Charles Oliver "Charlie" Abbey and Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey grave marker, Union Protestant Cemetery, Milladore, Wood Co., WI. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Grave markers of Charles and Phoebe Abbey, located in Milladore, WI. Leigh Larson visited the gravesite on September 13, 2001. Since Charles Oliver Abbey was killed near Vicksburg, MS, he may have been buried in Vicksburg National Cemetery, although no records show him there. The small marker in the left foreground reads: C A. which stands for Charles Abbey. The small marker to the right reads: P E A. which stands for Phoebe Elizabeth Abbey. The tall stone in the rear center contains an angled surface with the birth and death dates of Phoebe, while the vertical upright surface below contains information for Charles. The pedestal rests on a horizontal ABBEY section, and the darker color base rests on the ground. The markers have areas of moss-like plants (lichen) growing on the surfaces, indicating a lack of cleaning for many years.

Charles Oliver Abbey grave portion close-up. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Charles Oliver Abbey grave greater close-up. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Phoebe Elizabeth Abbey grave close-up. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Phoebe Elizabeth Abbey grave close-up. Thanks to usgenweb for making this image available.

Here is a partial four page cemetery record for the Union Protestant Cemetery, Milladore, Wood Co., WI.

Isaac Phineas Abbey and Lucinda B. "Sandy" Bradley Marriage Record. Married by Banns by Joseph Thompson, St. John's Anglican Church, in the presence of Mary Abbey and Elizabeth Bradley.

Here are several images from the William Searle Abbey/Ida Elmira Blake Family Bible:

                             

       

Charles Oliver "Charlie" Abbey and Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" Searle Marriage Records.

   

William Searle Abbey Birth Record. There was no official birth certificate for William Searle Abbey at time of birth, but a delayed birth certificate was created to document his birth. This document was needed by Phoebe Elizabeth (Searle) Abbey, the widow of Charles Oliver Abbey, so she could include him in her Civil War Widow pension request.

   

Mary Jane Abbey Birth Record. As a Civil War widow applying for survivor benefits for her minor children, Phoebe Elizabeth (Searle) Abbey needed to provide birth certificates. Since none existed, she needed to provide affidavits from those who attended the birth.

   

Charles Washington Abbey Birth Record. As a Civil War widow applying for survivor benefits for her minor children, Phoebe Elizabeth (Searle) Abbey needed to provide birth certificates. Since none existed, she needed to provide affidavits from those who attended the birth.

Charles Oliver Abbey was killed in action on May 22, 1863, before the fortifications during the siege of Vicksburg, MS, at age 37. Please note that his name was incorrectly entered as Charles Abers, the fourth listing from the top of the page.

Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey presented numerous documents in Fond du Lac Co., WI, to support her request for a Civil War Widow's Pension.

On September 11, 1869, a Guardian Deed was created for the Ora A. Allen (born May 18, 1854, in Fond du Lac Co., WI) and Ada S. Allen, both minors, to sell their land to Phoebe Abbey. The parents of the minor children, Ora A. Allen (born April, 1860; died 1941) and Ada S. Allen (about 1865 - May 19, 1894), are Amasa F. Allen (about 1835 - about 1867) and Irene E. Jones (1843 - October 22, 1894). Amasa's mother, Eliza Barnard (Terrill) Allen, married John Marvin Harrington. John Marvin Harrington and Eliza Barnard (Terrill) Allen were married July, 1843, in Buffalo, Erie Co., NY. John Marvin Harrington's daughter, Abigail (Harrington) Watson, married Orrin Abner Abbey on March 28, 1855, at the residence of her father, John M. Harrington, in Byron Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI.

On October 8, 1869, Phoebe Abbey created a mortgage to Hayward Jones, both parties of the Town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co., WI, in the amount of $120.00 for one acre of land: Commencing at the NE corner of the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 32 Twp. 14 N; to 17 E, thence south eighteen rods thence west seventeen rods to lot owned by George McLean, thence north along said line eighteen rods to the center of the public highway thence east along said highway seventeen rods to the place of beginning containing one acre and 146 rods be the same more or less. Hayward Jones died July 17, 1904,  in Fond du Lac Co., WI.

On October 8, 1869, Phoebe Abbey created a mortgage to Hayward Jones, both parties of Byron Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI, in the amount of $120.00 for one acre of land: Commencing at the NE corner of the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 32 Twp. 14 N; to 17 E, thence south eighteen rods thence west seventeen rods to lot owned by George McLean, thence north along said line eighteen rods to the center of the public highway thence east along said highway seventeen rods to the place of beginning containing one acre and 146 rods be the same more or less. Hayward Jones died July 17, 1904 in Fond du Lac Co., WI. In 1869 Phoebe purchased a one acre plot in Township 14 North, Range 17 East, Fond du Lac Co. (V60 p207-8) and sold it on April 5, 1872. The value of the property was given in the 1870 census as $600. It was close to a school and to the community of Byron. The land is on a hill and has a lovely view.

Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey, Fond du Lac Co., WI, about 1870

On April 5, 1872, Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey, Fond du Lac Co., WI, sold her one acre lot that she purchased in 1869 to George McLean for $120.00.

The Abbey siblings: Back row, left to right: Mary Jane Abbey (born 1859), and Charles Washington Abbey (born 1861). Front row, left to right: William Searle Abbey (born 1853), Lucinda Matilda Abbey (born 1848), and Isaac Abbey (born 1850). Picture taken in Fond du Lac Co., WI, about 1880. The original picture is courtesy of Mamie Kroning, who obtained it from Sharon Trace. The bottom picture is retouched courtesy of Kay Koslan.

Map of South Byron, Town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co., WI, 1893.

The 1895 Plat Map for Carson Twp., Portage Co., WI, shows Phoebe Abbey is the owner of 40 acres in the SE 1/4 Qtr. of the SE Qtr. of Section 8. Living nearby are Jacob Scheidel, F. C. Scheidel, and some Krubsack families.

   

This is Phoebe Elizabeth (Searle) Abbey, early January, 1902. Taken at Ennor's Electric Tassergraph Railway Studio, Stevens Point, Portage Co., WI. John A. Ennor operated this studio from 1891 to 1905. Thanks to the Trace family for making this image available.

Leigh Larson note:

Smaller communities along rail routes often lacked various amenities like medical specialists, clergymen, photographers, professional entertainers, and so forth. From the 1860s well into the early 1900s, railroad trains moved special cars outfitted for these purposes. J. A. Ennor's Palace Car, with headquarters in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, served as an example. From the time he purchased it in 1897 until 1905, it had a photo studio, darkroom, and living quarters for him and assistants, traveling in the middle and western states. It was remodeled, renamed Beauty, and operated as a traveling medical clinic by the New York Germal Specialists with a complete line of instruments for practice of surgery. After a brief time, Ennor (1861-1935) took over the car again and toured his vaudeville act as a dramatic lecturer and "traveloguer," as witnessed by the top of a magic lantern glass slide projector being held by the two men in the center of the sleigh. Ennor is likely the man in the fur coat. The railroad offered many opportunities to people of his type, as did steamboats. These specialty cars, as this photograph indicates, attracted curiosity-seekers like the small boys on the right who hung around the newest and most magnetic thing in town.

Top row, Left to Right: Emma Jane (Shidell) Hollingshead; Lucinda Matilda (Abbey) Shidell. Bottom row, Left to Right: Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey; Sarah Jane "Sadie" Hollingshead. The picture, dated early January, 1902, was from Joyce (Stanton) Hines, now deceased.

   

   Iva May "Ivy" (Abbey) Mayfield, Melva Irene Mayfield, Mary Magdalena (Ambrose) Blake and Ida Elmira (Blake) Abbey, Leonard Studio, Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, about 1902. Thanks to the Trace family for making this image available.

Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey Death Certificate.

The Stevens Point Journal, Saturday, January 31, 1903

WEDNESDAY. Mrs. Phoebe Abbey, a lady 77 years of age, died at her home near Milladore Monday afternoon after a long illness with dropsy. The funeral will be held tomorrow.

           

Phoebe Elizabeth "Phebe" (Searle) Abbey Probate Records. Adam Shidell was the Executor of the estate.

History of Wood County, Wisconsin, 1923

Adam Shidell, now deceased, who spent many useful years as a resident of Wood Co., was born in Alsace-Lorraine, April 25, 1843, and came to America with his parents about 1857. The family settled in Fond du Lac Co., WI and from there at the age of 18 Adam Shidell enlisted in Company A of the 14th Wisconsin Regiment to take part in the Civil War. He served for four years and took part in much of the hard fighting of the war, being twice wounded. At the close of the war he returned to Fond du Lac Co. and was there married on April 2, 1866 to Lucinda M. Abbey, who was born in Canada, September 20, 1848, daughter of Charles and Phoebe (Searls) Abbey. Her parents were natives of Canada and England respectively. Charles Abbey was born in Hope, Canada, September 20, 1825. He remained in his native place till he was about 35 years old, operating a farm after growing to manhood. Then in 1860 he came to Wisconsin, locating in Fond du Lac. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted for services in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company A, 14th Wisconsin Volunteers. His regiment was assigned to Grant's army and Mr. Abbey was killed before Vicksburg, May 22, 1863. His wife was left with five children, namely; Lucinda M., now Mrs. Adam Shidell; Isaac, now residing at Superior, WI; William, of Dodgeville, WI; Mary J., now Mrs. A. Krause of Norton, KS; and Charles W., of North Dakota. Mrs. Phoebe Abbey died February 7, 1903. For awhile after his marriage Adam Shidell continued to live in Fond du Lac Co., doing farming and teaming. Later he went to Waupun, where he engaged in farming, and in the spring of 1881 he came to Wood Co., where he had previously purchased 80 acres of wild land in Section 14, Sherry Twp. On his first coming here he lived in true pioneer state in an old logging shack that was on his farm. During the following years he went through the struggle that is the lot of him who essays to build up a farm from wild land in a primitive country. He worked first for several years as fireman and night watchman for the Sherry Lumber Co., going into the woods during the winters to work in the logging camps. Gradually, however, the results of Mr. Shidell's persistent, untiring work in the development of his property began to make themselves shown, and in the end a fine farm emerged, with 70 acres of rich soil cleared and modern buildings erected, including a fine brick house. He operated this property until his death, September 14, 1919, which resulted from his being gored by a bull while engaged in his duties about the farm. The mother still makes her home with her son Dixon. Mr. and Mrs. Shidell were the parents of 11 children: Emma J., born December 24, 1866, now Mrs. George Hollinghead, of Woodland, CA; Willie A., born February 22, 1869, now living at Milwaukee, WI; John J., born October 7, 1870, residing at Portland, OR; Isaac E., born December 15, 1872, who died November 19, 1874; Wallace I., born October 27, 1876, now living in Marathon Co., WI; Neta M.; born June 18, 1879, now Mrs. Charles Shorey of Marathon Co., WI; George A., born November 14, 1882, who died April 18, 1883; Ida B., born September 18, 1884, now Mrs. Matthew Paulson of Marathon Co., WI; James A., born October 2, 1886, now living at Hope, ND; Dixon, born August 20, 1888, a sketch of whom follows this; and Blanche, born May 3, 1891, now the wife of John J. Becker of Rudolph Twp., Wood Co.

Adam and Lucinda Shidell, a drawing that appeared in The History of Wood County, Wisconsin, 1923.

Adam and Lucinda Shidell, the picture which obviously served as the original for the above drawing.

Union Protestant Cemetery, Milladore, Wood Co., WI.

Port Hope, Durham Co., Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Charles Oliver Abbey's grandfather, Nathaniel Abbey, removed from New York State to Upper Canada in 1798.

Union Wisconsin Volunteers

14th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry

Organized at Fond du Lac, Wis., and mustered in January 30, 1862. Left State for St. Louis, Mo., March 8, thence moved to Savannah, Tenn., March 23-28. Served unattached Army of the Tennessee to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, May, 1862. Provost guard at Pittsburg Landing and Hamburg Landing, Tenn. Unattached, Army of the Tennessee, to August, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, District of Corinth, Miss., Army of the Tennessee, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, Left Wing, 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Provisional Divisional, 17th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. (Veterans attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, April to November, 1864.) Detached Brigade, 17th Army Corps, and 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps (New), Military Division of West Mississippi, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1865. District of Alabama to October, 1865.

SERVICE. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Provost duty at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., till July 23, and St. Hamburg till August 23. Moved to Corinth August 23. Battle of luka, Miss., September 19. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4. Pursuit of Ripley October 5-12. At Corinth till November 2. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad November 2 to December 23. Moved to Moscow and duty along Memphis & Charleston Railroad till January 10, 1863. Moved to Memphis January 10, thence to Young's Point, La., January 17 and to Lake Providence, La., February 8. Duty there till April. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Champion Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Expedition to Mechanicsville May 26-June 4. Moved to Natchez, Miss., July 12. Capture of Natchez July 13 and duty there till October 9. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., October 9 and duty there till March, 1864. Regiment veteranized December 11, 1863 and Veterans on furlough January 3 to March 6, 1864. (Company "E" and Veteran detachments from each Company joined 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, at Clifton, Tenn., thence march to Ackworth, Ga., via Huntsville and Decatur, Ala.. and Rome, Ga., April 29-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8 to September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Howell's Ferry July 5. Leggett's or Bald Hill July 20-21. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Pursuit of Hood into Alabama October 3-26. Rejoined Regiment at Nashville, Tenn., December, 1864, except Company "E," which went as a pontoon train guard to the sea November 15-December 10, and through the Carolinas to Washington, D. C., rejoining Regiment at Montgomery, Ala., July 16, 1865.) Non-veterans on Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2, 1864. Red River Campaign March 10-May 22, 1864. Fort De Russy March 14. Occupation of Alexandria March 16. Grand Ecore April 3. Pleasant Hill Landing April 12. About Cloutiersville April 22-24. About Alexandria April 26-May 13. Wells' Plantation May 6. Bayou Boeuf May 7. Retreat to Morganza May 13-20. Mansura May 16. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., May 20-24, thence to Memphis, Tenn., May 28-30, and duty there till June 22. Moved to Moscow and LaGrange June 22-27. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5-21. Camargo's Cross Roads, near Harrisburg, July 13. Harrisburg, near Tupelo, July 14-15. Moved to St. Charles, Ark., August 3-6, thence to Devall's Bluff September 1, and to Brownsville September 8. March through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September 17-November 17. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., November 23-30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Eastport, Miss., and duty there till February 6, 1865. Moved to New Orleans, La., February 6-22. Campaign against Mobile and its Defences March 17-April 12. Fish River March 17. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25 and duty there until August.

Moved to Mobile August 27 and duty there until October. Mustered out October 9, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 116 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 194 Enlisted men by disease. Total 319.

Vicksburg   

Other Names: None

Location: Warren County

Campaign: Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg (1863)

Date(s): May 18-July 4, 1863

Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant [US]; Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton [CS]

Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee [US]; Army of Vicksburg [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 19,233 total (US 10,142; CS 9,091)

Description: In May and June of 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s armies converged on Vicksburg, investing the city and entrapping a Confederate army under Lt. Gen. John Pemberton. On July 4, Vicksburg surrendered after prolonged siege operations. This was the culmination of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of Pemberton’s army and this vital stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in half. Grant's successes in the West boosted his reputation, leading ultimately to his appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies.

Result(s): Union victory

The following nine pages of recollections and thoughts were compiled by Rowena Jane Bragg, who died in the early 1990s at age 103. Some mention is made of the Abbey branch. This information was forwarded by Eleanor Whyley, a descendant of Lucinda Bradley.