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Liberty is the son of Ewell (nicknamed "Uel") Dragoo and his first wife Jane Barnhouse, of Barrackville, Monongalia County Virginia, and later, of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. Liberty was the fourth of eight children.
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Note: PLEASE, do NOT transfer this
memorial to other web sites.
Thanks, Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
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Liberty's parents Ewell and Jane Dragoo, and his Grandparents Jacob and Isabella Dragoo, are buried in the old pioneer Dragoo "family" cemetery named the "Virginian's Burying Ground", on Chippewa Street, in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan.
(Also known as the "Dragoo Cemetery").
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Note: The cemetery was originally located on a farm. The farm property was later...
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Liberty is the son of Ewell (nicknamed "Uel") Dragoo and his first wife Jane Barnhouse, of Barrackville, Monongalia County Virginia, and later, of Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan. Liberty was the fourth of eight children.
-------------------------------
Note: PLEASE, do NOT transfer this
memorial to other web sites.
Thanks, Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
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Liberty's parents Ewell and Jane Dragoo, and his Grandparents Jacob and Isabella Dragoo, are buried in the old pioneer Dragoo "family" cemetery named the "Virginian's Burying Ground", on Chippewa Street, in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan.
(Also known as the "Dragoo Cemetery").
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Note: The cemetery was originally located on a farm. The farm property was later annexed to the City of Buchanan, Michigan, as part of the "Treat and Howe Addition", and divided into "city" lots. The cemetery is "now" located in the backyard of a PRIVATE residence, at 936 Chippewa Street, in Buchanan, Michigan.
Note: Please be courteous, and ALWAYS ask permission from the property owner, before entering upon this PRIVATE property.
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UPDATE: In the spring and summer of 2012, this Dragoo "family" cemetery was cleaned and "reconstructed", by several members of "Friends of Oak Ridge Cemetery" in Buchanan, Michigan. (See: "Virginian's Burying Ground", in Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan).
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Liberty was born near Barrackville (South of Morgantown, and West of Fairmont), in Monongalia County Virginia, on Nov. 20, 1844 (per his Civil War Military Records). This area is "now" part of Marion County "West" Virginia.
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Liberty came to Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan as an infant, in 1845 (per article on his brother Tucker), with his parents and siblings, when they "returned" to Buchanan, Michigan.
Note: Liberty stated that he was born in Virginia, on Nov. 20, 1844 (per his Civil War records).
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Liberty was married to Celestia Ann Hunniker in August of 1864 in Niles, Berrien County Michigan, by Justice of the Peace Barron (per his Civil War military records). They were married just before Liberty left for the Civil War. Celestia was the daughter of Francis "Frank" Hunniker Sr. and his wife Julia Ann Frame of Buchanan, Michigan.
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Note: The "Justice of the Peace" who married them, was most likely Clement L. Barron, who was a Justice of the Peace in Niles, Michigan for almost 30 years, and he also owned and maintained a museum of stuffed birds and animals, named the "Niles Museum", in a building at the foot of Main St. (at 55 Main Street), in Niles, Michigan. Clement L. Barron was also Supervisior of the City of Niles, in 1881. Clement L. Barron (1816-1894) is buried in the Silverbrook Cemetery, in Niles, MI. (His brother Dr. Jabez Barron, was a doctor in Niles, Michigan for about 20 years).
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Note: Liberty was married only once. His military records prove this to be true. Some genealogy web sites show him as having been married twice, which is incorrect, and they have his children listed incorrectly. He was never married to anyone named Betsey or Alisha, and he was never married to anyone with the surname of "Bull". They also have his middle name listed as "Ulyssis", and/or "Uhel", but we can find no "documentation" proving this to be true. Also, the 1880 census had MANY mistakes for Liberty's family!
Until we can find "documentation" on Liberty's middle name, we will list him as "Liberty U. Dragoo".
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Also, in his Civil War Military Records, Liberty was asked to list all of his children, both living and dead, and their dates of birth.
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When Liberty enlisted for the Civil War, the military authorities questioned his date-of-birth, and state-of-birth, so Liberty had to borrow the family bible from his parents, and take it to a notary public, and have them write a letter to the authorities, saying that his birth date and birth state, listed in the family bible looked legitimate, and did not look to have been altered.
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Liberty and his wife Celestia had seven children. Their children are listed on the memorial for his wife Celestia (Hunniker) Dragoo.
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Liberty's Civil War "Military Service and Pension Records", obtained from the National Archives in Washington D.C., state the following:
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Liberty enlisted on Aug. 25, 1864 as a private at Kalamazoo, MI for one year, at the age of 19, and he mustered out at Jackson, Michigan on July 30, 1865. Liberty served in the Civil War with the
"1st Michigan Light Artillery, Company E.
[NOT Company "C", as is inscribed on his
Civil War Veteran military marker].
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Liberty went into the Civil War as a
"Substitute Volunteer Enlistment" for
William Pears of Buchanan, Michigan.
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Note: William Pears (pronounced "Peers"), in partnership with Solomon Rough and George Rough in 1868, were owners of a water powered saw mill in Buchanan, Michigan [which had been built by Mr. Bainton], and which did an extensive business. Subsequently, William Pears became the sole owner of the "Pears Flour and Grist Mill" in Buchanan, Michigan, which has been preserved, and is now a tourist attraction. Of the 13 known water-powered mills that were built along Buchanan's McCoy's Creek, only this one remains. It was built in 1857. The Pears Mill is now listed on the Register of Michigan State Historic Sites. See the following web site: www.pearsmill.com
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William Pears (1826-1893), came from England, to the U. S. in 1855, and settled in Buchanan, MI. William Pears was the President of the Village of Buchanan, MI in 1872, and 1877. He was President of the Buchanan Manufacturing Company, when it was organized in 1872. He built a magnificent Italianate house with a French Second-Empire-style third story, with a mansard roof, at 303 West Front Street, about 1866. He was a Buchanan Village Trustee, and a trustee for the Buchanan school board of education. He was also one of the organizers, and the President of the the First National Bank of Buchanan, in 1872.
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Note: There was an article titled "Finding Your Civil War Ancestors" published in the July 2007 issue of the "Family Tree Magazine". On page 18, it states the following:
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In 1863, Congress enacted the nation's first military draft; it applied to men ages 20 to 45. The Enrollment Act of 1863 granted draftees the option to avoid military service by paying a "substitute" $300.oo, but in practice, this fee escalated.
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An official Civil War document photo-copied from microfilm at the National Archives in Washington D. C., states the following:
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SUBSTITUTE VOLUNTEER ENLISTMENT State of Michigan, Town of Buchanan. I, Liberty U. Dragoo born in the State of Virginia, aged nineteen years, and by occupation a farmer, Do Hereby Acknowledge to have agreed with William Pears, Esq. of Buchanan, Berrien County, Michigan to become his SUBSTITUTE in the Military Service, for a sufficient consideration, paid and delivered to me on the twenty fifth day of August A. D. 1864 and having thus agreed with said William Pears, I do Hearby Acknowledge to have enlisted this twenty fifth day of August 1864 to serve as a SOLDIER in the ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, for the period of one year, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: I do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or maybe established by law for Soldiers. And I do solemnly swear that I will bear true and faithful allegience to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their Enemies or Opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the Officiers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articies of War. Sworn and Subscribed to at Kalamazoo this 25th day of August 1864. [Signed] Liberty U. Dragoo.
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Substitute in lieu of William Pears. This soldier has Gray eyes, Brown hair, Light complexion, is five feet ten and 1/2 inches high.
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Liberty participated in an important battle in the Civil War, in Nashville, Tennessee on Dec. 15 and 16th, 1864 (per: "Michigan and the Civil War Years 1860-1866, A Wartime Chronicle"). On page 69, it states the following:
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Dec. 15-16. After the battle of Franklin, General Hood moved on to Nashville, [Tennessee] where he dug in and made a pretense of placing the Union forces in the city under siege. After careful preparation, General Thomas attacked Hood on the 15th and 16th and scored what has often been called the most complete victory of the entire war. General Hood's army was, for all practical purposes, destroyed. The 23rd, 25th, and 28th Michigan infantry, the 2nd Michigan Cavalry, and Batteries D, E, and F of the Michigan Light Artillery had a part in the battle, while the 8th Michigan Cavalry was one of the units held in reserve.
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(This information is also, in "Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War").
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"Michigan In The War", states the following on pages 528-529:
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BATTERY E. In December [1864] it participated in the defense of Nashville, [Tennessee] against the attack of the rebel General Hood on that point, where it gained an enviable reputation in that important battle, and was engaged in pursueing his forces on their retreat southward.
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In Liberty's Civil War pension application file,
a document states that in the battle at Nashville, Tennessee, Liberty was positioned near a cannon, when his right ear suddenly commenced to hemorrage. Years later, after an examination by two surgeons (for pension purposes), they declared that he was nearly totally deaf in the right ear and that he also suffered from disease of the kidneys. Height- 5 ft. and 11 inches, weight-160 pounds, age 46 years, light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
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A newspaper article from the "Berrien County Record" newspaper in Buchanan, Berrien Co. Michigan states the following:
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An explanation of why the names of Ashley Carlisle and Liberty Dragoo were not included in the roster of the G.A.R. [Grand Army of the Republic, William Perott - Post 22, in Buchanan, MI], published in the "Record" Dec. 27, is furnished by Sam Bunker, who states that these two veterans never joined the order. Not with-standing that fact, the annual picnics of the G.A.R. were held in the Carlisle yard for many years.
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Note: "A Twentieth Century History
of Berrien County Michigan",
by Judge Orville W. Coolidge,
incorrectly lists Liberty
as "Liberty W. Dragon".
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Some Civil War records list him
incorrectly, as Liberty V. Drago,
Liberty W. Dragon, and Liberty W. Dragoo.
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Note: Liberty's cousin William Harrison Barnhouse, of Buchanan, Michigan, also served in the Civil War, as a Sergeant, in Company L, 2nd Michigan Calvery. He was captured and held in a confederate prison, but was later released in a prisoner exchange. He is also buried in the Dragoo family cemetery on Chippewa St. in Buchanan, Michigan. See the memorial for William Harrison Barnhouse (with photo), on this web site.
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Liberty also had a cousin George Dragoo, of Buchanan, Michigan (the son of John Fleming Dragoo Sr.), who also served in the Civil War, in Company K, 12th Michigan Infantry. He enlisted and was mustered in on Feb. 15, 1864, at Buchanan, Michigan, for 3 years, age 18. George died of typhoid fever in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 4 months and 5 days after enlisting, age 19. His burial location is unknown.
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Liberty and Celestia lived in the village of Buchanan, and in Buchanan township, Berrien County Michigan all of their married lives. Land records show that Liberty has owned land in Buchanan township, in sections 9, and 15 (where his grandparents Jacob and Isabella Dragoo had once lived), and also lot # 5 "in town". He has lived on both Hobart St. (where his youngest daughter Cleo was married), and on North Portage Street, in Buchanan, Michigan.
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The 1873 plat map of Buchanan township,
shows Liberty owning a farm in
Section 15 [near the Miller Road
and Main Street Road intersection],
North of Buchanan (near his cousins
William Harrison Barnhouse and his
wife Isabel (Dragoo) Barnhouse, and
other Dragoo family relatives).
This could possibly be some of the
same land in Section 15, that his
Grandparents Jacob and Isabella Dragoo
had once owned.
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In 1901, Liberty (age 57), is shown as an employee of the "Blodgett Brickyard" in Buchanan, MI (per the photo of him working there, on page 170, in the book titled: "Greetings from Buchanan, Historic Photobook Series", by Leo J. Goodsell and Robert C. Myers, of the Berrien County Historical Association).
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Besides having been a farmer, Liberty is listed in the 1904-1905 Berrien County MI Directory as follows:
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Dragow, Liberty [age 60], engr/G. H. Black, residence N. Portage Street.
[Note: George Henry Black owned a furniture manufacturing company in Buchanan, Michigan. G. H. Black is also listed as the President of the Village of Buchanan, Michigan from 1901 to 1903].
An article in the Buchanan newspaper on Oct. 12, 1882, states: "Mr. George H. Black has just placed upon his lot at Oak Ridge Cemetery, the finest monument on the grounds. The monument is twenty feet high and was built by Mr. Volk of Chicago, Ill, for $1,250.oo". [Note: No such monument can be found there]. See memorial for George Henry Black.
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In the 1917 directory [after his wife's death], Liberty is listed as follows:
Dragoo, Liberty [age 73], 4 [living] children, cabinetmaker, bds [boards on] Portage Street, Buchanan, B telephone.
[He possibly was still working for the same furniture manufacturing company as above].
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In the book titled "The Story of Portage Prairie", by Alma V. Hartline, 1991, on page 307, he is referred to as Liberty "Lib" Dragoo [the father of Julia (Dragoo) Rhoades].
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Liberty died while visiting friends at 301 Territorial Road, in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co. MI. He died of "angina pectoris" (chest pain, due to inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscles, now commonly known as "coronary artery disease"), at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 16 days. At the time of Liberty's death, he was living with his son Clyde Dragoo, at 1414 Morton Ave. in St. Joseph, Berrien County Michigan.
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Liberty's obituary was published in the "News-Palladium" newspaper, in Benton Harbor, Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 7, 1919, Page 1 (front page), column 3. It reads as follows:
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L. U. DRAGOO DIES WHILE MAKING CALL.
St. Joseph man seventy-four, passes away Wednesday in this city. Liberty U. Dragoo of St. Joseph, [MI] aged seventy-four, came over to this city to call on some friends at noon Wednesday. At 2:30 o'clock, Mr. Dragoo was dead. He passed away without any warning of previous illness, and his son, Clyde Dragoo of 1414 Morton avenue, St. Joseph, [MI] could ascribe his passing to no ailment of which he had complained. He died at 301 Territorial Road, [Benton Harbor, MI]. Furneral services will be held at Buchanan, [MI] Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, where the body will be sent by Undertaker F. H. Martinie of this city. Deceased is survived by his son Clyde, with whom he made his home, a daughter, Mrs. [Cleo] Upham of Buchanan, [MI] and another daughter, Mrs. [Julia] Rhodes [Rhoades], residing in Three Oaks, [MI].
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Note: Liberty's death certificate incorrectly gives his "place of birth" as Michigan. Liberty's son Clyde Dragoo was the informant. Clyde gives his father's name as Liberty Uhle Dragoo and Liberty's father's name as Uhle Dragoo. Liberty's father's name was actually Ewell (nickname "Uel") Dragoo. Note: We can find no "documented" proof of Liberty's middle name, so we will list him as Liberty U. Dragoo.
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Note: This memorial was researched and
written, by Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
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Liberty is buried next to his wife Celestia in Section A, (the "North half" of) lot 64. He has one Civil War military marker (furnished by the U. S. government), and one headstone (put there by his family). His Civil War marker reads:
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LIBERTY U. DRAGOO
CO. C.
1 MICH. L. A.
[Company C.
1st Michigan Light Artillery].
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Note: Company "C" is incorrect. It "should" say Company (or Battery) "E".
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The headstone put there by his family reads:
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FATHER
LIBERTY U.
DRAGOO
1844 - 1919
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Note: Members of five consecutive generations of Liberty and Celestia's family are buried in this Oak Ridge Cemetery.
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Note: See "Michigan and the Civil War Years 1860-1866, A Wartime Chronicle", by George S. May. Published by the Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission. Page 69.
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Also, see: "Michigan In The War", page 529 (Battery E).
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Note: For additional information on
this Dragoo family, see:
"The Virginian's Burying Ground, Buchanan, Berrien County Michigan and The Family of Jacob and Isabella Dragoo", compiled by Nancy (Letcher) Heib, located in the "Local History Room" of the Buchanan District Library, Buchanan, Michigan, and in the Library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan.(www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan)
Also located in the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (www.acpl.lib.in.us)
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Note: See the memorials for one line
of Liberty's family on this web site:
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Grandfather, Jacob Dragoo.
Grandmother, Isabella (Jones) Dragoo.
Cousin, William Harrison Barnhouse.
Father, Ewell ("Uel") Dragoo.
Mother, Jane (Barnhouse) Dragoo.
Wife, Celestia (Hunniker) Dragoo.
Daughter, Cleta "Cleo" (Dragoo) Upham.
Granddaughter, Cecile (Upham) Bliss.
Great, Granddaughter, Thelma (Bliss) Letcher.
(ALL of whom have lived in Buchanan, Michigan).
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Note: Liberty U. Dragoo and his
wife Celestia Ann (Hunniker) Dragoo,
are my Great, Great, Grandparents.
Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
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captions, and additional photos.
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