Perry Iles Lyons

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Perry Iles Lyons, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lyons, was born at Vicks
burg, Mississippi, June 19, 1888. His early education and training were received in the public schools of Vicksburg, and in September, 1906, he entered the agricultural course at the Mississippi A. and M. College.

Although privileged to receive only one year of college training, he made a deep impression upon all who knew him. As characteristic of his family, Perry Lyons was known to his instructors and friends by his ability, accuracy, and high regard for the truth.

At the time war was declared Perry was employed as traveling representative of the Sherwin-  Williams Paint Company, with head-quarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. He gave up his position, and entered the aviation section of Uncle Sam's army, and at the time of his death was completing his training at Barron Field, Fort Worth, Texas.

On October 10, 1918, within three days of the day upon which he was to receive his commission, Perry Lyons and two other cadets were flying in "three formation" when his machine collided with one of the others and injured his control. He immediately began a spiral to descend, but owing to the injury to his machine the spiral was not wide enough, and just as a bird wounded in one wing cannot control his flight, so Perry's plane quickly changed to a nose dive, and he crashed to the earth a fall of 3,500 feet. Death was instantaneous.

Possessing an attractive personality, a brilliant mind, and an unselfish heart, Perry Lyons was an exceptional type of man

His mother, Mrs. Jessie D. Lyons, of Vicksburg, two sisters, and two brothers are left to mourn his loss.

His body, in its flag-draped casket, was forwarded to his home at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he was laid to rest on Saturday after noon, October 12, 1918

Captain Edward Ratchford Geary.

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EDWARD RATCHFORD GEARY was born at Salem, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on September 1, 1845, and was killed in the midnight battle at Wauhatchie, Tennessee, October 29, 1863, being only eighteen years and two months old when killed. His body was sent home and buried at New Salem, Pa.

He was mustered into Knap's Independent Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery, as Second Lieutenant, on September 8, 1861. He was wounded at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, on August 9, 1862. On July 16, 1863, he was promoted from Second to First Lieutenant, and was commissioned Captain of Hampton Battery F on October 20, 1863, but was killed before being mustered in. On March 13, 1865, he was breveted Major and Lieutenant Colonel.

While our Battery was encamped on Maryland Heights in the fall of 1863, Lieutenant Geary was unanimously elected Captain of Hampton Battery. His commission from the State of Pennsylvania, dated October 20, 1863, was forwarded to his father. General John W. Geary, then in command of the White Star Division of the Twelfth Corps. He had his son's commission in his pocket when Captain Geary was killed.

Captain Collins, in his History of the One Hundred and Fortyninth New York Volunteers, of the Twelfth Corps, says :

" When the rays of the rising sun came over Lookout Mountain they fell with a mellow light upon the tall portly form of General Geary standing with bowed head on the summit of the knoll, while before him lay the lifeless form of a Lieutenant of Artillery. Scattered about were cannon, battered and bullet marked caissons and limbers, and many teams of dead horses in harness. There were many other dead, but none attracted his attention save this one. For he was his son. The men respected his sorrow and stood at a distance in silence while he communed with his grief. The Confederates had been instructed to pick off the artillerists. Lieutenant Geary had just sighted a gun and as he gave the command to fire, he fell dead with a bullet through his forehead."

Captain Joseph M. Knap, of Knap's Battery, says: " Captain Geary was one of the bravest, most efficient and devoted soldiers that ever lived." Post 236, G. A. R., County of Allegheny, State
of Pennsylvania, was named after him.

As Captain Geary was never mustered into the Hampton Battery his name does not appear on the rolls of the company, but the surviving members have very properly inscribed his name on the monument erected by them in the Allegheny City Park, to the memory of their fallen comrades.

Jack-Brutus.

Connecticut First Infantry Co. K.

Regiment al History.

Spanish American War.

 

Jack Brutus.

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Page 57,That, in effect, was what General Toral, the Spanish commander at Santiago, said when he learned Brutus had joined Company K.

Jack's ancestors came of good fighting stock and served in many a battle. He himself was born at Cumberland, Maine, in 1891. He had friends in most of the cities in New England through his associations with the traveling public at the West End Hotel at Portland. Frequently he visited them in their own homes, taking passage in some steamer or boarding some train, and returning to Portland in due time. His longest stay was two weeks in Boston, but he also frequently visited New York, New Brunswick and other cities connected with Portland by lines of steamers.

When the company arrived at Portland, Brutus at once enlisted for the war and followed the fortunes of the company faithfully. At Camp Alger he suffered much from the heat and possibly would not have survived but for the tender care of Sergeant Boniface. Upon the muster out of the regiment Wagoner Ahern gave Jack the freedom of his home and during his last sickness had a physician attend him once or twice. Jack died of spinal troubles and constipation, November 20, 1898, and was given a suitable burial.

Personal.

Page 78, Private Knox is elected the loudest snorer, though Jack Brutus snored well, considering the nasal combinations against him. In fact it might be said that "Jack" Knox and Jack Brutus, together, lead the whole company by the nose. One member writes : " Brutus was pushed pretty hard by Corporal Gruener. They slept in the next tent to me and I used to wake up in the middle of the night, hearing an awful noise in Gruener's tent.

I lay there one night and wondered which it was, Brutus or Gruener, till, at last, to satisfy my curiosity, I got up and found that the dog was quiet and all the noise came from Gruener." Another member answers : " Knox and the dog, both. I know them well for I have slept with both dogs." Another member writes: "John Brutus Knox." Another: "McGrath, aside from Jack." The vote is as follows: Knox, 48; Brutus, 33; Fulton, 2; Henry L. Huntington, 2; Gruener, Nunan, S. G. Huntington, Jos. Burnell, Moran, Marvel, McGrath, R. A. Case and Gale, one each.

William Pitt Follansbee.

First Illinois Light Artillery, Battery "A."

Regimental History.

 

WILLIAM PITT FOLLANSBEE.

 

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The subject of this sketch was a native of Chicago, having been born in that city Oct. 29, 1841. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Follansbee, who were among Chicago's most prominent, old and wealth families. He always lived in the city of his birth, attending her schools during his boyhood days. After leaving school he was engaged as salesman for C H. Beckwith, wholesale grocer, and was so occupied when the war began. He leu his situation and enlisted as private in Battery- "'A," July 2S. [861. He was with the battery continuously, taking a conspicuous part in all its engagements until mustered out at the expiration of his term of enlistment. July 25, 1864.

He then returned to Chicago and engaged in the grocery business with Lewis F. Jacobs, also a member of the battery, both having been messmates in the same squad throughout the war. He quit tins business and went to Larkspur, Colo., where he purchased a large ranch and embarked in the cattle business, in which he was engaged at the time of his death, which occurred Feb. 2?. 1870. his remains were brought home and buried in Graceland.  He had never married. His mother and brothers still live in Chicago

Captain Benjamin F.Rollins.

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Capt Benjamin F Rollins.

Birth: Oct. 28, 1841.
Death: Nov. 14, 1908.

Wife: Rose G. Chick Rollins (1856 - 1912).
Married January 4, 1875.

Children: Adal L., Fred H. Rollins.

Note. Marriage date and children need to be research more before stating as fact.
Marriage date and children birth dates don't seem to match up?

Burial: Sawyer Cemetery, Plymouth, Penobscot County, Maine.

Veteran of the Civil War.

Maine First Heavy Artillery.

Regimental History.

p. 289,Captain Benjamin F. Rollins, Joined from Dixmont as Sergeant. A modest, beardless boy, soldier born, unassuming, brave, and true to every duty. Promoted for merit to Second Lieutenant March 23, 1864, First Lieutenant Oct. 17, 1864, and Captain Dec. 13, 1864. Has, since the war, been prominent and prosperous mmercantile pursuits.

p. 291, Benjamin F. Rollins, 21, Dixmont, s; promoted Second Lieutenant March 23, 1864, First Lieutenant Oct. 17, 1864, and Captain Dec. 13, 1864; wounded May 19, 1864;Gunshot to left arm, resigned July 27, 1865. Resides at Plymouth, Me.
 

William H. C. Smith

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William H C Smith.

Birth: Dec. 3, 1840.
Death: Aug. 26, 1891, Providence County, Rhode Island.

Wife: Mary M Smith (1846 - 1935).

Children: Minnie A Smith (1869 - 1904), Susan M Smith (1870 - 1898).

Burial: Mineral Spring Cemetery, Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island.
 

Battery F., First Rhode Island Light Artillery.

William H. C. Smith, Central Falls, R. I. Enrolled Oct. 10, 1S61 ; mustered Oct. 29, 1S61 : corporal, Oct. 29, 1S61 ; sergeant, Dec. 4, 1862; resigned warrant Jan. 24, 1S64: on detached service with Signal Corps, U. S. A., May 3, 1864; transferred to Signal Corps, U. S. A., Sept. 1, 1864; mustered out of service Oct. 30, 1864.

United States Army Signal Corps.

William H. C. Smith, transferred from First Rhode Island Artillery; Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Department, Va., N. C.; Died August 26, 1891.