As you might know, the G.A.R. Hall in Litchfield was built by and for local Civil War veterans. In the museum’s collection is a photo of some of the last surviving Civil War veterans in the area. It was taken in 1930 and includes Enoch Eastman, Albert DeLong, and Rueben Wheeler.
Besides the Civil War, the men had other things in common. They were all born in the eastern United States and came to Minnesota before the Civil War. After the war, they remained in the area, were longtime members of Litchfield’s G.A.R. Post, lived to see old age, and were buried in Ripley Cemetery. Here’s a bit of their stories.
Enoch Eastman settled in Kingston, Minnesota around 1856. Before the war, he spent some time as the deputy sheriff. Enoch enlisted in February 1865 serving for 12 months in Company E, Hatch’s Battalion.
After returning to Meeker County, Eastman had a few different occupations, but soon made a name for himself as a mover of buildings and houses. In 1869, the Meeker County seat was moved from Forest City to the newly-formed Litchfield. It was Eastman who literally moved parts of Forest City to Litchfield. Eastman continued moving buildings until his mid-90s. He died in 1932 at the age of 97 and was said to have been the oldest resident in Meeker County.
Albert DeLong came with his parents to Meeker County at the age of 17 and would later claim land in Ellsworth Township. During his lifetime, he operated several flour mills including mills in Cedar Mills, Greenleaf, and Forest City Townships. During the US-Dakota of 1862 and the unrest that followed, DeLong served as a scout with the Ninth Minnesota Regiment and Sibley’s Expedition.
After the war, DeLong continued in milling. When he died in 1936 at the age of 93, he was the last surviving member of the Litchfield G.A.R. Post, as well as the last survivor of the Battle of Acton and Sibley’s Expedition.
Reuben Wheeler’s family came to Minnesota in 1861, and Wheeler enlisted in Company D, Fourth Minnesota Infantry in October 1861. He was part of several battles and suffered a shrapnel wound in his head during the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. Yet when his term of service was complete, Wheeler reenlisted. During his second enlistment, he was part of Sherman’s March to the Sea. He mustered out in July 1865.
During the war, Wheeler’s father claimed land for him in Cedar Mills Township. Reuben farmed and raised livestock for several years after the war. He spent a short time in Kandiyohi County and Montana before returning to Cedar Mills. He later moved to Litchfield where he lived until his death in 1931 at the age of 87.
These histories and more can be found at the Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall. In addition, with Veterans Day this month the Museum has a special veterans display, now through the end of November.
Comments