Harshbarger line: Hiram Burkholder, Civil War veteran

Hiram Burkholder is not a direct ancestor in the ancestor line, but he is a brother to Barbara Burkholder Long Buchtel Kemery, and so is my husband's third great grand uncle.   As an addition to Barbara's story, now we know that she also had a brother to worry about, during the Civil War.  I've been able to uncover just a little of his story, so here is what I've learned so far. 

Hiram was the youngest son of Joseph and Elizabeth Miller Burkholder. Like most of his siblings, he was born in Portage County, Ohio, where the Burkholders had settled as early as 1820.  The children attended school there at District 4 Suffield Township, although we don't know how long they were in school.  Hiram's older sister Barbara married at the age of 14 but she was a girl, so perhaps not expected to go beyond what we would call grammar school.

Sometime in the early 1850s the family moved to Whitley County, Indiana.  Michael Burkholder, whom I believe to be the oldest brother, was still in Suffield Township, Portage County, Ohio in the 1850 census (he had a son named Hiram born in 1849 and I have found some confusion in trees concerning the two Hirams) but I haven't found Joseph in the 1850 census yet. 

At any rate, the Burkholders and the Buchtels and other either related or about to be related families moved to Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana and in the 1860 census Hiram at age 21, is the only child left at home.  His parents were elderly, or at least Joseph was.  He was listed as 77 years old and Elizabeth is listed as 66 years old. 

Hiram didn't stay in the Burkholder household much longer.  On August 3, 1861, he married Martha Ester Brock and they likely set up their own household.  The Civil War, however, intervened and Hiram apparently enlisted in the 100th Indiana Regiment, Company F.  This company (a company started out as a unit of 100 soldiers) was made up primarily of Whitley County men, so he would have known and probably neighbored with some of the group.  Hiram went into the army as a private and was discharged as a private. His enlistment date was August 20, 1862, the unit was mustered in on September 10, and by November 1 they were on their way to Memphis, and to more excitement than any of them would ever wish to see again.  These men saw as much action as any in the War, I would think. 

Their first big actions were the actions at Vicksburg, Missisippi, both the unsuccessful battle and then the siege.  They then went to Jackson, Mississippi where they saw constant action, and then were in camp at Big Black Springs to rest and recuperate.  They sailed to Memphis with the 4th division, 15th Army corps, and moved on to Stevenson and Bridgeport, Alabama and Trenton,Ga.  They participated in the defeat of the Confederates on Lookout Mountain and then marched to Chattanooga where they participated in the storming of Missionary Ridge.  The division took the Ridge and held it against tremendous Confederate assaults, and it's likely that Hiram was there.  From there, the unit went to several more locations before joining in the Atlanta campaign.  There were at least thirteen engagements listed in the regimental history before they ever reached Atlanta, so it is safe to assume that Hiram was fighting pretty much all the way.  After Atlanta was evacuated there were further marches and campaigns, including Savannah and Griswoldville.  They then went to and through the Carolinas, eventually ending up at Raleigh, N.C. when the war ended.  They then proceeded to Richmond and on to Washington, D> for the grand review and mustering out on June 9, 1865.  The original strength of the regiment was 968, gain by recruits 86; total 1054.  Loss by death was 237, desertion 31, and unaccounted for, 11.  So over 20 percent of the regiment was lost to death, and we don't know the extent of the injured.  Of the dead, 58 were killed in action and 173 men died of disease, usually dysentery or typhoid fever or malaria or any of the other "camp fever" diseases.

Hiram and Martha had started their family before Hiram left for the War.  According to census records of 1870, Hiram and Martha (Martha was only 22!) had four children, Joseph who was about 6, then Elizabeth who was four, Barbary who was two, and William who was just four months old. 

Now we come to a mystery, which I hope someone can explain.  Sometime between 1870 and 1880 the family moved from Whitley County Indiana to Van Buren, Darke County, Ohio  Hiram's occupation didn't change, for he was a farmer in both locations.  Mary, Michael, and Lida had joined the family.  Martha had aged 13 years in the ten years between the censuses and was now 35, and had seven children to raise.  I wonder what influenced Hiram's decision to move?  There was a Brock family living there of the right age to be Martha's parents, or other older relation, but I don't know if this is the explanation or not. 

At any rate, Hiram and Martha were still there in 1900, living by themselves and probably enjoying a bit of peace and quiet.  Martha was 56 in this census, so the 1880 census age of 35 was probably close to correct.  When Hiram married Mary Grim (father Washington Lutins, mother last name of Ayers) on March 30, 1905, both were listed as widowed.  This is the last time I've found Hiram in a census, or in any other record, until his death on July 26, 1930.  He was receiving a pension from his Civil War service, but I haven't ordered it. ( I would love to see what it says but it would cost at least $80 to get it, so for now, it goes on my wish list). 

According to Find a Grave, Hiram died on July 26, 1930 and is buried at Abbotsville Cemetery, Abbotsville, Darke County, Ohio.  One other note:  The same site lists two additional children for Hiram and Martha.  Delana and Dolphus each died as infants, between the censuses.  Delana died in 1877 and is apparently buried there, so that gives us a clue as to when the family moved to Darke County. 

I always enjoy sharing the stories of our ancestors and their families who served in the military.  It is one way I can honor them, as well as reminding myself that our soldiers (sailors, etc,) suffered real hardships and faced death for the cause and country they believed in.  We need to know their stories!