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Private BOWATER SUMNER WALTER, Co. F, 86th Illinois
Bowater Sumner Walter was born on September 13, 1830 near __________, Ohio in Highland County, the son of John W. Walter and Hannah (Sumner) Walter. John W. Walter was born on December 13, 1789 and died on August 6, 1863 in Knox County, Illinois and was a Private in Captain Hugh Rogers Company of Highland Co., Ohio, from July 28, 1813 to August 26, 1813 during the War Of 1812. Hannah (Sumner) Walter was born May 9, 1793 and died on September 22, 1844 in Knox County, Illinois. The Walters were laid to...
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Private BOWATER SUMNER WALTER, Co. F, 86th Illinois
Bowater Sumner Walter was born on September 13, 1830 near __________, Ohio in Highland County, the son of John W. Walter and Hannah (Sumner) Walter. John W. Walter was born on December 13, 1789 and died on August 6, 1863 in Knox County, Illinois and was a Private in Captain Hugh Rogers Company of Highland Co., Ohio, from July 28, 1813 to August 26, 1813 during the War Of 1812. Hannah (Sumner) Walter was born May 9, 1793 and died on September 22, 1844 in Knox County, Illinois. The Walters were laid to rest in the Housh-Walter-Sumner Cemetery. They are listed incorrectly on Find A Grave as being buried in the Clark Chapel Cemetery. These are two separate cemeteries and they are buried in the Housh-Walter-Sumner. That cemetery is listed that way on Find A Grave. After Hannah's death, John W. Walter was married 2nd to Fanny (Marchant) Thurman, who had been married previously to Mark Thurman, who had died in 1845. John and Fanny had one daughter in 1849, Hannah Jane Walter, who was married to Franklin Davis in 1867 in Knox County. Fanny died on January 31, 1870 and her earthly remains were laid with those of her first husband in the Uniontown Cemetery near Maquon, Illinois, while those of John W. Walter and Hannah (Sumner) Walter were laid in the Walter Cemetery.
Bowater Sumner Walter was married to Eliza Jane Darnell on February 2, 1853 in Knox County, Illinois. Eliza was born on February 9, 1837 near Maquon, Illinois in Knox County, the daughter of William W. Darnell and Prissilla Jane (Thurman) Darnell.
Nine children were born Bowater and Eliza two of whom died in infancy. All were most likely born in Knox County, Illinois. They are;
1. Martha Angeline Walter, born c. 1855/56
2. John Wickliff Walter, born c. 1859/60; living in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1919.
3. Mary Jane Walter, born c. 1861/62
4. Charles Edward Walter, born c. 1863/64; residing in Los Amigos, Colorado in 1919.
5. Lillie Arnetta Walter, born c. 1870/71
6. Frederick Elmer "Fred" Walter, c. 1872/73; residing in David City, Nebraska in 1919.
7. William Marion Walter, born c. 1875/76; residing in Denver, Colorado in 1919.
8. Infant Walter, possibly buried in the Housh-Walter-Sumner Cemetery in Knox County.
9. Infant Walter, possibly buried in the Housh-Walter-Sumner Cemetery in Knox County.
On July 29, 1862, Bowater's brother-in-law, Sumner W. Darnell, volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in the Maquon, Illinois area by a local Carpenter, Contractor and Businessman by the name of James L. Burhalter for service in the Union Army. Four days later, on August 2, 1862, Bowater Sumner Walter, and another of Bowater's brother-in-laws, Joel Darnell, who was married to Bowater's older sister Cynthia Walters, as well as a future brother-in-law, Franklin Davis, who would marry Bowater's baby 1/2 sister, Hannah Jane Walter, after the war, also volunteered to served in this Maquon company. Two days later on August 4, 1862, Bowater's brother, Cary R. Walter volunteered to serve in the Maquon area company.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report
Name WALTER, BOWARTER S Rank PVT
Company F Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence MAQUON, KNOX CO, IL
Age 30 Height 6'
Hair BROWN Eyes HAZEL
Complexion DARK
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity HIGHLAND CO, OH
Service Record
Joined When AUG 2, 1862
Joined Where MAQUON, IL
Joined By Whom J L BURKHALTER
Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out
Muster Out Where
Muster Out By Whom
Remarks DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY FEB 2, 1863 AT GALLATIN TENN
When Burkhalter had about 100 volunteers, he led the Maquon company into Peoria, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. There on August 27, 1862, he was elected by the men of the Maquon company to be their Captain and Captain Burkhalter and 93 of his volunteers, including now Privates Bowater S. Walter and Cary R. Walter, were mustered in as Co. F of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, Capt. James L. Burkhalter leading Co. F, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in the Union army of General Buell, who were in pursuit of Confederate troops under the command of General Braxton Bragg. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years. After the Union victory at Perryville, the Confederate Army withdrew from Kentucky and McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they went into winter camp.
However, even before the men of McCook's Brigade left the Louisville area, the civilian soldiers were having great difficulty with their new diet and new life style. When McCook's Brigade left the Louisville area on the Kentucky Campaign, many men were left behind sick in the hospitals. On the way to Nashville after the Battle of Perryville, the men of McCook's Brigade passed through Bowling Green, Kentucky and then Galltin, Tennessee. In each of these towns, McCook's Brigade stopped for a few days to rest. When they pulled out of each of these cities, more men were left behind in sick in makeshift army hospitals. One of the men known to have been left behind when the 86th left the Gallatin area on the final leg of the march to Nashville, was Private Bowater Sumner Walter, who was left behind in a makeshift army hospital. I have always assumed that he was left behind sick, but his obituary states that "after a few months service received injuries which rendered him unfit for further service and were of such permanent character as to prove a hindrance throughout his life." So, it appears that Bowater was actually injured in some way while the 86th was in the Gallatin area and was forced to be left behind.
On November 25, 1862, about two weeks after the men of McCook's Brigade arrived in the Nashville area, the men of Co. F held an election to fill one of the openings in the Corporal ranks. Private Cary R. Walter was elected to be their next Corporal and Cary would serve as such for the remainder of the war. The men of McCook's Brigade and the whole Union army struggled with their health through the winter there in Nashville. The hospitals were full to overflowing and today the Nashville National Cemetery is the final resting place for hundreds of Union soldiers who died during that first winter there in Nashville.
Back in Gallatin, whatever his injury, by later January of 1863, the army doctors realized that Private Bowater Sumner Walter was not going to recover enough to be of use in the service, but had recovered enough to be sent home. So on February 2, 1863, Private Bowater Sumner Walter, was discharged from the service and sent home. Whatever injury was, it apparently according to his obituary, gave him difficulty the remainder of his life.
The 86th Illinois remained in the Nashville area through the spring and summer of 1863. In early July of 1863, the men of McCook's Brigade were marched to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but returned shortly afterward, probably before the end of July. Back in Knox County, Cary' father passed away on August 6th, 1863. It probably was some time before Cary found out about the passing of his father. Col. Irons of the 86th passed away in Nashville on August 11, 1863 and on August 20, 1863, the men of McCook's Brigade left the Nashville are for good when they began what would become the Campaign for Chattanooga, Tennessee.
During the next two years, the men of the 86th served in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, Corporal Cary R. Walter was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averasboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina to name a few and marched with Sherman to the Sea. Corporal Walter was still there when Confederate General Johnston was forced to surrender his army to that of General William Tecumseh Sherman, after the Battle of Bentonville.
After the war came to an end, the surviving members of the 86th Illinois & McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington City (now D.C.) where in May they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. They were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865 in Washington and were soon on a train bound for Chicago, where they would receive their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June, the surviving members of Co F were back home with their families in Knox County.
At the time of the 1880 census, Bowater and Eliza are still found in Maquon, Knox County, Illinois with their family;
Bowater Walter, age: 49; marital status: Married; occupation: Farmer; birthplace: Ohio; spouse's name: Eliza Walter; spouse's birthplace: Illinois; father's birthplace: South Carolina; mother's birthplace: South Carolina
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Borter Walter, self, M 49 Ohio
Eliza Walter, wife, F 45 Illinois
Martha Walter, daughter F 24 Illinois
John W. Walter, son, M 20 Illinois
Mary J. Walter, daughterF 18 Illinois
William Walter, son, M 16 Illinois
Lilly Walter, daughter F 9 Illinois
Charles Walter, son, M 7 Illinois
Frederick Walter, son, M 4 Illinois
About 1882, Bowater and Eliza decided to move west to Nebraska, where they settled in Butler County, Nebraska, near David City, Nebraska. They are known to have resided near there until the spring of 1887, when Bowater and Eliza moved to homestead land in Colorado. They remained there until the fall of 1897, when they returned to Butler County, Nebraska, residing there the remainder of their lives.
Eliza Jane (Darnell) Walter died on Feb. 15, 1900 in or near Ulysses, Nebraska in Butler County. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the David City Cemetery in David City, Nebraska in Butler County. The following obituary appeared on page 3 of the February 28, 1900 edition of the Ulysses Dispatch, Ulysses, Nebraska;
"Mrs. Eliza Walter was born in Knox county, Illinois, on the 9th day of Feb., 1837, and was married to B.S. Walter, her now bereaved husband, on the 2nd day of Feb., 1853. To this union there was born nine children, two of whom died in early life. She moved with her husband and family to Butler county, Neb. in the fall of 1882, and resided on the same farm where the family now live, till the spring of 1887 when they moved to Colorado, remaining there until the fall of 1897, when they came back to the present home. Mrs. Walter was at the time of her death, 63 years and 5 days old. Her maiden name was Darnell. Three of her brothers have preceded her to the worlds beyond. William Darnell died at the age of 58, Joseph at the age of 67, and James at the age of 65 years, and one girl died in infancy. The other brothers and sisters are still living, Sumner and Mrs. McKee in Butler county and the others in different parts of the U.S. Her own children resides, two in David City, one in Denver, Col., and one near her home, and the remaining three are at home. Mrs. Walter was a good wife, a kind mother and was loved by all who knew her. She leaves a husband and seven children and a host of friends to mourn her loss. She was only ill about nine hours. Among some words spoken after she was taken sick were these: "I am going to heaven; I want him to come too."
Funeral services were held at the home of the deceased on Sunday at 10 o'clock, in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends, by W. A. Baldwin of the Ulysses Christian church, after which the body was taken to the David City cemetery for interment.
She sleeps, she sleeps and never more
Will her footstep fall by the old home door.
Nor her voice be heard with it's loving tone,
By the lone ones left round her own hearthstone.
She has gone, she has gone, to her home afar-
To the beautiful land where the angels are."
Bowater Sumner Walter lived another 19 years, passing away on Apr. 29, 1919 at David City, Butler County, Nebraska. The following obituary appeared on page 1 of the May 8, 1919 edition of the People's Banner, of David City, Nebraska;
"Bowater S. Walter died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Clark, on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. Afflicted with heart trouble for some time, which caused his demise, and illness since January so serious that he was confined to his bed. At the mature age of 88 years, 7 months and 16 days, after a life of varied experiences, a life profitably spent, he passed on and his remains were laid to rest beside the grave of his wife who had preceded him some nineteen years ago. Birthplace of Mr. Walter was in Harlan (actually Highland) county, Ohio, but while still a youth he moved with his parents to Illinois. It was here he grew to manhood and his marriage to Miss Darnell took place in Knox county, Illinois. He was a veteran of the civil war, a member of the 86th Illinois Infantry and after a few months service received injuries which rendered him unfit for further service and were of such permanent character as to prove a hindrance throughout his life.
Mr. Walter during his early life was a member of the Masonic Order. Coming to David City from Illinois at an early date, 1882, since which time with the exception of a few years spent on homestead land in Colorado, he had made this city and Ulysses his home. Since the death of his companion he had lived with his children in David City and Ulysses the last two years being spent in the Clark home.
The surviving children are Mrs. James Clark, Mrs. Louis Peschek, and Fred Walter of David City, William Walter of Denver, Colorado, Charles Walter of Los Aminos, Colorado, and J. W. Walter of Fort Collins, Colorado. A daughter, Mrs. Peter Benson died two years ago, and two children died in infancy. Nineteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren are living. And one brother Mr. Carey Walter, resides in Neosha, Missouri.
The funeral services were held on last Thursday afternoon, May 1, at 3:30 o'clock at the residence of James Clark. W. H. Thompson, pastor of the Christian church, conducted the services and a quartet composed of Guy Walling, Hugo Hahn and Mrs. Frank Sellhern and Miss Anna Eller gave the selections, "Jesus Savior Pilot Me", "Abide With Me", and "Rock of Ages" with Miss Phoebe Walden, organist.
The pallbearers were Joe Lichliter, Ike West, C. E. Bennison, Ed McCracken, John Slegger, Hamp J. Hall. Interment was in David City cemetery."
As stated in his obituary, the earthly remains of Private Bowater Sumner Walter were laid beside those of his wife of 47 years in the David City Cemetery.
by Baxter B. Fite III (FAG Contributor #47203738)
(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the Walter family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Bowater Sumner Walter and the Walter family. Baxter would also love to see any other pictures of Bowater, that may have survived the years, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)
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