Monroe Evening News, 23 December 1931 Page one, Column two
CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIES AT PETERSBURG
Josiah Elder, 83 years old, was GAR Post Commander for many years-Special to the Evening News- Petersburg, Dec 23 Josiah Elder, one of Petersburg's veterans of the Civil War and commander of the Morgan Parker Grand Army of the Republic Post here for many years, died this morning at his home after an illness since March. Mr Elder entered the service when he was 16 years old and served a little less than a year with the 179th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served at Franklin and Chatanooga and was in several other engagements. During late years Mr Elder delighted in telling stories of his war experiences. Although participating in much of midwestern fighting in the late years of the war,Mr Elder came through the campaign without injury except for the contraction of erysipelas which affected him throughout his life and resulted in the loss of his eyesight five years ago. The veteran enlisted at Sandusky, Ohio which was near his home village of Portage in Wood county, where he was born on January 1, 1848. After his war service, from which he was discharged at Columbus on June 5, 1865, Mr Elder came to Petersburg in 1867 and had made his home in the village since that time where he has been occupied as a clothier and farmer. On July 4, 1868, Mr Elder married Miss Emily A Trombley of Deerfield. After her death he married Miss Mary A Lister of Petersburg on September 25, 1890 and she survives him. Mr Elder was one of the charter members of the GAR post in Petersburg which at one time had between 45 and 50 members. He was commander for the last 15 years of the active organization. Two GAR members survive him, Cerenus Dewey and John Spaulding. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Petersburg Methodist Episcopal Church with the Rev CS Risley officiating. A military funeral and burial will be given the veteran and burial will be in Pleasant View cemetery. In addition to his widow, the veteran is survived by four sons, three daughters, a sister, 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. The sons are Alfred of Petersburg, Martin of Eugene, Oregon, Edward of Deerfield and George of Detroit; the daughters are Mrs Ada Roe of Weston, Ohio, Ellen of Deerfield and Mrs Richard Nichols of Petersburg. Mrs Jane Roe of Deerfield is a sister. Submitted by Nancy Elder Petersen, DAR member #833222 |