At least five veterans of the Civil War are buried at St. Joseph Cemetery. These five individuals have government issued veteran markers. There could possibly be other soldiers, but I am not sure (If you know, please pass it along to me!)
12th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
The 12th Michigan was mustered in at Niles in March of 1862 under the direction of Col. Francis Quinn. Their initial strength was 1000 officers and men. One month after being created and two weeks after leaving the state the regiment was involved in one of the largest battles of the war at Shiloh in western Tennessee. Following Shiloh, the 12th took part in various posts in Mississippi and Arkansas including the Siege of Vicksburg. After Vicksburg, the regiment spent the rest of the war as occupational forces in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were mustered out of service in February of 1866.
The total number of enlistees in the regiment was 2,357. Of these, 29 were killed in action and 26 died of wounds received in battle. 316 died of disease and 17 died in Confederate prison camps. 221 were discharged for disability.
Robert Charlton joined the regiment in Feb. of 1864 and was discharged in June, 1865.
Three Dulan brothers, John, Morris and Patrick joined the 12th Michigan in the late fall and early winter of 1861. Morris was discharged for disability in July of 1862 while the other two served through the rest of the war (almost) and were discharged in January of 1865. Patrick, who passed away in 1905 is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Niles, and his stone states his name is "Dulin". Though both Morris and John have stones in this cemetery, more research is needed to determine whether John is buried here or not. All three of these government stones were not placed until 1990...
The total number of enlistees in the regiment was 2,357. Of these, 29 were killed in action and 26 died of wounds received in battle. 316 died of disease and 17 died in Confederate prison camps. 221 were discharged for disability.
Robert Charlton joined the regiment in Feb. of 1864 and was discharged in June, 1865.
Three Dulan brothers, John, Morris and Patrick joined the 12th Michigan in the late fall and early winter of 1861. Morris was discharged for disability in July of 1862 while the other two served through the rest of the war (almost) and were discharged in January of 1865. Patrick, who passed away in 1905 is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Niles, and his stone states his name is "Dulin". Though both Morris and John have stones in this cemetery, more research is needed to determine whether John is buried here or not. All three of these government stones were not placed until 1990...
10th Illinois Cavalry
The 10th Illinois Cavalry served in the Trans-Mississippi department during the war and saw action during the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock and Arkansas Post, Arkansas. At the end of the war they were used in a policing action in New Orleans following the assassination of President Lincoln and likewise saw action in Texas against native tribes later in 1865. The regiment lost 25 men in action and 265 from disease.
This seems to be the only "original" military marker for a civil war soldier in the cemetery. Sadly, it does not give the dates of his birth and death, but hopefully with a little more research I can discover these. Though Martin lived in Illinois at the time of the war, he apparently moved to Michigan afterward and ran a saloon. He married Mary Sherahoe in 1867 in Niles before Fr. Cappon. Both he and Mary are listed as being born in Ireland.
This seems to be the only "original" military marker for a civil war soldier in the cemetery. Sadly, it does not give the dates of his birth and death, but hopefully with a little more research I can discover these. Though Martin lived in Illinois at the time of the war, he apparently moved to Michigan afterward and ran a saloon. He married Mary Sherahoe in 1867 in Niles before Fr. Cappon. Both he and Mary are listed as being born in Ireland.
1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry?
This stone is a true conundrum. According to the stone itself, a Robert Hughes of the 1st Michigan Infantry lies buried here. However, if one were to look at the roster of the 1st Michigan, there is no Robert Hughes listed. There is a Robert Hughes who enlisted in the 1st Michigan Colored Infantry. That being the case, I wonder why the stone doesn't state that fact? This stone wasn't placed until 1990... and placing a stone 120 years after the death of an individual is bound to lead to problems and confusion. In researching Robert Hughes, there was a Robert Hughes who died in Niles in 1872, but he is listed as being born in Ireland. I cannot imagine that a man from Ireland would have been in the Michigan Colored Infantry, but I could be wrong. The parish record simply states that there was a "Robert Hugh" buried here in 1872. If this is not the Robert Hughes of the 1st Michigan Colored Infantry, who volunteered out of the town of White Pidgeon, I cannot find where that Robert Hughes is buried. I would love to find the research that led to placing this stone here. My guess is that there is a Robert Hughes buried here, but it is not the Robert Hughes from the 1st Michigan Colored Infantry, but an Irish Robert Hughes who may or may not have served in the army at all. Any additional information on this stone would be appreciated!