Sergeant WILLIAM GOSNEY, Co. H, 86th Illinois
William Gosney was born on October 14, 1833 in Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He may be the son of William Gosney, who was born c. 1803/04 in Virginia. This William Gosney is believed to have been married at least twice, to Matilda McCrea (McCreary?) and 2nd or 3rd c. 1849 to Susan Hammond.
At the time of the 1840 census, there are two William Gosney's found in Marshall County, Virginia. The first family appears as follows;
1 male 40 to 49
1 male 10 to 14
1 male 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female under 5
The 2nd William Gosney appears as follows;
1 male 30 to 39
2 males 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female 10 to 14
3 females under 5
Our William Gosney could be any of the male children between the ages of 5 to 9.
Our William Gosney is believed to come west to Illinois in the 1850's where he settled in Peoria County. William Gosney was married to Matilda E. Albertson on October 15, 1857 in Peoria County. Matilda was born on April 12, 1838 in __________, Pennsylvania. Matilda was one of at least seven children known to have been born to Oliver Albertson & Susannah (Myres) Albertson. Oliver was born in Pennsylvania c. 1812, while Susannah was born in Pennsylvania c. 1821. Oliver and Susannah were married in the 1830's in Pennsylvania and were the parents of at least seven children.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Albertsons are found in East Deer, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
Oliver Albertson M 39 Pennsylvania
Susanna Albertson F 30 Pennsylvania
Matilda Albertson F 12 Pennsylvania
Butler Albertson M 7 Pennsylvania
John Albertson M 6 Pennsylvania
George Albertson M 3 Pennsylvania
Hannah J Albertson F 0 Pennsylvania
Oliver and Susannah took their family west to Illinois about 1853/54, settling in Peoria County, Illinois. At the time of the 1860 census, Brimfield Township, Peoria County, Illinois;
Oliver Albertson M 48 Penn
Susannah Albertson F 39 Penn
Butler Albertson M 17 Penn
John Albertson M 14 Penn
Hannah J Albertson F 11 Penn
Amanda Albertson F 8 Penn
Oliver Albertson M 5 Ills
George Albertson M 13 Penn
William Gosney and Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney are believed to have had eight children. They are;
1. Martha Gosney, born c. 1858; died c. 1860
2. James Oliver Gosney, born July 30, 1860 in __________, __________; married May 16, 1880, Cherokee County, Kansas to Harriet Rosetta Ramsey.
Their children include;
A. Minnie Mae Gosney, born ____________ __, 18__. Minnie is the grandmother of Barbara Melcher.
James Oliver Gosney died on March 16, 1924, Medical Lake, Spokane, Washington and his mortal remains were laid in the Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman, Washington.
3. William Andrew Gosney, born February 25, 1862; Died May 18, 1926 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho; Buried in St. John Cemetery, Whiteman County, Washington.
4. Richard Sherman Gosney, born c. 1866 in Illinois; married on September 15, 1888 Columbia, WA to Sarah E. Robertson; Richard died on August 2, 1936 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the ____________ Cemetery.
5. Elmer Elsworth Gosney, born __________ __, 1868 in Illinois; married on December 24, 1890, Columbia County, WA to Harriet Louise (Lula) Crossler; Elmer died on December 3, 1931 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; Elmer is buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
6. Rosa May Gosney, born January 10, 1870/73 in Kansas; married to Henry McCubbins on 28 April 1889, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, died on March 22, 1932 in Dayton, Columbia County, Washington; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
7. Gilbert M. Gosney, born April 25, 1877 in __________, Kansas; married to Lottie Sutton; died on March 1, 1940 Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
8. Clyde Otis Gosney, born July 29, 1879 in Kansas; died April 30, 1957; buried in the Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington.
William and Matilda and the Gosney family can not be located in the 1860 census, but they are known to be residing in Millbrook Township in Peoria County in the summer of 1862. On August 6, 1862, William Gosney volunteered in Millbrook Township to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GOSNEY, WILLIAM
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence MILLBROOK, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 4 Hair DARK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status MARRIED Occupation FARMER
Nativity MARSHALL CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 6, 1862 Joined Where MILBROOK, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years.
During the next three years, Private William A. Gosney would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, William was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
At some point during the war, Sergeant William Gosney was injured during a skirmish at what was called Pine Mountain, Georgia. Barbara Melcher sent for William Gosney's Pension application papers and found that "he was wounded (1863?) in the left arm by a rock thrown from the brestworks at Pine Mountain, Georgia. An explanation was stuck on one of the pension papers I received that 'brestworks means temporary fortification'. In my reading some time in the past, I read that the (Rebel, or maybe both sides?) soldiers ran out of ammunition and resorted to throwing rocks. His injury in later life caused him problems, although it appears he did serve out his time in the Army and that he 'participated in the Grand Review of the National Armies May 23rd, 1865.' He supposedly was with Sherman on the 'march to the sea' and one of his sons was named Richard Sherman after that general."
During his time in the service, William was first promoted to Corporal and finally to Sergeant as a sign of his military bearing and dedication to service. After the war came to a close, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D. C., where in May of 1865, they did participate in the Grand Review, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. The men of the 86th were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865 there in Washington and were soon on trains bound for Chicago, Illinois. At Chicago, the men of the 86th were received there final pay and were discharged from the service. By the end of June of 1865, almost all of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois were back home with their families in Central Illinois.
William and Matilda remained in Peoria County until about 1868/69, when they made the move west to Kansas, where Union veterans of the Civil War were being given land as a reward for their service. There William and Matilda settled in Cherokee County near Mineral, Kansas. Their last three children were born there in Kansas. At the time of the 1870 census, William and his family are found in Cherokee Township, Cherokee County, Kansas as follows;
William Gosney M 36 Virginia
Matilda Gosney F 31 Pennsylvania
Oliver J Gosney M 9 Kansas
William A Gosney M 8 Pennsylvania
Richard S Gosney M 4 Illinois
Elsworth E Gosney M 2 Illinois
John Albertson M 24 Pennsylvania
At the time of the 1880 census, William and his family are found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas;
William Gosney Self M 43 Virginia
Matilda Gosney Wife F 42 Pennsylvania
James O Gosney Son M 20 Kansas
William A Gosney Son M 18 Pennsylvania
Sherman Gosney Son M 14 Illinois
Elemar Gosney Son M 12 Illinois
Rose May Gosney Daughter F 7 Kansas
Gilbert Gosney Son M 3 Kansas
Clyde Gosney Son M 0 Kansas
In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized a reunion which was held in Peoria, Illinois during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the mustering in of the the old 86th back in 1862. More than 130 members of the 86th attended this reunion, which was such a success that the members decided that they wanted to continue to hold the reunions in Peoria during the week of August 27th every year as long as members were able to attend. The reunion continued to grow in attendance for a number of years as more and more members of the 86th found out about the reunions and they continued to hold these reunions through 1923. Through the years, more than 30 different members of old Co. H attended at least one reunion and more than 350 members of the 86th attended at least one reunion. Sergeant William Gosney was never able to attend a reunion, the great distance to be traveled and the difficulty of making that journey in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly being factors.
William and Matilda remained in Kansas until about 1886/87 when they moved on west to Washington Territory. There they are known to have settled near Dayton, Washington in Columbia County.
Barbara Melcher has a Timber Culture paper, showing William Gosney started growing trees for lumber here in Washington. From the Timber Culture Act. He died before it was fullfilled, but the heirs went ahead with the application it appears. Sergeant William Gosney died there on September 9, 1897. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery.
At the time of the 1900 census, Matilda is found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, where she is listed as widowed and a Pensioner;
Gosney, Matilda F 61 Apr 1839 Pennsylvania PA PA
Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney was married to James Johnson on July 5, 1904.
At the time of the 1900 census, James and Matilda are found residing on Dayton Avenue in Ward 2 of the city of Dayton, Columbia County, Washington;
James Johnson Head M 66 Iowa
Matilda Johnson Wife F 72 Pennsylvania
James Johnson died on March 14, 1924 at the age of 81 and his mortal remains were laid in the Dayton City Cemetery. James was a member of the 29th IA Inf. Matilda (Albertson) Gosney Johnson died on December 1, 1917. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery beside her husband of 40 years, William Gosney in Block A, Lot 16.
by Baxter Fite (FAG Contributor #47203738), Geraldine Laughery Perry (FAG Contributor #46929480), and Great great granddaughters Barbara Melcher (FAG Contributor #47498613) and Marvel Bollinger Delahaye (email address: [email protected]).
(Baxter, Geraldine, Barbara and Marvel would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might be able to add to the biography of Sergeant William Gosney and the Gosney family. Baxter would also love to get a copy of any photographs of Sergeant William Gosney, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, which may have survived for his Find A Grave site and for the local historical societies.)
William Gosney was born on October 14, 1833 in Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He may be the son of William Gosney, who was born c. 1803/04 in Virginia. This William Gosney is believed to have been married at least twice, to Matilda McCrea (McCreary?) and 2nd or 3rd c. 1849 to Susan Hammond.
At the time of the 1840 census, there are two William Gosney's found in Marshall County, Virginia. The first family appears as follows;
1 male 40 to 49
1 male 10 to 14
1 male 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female under 5
The 2nd William Gosney appears as follows;
1 male 30 to 39
2 males 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female 10 to 14
3 females under 5
Our William Gosney could be any of the male children between the ages of 5 to 9.
Our William Gosney is believed to come west to Illinois in the 1850's where he settled in Peoria County. William Gosney was married to Matilda E. Albertson on October 15, 1857 in Peoria County. Matilda was born on April 12, 1838 in __________, Pennsylvania. Matilda was one of at least seven children known to have been born to Oliver Albertson & Susannah (Myres) Albertson. Oliver was born in Pennsylvania c. 1812, while Susannah was born in Pennsylvania c. 1821. Oliver and Susannah were married in the 1830's in Pennsylvania and were the parents of at least seven children.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Albertsons are found in East Deer, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
Oliver Albertson M 39 Pennsylvania
Susanna Albertson F 30 Pennsylvania
Matilda Albertson F 12 Pennsylvania
Butler Albertson M 7 Pennsylvania
John Albertson M 6 Pennsylvania
George Albertson M 3 Pennsylvania
Hannah J Albertson F 0 Pennsylvania
Oliver and Susannah took their family west to Illinois about 1853/54, settling in Peoria County, Illinois. At the time of the 1860 census, Brimfield Township, Peoria County, Illinois;
Oliver Albertson M 48 Penn
Susannah Albertson F 39 Penn
Butler Albertson M 17 Penn
John Albertson M 14 Penn
Hannah J Albertson F 11 Penn
Amanda Albertson F 8 Penn
Oliver Albertson M 5 Ills
George Albertson M 13 Penn
William Gosney and Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney are believed to have had eight children. They are;
1. Martha Gosney, born c. 1858; died c. 1860
2. James Oliver Gosney, born July 30, 1860 in __________, __________; married May 16, 1880, Cherokee County, Kansas to Harriet Rosetta Ramsey.
Their children include;
A. Minnie Mae Gosney, born ____________ __, 18__. Minnie is the grandmother of Barbara Melcher.
James Oliver Gosney died on March 16, 1924, Medical Lake, Spokane, Washington and his mortal remains were laid in the Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman, Washington.
3. William Andrew Gosney, born February 25, 1862; Died May 18, 1926 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho; Buried in St. John Cemetery, Whiteman County, Washington.
4. Richard Sherman Gosney, born c. 1866 in Illinois; married on September 15, 1888 Columbia, WA to Sarah E. Robertson; Richard died on August 2, 1936 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the ____________ Cemetery.
5. Elmer Elsworth Gosney, born __________ __, 1868 in Illinois; married on December 24, 1890, Columbia County, WA to Harriet Louise (Lula) Crossler; Elmer died on December 3, 1931 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; Elmer is buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
6. Rosa May Gosney, born January 10, 1870/73 in Kansas; married to Henry McCubbins on 28 April 1889, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, died on March 22, 1932 in Dayton, Columbia County, Washington; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
7. Gilbert M. Gosney, born April 25, 1877 in __________, Kansas; married to Lottie Sutton; died on March 1, 1940 Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
8. Clyde Otis Gosney, born July 29, 1879 in Kansas; died April 30, 1957; buried in the Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington.
William and Matilda and the Gosney family can not be located in the 1860 census, but they are known to be residing in Millbrook Township in Peoria County in the summer of 1862. On August 6, 1862, William Gosney volunteered in Millbrook Township to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GOSNEY, WILLIAM
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence MILLBROOK, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 4 Hair DARK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status MARRIED Occupation FARMER
Nativity MARSHALL CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 6, 1862 Joined Where MILBROOK, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years.
During the next three years, Private William A. Gosney would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, William was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
At some point during the war, Sergeant William Gosney was injured during a skirmish at what was called Pine Mountain, Georgia. Barbara Melcher sent for William Gosney's Pension application papers and found that "he was wounded (1863?) in the left arm by a rock thrown from the brestworks at Pine Mountain, Georgia. An explanation was stuck on one of the pension papers I received that 'brestworks means temporary fortification'. In my reading some time in the past, I read that the (Rebel, or maybe both sides?) soldiers ran out of ammunition and resorted to throwing rocks. His injury in later life caused him problems, although it appears he did serve out his time in the Army and that he 'participated in the Grand Review of the National Armies May 23rd, 1865.' He supposedly was with Sherman on the 'march to the sea' and one of his sons was named Richard Sherman after that general."
During his time in the service, William was first promoted to Corporal and finally to Sergeant as a sign of his military bearing and dedication to service. After the war came to a close, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D. C., where in May of 1865, they did participate in the Grand Review, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. The men of the 86th were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865 there in Washington and were soon on trains bound for Chicago, Illinois. At Chicago, the men of the 86th were received there final pay and were discharged from the service. By the end of June of 1865, almost all of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois were back home with their families in Central Illinois.
William and Matilda remained in Peoria County until about 1868/69, when they made the move west to Kansas, where Union veterans of the Civil War were being given land as a reward for their service. There William and Matilda settled in Cherokee County near Mineral, Kansas. Their last three children were born there in Kansas. At the time of the 1870 census, William and his family are found in Cherokee Township, Cherokee County, Kansas as follows;
William Gosney M 36 Virginia
Matilda Gosney F 31 Pennsylvania
Oliver J Gosney M 9 Kansas
William A Gosney M 8 Pennsylvania
Richard S Gosney M 4 Illinois
Elsworth E Gosney M 2 Illinois
John Albertson M 24 Pennsylvania
At the time of the 1880 census, William and his family are found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas;
William Gosney Self M 43 Virginia
Matilda Gosney Wife F 42 Pennsylvania
James O Gosney Son M 20 Kansas
William A Gosney Son M 18 Pennsylvania
Sherman Gosney Son M 14 Illinois
Elemar Gosney Son M 12 Illinois
Rose May Gosney Daughter F 7 Kansas
Gilbert Gosney Son M 3 Kansas
Clyde Gosney Son M 0 Kansas
In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized a reunion which was held in Peoria, Illinois during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the mustering in of the the old 86th back in 1862. More than 130 members of the 86th attended this reunion, which was such a success that the members decided that they wanted to continue to hold the reunions in Peoria during the week of August 27th every year as long as members were able to attend. The reunion continued to grow in attendance for a number of years as more and more members of the 86th found out about the reunions and they continued to hold these reunions through 1923. Through the years, more than 30 different members of old Co. H attended at least one reunion and more than 350 members of the 86th attended at least one reunion. Sergeant William Gosney was never able to attend a reunion, the great distance to be traveled and the difficulty of making that journey in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly being factors.
William and Matilda remained in Kansas until about 1886/87 when they moved on west to Washington Territory. There they are known to have settled near Dayton, Washington in Columbia County.
Barbara Melcher has a Timber Culture paper, showing William Gosney started growing trees for lumber here in Washington. From the Timber Culture Act. He died before it was fullfilled, but the heirs went ahead with the application it appears. Sergeant William Gosney died there on September 9, 1897. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery.
At the time of the 1900 census, Matilda is found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, where she is listed as widowed and a Pensioner;
Gosney, Matilda F 61 Apr 1839 Pennsylvania PA PA
Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney was married to James Johnson on July 5, 1904.
At the time of the 1900 census, James and Matilda are found residing on Dayton Avenue in Ward 2 of the city of Dayton, Columbia County, Washington;
James Johnson Head M 66 Iowa
Matilda Johnson Wife F 72 Pennsylvania
James Johnson died on March 14, 1924 at the age of 81 and his mortal remains were laid in the Dayton City Cemetery. James was a member of the 29th IA Inf. Matilda (Albertson) Gosney Johnson died on December 1, 1917. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery beside her husband of 40 years, William Gosney in Block A, Lot 16.
by Baxter Fite (FAG Contributor #47203738), Geraldine Laughery Perry (FAG Contributor #46929480), and Great great granddaughters Barbara Melcher (FAG Contributor #47498613) and Marvel Bollinger Delahaye (email address: [email protected]).
(Baxter, Geraldine, Barbara and Marvel would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might be able to add to the biography of Sergeant William Gosney and the Gosney family. Baxter would also love to get a copy of any photographs of Sergeant William Gosney, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, which may have survived for his Find A Grave site and for the local historical societies.)
Sergeant WILLIAM GOSNEY, Co. H, 86th Illinois
William Gosney was born on October 14, 1833 in Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He may be the son of William Gosney, who was born c. 1803/04 in Virginia. This William Gosney is believed to have been married at least twice, to Matilda McCrea (McCreary?) and 2nd or 3rd c. 1849 to Susan Hammond.
At the time of the 1840 census, there are two William Gosney's found in Marshall County, Virginia. The first family appears as follows;
1 male 40 to 49
1 male 10 to 14
1 male 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female under 5
The 2nd William Gosney appears as follows;
1 male 30 to 39
2 males 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female 10 to 14
3 females under 5
Our William Gosney could be any of the male children between the ages of 5 to 9.
Our William Gosney is believed to come west to Illinois in the 1850's where he settled in Peoria County. William Gosney was married to Matilda E. Albertson on October 15, 1857 in Peoria County. Matilda was born on April 12, 1838 in __________, Pennsylvania. Matilda was one of at least seven children known to have been born to Oliver Albertson & Susannah (Myres) Albertson. Oliver was born in Pennsylvania c. 1812, while Susannah was born in Pennsylvania c. 1821. Oliver and Susannah were married in the 1830's in Pennsylvania and were the parents of at least seven children.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Albertsons are found in East Deer, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
Oliver Albertson M 39 Pennsylvania
Susanna Albertson F 30 Pennsylvania
Matilda Albertson F 12 Pennsylvania
Butler Albertson M 7 Pennsylvania
John Albertson M 6 Pennsylvania
George Albertson M 3 Pennsylvania
Hannah J Albertson F 0 Pennsylvania
Oliver and Susannah took their family west to Illinois about 1853/54, settling in Peoria County, Illinois. At the time of the 1860 census, Brimfield Township, Peoria County, Illinois;
Oliver Albertson M 48 Penn
Susannah Albertson F 39 Penn
Butler Albertson M 17 Penn
John Albertson M 14 Penn
Hannah J Albertson F 11 Penn
Amanda Albertson F 8 Penn
Oliver Albertson M 5 Ills
George Albertson M 13 Penn
William Gosney and Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney are believed to have had eight children. They are;
1. Martha Gosney, born c. 1858; died c. 1860
2. James Oliver Gosney, born July 30, 1860 in __________, __________; married May 16, 1880, Cherokee County, Kansas to Harriet Rosetta Ramsey.
Their children include;
A. Minnie Mae Gosney, born ____________ __, 18__. Minnie is the grandmother of Barbara Melcher.
James Oliver Gosney died on March 16, 1924, Medical Lake, Spokane, Washington and his mortal remains were laid in the Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman, Washington.
3. William Andrew Gosney, born February 25, 1862; Died May 18, 1926 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho; Buried in St. John Cemetery, Whiteman County, Washington.
4. Richard Sherman Gosney, born c. 1866 in Illinois; married on September 15, 1888 Columbia, WA to Sarah E. Robertson; Richard died on August 2, 1936 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the ____________ Cemetery.
5. Elmer Elsworth Gosney, born __________ __, 1868 in Illinois; married on December 24, 1890, Columbia County, WA to Harriet Louise (Lula) Crossler; Elmer died on December 3, 1931 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; Elmer is buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
6. Rosa May Gosney, born January 10, 1870/73 in Kansas; married to Henry McCubbins on 28 April 1889, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, died on March 22, 1932 in Dayton, Columbia County, Washington; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
7. Gilbert M. Gosney, born April 25, 1877 in __________, Kansas; married to Lottie Sutton; died on March 1, 1940 Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
8. Clyde Otis Gosney, born July 29, 1879 in Kansas; died April 30, 1957; buried in the Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington.
William and Matilda and the Gosney family can not be located in the 1860 census, but they are known to be residing in Millbrook Township in Peoria County in the summer of 1862. On August 6, 1862, William Gosney volunteered in Millbrook Township to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GOSNEY, WILLIAM
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence MILLBROOK, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 4 Hair DARK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status MARRIED Occupation FARMER
Nativity MARSHALL CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 6, 1862 Joined Where MILBROOK, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years.
During the next three years, Private William A. Gosney would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, William was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
At some point during the war, Sergeant William Gosney was injured during a skirmish at what was called Pine Mountain, Georgia. Barbara Melcher sent for William Gosney's Pension application papers and found that "he was wounded (1863?) in the left arm by a rock thrown from the brestworks at Pine Mountain, Georgia. An explanation was stuck on one of the pension papers I received that 'brestworks means temporary fortification'. In my reading some time in the past, I read that the (Rebel, or maybe both sides?) soldiers ran out of ammunition and resorted to throwing rocks. His injury in later life caused him problems, although it appears he did serve out his time in the Army and that he 'participated in the Grand Review of the National Armies May 23rd, 1865.' He supposedly was with Sherman on the 'march to the sea' and one of his sons was named Richard Sherman after that general."
During his time in the service, William was first promoted to Corporal and finally to Sergeant as a sign of his military bearing and dedication to service. After the war came to a close, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D. C., where in May of 1865, they did participate in the Grand Review, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. The men of the 86th were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865 there in Washington and were soon on trains bound for Chicago, Illinois. At Chicago, the men of the 86th were received there final pay and were discharged from the service. By the end of June of 1865, almost all of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois were back home with their families in Central Illinois.
William and Matilda remained in Peoria County until about 1868/69, when they made the move west to Kansas, where Union veterans of the Civil War were being given land as a reward for their service. There William and Matilda settled in Cherokee County near Mineral, Kansas. Their last three children were born there in Kansas. At the time of the 1870 census, William and his family are found in Cherokee Township, Cherokee County, Kansas as follows;
William Gosney M 36 Virginia
Matilda Gosney F 31 Pennsylvania
Oliver J Gosney M 9 Kansas
William A Gosney M 8 Pennsylvania
Richard S Gosney M 4 Illinois
Elsworth E Gosney M 2 Illinois
John Albertson M 24 Pennsylvania
At the time of the 1880 census, William and his family are found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas;
William Gosney Self M 43 Virginia
Matilda Gosney Wife F 42 Pennsylvania
James O Gosney Son M 20 Kansas
William A Gosney Son M 18 Pennsylvania
Sherman Gosney Son M 14 Illinois
Elemar Gosney Son M 12 Illinois
Rose May Gosney Daughter F 7 Kansas
Gilbert Gosney Son M 3 Kansas
Clyde Gosney Son M 0 Kansas
In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized a reunion which was held in Peoria, Illinois during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the mustering in of the the old 86th back in 1862. More than 130 members of the 86th attended this reunion, which was such a success that the members decided that they wanted to continue to hold the reunions in Peoria during the week of August 27th every year as long as members were able to attend. The reunion continued to grow in attendance for a number of years as more and more members of the 86th found out about the reunions and they continued to hold these reunions through 1923. Through the years, more than 30 different members of old Co. H attended at least one reunion and more than 350 members of the 86th attended at least one reunion. Sergeant William Gosney was never able to attend a reunion, the great distance to be traveled and the difficulty of making that journey in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly being factors.
William and Matilda remained in Kansas until about 1886/87 when they moved on west to Washington Territory. There they are known to have settled near Dayton, Washington in Columbia County.
Barbara Melcher has a Timber Culture paper, showing William Gosney started growing trees for lumber here in Washington. From the Timber Culture Act. He died before it was fullfilled, but the heirs went ahead with the application it appears. Sergeant William Gosney died there on September 9, 1897. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery.
At the time of the 1900 census, Matilda is found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, where she is listed as widowed and a Pensioner;
Gosney, Matilda F 61 Apr 1839 Pennsylvania PA PA
Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney was married to James Johnson on July 5, 1904.
At the time of the 1900 census, James and Matilda are found residing on Dayton Avenue in Ward 2 of the city of Dayton, Columbia County, Washington;
James Johnson Head M 66 Iowa
Matilda Johnson Wife F 72 Pennsylvania
James Johnson died on March 14, 1924 at the age of 81 and his mortal remains were laid in the Dayton City Cemetery. James was a member of the 29th IA Inf. Matilda (Albertson) Gosney Johnson died on December 1, 1917. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery beside her husband of 40 years, William Gosney in Block A, Lot 16.
by Baxter Fite (FAG Contributor #47203738), Geraldine Laughery Perry (FAG Contributor #46929480), and Great great granddaughters Barbara Melcher (FAG Contributor #47498613) and Marvel Bollinger Delahaye (email address: [email protected]).
(Baxter, Geraldine, Barbara and Marvel would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might be able to add to the biography of Sergeant William Gosney and the Gosney family. Baxter would also love to get a copy of any photographs of Sergeant William Gosney, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, which may have survived for his Find A Grave site and for the local historical societies.)
William Gosney was born on October 14, 1833 in Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He may be the son of William Gosney, who was born c. 1803/04 in Virginia. This William Gosney is believed to have been married at least twice, to Matilda McCrea (McCreary?) and 2nd or 3rd c. 1849 to Susan Hammond.
At the time of the 1840 census, there are two William Gosney's found in Marshall County, Virginia. The first family appears as follows;
1 male 40 to 49
1 male 10 to 14
1 male 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female under 5
The 2nd William Gosney appears as follows;
1 male 30 to 39
2 males 9 to 5
1 male under 5
1 female 30 to 39
1 female 10 to 14
3 females under 5
Our William Gosney could be any of the male children between the ages of 5 to 9.
Our William Gosney is believed to come west to Illinois in the 1850's where he settled in Peoria County. William Gosney was married to Matilda E. Albertson on October 15, 1857 in Peoria County. Matilda was born on April 12, 1838 in __________, Pennsylvania. Matilda was one of at least seven children known to have been born to Oliver Albertson & Susannah (Myres) Albertson. Oliver was born in Pennsylvania c. 1812, while Susannah was born in Pennsylvania c. 1821. Oliver and Susannah were married in the 1830's in Pennsylvania and were the parents of at least seven children.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Albertsons are found in East Deer, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
Oliver Albertson M 39 Pennsylvania
Susanna Albertson F 30 Pennsylvania
Matilda Albertson F 12 Pennsylvania
Butler Albertson M 7 Pennsylvania
John Albertson M 6 Pennsylvania
George Albertson M 3 Pennsylvania
Hannah J Albertson F 0 Pennsylvania
Oliver and Susannah took their family west to Illinois about 1853/54, settling in Peoria County, Illinois. At the time of the 1860 census, Brimfield Township, Peoria County, Illinois;
Oliver Albertson M 48 Penn
Susannah Albertson F 39 Penn
Butler Albertson M 17 Penn
John Albertson M 14 Penn
Hannah J Albertson F 11 Penn
Amanda Albertson F 8 Penn
Oliver Albertson M 5 Ills
George Albertson M 13 Penn
William Gosney and Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney are believed to have had eight children. They are;
1. Martha Gosney, born c. 1858; died c. 1860
2. James Oliver Gosney, born July 30, 1860 in __________, __________; married May 16, 1880, Cherokee County, Kansas to Harriet Rosetta Ramsey.
Their children include;
A. Minnie Mae Gosney, born ____________ __, 18__. Minnie is the grandmother of Barbara Melcher.
James Oliver Gosney died on March 16, 1924, Medical Lake, Spokane, Washington and his mortal remains were laid in the Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman, Washington.
3. William Andrew Gosney, born February 25, 1862; Died May 18, 1926 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho; Buried in St. John Cemetery, Whiteman County, Washington.
4. Richard Sherman Gosney, born c. 1866 in Illinois; married on September 15, 1888 Columbia, WA to Sarah E. Robertson; Richard died on August 2, 1936 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the ____________ Cemetery.
5. Elmer Elsworth Gosney, born __________ __, 1868 in Illinois; married on December 24, 1890, Columbia County, WA to Harriet Louise (Lula) Crossler; Elmer died on December 3, 1931 in Dayton, Columbia, WA; Elmer is buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
6. Rosa May Gosney, born January 10, 1870/73 in Kansas; married to Henry McCubbins on 28 April 1889, Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, died on March 22, 1932 in Dayton, Columbia County, Washington; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
7. Gilbert M. Gosney, born April 25, 1877 in __________, Kansas; married to Lottie Sutton; died on March 1, 1940 Dayton, Columbia, WA; buried in the Dayton City Cemetery.
8. Clyde Otis Gosney, born July 29, 1879 in Kansas; died April 30, 1957; buried in the Odd Fellows Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington.
William and Matilda and the Gosney family can not be located in the 1860 census, but they are known to be residing in Millbrook Township in Peoria County in the summer of 1862. On August 6, 1862, William Gosney volunteered in Millbrook Township to serve in a company which was being raised in the Peoria, Illinois area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GOSNEY, WILLIAM
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence MILLBROOK, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 4 Hair DARK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status MARRIED Occupation FARMER
Nativity MARSHALL CO, VA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 6, 1862 Joined Where MILBROOK, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS SERGEANT
When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years.
During the next three years, Private William A. Gosney would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, William was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
At some point during the war, Sergeant William Gosney was injured during a skirmish at what was called Pine Mountain, Georgia. Barbara Melcher sent for William Gosney's Pension application papers and found that "he was wounded (1863?) in the left arm by a rock thrown from the brestworks at Pine Mountain, Georgia. An explanation was stuck on one of the pension papers I received that 'brestworks means temporary fortification'. In my reading some time in the past, I read that the (Rebel, or maybe both sides?) soldiers ran out of ammunition and resorted to throwing rocks. His injury in later life caused him problems, although it appears he did serve out his time in the Army and that he 'participated in the Grand Review of the National Armies May 23rd, 1865.' He supposedly was with Sherman on the 'march to the sea' and one of his sons was named Richard Sherman after that general."
During his time in the service, William was first promoted to Corporal and finally to Sergeant as a sign of his military bearing and dedication to service. After the war came to a close, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington, D. C., where in May of 1865, they did participate in the Grand Review, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. The men of the 86th were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865 there in Washington and were soon on trains bound for Chicago, Illinois. At Chicago, the men of the 86th were received there final pay and were discharged from the service. By the end of June of 1865, almost all of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois were back home with their families in Central Illinois.
William and Matilda remained in Peoria County until about 1868/69, when they made the move west to Kansas, where Union veterans of the Civil War were being given land as a reward for their service. There William and Matilda settled in Cherokee County near Mineral, Kansas. Their last three children were born there in Kansas. At the time of the 1870 census, William and his family are found in Cherokee Township, Cherokee County, Kansas as follows;
William Gosney M 36 Virginia
Matilda Gosney F 31 Pennsylvania
Oliver J Gosney M 9 Kansas
William A Gosney M 8 Pennsylvania
Richard S Gosney M 4 Illinois
Elsworth E Gosney M 2 Illinois
John Albertson M 24 Pennsylvania
At the time of the 1880 census, William and his family are found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas;
William Gosney Self M 43 Virginia
Matilda Gosney Wife F 42 Pennsylvania
James O Gosney Son M 20 Kansas
William A Gosney Son M 18 Pennsylvania
Sherman Gosney Son M 14 Illinois
Elemar Gosney Son M 12 Illinois
Rose May Gosney Daughter F 7 Kansas
Gilbert Gosney Son M 3 Kansas
Clyde Gosney Son M 0 Kansas
In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized a reunion which was held in Peoria, Illinois during the week of August 27, 1887, the 25th Anniversary of the mustering in of the the old 86th back in 1862. More than 130 members of the 86th attended this reunion, which was such a success that the members decided that they wanted to continue to hold the reunions in Peoria during the week of August 27th every year as long as members were able to attend. The reunion continued to grow in attendance for a number of years as more and more members of the 86th found out about the reunions and they continued to hold these reunions through 1923. Through the years, more than 30 different members of old Co. H attended at least one reunion and more than 350 members of the 86th attended at least one reunion. Sergeant William Gosney was never able to attend a reunion, the great distance to be traveled and the difficulty of making that journey in the late 1800's and early 1900's undoubtedly being factors.
William and Matilda remained in Kansas until about 1886/87 when they moved on west to Washington Territory. There they are known to have settled near Dayton, Washington in Columbia County.
Barbara Melcher has a Timber Culture paper, showing William Gosney started growing trees for lumber here in Washington. From the Timber Culture Act. He died before it was fullfilled, but the heirs went ahead with the application it appears. Sergeant William Gosney died there on September 9, 1897. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery.
At the time of the 1900 census, Matilda is found in Mineral Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, where she is listed as widowed and a Pensioner;
Gosney, Matilda F 61 Apr 1839 Pennsylvania PA PA
Matilda E. (Albertson) Gosney was married to James Johnson on July 5, 1904.
At the time of the 1900 census, James and Matilda are found residing on Dayton Avenue in Ward 2 of the city of Dayton, Columbia County, Washington;
James Johnson Head M 66 Iowa
Matilda Johnson Wife F 72 Pennsylvania
James Johnson died on March 14, 1924 at the age of 81 and his mortal remains were laid in the Dayton City Cemetery. James was a member of the 29th IA Inf. Matilda (Albertson) Gosney Johnson died on December 1, 1917. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Dayton City Cemetery beside her husband of 40 years, William Gosney in Block A, Lot 16.
by Baxter Fite (FAG Contributor #47203738), Geraldine Laughery Perry (FAG Contributor #46929480), and Great great granddaughters Barbara Melcher (FAG Contributor #47498613) and Marvel Bollinger Delahaye (email address: [email protected]).
(Baxter, Geraldine, Barbara and Marvel would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might be able to add to the biography of Sergeant William Gosney and the Gosney family. Baxter would also love to get a copy of any photographs of Sergeant William Gosney, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, which may have survived for his Find A Grave site and for the local historical societies.)
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