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Note: Illinois State Civil War Archives: Benjamin H. Woolsey, Pvt Co. H, 8 IL US Inf,
residence Vandalia, Fayette Co., IL, age 20, 6', light hair, blue eyes, light complexion, single, farmer, nativity Vandalia, Fayette Co.
Joined Jul 25, 1861 Cairo, Ill., 3 years. Mustered in Jul 25, 1861, Cairo, Ill.
Reenlisted as Veteran Volunteer.
Benjamin H. Woolsey, Pvt Company H, 8 IL US Inf
residence Vandalia, Fayette Co., IL., 22, 6', light hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, soldier, nativity Fayette Co.
Joined Feb 1, 1864, Vicksburg, MS by Lt King., 3 years; mustered in Mar 27, 1864, Vicksburg, MS. Mustered out May 4, 1866 Baton Rouge, LA by Lt. Maroney. Veteran.
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1870 Census: Benj. Woolsey, 29, farmer, $1000 real estate, $300 personal estate, born Illinois; Rachel, 27, home keeper, born Illinois; Mary (this should be Frances Josephine) 2, Luellen Morton 7; living in Otego Twp., Fayette Co., Illinois (film M593_220, p685, 1 July)
1880 Census: Benjamin Woolsey, 38, farmer, born Illinois, father born Kentucky, mother born South Carolina; wife Rachael A., 37, born Tennessee, parents born Kentucky; Josephine 11; Nellie 5; stepson, Lewelyn Morton 17; living in Otego Twp., Fayette Co., Illinois (film T9_0206, ED 102, p178B, 11 Jun)
1900 Census: Benj. Woolsey (indexed as Woolsen on Heritage Quest), 58, married 16 years, farmer; wife Sallie, Mar 1858, 42, married 16 years, 6 of 7 children living; Benj. F, Oct 1884, 15; Nancy J., Nov 1886, 13; Willard, June 1891, 8; Lesley, Apr 1894, 6; Mary H., Oct 1896, 3; Florence M., Sep 1899, 8/12; living on 10th Steet in Vandalia, Fayette Co., Illinois (film T623_300, ED28, p24B, 22 June)
Vandalia Union Sept 18, 1914
Vernon- Ben Woolsey found a gold band in his chicken house. Ben says owner can get the ring by calling and paying for chickens.
1920 Census: Ben Woolsey (indexed as Voolsey on Heritage Quest), 78; wife Sallie, 61; living in Vernon, Patoka Twp., Marion Co., Illinois (film T625_391, ED186, p270, 7 Jan)
1930 Census: Benjamin Woolsey, 88, 1st marriage at 26, born Illinois, father born Tennessee, mother born South Carolina; Sarah, 72, born Illinois, parents born Kentucky; living in Vernon Village, Patoka Twp., Marion Co., Illinois (film T626_543, ED 26, p2A, 12 Apr)
Vandalia, Illinois Newspaper Clipping, March 1933
Military Rites At B. H. Woolsey Funeral Monday
91-Year-Old Civil War Veteran Died Sunday at His Home in Vernon.
A military salute and the blowing of taps by the bugler brought to a close the impressive rites conducted Monday afternoon for Ben H. Woolsey in the Vernon cemetery with American Legion Posts from Vandalia and Patoka in charge and acting as the Military escort. Funeral services were conducted in the Vernon Methodist church with the pastor, the Rev. P. R. Glotfelty, Jr., officiating, assisted by Elder Oral Brown of Patoka, who delivered the sermon.
Ben H. Woolsey was born Dec. 6, 1841, and passed from this life March 26, 1933, having lived 91 years, 4 months and 20 days. His parents were John Woolsey, a soldier in the Mexican War, and Jane Haley. He spent his childhood days in Fayette county with his two brothers, Joe and Harrison, and his sister, Elizabeth Ann, and a half brother and sister, Lee and Elnore King.
Mr. Woolsey grew up in turbulent times. The slavery question was reaching its peak during the days of his grow to manhood. So that at the first call for volunteers in the Union Army he responded, enlisting at Vandalia on the 20th day of July 1861. He was placed in Company H, 8th Regiment of Illinois. He first served in the following engagements: Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Picksburgh Landing, Blackriver, Vicksburg, and Blakner. His term of service being up, he re-enlisted and served with the army in Texas, being mustered out of service at Springfield, May 16, 1866.
He married Rachel Mortin (sic), April 13, 1866, and to this union were born three children, Mrs. Josephine Wantland, Mrs. Nellie Caudle, and Fanny who died in infancy. Mrs. Wantland alone survives him of the children of this first union.
He married Sallie Perkins, Jan. 13, 1884, after the death of his first wife, Rachel. To this union were born seven children, Harrison and Mabel dying in infancy, Mrs. Nancy Jane Lockwood and Willard having preceded their father in death. The children surviving him are Frederick and Leslie Woolsey of Bear Grove township and Mrs. Mary Law of Pana.
Mr. Woolsey was converted and baptized in the United Brethren faith at the Overcup church, Fayette county about 1880. He withdrew his membership from this church during the days of the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic. He with Mrs. Woolsey joined the Methodist church at Shobonier in 1889.
During the later days of his life he became poor in sight and feeble in getting around and an injury made him an invalid the last year of his life.
He leaves his widow, 29 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren to mourn his departure along with a large group of friends.
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Card of Thanks We take this means of thanking our friends and neighbors for the expressions of sympathy and acts of kindness extended to us through the illness and at the time of the death of our loved one. We especially thank the American Legion for their assistance.--Mrs. Sarah Woolsey and Children.
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Although the obituary cites his marriage to Rachel Morton as April 13, 1866, he was married to Rachel on April 25, 1868. Benjamin was in Vicksburg, Mississippi in Arpil 1866. (source: Ralph A. Wantland)
He was slightly wounded in the Civil War battle at Fort Donelson in Tennessee on February 15, 1862.
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