And now for something completely different.
My great-great-great-grandfather Salathiel Timmons (1835-1909) was a solider in the Union Army during the Civil War. During his service, he contracted a rheumatic disease which ultimately led to heart disease and partial paralysis. Later in life, he applied for and received a military pension.
For the benefit of the cousins on my Frasier side of the family, here is how he is related to us: Salathiel was the father of Charles Franklin Timmons, who was was the father of Lola Ethel Timmons, who was the mother of Thelma Ethel Frasier (my maternal grandmother).
I ordered his pension records from the National Archives. Containing more than 60 pages, they tell an interesting story about Salathiel’s life both during and after his military service. I also have a copy of the history of the Illinois 123rd Infantry, which details the various battles and troop movements.
So come along with me for the next few weeks as I re-trace Salathiel’s steps as he left his home state of Illinois and traveled with his unit through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. I have only briefly studied all this material, so I’ll be learning as I go – I don’t really know what to expect! If you want to follow long, please subscribe to this blog to get update notifications by email.
