78th Family Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: Betty H Rowland
From: Williamsburg VA
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
James K Sparrowgrove served as a private in Company B, 78th Ohio Infanty, enlisting on 14 October 1864 as a substitute for William Sparrowgrove whose name appears on the draft in Noble Twp, Noble Co, 16th District of State of Ohio. James (his x mark) Sparrowgrove was 18yrs old, a laborer, born 4 March 1845 in Guernsey Co Ohio. He was named James K after James K Polk who was inaugurated as President of the United States on 4 March 1845. James K Sparrowgrove received a pension for his service and died in Victor, Iowa on 3 April 1931.

Does anyone know if the draft lists for Noble Co Ohio, 16th District, survived and can be researched?

Added: April 8, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Matthew Harmon
From: Granville OH
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I sent a picture of Henry Hampshire. I now know He fought at Shiloh. This is my Great, Great, Great Grandfather. Henry Hampshire who died 22 May 1862 at Pittsburg Landing TN near Shiloh of sickness. He was born in 1823 in Morgan County OH. He was in the 78th Regiment, of Company I, of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was married to Lucinda Butler Hampshire and they lived in Granville, OH. He left behind his beautiful wife Lucinda Butler Hampshire and son Oliver Milton Hampshire. The cemetery should have the records that were acquired from the National Archives in Washington, DC which I left when on visit to Shiloh. He is either buried in a mass grave at Shiloh or a military cemetery close by.

Added: January 24, 2009

Submitted by
Name: R. J. Mercer
From: Dover, Mass.
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
This is in reaction to the Pius Jefferis and ES Vernon comments. There seems to be an ex-Quaker theme in this Regiment. Many Muskingum County and other early Ohio settlers, if they were not Quakers themselves, had Society of Friends forbears, mostly from Pennsylvania. Pacifist views must have been severely tested by life on the frontier, especially during the War of 1812 and Indian conflicts. Quakers were among the earliest opponents of slavery. Nevertheless, as I understand it, before the Civil War the most common reason for someone to be thrown out of a Friends Meeting was that they were marrying someone who was not a Quaker. I strongly suspect that once the Civil War began as many, and probably more, were thrown out of their Meeting because of their willingness to fight for the Union and to end slavery. No doubt the 78th Ohio had its full share of those who had been willing to sacrifice their religious and sometimes their family fellowship for what they considered a higher cause.

Admin reply: In terms of my research on this subject, I believe that while some Quakers were "read out of meeting" for enlisting, others were not. In fact, there was a whole cohort of what were called "Fighting Quakers." These were men who believed in pacifism as a general way of life, but who felt that this war was an exception because it would lead to the abolition of slavery. It was sort of a "greater evil" kind of argument. -- Carl J. Denbow

Added: November 26, 2008

Submitted by
Name: Mark Grubb
From: Beverly, Ohio
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I am the great grandnephew of Pvt. Rasselas(pronounced Rus-SELL-us)Grubb, Co. E,78th O.V.I., who was my great-grandfather Willard Grubb's oldest brother. Rasselas, was killed during the horrendous Battle of Atlanta July 24, 1864. What a hardy group our ancestors must have been, living in those perilous times. Thanks, Carl, for a very enlightening website!

Added: November 2, 2008

Submitted by
Name: David A Hollowell
From: Greeneville Tn.
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I am a ggGrandson of Robert B Scott through his daughter's side of the family and I just want to thank you for the historical legacy of the Glorious 78th Volunteer Infantry.

Added: August 22, 2008

Submitted by
Name: Douglas Scott
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I am a gg grandson of Robert B. Scott, who served in Company H of the 78th. In 1876, he moved his family from Guernsey County, Ohio to West Bolton, Kansas where he was a successful farmer until his death on Dec. 3, 1911. He was buried in Mercer Cemetery (now called Hope Cemetery) near Arkansas City, KS, and descendants still honor the Civil War veterans buried there every Memorial Day.

Added: July 16, 2008

Submitted by
Name: James Wilcox
From: Barberton, OH

Comments:
First, I have to say I really like this website. Great job to those involved with it. I am a gg grandson of Kelsey Little who served in company G. I know little about his service except that he enlisted as a private when the regiment formed and was promoted to Corporal late in the war. He grew up in Guernsey County and went back there for a few years after the war but moved to Barnesville in Belmont County around 1870. He was a stone mason there. He married Mary A. Thompson and they had 5 children. I descend from his youngest daughter. Kelsey died in 1906. I don't have any pictures of him but if I get one in the future, I'll gladly post it on this site.

Added: June 15, 2008

Submitted by
Name: Al Sigel
From: California
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I am the ggg grandson of Wesley West, Co F, 78th OVI. He served from day 1 to Vicksburg. Following the Vicksburg campaign he returned home to Richland Township. Upon his return to the 78th, he fell off the troop train, was taken to a hospital in Columbus and soon after died from his injuries. I have visited his gravesite in Richland. he is buried along side his father William West, a vet of the War of 1812.

Added: March 17, 2008

Submitted by
Name: Chelseann McKinney
From: San Fernando,CA
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I am the GGGGranddaughter of S.W. Hardesty. His real name is Sylvester Walker Hardesty born about 1844 in i believe Meigs Township, Muskingum Co., Ohio. He volunteered in 1863 at the age of 18(possibly). He was shot and relieved from further duty in Atlanta, GA, but I don't know when. He received his honorable discharge on 25 August 1865. He died in Bozeman, MT on 7 July 1918. He grew up a farmer, and went back to farming after the war. He was married to Mary J. King in 1867 and lived in Meigs Township, Ohio. They had five children and I am descended from his oldest son, John A. Hardesty. If anyone has anymore information about him, please let me know.

Added: March 12, 2008

Submitted by
Name: Doug Kreis
From: Zanesville, Ohio
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
First this is a wonderful site. I wish all units had one. I am the GGNephew of Abel Arter Pvt Co D 78th OVi and his brother James C Arter Co A 78th (Arthur)is how he is listed, all from Zanesville, Ohio. Their brother Alva B Arter was in the 178th. They are the sons of William H Arter veteran of 1812. All buried Greenwood Cemetery Zanesville. My own Great grandfather William D Arter served with 12th Illinois Cav. I have two copies of the History of the 78th by Stevenson, willing to sell one...if interested you can contact me. Both in Excellent shape

Added: March 3, 2008