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Civil War veteren, born 15 Aug 1845 in Worcester, Massachusettes

Civil War veteren, born 15 Aug 1845 in Worcester, Massachusettes

Posted: 1 Oct 2014 5:31AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Mills
I'd like help identifying the second picture "James Albert Mills_front". The 2nd picture is definitely a Civil War picture but the aforementioned 1st picture is shot in 1891 when James Albert was 46 years old and obviously a very different uniform than the earlier Civil War picture.

BTW, he was born and lived in Worcester, Massachusetts before the Civil War.

Regards
Michael Coullahan
Huntington Beach, CA
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Re: Civil War veteren, born 15 Aug 1845 in Worcester, Massachusettes

Posted: 2 Oct 2014 12:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
The 1891 picture is not a "Civil War" uniform but a Veterans Fraternal Order Membership "uniform". The larger medal/badge with the Eagle on top, Ribbon middle an Five Pointed Star at bottom is the Grand Army of the Republic Membership Badge, (GAR).
http://bentley.umich.edu/research/genealogy/cw/fraternal.php

The GAR are (Federal) Union Army, Navy and Marines Veterans. So since he was a member of GAR, then the second picture of him in a Union Army Uniform...

Where did he live in 1891, see if local GAR is still active tofay as a Sons Of GAR or if there is an archive of local membership files...State Library?

Have you found him in the 1890 Special Veterans Schedule census? It was not destroyed in the fire that affected the 1890 Federal Census. It will have his unit and time in service. It can help pinpoint him in the National Parks Civil War Soldiers and Sailors website, if he has a common name.

Re: Civil War veteren, born 15 Aug 1845 in Worcester, Massachusettes

Posted: 9 Dec 2014 8:44AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 10 Dec 2014 1:30AM GMT
Surnames: Mills
Thank you for your prompt and informative reply. I failed to see my email (at the time) that this thread had your comment. So....I just noticed your reply per a Google search tonight.

Coincidentally, I'm trying to find his death place and record. We know he divorced and "moved out West". I think I found him tonight in the 1920 Census as being in Los Angeles, CA's "National Military Home" at the age of 74. I've also attached his "Mason Membership" card. Could additional information be determined per this membership? I know he also took a portrait (I scanned this summer) at an "Angelus Studio" photography studio in Seattle, WA.

I'll look into your tips and provide a status. The answer to "Where did he live in 1891" is most likely the same place as his 1880 US Census (42 Lime St., Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts, USA) and the 1891 picture above does state "Newburyport". That's great news about the 1890 SVS census (not getting burned like most of the other 1890 Federal Censuses). I'll check on that. I do have a "US Civil Soldier Records and Profile 1861-1865" record on him (Enlisted in Company I, Massachusetts 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment on 02 Jan 1864.Promoted to Full Corporal.Mustered out on 30 May 1865.).

Thanks so much for informing about the uniform.
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