James B. Laquier (1837 - 1864)

Born 1837 in Wisconsin Territory, United States

Ancestors

Died 15 Mar 1864 at about age 27 in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States

Biography

Birth

James was born in 1837 in Wisconsin Territory,^[1][2][3] and was the son of James L'Ecuyer and Margaret Brunette.

Residence

1860 The census taker for this year has rendered the family name as "Legua", and James is called "Jackey" (< Jacques). He is living next door to Charles Manaige, whose wife Mary Ann is almost certainly James's sister. Nearby is his sister Sophia (called "Sophelia"), and also close by is his father James, who is living with his brother Simeon and his wife Margaret (Grignon). James's wife Margaret Brunette appears to have died by that date. ^[4]

Military Service

James enlisted in Co. H, Second Volunteer Minnesota Infantry on 15 July 1861 for a term of service ending 16 December 1863.^[5] At some point in this tour of duty he had been held as a prisoner of war. Nevertheless, he was able to reenlist on 16 December 1863.^[6]

Death

During his second tour of duty, he fell ill and died 15 March 1864 in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota,^[6] and was buried in McPherson Union Cemetery, Saint Clair, Blue Earth County, Minnesota.^[7] On 21 August 1888, a private contractor was hired at government expense to supply the stone that now stands at his grave site.^[8] As in life, he resides next to the Manaige family (the children of Frank and Nellie) whose stone can be seen in the primary image.

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 Federal Census for Long Prairie, Wahnahta, Minnesota Territory; Roll: 367; Page: 66a. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
2. ↑ 1850 MInnesota Territorial Census, Long Prairie, Wahnahta County, p. 3. Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota Territorial Census Schedules, 1849-1855. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Historical Society, 2000.
3. ↑ "Form of Company Roll for Infantrymen and Riflemen", Minnesota Civil War Muster Rolls. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LP-GLW : 18 February 2021), Jackey Legua in entry for Charles Menaig, 1860.
5. ↑ Capt. Nelson Dickerson's Muster Roll. Minnesota Civil War Muster Rolls. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Neill & Bryant, 630; Veteran Volunteers.
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #13238880
8. ↑ Sheldon & Sons, West Rutland, Vermont, contract date 21 August 1888. Card Records of Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, ca. 1879-ca. 1903; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1845, 22 rolls); Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

See also:

• Veteran Volunteers, Chattanooga, sub nom. Lecquyer. Minnesota Civil War Muster Rolls. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society.
• Source Minnesota Adjutant General's Report of 1866, Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars 1861-65. Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database.
• Edward Duffield Neill and Charles S. Bryant, History of the Minnesota Valley : Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota (Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company, 1882).