GEORGE WASHINGTON GRINDSTAFF was the son of MARY J. and ISAAC GRINDSTAFF.
Wife: MATILDA "TILLIE" KIRBY GRINDSTAFF CURTIS
Married: 12 Sept 1869 in Knox County, Illinois, USA.
Their known children:
1) Margaret Alvina Grandstaff McCord, (1873–1955)
2) Mary Aletha Grandstaff Taylor, (1873–1909)
3) Ida Ellen Grandstaff Holmes, (1876–1963)
4) Clifton W. Grandstaff, (1878–1911)
5) Francis Olathe Grandstaff Strawhun, (1880-1961)
GEORGE enlisted in the army in 1861 at age 15 with the 18th. Infantry, probably as either a drummer boy or bugler boy.
He re-enlisted at age 19 on 30 Nov 1863 in Marysville, Tennessee, rank Private, Second Cavalry (sometimes listed as Infantry). This unit, formed in August 1861, was primarily an infantry unit that served for two months as cavalry in Jan. and Feb. of 1864. It suffered many losses before and after GEORGE joined it. The men took part in the Battle of Shiloh and were later assigned to the 17th. Corp under Gen. Sherman for his march to Atlanta, GA.
GEORGE may have seen too much, too young; he probably suffered from PTSD in the years after his service, but for whatever reason he took to drink. In November 1883 his wife MATILDA brought suit, the first in the state under the Slocumb Law, against a Nebraska City, NE saloon owner named George Ganz, charging he had served her husband for two weeks as GEORGE spent every penny of $250 he had on him getting drunk each day.
At some point GEORGE had picked up the nickname "Tillie and the Babies" which was noted in the newspaper. While drinking in Nebraska City the suit alleges he had "become insane, and it will be remembered swam the Missouri river, and was afterwards placed in jail for safekeeping." TILLIE alleged that GEORGE had since that time been "weakminded and sick, unable to do any work", and that she had been forced to provide for her family. She sued for $5000. The outcome of this suit is unknown.
In 1885 GEORGE'S body was found on the railroad tracks above Independence, MO. His death was made to appear as if he had been struck by rail cars and he received a charity burial.
Almost 3 years later a subsequent investigation determined that GEORGE had almost certainly been murdered. A woman, unidentified in the newspaper article, said that GEORGE had stopped by her house the day before his death and flashed a roll of more than $200. She said he was with a "rough, murderous looking companion" who disappeared from the area after that evening. The two men left together and the next day GEORGE'S body was found with no money anywhere on his person.
On 8 March 1901 his headstone was ordered shipped to the Centerburg Cemetery. This was possibly a reburial.
Sources: From Ancestry.com - US Censuses for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908. Illinois, County Marriages, 1800-1940. Missouri, State Census Collection, 1844-1881. Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1861-1904.
Dyer, Frederick H. (1994). A compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Broadfoot Pub. Available on Google Books.
Wife: MATILDA "TILLIE" KIRBY GRINDSTAFF CURTIS
Married: 12 Sept 1869 in Knox County, Illinois, USA.
Their known children:
1) Margaret Alvina Grandstaff McCord, (1873–1955)
2) Mary Aletha Grandstaff Taylor, (1873–1909)
3) Ida Ellen Grandstaff Holmes, (1876–1963)
4) Clifton W. Grandstaff, (1878–1911)
5) Francis Olathe Grandstaff Strawhun, (1880-1961)
GEORGE enlisted in the army in 1861 at age 15 with the 18th. Infantry, probably as either a drummer boy or bugler boy.
He re-enlisted at age 19 on 30 Nov 1863 in Marysville, Tennessee, rank Private, Second Cavalry (sometimes listed as Infantry). This unit, formed in August 1861, was primarily an infantry unit that served for two months as cavalry in Jan. and Feb. of 1864. It suffered many losses before and after GEORGE joined it. The men took part in the Battle of Shiloh and were later assigned to the 17th. Corp under Gen. Sherman for his march to Atlanta, GA.
GEORGE may have seen too much, too young; he probably suffered from PTSD in the years after his service, but for whatever reason he took to drink. In November 1883 his wife MATILDA brought suit, the first in the state under the Slocumb Law, against a Nebraska City, NE saloon owner named George Ganz, charging he had served her husband for two weeks as GEORGE spent every penny of $250 he had on him getting drunk each day.
At some point GEORGE had picked up the nickname "Tillie and the Babies" which was noted in the newspaper. While drinking in Nebraska City the suit alleges he had "become insane, and it will be remembered swam the Missouri river, and was afterwards placed in jail for safekeeping." TILLIE alleged that GEORGE had since that time been "weakminded and sick, unable to do any work", and that she had been forced to provide for her family. She sued for $5000. The outcome of this suit is unknown.
In 1885 GEORGE'S body was found on the railroad tracks above Independence, MO. His death was made to appear as if he had been struck by rail cars and he received a charity burial.
Almost 3 years later a subsequent investigation determined that GEORGE had almost certainly been murdered. A woman, unidentified in the newspaper article, said that GEORGE had stopped by her house the day before his death and flashed a roll of more than $200. She said he was with a "rough, murderous looking companion" who disappeared from the area after that evening. The two men left together and the next day GEORGE'S body was found with no money anywhere on his person.
On 8 March 1901 his headstone was ordered shipped to the Centerburg Cemetery. This was possibly a reburial.
Sources: From Ancestry.com - US Censuses for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908. Illinois, County Marriages, 1800-1940. Missouri, State Census Collection, 1844-1881. Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1861-1904.
Dyer, Frederick H. (1994). A compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Broadfoot Pub. Available on Google Books.
GEORGE WASHINGTON GRINDSTAFF was the son of MARY J. and ISAAC GRINDSTAFF.
Wife: MATILDA "TILLIE" KIRBY GRINDSTAFF CURTIS
Married: 12 Sept 1869 in Knox County, Illinois, USA.
Their known children:
1) Margaret Alvina Grandstaff McCord, (1873–1955)
2) Mary Aletha Grandstaff Taylor, (1873–1909)
3) Ida Ellen Grandstaff Holmes, (1876–1963)
4) Clifton W. Grandstaff, (1878–1911)
5) Francis Olathe Grandstaff Strawhun, (1880-1961)
GEORGE enlisted in the army in 1861 at age 15 with the 18th. Infantry, probably as either a drummer boy or bugler boy.
He re-enlisted at age 19 on 30 Nov 1863 in Marysville, Tennessee, rank Private, Second Cavalry (sometimes listed as Infantry). This unit, formed in August 1861, was primarily an infantry unit that served for two months as cavalry in Jan. and Feb. of 1864. It suffered many losses before and after GEORGE joined it. The men took part in the Battle of Shiloh and were later assigned to the 17th. Corp under Gen. Sherman for his march to Atlanta, GA.
GEORGE may have seen too much, too young; he probably suffered from PTSD in the years after his service, but for whatever reason he took to drink. In November 1883 his wife MATILDA brought suit, the first in the state under the Slocumb Law, against a Nebraska City, NE saloon owner named George Ganz, charging he had served her husband for two weeks as GEORGE spent every penny of $250 he had on him getting drunk each day.
At some point GEORGE had picked up the nickname "Tillie and the Babies" which was noted in the newspaper. While drinking in Nebraska City the suit alleges he had "become insane, and it will be remembered swam the Missouri river, and was afterwards placed in jail for safekeeping." TILLIE alleged that GEORGE had since that time been "weakminded and sick, unable to do any work", and that she had been forced to provide for her family. She sued for $5000. The outcome of this suit is unknown.
In 1885 GEORGE'S body was found on the railroad tracks above Independence, MO. His death was made to appear as if he had been struck by rail cars and he received a charity burial.
Almost 3 years later a subsequent investigation determined that GEORGE had almost certainly been murdered. A woman, unidentified in the newspaper article, said that GEORGE had stopped by her house the day before his death and flashed a roll of more than $200. She said he was with a "rough, murderous looking companion" who disappeared from the area after that evening. The two men left together and the next day GEORGE'S body was found with no money anywhere on his person.
On 8 March 1901 his headstone was ordered shipped to the Centerburg Cemetery. This was possibly a reburial.
Sources: From Ancestry.com - US Censuses for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908. Illinois, County Marriages, 1800-1940. Missouri, State Census Collection, 1844-1881. Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1861-1904.
Dyer, Frederick H. (1994). A compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Broadfoot Pub. Available on Google Books.
Wife: MATILDA "TILLIE" KIRBY GRINDSTAFF CURTIS
Married: 12 Sept 1869 in Knox County, Illinois, USA.
Their known children:
1) Margaret Alvina Grandstaff McCord, (1873–1955)
2) Mary Aletha Grandstaff Taylor, (1873–1909)
3) Ida Ellen Grandstaff Holmes, (1876–1963)
4) Clifton W. Grandstaff, (1878–1911)
5) Francis Olathe Grandstaff Strawhun, (1880-1961)
GEORGE enlisted in the army in 1861 at age 15 with the 18th. Infantry, probably as either a drummer boy or bugler boy.
He re-enlisted at age 19 on 30 Nov 1863 in Marysville, Tennessee, rank Private, Second Cavalry (sometimes listed as Infantry). This unit, formed in August 1861, was primarily an infantry unit that served for two months as cavalry in Jan. and Feb. of 1864. It suffered many losses before and after GEORGE joined it. The men took part in the Battle of Shiloh and were later assigned to the 17th. Corp under Gen. Sherman for his march to Atlanta, GA.
GEORGE may have seen too much, too young; he probably suffered from PTSD in the years after his service, but for whatever reason he took to drink. In November 1883 his wife MATILDA brought suit, the first in the state under the Slocumb Law, against a Nebraska City, NE saloon owner named George Ganz, charging he had served her husband for two weeks as GEORGE spent every penny of $250 he had on him getting drunk each day.
At some point GEORGE had picked up the nickname "Tillie and the Babies" which was noted in the newspaper. While drinking in Nebraska City the suit alleges he had "become insane, and it will be remembered swam the Missouri river, and was afterwards placed in jail for safekeeping." TILLIE alleged that GEORGE had since that time been "weakminded and sick, unable to do any work", and that she had been forced to provide for her family. She sued for $5000. The outcome of this suit is unknown.
In 1885 GEORGE'S body was found on the railroad tracks above Independence, MO. His death was made to appear as if he had been struck by rail cars and he received a charity burial.
Almost 3 years later a subsequent investigation determined that GEORGE had almost certainly been murdered. A woman, unidentified in the newspaper article, said that GEORGE had stopped by her house the day before his death and flashed a roll of more than $200. She said he was with a "rough, murderous looking companion" who disappeared from the area after that evening. The two men left together and the next day GEORGE'S body was found with no money anywhere on his person.
On 8 March 1901 his headstone was ordered shipped to the Centerburg Cemetery. This was possibly a reburial.
Sources: From Ancestry.com - US Censuses for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908. Illinois, County Marriages, 1800-1940. Missouri, State Census Collection, 1844-1881. Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1861-1904.
Dyer, Frederick H. (1994). A compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Broadfoot Pub. Available on Google Books.
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