Maria Stark Writes to the Stark Family in Perry, Kansas, 1863

Letter from Maria Stark to the Stark Family at Perry, Kansas (Part 4, September 1863)

Note: These old letters are part of the Stark family heritage and were shared with us by Irene Gordon of Ozawkie, a Stark descendant. The letters are 127 years old [in 1990], written in long hand by Gilbert Stark to his family. As we copied them we typed as nearly as possible the spelling and punctuation as he used it. A soldier in the Civil War, Gilbert Stark paints a picture of his times, which we now share.

[From Maria Stark to Eliza A. Stark] 

Darby C. Plains

September the 1^st, 1863

Dear Mother,

After the elapse of over a week, I find myself trying to address a few lines to you. I hope you are all well and enjoying life. I feel pretty well at present. But Kittie is not very well, she has the diareah very bad, and wants to drink all the time. she has had it for 3 or 4 days  she is very cross and restless  I have ben 3 or 4 days trying to write a letter to Gilbert  have just finished it. I think it is the change of water or else of weather, or diet, you know she always made a meal of potatoe[s], here she has none  there is not but few potatoes in the County. the weather is very changeable  we have had hard frosts for 3 or 4 nights. The corn is not out of the way yet.

Well I presume you would like to know how we got home. We got to Grafton just in time, arrived at Delaware all safe. when I got off the cars someone caught hold of me and kissed me before I had time to look around. come to find out it was Annie  she said she had been there for the last week. she lives about a half mile from the depo. she made Ann go and stay with her until Monday. We arrived at Milford a little past noon  our folks was there Thursday and Friday but did not expect us Saturday. we went over to Mr. Reeds and Tom rode along in the evening  he seen me on the Portico and stopped. I did not know him, until Lillie said it was Tom  it was so late he could not go home and back again in time for us to go home  we stayed all night and Tina came after us Sunday  found our folks all well.

Tom’s wound looks very bad  I am afraid it will always be running sore  he goes around to[o] much on it. His cough is better. Ann started to the station to school yesturday if you believe me  I feel homesick and lonesome  Kittie is looking and calling Mina and her Granpa all the time.

I seen Sinclair  he said Gilbert was as well and hearty as he ever seen him when he left. he said he was coming over this week  then I can find out more about him. I have not got my letters from him since  if there does any come to Brunswick please forward them on and I will make it all right. I guess I have not left anything but that Itch ointment  I carried it down stairs and left it on that shelf in the dining room. I am sorry for it  Kittie is breaking out again. I wonder if it would melt if you put a little in a piece of writing paper and send it in a letter  if I had a little I could have the doctor make some like it. how do you all get along? how is the baby? Now it is getting late and I must take this to town  I cannot think of anything of importance to write. my Compliments to Malztta. tell her I will soon write her a letter  my love to all. The girls say please accept their compliments.

            no more from your daughter, 

            Maria A. Stark

I forgot to leave Gilbert’s directions

Mr. Gilbert J. Stark

Company B, 32^nd Regiment O V I

4^th Brigade, 3, Divission

Memphis, Tennessee

care of Capt. Sinclair

please forward to the Regiment

[Gilbert Stark enlisted in Company B, 32^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 8, 1862. Company B was recruited mainly in Union County, Ohio. The 32^nd Ohio served in western Virginia, at the siege of Vicksburg in Tennessee, and in Sherman’s campaigns including the March to the Sea. Gilbert Stark was promoted to Corporal on January 1, 1863. “U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865,” gives his age at enlistment as 27. The record notes that he was a prisoner of war. A September 1864 letter to the “Citizen and Gazette” reported that he had been held in the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia, for a year. 

Gilbert Stark survived the war and was mustered out on June 17, 1865. He eventually moved to Perry, Kansas, with his wife, Maria, and their daughter, Kittie. They had two more children, Eliza “Lida” Ann and Gilbert Franklin. Maria Connor Stark died in 1872. Gilbert Stark remarried, twice. He died in 1887. Gilbert and Maria Stark are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Perry, Kansas.]

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1990.

Gilbert Stark and the 32nd Ohio Serve in Virginia, 1862

Letter from Gilbert J. Stark to His Family at Perry, Kansas (Part 3, November 1862)

Note: These old letters are part of the Stark family heritage and were shared with us by Irene Gordon of Ozawkie, a Stark descendant. The letters are 127 years old [in 1990], written in long hand by Gilbert Stark to his family. As we copied them we typed as nearly as possible the spelling and punctuation as he used it. A soldier in the Civil War, Gilbert Stark paints a picture of his times, which we now share.

[Gilbert Stark enlisted in Company B, 32^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 8, 1862. Company B was recruited mainly in Union County, Ohio. Stark was promoted to Corporal on January 1, 1863. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, gives his age at enlistment as 27. The 32nd Ohio served in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia in 1862, opposing Confederate General T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson.]

Direct to Gilbert J. Stark

92 Reg. Company B in care of Cap. Parmer OVT Winchester via

Charlston Virginia

Sunday Nov. 1st 1862

S. Starks.

Dear Sir.

Here I am with the 42 Encamped near Charleston about (?) miles from the Ohio river up the valley of the Great Canaway. We started from Portland  Jackson Co.  in Ohio  Oct. 21. Reached here the 30^th  Resting 1 day and ½ having my marched nearly eighty miles  I stood the march wel, the rebels retreated from Charleston and the Surrounding fortifications, an Our approach the inhabitan[t]s can say they numbered Eight thousand, the road we come follows the bank of the River and is very Good,  The Conaway  is navigable Some 20 miles above here now, for Small Steamers and in high water the Ohio River Boats Come up nearly to Sauly [?] which is 30 miles above here  Charlston Looks hard half the buildings or more being empty or burned down. Much of the property along this valley has bin destroyed it having ben held in Succession a number of times by union and rebel Soldiers  many Incidents worthy of note along the way Whick I must tell you When I return. This is What we would term a very ruf Country but the valley, a strip of Bottom land averaging perhaps a mile wide  is verry fine farming land producing the Crops of the north as well as tobacco in abundance  We passed many fine farms made so from Slave labor  it is Said a good Share of the Slaves are gon  Probably many takin or sent South by their masters, and not a small number gon north   

One Old Negro Woman came out to the gate as we marched along  by appearance the mother of a large family  She came Shouting and Claping her hands, declaring that we wer the men she had ben praying long to See. How long we are to Stay here I do not know. I think verry few if any in the regiment does now. Some think in a few weeks  We will go back to the Ohio river. Some think We are to gradually move South till we intersect Some Southern Railroad  Others that we are to Stay here to Keep the rebels out of the Salt works in this vicinity.

I should have written you before But I rarely have much time to write  I have had but two letters from home till this moment  While I am Writing the Lieutenant hands me two letters  One from my wife Dated the 14^th Oct the Other from O J Howard dated 22  As regards army movements I can tell you no news  your facilities for knowing them [are] ten to One to mine. Our resources for aught els except Uncle Sam furnishes is rather limited  I paid twenty cents for a Canteen of milk this morning a trifle over a quart  the Second time I have tasted any Since I left home, Still I find We Can enjoy tolerable health while we dispence with many of the Comforts of home.

            (no signature)

(To be continued)

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1990.

Gilbert Stark Enlists in the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 1862

Letter from Gilbert J. Stark to His Family at Perry, Kansas (Part 2, August 1862)

Note: These old letters are part of the Stark family heritage and were shared with us by Irene Gordon of Ozawkie, a Stark descendant. The letters are 127 years old [in 1990], written in long hand by Gilbert Stark to his family. As we copied them we typed as nearly as possible the spelling and punctuation as he used it. A soldier in the Civil War, Gilbert Stark paints a picture of his times, which we now share.

[Gilbert Stark married Maria Connor in Union County, Ohio, in 1860. Their daughter, Kittie, was born in December 1861. He enlisted in Company B, 32^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 8, 1862. Company B was recruited mainly in Union County, Ohio. Stark was promoted to Corporal on January 1, 1863. “U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865,” gives his age at enlistment as 27.]

Fort Segil

August the 29^th, 1862

Dear Father & Mother,

I avail myself of the oportunity to i[n]form you of my health & whereabouts. I hope this will find you all well & happy  I have inlisted into the service of my country. I thought it my duty. It was the ha[r]dst trial of my life. I had just setled down and was prosperous  I had a Wife & one child & to leve them was hard  it tried my iron will fore once.

Mother  Kitty is the handsomest child I ever saw & I never knew how well I loved them untill I left but such is the fate of man; I thought that Maria could not stand it  it was hard fore her. . but all should be ready to make the sacrifice let it be litle or grate. her health is better this sumer than I ever knew it. she lives at squaire Reeds & will untill I return  she will come up & make you a visit if you will let her know wheather you can meet her at the cars.

I sold my corn and hogs 1 yourk of oxen fore 7 hundred dolars  I left 9 good horses & 2 cows — [?] head of young cattle & 1 hundred dolars worth of farming utensils untill I get back — I only got 50 dolars down; don’t give yourself any unease about that note that you seinged with me fore I have left a plenty to pay all my debts and leve Maria 1 thousand dolars  tel Lucina that she must wait a little until I collect some of my pay but Maria will pay the Interest this fall. I left Maria a plenty to do here while the ware wil last  yesterday the booming of distant cannon around our camp; all is anrzty here. it is rumored that a battle is going on between Jackson & Pope  we hope fore the best but no nothing as yet; a horsman has just arived; the blood stained sides of his panting steed shows that he has come at a fearful pase; the Artilrey horses is just hitched; now they go of[f] as hard as they can whip  the Cavelry has just ben drawn up in line, the order is forward & away they go. we are not to go away from our post.

The people of this country is ful of sech but few union people in this place; Virginia is ful of mountains & hills  it looks a good deal like the state of Neyork  whear we are is very healthy  we have splendid watter; it is very cold here nights. it is very dry and has ben ever since early in the season. I should like to have Maria come up their & see you  I want her to spend the time as pleasently as she can while I am gone  Lon Wilson & Joseph Ault is here with me  they are both good boys  we are both in one company; Jack is in the 96 Reg. Please write often to me fore a leter is a prise. Yours truly, from your affectionate son,

            Gilbert J. Stark

(To be continued)

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1990.

Gilbert Stark's Civil War Era Letters to His Family at Perry, Kansas

Letter from Gilbert J. Stark to His Family at Perry, Kansas (Part 1, November 1856)

Note: These old letters are part of the Stark family heritage and were shared with us by Irene Gordon of Ozawkie, a Stark descendant. The letters are 127 years old [in 1990], written in long hand by Gilbert Stark to his family. As we copied them we typed as nearly as possible the spelling and punctuation as he used it. A soldier in the Civil War, Gilbert Stark paints a picture of his times, which we now share. 

[Gilbert Stark was born in Ohio in 1835. His parents moved to Perry, Kansas, in Kansas territorial days. He traveled east in search of work in 1856, when he was 21 years old.]

Hamden, Nov. 16^th / [18]56

New Haven Co.  Ct.

Dear Father and Mother,

I avail myself of this opportunity of writing a few lines to you to let you know my whereabouts  I am wel as usual only I have got a hard cold  I like this place very wel but the country as a genral thing I dont’ like. Lant can tel you the circumstances of our being separated  I intended to have seen him again before he went home but I could not if I went home with Mr. Cooper, it cost me 84 dolars to come here & I thought that I could never spend 4 dolars in a beter way then to get a peep at New Haven  I come home with Mr Coopr one Monday Night & I hired out one thursday night and comenced work friday morning  I am to work fore, Hail & Aling, Co. an omnibuss line. They keep 9 horses & run an omnibuss to New Haven, 3 times a day. I have only hired to them for one month fore shure & at the end of the month if we booth like I have agreed to stay untill the first day of April for 18 dolars per month  I drive team most of the time or shal do so after a litle. I have drove omnibuss ever since I have ben here. I shal have to haul one load of wood to town a day & then at night drive a four hours omnibuss to town. The[y] has a man put one sone teams opposition to the men that I work fore & as long as that last I shal have to drive Night & day  last night I drove to town twice & did not get to bed untill after one o clock.

I dont know as I am making a living here but there is one thing that I do know that is I wil try  I have bought me a new pair of boots fore 3 dolars, a pare of Gloves 1.22 & a pair of over hauls for .50 cents so that I am pretty will drest. I think that I shal stay here untill spring if nothing hapens & then if you want me to come home & stay next sumer I will do so. I had rather stay to home than to stay here in the sumer time. I want you to write just as soon as you get this & let me know how you got along  I shal send you 20 dolars in this letter & I want you to write whether you got it or not  dont fail to write just as soon as you get this fore it has ben so long since I have heard from home that I should like to get a line. Gile Briggs wanted me to write what wages was  tel him if he wil come down here in febuary he can git big wages. I want you to pay Lant 50 cents for me, father I wish that you would take that Harness of Chadbourns & get it fixxt & send it home  ther is a colar & bridle that goes with it  that little colare is the one, it wants one new pipe, one hip strap wants fixxing & the chains want fixxing. I ment to have done it before I come away but foregot it. I thought that I had eat oyesters in Ohio but I never did until I come here. I want Hariet and Lydia & Hellen & Frank & all the rest of you to write to me & I wil answer as fast as I get time. I cant write any more at present.

I have not told you half of the news about the hills & mountains that we crost  I shal have to put it of[f] until some other time. I am in a hury now & wil write soon again. I want Mother to write & I want you to write fore it is lonesome — here. If it was not fore Cooper folk I should dye but I go & see them often  they are good folks  Good bye from your Afectionate son

            Gilbert J. Stark

(To be continued) 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1990.

Price's Raid — Local Civil War Coverage

The Militia Called Out

From The Independent, Oskaloosa, Kansas, October 15, 1864

The recent call for the entire militia of the State to turn out for the defense of Kansas against threatened invasion, has been promptly responded to by the loyal masses of the State; and as we now write, thousands of brave men are on their way to meet any invador who may venture to enter our territory. Whether Price* will try coming to Kansas or not, remains to be seen; if he does there will be hot times.

Most of the men thus suddenly called away, have left everything at home in an unsettled condition. Many families are left without provisions; crops are unprotected, and business everywhere suspended. We trust that long before the 30 days are ended, old Price will be thoroughly whipped, and his horde of murderers be cut to pieces.

The rebels even at Richmond, are expecting much from this invasion of Missouri by Price, but we hope they will all be signally disappointed, and old Price himself come to the miserable end of a traitor.

*Confederate Major General Sterling Price, former governor of Missouri, commanded the Missouri State Guard in 1861 and was commissioned by the Confederacy in 1862. In fall 1864, he launched a major cavalry raid into Missouri from Arkansas. He was defeated at the Battle of Westport, October 23, 1864. He retreated through Kansas, pursued by Union forces and meeting defeats at Marais des Cygnes, Mine Creek, Marmiton River, and Newtonia.

 

Price’s Defeat — Its Results

From The Independent, Oskaloosa, Kansas, October 29, 1864

The strategic situation in the west in 1864.

Most of our readers have learned of the defeat of Price already, and we need only say that he was badly whipped, that his plunder had to be abandoned; his cannon were captured, his trains were taken or burned; and he and his followers had to make their escape as best they could, minus the booty they had loaded themselves with, and expected to carry off. Our troops, regulars and militia, did glorious fighting. Cols. Jennison and Moonlight were the heroes of the volunteers on our side, and Gen. Pleasanton on the part of Rosecrans army.** All our officers and men did nobly. At latest advices Price was making for the lower country with all the speed he could, followed by our men, who were continually slaughtering the rebels.

This is all glorious news, but the best of it is, that the defeat of Price will send dismay to Richmond, and all through rebeldom. The rebel leaders expected much from the invasion of Missouri. It was confidently believed that tens of thousands would flock to the standard of Price from Missouri, Illinois and other States, members of the secret order of treason known as Sons of Liberty. But they didn’t come, and the rebels will see that their Northern allies are too cowardly to depend upon — that their treason is all in the heart and the word, and not with the sword; and their great hopes will fall. Good.

**Colonels Charles Jennison and Thomas Moonlight led brigades under Major General Samuel R. Curtis, who commanded the forces of the Department of Kansas. Union Major General Alfred Pleasonton commanded the District of Central Missouri under Union Major General William S. Rosecrans, overall commander of the forces of the Department of the Missouri.

(“Despite the misspellings, the cities of Pleasanton, California, and Pleasanton, Kansas, are both named after Alfred Pleasonton.”)

For more information about the Kansas militia and the role of Jefferson County residents in the Civil War, see Jefferson County Jayhawkers and Forgotten Freestaters.

These articles appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1989.