Jeremiah Van Kirk (1845 - 1936)

Born 14 Oct 1845 in Oneida County, NY

Ancestors

Husband of Melvina Lanham — married 1865 in Eau Claire, WI

Died 31 Aug 1936 at age 90 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Deven Van Kirk [send private message]

Biography

Private Jeremiah Van Kirk served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Dec 13, 1863
Mustered out: Jul 6, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 25th Wisconsin Infantry, 12th Wisconsin Infantry

Jerry was born on October 14, 1845 in Oneida County, NY. He was the son of Lewis Van Kirk and Anna Dupont. When Jerry was 4, he and his family moved from New York to Wisconsin, eventually settling in Angelo, Monroe County, WI. He Married Melvina Lanham, daughter of James Lanham, in 1865. They had two sons, Frank Eugene and Charles Augustus. ^[1]

Jerry enlisted with the 25th Wisconsin Infantry^[2] on December 15, 1863, when he was 18, and participated in General Sherman's famous march from Atlanta to the sea. Once the war ended, he was transferred to Company D of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry on June 2, 1865. ^[3]

After he was mustered out of service, he joined the Grand Army of the Republic with the Wilson-Colwell post.

He passed away on August 31, 1936 in La Crosse, WI. ^[4]

Obituary

Jerry Van Kirk, Veteran of Civil War, Dies at 90 One of the Last Survivors of Wilson-Colwell Post in La Crosse

Jeremiah (Jerry) Van Kirk, 90, one of the last survivors of the Wilson-Colwell Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, passed away at the home of his son Charles, 702 Fifth Avenue South, Monday night.

Enlisted from Sparta

Mr. Van Kirk enlisted from Sparta with Company D of the 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry early in 1863 for duty with the norther army in the Civil War.

During his "hitch" in the army, Mr. Van Kirk was with General Sherman on that patriot's famous march from Atlanta to the sea. He was mustered out of his company in Washington, D. C. but having three more months to serve, he was transferred to the 12th Wisconsin from which he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Ky, in August 1865.

Wilson-Colwell post at one time boasted a membership of 384, but when the G. A. R. veterans were called together last Memorial day for their annual photograph, only two answered the call--Mr. Van Kirk and John W. Hart. Two or three others live in widely scattered states.

Mr. Van Kirk is survived by two sons, Charles of La Crosse and Frank of Sparta; two grandchildren, Mrs. Ruth Yost of La Crosse and Louis E. Van Kirk of Minneapolis; and six great grandchildren, Robert Van Kirk of Minneapolis, Arthur, Marjorie, Jean, Emeline, and Geraldine Yost of La Crosse. His wife died 16 years ago.

Services at Sparta

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the Charles Van Kirk residence, Fifth Avenue South, with Eagles lodge in charge. At 2 p.m. services will be held ad the Lanham mortuary in Sparta, the Rev. Edwin Phillips officiating. There will be a military service at the Angelo cemetery, where burial will be made.

^[5]

^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Van Kirk, Jeremiah, Biographical History of Monroe County, WI, p. 626
2. ↑ https://www.fold3.com/page/634771592-jeremiah-van-kirk
3. ↑ Photo of Jeremiah Van Kirk's Certificate of Service
4. ↑ Jerry Van Kirk, Veteran of Civil War, Dies at 90. (1936, September 1). La Crosse Tribune, p. 1.
5. ↑ Jerry Van Kirk, Veteran of Civil War, Dies at 90. (1936, September 1). La Crosse Tribune, p. 1.
6. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Deven VanKirk as remembered 16 Sep 2018.