Richard was born on November 22, 1830, in Phelps, Ontario Co., NY. He was the son of Thomas Baylis and Anna Post. In 1840, he and his family moved to Lockport, Niagara County, NY., and in 1844 his family moved to Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mi. He was a soldier in the war with Mexico, he then joined the regular Army, went to Texas and New Mexico, where he was wounded in an Indian fight. He returned to Michigan in 1855, where he studied and took up the profession of law and was a member of the bar at St. Johns, Clinton Co., Mi. He was a member of the 5th Michigan Cavalry, and he was a member of Gen. Custer's staff and was promoted various times and in 1865 was honored with a Lieut.Colonel's commission. He was a dashing, gallant officer, and won the name "Fighting Dick", for his daring and fine soldierly conduct. In Politics, he was a democrat. He stood at 6 feet 0 inches, and 225 pounds.
He lived most of his life in Clinton County, where he was a lawyer and was the Postmaster of St. Johns, Mi. in 1866. He passed away in 1886, of wounds he received in the Civil War, at the residence of his sister, Mrs. F. M. Thorp, in Milan, Monroe Co. Mi. He requested in his Will that his remains be cremated, and in accordance with his request, his body was taken to Buffalo, NY. and was accompanied by Rev. Stearns and Attorney Wm. Collins, of St. Johns, Mi. Before leaving there was a short funeral service. He is buried in the St.Johns Cemetery, Clinton Co., Mi.
Information given to me and told to me by my family. I am his g-great grand daughter, Lynn Purcell.
Obituaries: Copied from newspaper articles found in his sister Victoria Baylis Greene's Scrapbook and from the Newspaper MANCHESTER ENTERPRISE, the Editor being Mathew Blosser, his nephew, son of his sister Sarah .
Also in the RECORD OF SERVICE OF MICHIGAN VOLUNTEERS IN THE CIVIL WAR 1861-1865. Published by authority of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Michigan Legislature, under the direction of Brig. Gen. George H. Brown, Adjutant General. Fought in the Battle of TREVILLIANS, at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11 and 12, 1864
Entered service in Fifth Michigan Cavalry, at organization, as First Lieutenant and Adjutant, age 32. Commissioned Sept. 25, 1862. Mustered Aug. 25, 1862. Was on Gen. Custer's staff in 1863 and was honorably discharged Nov. 17, 1864, on account of wounds received in action at Trevillian Station, Va., June 12, 1864. Brevet Captain, U.S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865. Brevet Major, U.S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war. (RECORD of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the CIVIL WAR 1861-1865)
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Richard is 15 degrees from Maria Mitchell, 24 degrees from Carl Sagan, 23 degrees from Tycho Brahe, 32 degrees from Nicholaus Copernicus, 26 degrees from Eise Eisenga, 23 degrees from Caroline Lucretia Herschel, 28 degrees from Thomas Maclear, 16 degrees from Simon Newcomb, 21 degrees from Isaac Newton, 31 degrees from Pierre Henri Puiseux, 24 degrees from Beatrice Tinsley and 19 degrees from Edith Woodward on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.