at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, March 2, 1864, confined at Richmond, Virginia May 6, 1864, admitted to Hospital 21 Richmond, Va. May 6, 1864, convalesant, returned to prison May 7, 1864. Paroled at Aikens Landing, Virginia May 8, 1864. Sent to hospital camp parole May 13, 1864 discharged from hospital May 14, 1864. Re-admitted May 29, 1864, discharged from hospital June 8 1864, resent June 10, 1864, discharged from hospital June, 20, 1864, transferred to Camp Chase, Ohio June 20, 1864, reported at Camp Chase June 22, 1864, was furloughed September 13, 1864, declared exchanged by G.O. 298, December 6, 1864 and was reported deserted December 18, 1864. It was determined that this charge of Desertion was also false and that the soldier was absent without leave from on or about December 18, 1864, to on or about February 1, 1865. Medical records show that on most of his stays in the hospital he was given no diagnosis and he was returned to duty. Although his hospital records show that he did suffered from convulsions on March 28-29, 1865. On June 6, 1891, Joshua's widow, Annie C. McKinnon applied for his pension. The pension number is 517467, and she is listed as a resident of Crystal, Montcalm Co. Michigan. In her application for his pension she claims that his death was due to a disease that he incurred from his service in the army. She also states that she has remained his widow until November 6, 1878, when she married Donald McKinnon. In another document it states that Joshua died of spasms or hydrophobia (Rabies). On another document she states that Joshua's death was due to spasms resulting from the effects of a bite by a mad dog, while in the service. Three General Affidavits were obtained to verify the information on Joshua. On March 30, 1891, Sarah Robbins age 73, of Crystal, Michigan and John Barger age 45 of Ferris, Michigan both state that they were well aquainted with Joshua E. Taylor from his discharge from the service, until his death. They both stated that he suffered from spasms, the cause of a mad dog bite. They stated that he often had spells which rendered him unconsious, and that he often took Strychnine to alieve and quiet the pain he suffered. And that finally from an overdose of Strychine, caused his death. They both stated that they had personal knowledge of this by being aquainted with him and observing his conduct from time to time, and knew that he suffered terrible during the stated time with spasms, the result of blood poisoning from a mad dog bite. John Barger writes another affidavit stating that he had known the widow Annie since she was a small girl, and that she was never married before her marriage to Joshua Taylor and that she remained a widow after his death until 1878 when she married Donald McKinnon. He goes on to state that he knew Joshua Taylor from the time he was a young man, and that he was not married prior to his marriage to Anna C. Hively. He states he knows this information because he was a neighbor to them. The other affidavit is from Sarah Snyder, age 74 and a resident of Ithica, Michigan. She states she knows Annie C. McKinnon, and know her children Sarah S. whose last name is now Lautis and Dessie E. whose last name is now Fando. She also states she was present at each of the births of Annie's children, in the capacity of a nurse. She verify the birthdates of the children and that Annie and Joshua were the parents. This application is eventually rejected, and in a document dated October 13, 1896, it states that the Pension is rejected on the grounds that the soldier's death from an overdose of strychnine was not due to his military service. Death notice: Steuben Co, Republican pg. 3: Aug. 3, 1870 Our Fremont correspondent informs us that Joshua Taylor, resident a few miles north of Hall's Corners in Michigan, committed suicide on Saturday last by taking strychnine. This man was brought from Pleasant Lake last spring, and placed in the county jail on a charge of wife whipping. Fits, domestic trouble and insanity will make most anyone commit suicide. Strychnine: (from Wikipedia) Small doses of strychnine were once used in medications as a stimulant, a laxative and as a treatment for other stomach ailments. Strychnine has stimulant effects at low doses but because of its high toxicity and tendency to cause convulsions the use of strychnine in medicine was eventually abandoned once safer alternatives became available. The dosage for medical use was cited as between "1/60th grain - 1/10th grain", which is between 1.1 milligrams and 6.4 milligrams in modern measures. Normally the maximum dosage used was 3.2mg, half of a "full dose". [2] A lethal dose was cited as 1/2 a grain (32mg), but people have been known to die from as little as 5mg of strychnine. Strychnine poisoning can be fatal to humans and can be introduced to the body by inhalation, swallowing or absorption through eyes or mouth. It produces some of the most dramatic and painful symptoms of any known toxic reaction. For this reason, strychnine poisoning is often used in literature and film. Ten to twenty minutes after exposure, the body's muscles begin to spasm, starting with the head and neck. The spasms then spread to every muscle in the body, with nearly continuous convulsions, and get worse at the slightest stimulus. The convulsions progress, increasing in intensity and frequency until the backbone arches continually. Death comes from asphyxiation caused by paralysis of the neural pathways that control breathing, or by exhaustion from the convulsions. The patient frequently dies within 2-3 hours after exposure. At the point of death, the body "freezes" immediately, even in the middle of a convulsion, resulting in instantaneous Rigor mortis. 22nd Independent Battery Light Artillery. One section organized April 1, 1863. Moved to Wheeling, W. Va., April 1. Duty there and in Holmes county, Ohio, till June. Moved to Camp Chase, Ohio, June 19. Battery organization completed at Camp Chase and mustered in July 14, 1863. Moved to Parkersburg, W. Va., thence to Wheeling, W. Va., and, to Hancock, Md., to support Kelly's operations against General Lee in his retreat from Gettysburg, Pa. Sent to operate against Morgan, July. Moved to Camp Nelson, Ky., August 12, 1863. Attached to Willcox's Left Wing forces, 9th Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to October, 1863. De-Courcy's Brigade, Cumberland Gap, Willcox's Left Wing forces, 9th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of the Clinch, Dept. of the Ohio, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to August, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, District of East Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865. SERVICE.--Expedition to Cumberland Gap August 17-September 7. Operations about Cumberland Gap September 7-10. Capture of Cumberland Gap September 9. Duty there till June 27, 1864. Action at Crab Gap December 5. 1863. Reconnoissance from Cumberland Gap January 3, 1864. Near Cumberland Gap June 21. Moved to Knoxville, Tenn, June 27, 1864, and garrison duty there till July 5, 1865. Ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio, July 5. Mustered out July 13, 1865. Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 2 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 16 Enlisted men by disease. Total 20.
|
