David Alexander Syers
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Listed in the records as Syers -or- Syres, Alexander, he enlisted at Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 27, 1865, for 1 year of service at age 44. He musterd in on the same day. He was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1865.Narrative by Jill Clark (David) Alexander SYERS and at least three of his sons served in Michigan regiments during our Civil War. It has been said that as many as six sons served their country. If this is true I have only found record of the three, William, Willard, and Eli Wilber. The possibility exists that some of the other sons may have served in other state's regiments. It was not unusual for boys from Michigan to serve in Wisconsin, Indiana, or Ohio regiments, especially if they were under age and their local regiments would not accept them.
Willard, the eldest son, enlisted in Company D, 8th Michigan Infantry, September 18, 1861 in Grand Rapids for a three year enlistment. He was 19 years old. As part of the Army of the Potomac's 9th Corps, the 8th Michigan saw action in many of the fiercest battles of the war including Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and the siege of Petersburg. Willard was wounded in the leg at the battle of the Wilderness, VA, on May 6, 1864. He was discharged for disability near Petersburg, VA on October 31, 1864. Willard is buried in the Veterans Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Jill's note: He lived a full life after serving in the war and died in 1928.)
William, the second oldest, enlisted in Company F, 14th Michigan Infantry on October 25, 1861 out of his hometown of Jamestown for 3 years of service. He was 17 years of age. The 14th Michigan served in the Western Theatre of the war being involved in such battles as Murfreesboro, TN and the siege of Corinth, MS. The 14th joined General W.T. Sherman in his march toward the sea, being engaged at Kennesaw Mountain, GA, and the siege of Atlanta. William re-enlisted January 4, 1864 at Columbia TN, and mustered out of the army at Louisville, KY on July 18, 1865.
Wilber, also known as Eli Wilber, enlisted in Company C, 10th Michigan Cavalry on October 23, 1863 in Grand Rapids for 3 years. He was only 16 or 17 at the time of his enlistment. The 10th Michigan Cavalry, like the 14th Michigan Infantry, was involved in the Western Theatre, mostly in the state of Tennessee. Like 62% of the men who died in the Civil War, Wilber died of disease in Knoxville, TN, June 21,1864, only eight months after enlisting. He is buried in the National Cemetery in Knoxville.
David Alexander at age 44, the father of 13 children, enlisted in Company F, 14th Michigan Infantry, the same company and regiment as his son William, on February 27, 1865. Luckily for Alexander, the war ended April 9, 1865 and he and William were both discharged July 18, 1865.
(Alexander and his wife, Laura Louisa SACKETT had a total of 14 children; 8 of whom were still alive in 1900. They moved their family from Jamestown, Ottawa county, MI to Holton, Muskegon county, MI in the 1870's after receiving a veteran's land grant. Alexander lived to age 77 and his family's history can be accessed by going to SyerSeeker's Nest http://members.aol.com/SyerSeeker/index.html)
e-mail: Jilliemae@aol.com
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27 April 2002