Captain EDWARD VAN ANTWERP, Co. E, 86th Illinois

Edward Van Antwerp was born on June 1, 1838 in New York, the son of John VAN ANTWERP, who may have been born as early as 20 May 1788 in Fonda, New York; and Polly Ann LEITER, who was born 6 May 1806 in Pennsylvania. However, John Van Antwerp may not have been born that early. Familysearch has a record of the death of John Van Antwerp in June of 1869 and in that record, John is listed as having been born in New York and as being 69 years of age, which would place his year of birth closer to 1800. John is recorded as residing in Steuben Township of Marshall County, Illinois.

Some records have John Van Antwerp dying on 9 Jun 1870, but I now believe he died on June 9, 1869 in Steuben Township. At least some of the Van Antwerp family moved to Michigan in the 1830's, probably in 1836. Grandmother Van Antwerp, Cynthia (Ryan) Antwerp is known to have died there in 1837. But, did some of the family, like John Van Antwerp stay behind in New York well into the 1840's. Every census has Timothy Van Antwerp being born in New York c. 1842/44.
John must have brought the family to Michigan, last, about 1845/46, before moving to Illinois, Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois, in the 1860's. John's parents were Harmanus VAN ANTWERP, who was born on 17 Apr 1769 in Fonda, New York and Cynthia RYAN, who was born ABT 1770. John was married to Polly Ann LEITER, who was born on 6 May 1806 in Pennsylvania. John and Polly had the following children;
1. Eliza Van Antwerp was born c. 31 Mar 1830 in Caledonia, New York, the daughter of John Van Antwerp and Polly Ann (Leiter) Van Antwerp. When Eliza was about 6 or 7, the Van Antwerp family moved to Michigan. Eliza's mother died there in Michigan when Eliza was about 16 and the family is found in Jefferson Yownship, Cass County, Michigan at the time of the 1850 census.
Eliza was married to Jonathan Olmstead/Olmsted on 7 April 1853 at the home of S. Graham in Cassopolis, Cass Co., Michigan. No children are believed to have been born to Eliza and Jonathan. They are believed to have adopted one child. She is;
A. Kate Olmsted/Olmstead, born ____________ __, 1856 in Marshall County, Illinois. Kate was married to Henry L. Darling on 26 May 1882 in La Grange, Cass County, Michigan. Henry was recorded as being 55 at the time and was born in Chattanoga, New York, while Kate Olmstead was recorded as being 26 and as having been born in or near Sparling, Marshall County, Illinois.
Kate and Henry were the parents of;
a. William E. Darling, born 1884. Died in 1955.

Kate (Olmsted) Darling died on ____________ __, 1929 and her mortal remains were laid in the McDowell Cemetery in South Haven Highlands, Allegan County, Michigan. See her Find A Grave Memorial #130491178.

In the 1850's, Eliza's father moved the family from Michigan to Central Illinois. At the time of the 1860 census, John and the younger children are found in Peoria County, Illinois. Eliza and J. C. followed her father to Central Illinois and at the time of the 1860 census, Eliza and her family are found in Bennington Township, Marshall County, Illinois, just north of Peoria County;
J C Olmstead M 36 N Y
Eliza Olmstead F 30 N Y
Kate Olmstead F 3 Ills
H Vanantwerp M 25 N Y

Shortly after this census was taken, J. C. and Eliza moved their family west to Kansas, where they may have been part of the movement to keep Kansas a free state. At the time of the 1865 Kansas state census, Eliza and her family are found in Wabaunsee, Wabaunsee County, Kansas;
John C Olmstead M 40 New York
Eliza Olmstead F 35 New York
Kate Olmstead F 8 Illinois

They returned to Illinois in the late 1860's, Eliza's father passing away in June of 1869. At the time of the 1870 census, Eliza and her family are found in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois;
Harmon Vanantuerp M 33 New York
Emetine Vanantuerp F 29 Virginia
Jonathon Olmsted M 50 New York
Eliza Olmsted F 40 New York
Katie Olmsted F 13 Illinois

With her parents now both gone, In the 1870's, Eliza and J. C returned to Michigan. At the time of the 1880 census, Eliza and her family are found in Ontwa Township, Cass County, Michigan;
John C Olmsted Self M 55 New York
Eliza Olmsted Wife F 48 New York
Samuel C Olmsted Father M 79 Connecticut
Kate Olmsted Daughter F 25 Illinois

Eliza (Van Antwerp) Olmsted died on 25 Mar 1885 in Cass County, Michigan and her mortal remains were laid in the Edwardsburg Cemetery in Edwardsburg, Cass County, Michigan. See her Find A Grave Memorial #20873441.

2. Jacob Van Antwerp, born c. 1831/32 in Caledonia, New York. Jacob Van Antwerp was married to Elizabeth Jane Hamilton on March 14, 1861 in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois. Five children were born to Jacob and Elizabeth. Almost immediately after they were married Jacob and Elizabeth headed for Kansas, where Jacob volunteered on August 30, 1862 to serve in what was to become Co. G of the 11th Regiment of Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War. He was mustered into the service on September 13, 1862 and served as a Sergeant for some time in Co. G. On April 18, 1864, Jacob was promoted to Lieutenant in Co. L of the 11th Regt. of Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Jacob was mustered out of service on September 26, 1865. Jacob Van Antwerp died of consumption on December 21/22, 1880 in Manhattan, Kansas and his mortal remains were laid in the Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas. See his Find A Grave Memorial #91416236.

3. Harmon Van Antwerp, born c. 24 Nov 1834/36 in New York. At the time of the 1860 census, Harmon is believed to be the H. Van Antwerp, we find in Bennington Township, Marshall County, Illinois living with his sister, Eliza, and her family. Harmon was married to Emeline Purcell, but he died on March 3, 1872 in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial.

4. Edward Van Antwerp, born c. June 1, 1837/38, probably in New York. See his biography below.

5. Timothy Van Antwerp, born c. 2 Oct 1842/44, in NewYork. Timothy served in Co. I of the 11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Following is his service record from the Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Detail Report in the Illinois State Archives;
"Name VAN ANTWERP, TIMOTHY Rank PVT
Company I Unit 11 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence _________ Age 21 Height 5' 5
Hair LIGHT Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status ______ Occupation RAIL ROAD MAN
Nativity NY

Service Record
Joined When OCT 1, 1864
Joined Where HENRY, IL
Joined By Whom 5 DIST IL
Period 1 YR Muster In OCT 7, 1864
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom _____
Muster Out JUL 14, 1865
Muster Out Where BATON ROUGE, LA
Muster Out By Whom CPT HAWK
Remarks SUB FOR MANLIFF B WRIGHT

Timothy Van Antwerp was married to Eliza Ann Farrell on January 29, 1868 in LaSalle County, Illinois. Eliza was born on
According to the 1900 census, Timothy and Eliza were the parents of 6 children, 5 of whom were still living in 1900. They include;
A. Mary Eva Van Antwerp, born February 21, 1869 in Illinois. Mary Eva was married to Albert Watkins on _________________ __, 18__.
Mary Eva and Albert Watkins were the parents of;
a. Mary Ethel Watkins, born __________ __, 1892 in Illinois. Mary died in 1968.
b. Albert Leslie "Les" Watkins, born ___________ __, 1893 in Illinois. Les died in 1977.
c. David Tim Watkins, born __________ __, 1897 in Illinois. David died in 1992.
d. Eliza Mabelle Watkins, born __________ __, 1905 in Illinois. Eliza died in 1955.

At the time of the 1910 census, Mary and her family are found in Steuben Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
Albert W Watkins Head M 44 Illinois
Mary Eva Watkins Wife F 41 Illinois
M Ethel Watkins Daughter F 17 Illinois
Albert L Watkins Son M 16 Illinois
David Tim Watkins Son M 12 Illinois
E Mabelle Watkins Daughter M 4 Illinois
Rosa Baugh Servant F 21 Illinois

B. Frank Van Antwerp, born March 9, 1871 in Illinois.

C. John Van Antwerp, born November 26, 1874 in Illinois.

D. Eliza Van Antwerp, born June 14, 1877 in Illinois.

E. Edward G. Van Antwerp, born July 15, 1882 in Illinois.

F. _________________ Van Antwerp, born ____________ __, 18__. Died on ____________ __, 18__.

At the time of the 1880 census, Timothy and his family are found in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois, where he Works In Warehouse;
Timothy Vanantwerp Self M 34 New York
Eliza Vanantwerp Wife F 30 Illinois
Mary Vanantwerp Daughter F 11 Illinois
Frank Vanantwerp Son M 9 Illinois
John Vanantwerp Son M 5 Illinois
Eliza Vanantwerp Daughter F 2 Illinois

Timothy was a Grocer in Sparland for many years and was also the Builder and Operator of Sparland's 1st Telephone Exchange. At the time of the 1900 census, Timothy and his family are found in the town of Sparland, Steuben Towship, Marshall County, Illinois;
Tim Van Antwerp Head 55 Oct 1845 New York
Eliza Van Antwerp Wife 51Jun 1849 Illinois
John Van Antwerp Son 26 Nov 1874 Illinois
Ed Van Antwerp Son 18 Jul 1882 Illinois

Timothy died on 17 Dec 1934 at the age of 90 in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial #69530318.

6. Martin VAN ANTWERP b: 1846 in Van Buren County, Michigan. Martin died in infancy about the same time as his mother, who died possibly from complications from his birth.

Polly Ann (Leiter) Van Antwerp is believed to have died c. 1846, very possibly from the complications of child birth. Her mortal remains probably lie somewhere in Cass County, Michigan.
At the time of the 1850 census, the Van Antwerp family is found in Jefferson, Cass County, Michigan;
John Van Antwerp M 47 New York
Eliza Van Antwerp F 20 New York
Jacob Van Antwerp M 18 New York
Harmen Van Antwerp M 15 New York
Edward Van Antwerp M 13 New York
Timothy Van Antwerp M 8 New York

It also appears that John Van Antwerp remarried some time in the 1850's, but whether this occurred in Michigan or after the family came to Illinois in the 1850's is not known. At the time of the 1860 census, John Van Antwerp and his combined family is found in Chillicothe Township, Peoria County, Illinois, near the Marshall County/Peoria County line;
John Vanantwerp M 54 N York
Mary Vanantwerp F 51 Kentucky
Claudius Mc Laughter M 18 Ills
Harless Mc Laughter M 10 Ills
Lewis Mc Laughter M 8 Ills
Clara Ray F 6 Ills
Sophia Rose F 15 N York
Timothy Vanantwerp M 16 N York

In the 1860's John Van Antwerp is known to have moved the family on up into Marshall County, where they are known to have resided in Steuben Township of Marshall County, Illinois. Edward Van Antwerp was already up in the Steuben Township area, where he was working for and living with the Williams family. It was there in Steuben Township that John died in June of 1869 and his mortal remains were likely laid to rest in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois.

Now to continue with what we know about Edward Van Antwerp;
By 1860, Edward Van Antwerp had already moved up into Marshall County, Illinois, where he was working for and living with the Williams family. Edward Van Antwerp was married to Gertrude Williams on May 25, 1862 in Sparland, Illinois. Gertrude was born January 2/18, 1843 in Illinois, possibly Clay County, the daughter of Thomas G. or J. Williams and Sarah A. (Hosselton) Williams. At the time of the 1860 census, the Williams family and Edward Van Antwerp are found in Steuben Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
T J Williams M 52 Va
Sarah Williams F 49 Ohio
Jane Williams F 22 Ohio
Gert Williams F 18 Ills
Jas Cowley M 7 Ireland
Geo Johnston M 28 Ohio
Ed Van Anthrop M 21 Mich

No children are believed to have been born to Edward and Gertrude, though she is believed to have had some children after Edward Van Antwerp died. In July of 1862, just two months after they were married, President Abraham Lincoln made a call for more soldiers. In late July and early August of 1862, business men and well known citizens began recruiting companies of soldiers all over Central Illinois.
On August 14, 1862, Edward Van Antwerp volunteered in Steuben Township of Marshall County, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Marshall, Stark and Bureau Counties by a local well known farmer by the name of Orlando Fountain for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. This company was soon to become Co. E of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. At the time he enlisted, Edward gave his place of residence as Steuben Township in Marshall County and his age as 23.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name VANANTWERP, EDWARD
Rank CPL Company E Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence STEUBEN, MARSHALL CO, IL Age 23 Height 5' 9 1/2 Hair DARK
Eyes BLUE Complexion FAIR Marital Status MARRIED Occupation CLERK
Nativity CALADONIA CO, NY

Service Record
Joined When AUG 14, 1862 Joined Where STEUBEN, IL
Joined By Whom O FOUNTAIN Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks PROMOTED 1LT MAR 23, 1863

When Fountain had about 100 volunteers, he led the company on a march into Peoria, Illinois, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Fountain and 88 of his volunteers, including Edward Van Antwerp, were mustered in as Co. E of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Fountain was elected by the men of Co. E to serve as their Captain. Edward Van Antwerp was elected by the men to serve as one of their eight Corporals.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot. Somewhere in the throng, may very well have been a bride of just 4 months to see her husband off. Little did she know, but the throught had to be there, that she was seeing her newly wed husband for the last time. At the depot, the men of the 86th were joined by the men of the 85th, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together at the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt in Jeffersonville, Indiana, located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois were in the field in Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops.
On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next few years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp. In March of 1863, the men of Co. E elected Corporal Edward Van Antwerp over all of the other Corporals and Sergeants to be their 1st Lieutenant, when 42 year old 1st Lieutenant Malchi Grove, of Co. E, resigned effective January 13, 1863, for health reasons.
Five months later, in August of 1863, 1st Lieutenant Edward Van Antwerp was elected by the men of Co. E to be their Captain, when 42 year old Captain Frederick A. Waldorf, of Co. E, resigned effective June 18, 1863, for health reasons.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name VANANTWERP, EDWARD
Rank CPT Company E Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence STEUBEN, MARSHALL CO, IL Age 23 Height N/A Hair N/A
Eyes N/A Complexion N/A Marital Status N/A Occupation N/A
Nativity N/A

Service Record
Joined When AUG 12, 1863 Joined Where NASHVILLE, TN
Joined By Whom GOV OF ILL Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 12, 1863 Muster In Where NASHVILLE, TN
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DIED FROM WOUNDS JUL 15, 1864

During the next years, Captain Edward Van Antwerp served faithfully in Co. E as the men of the 86th served in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. During this time, Edward was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, leading the men of Co. E in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia and at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.
However, it was on June 27, 1864, the bloodiest day in the history of the 86th Illinois, as the men lay in the trenches across from Cheatham Hill on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, that the look of the 86th would change so drastically before the sun set that night. Kinnear in his history of the 86th, wrote the following of the 27th of June and the days leading up to it. "On the 24th of June, General Sherman ordered that two assaults should be made on the 27th, one by General McPherson’s troops near Little Kenesaw, and another by General Thomas’, about one mile further south. This came wholly unexpected to his troops, all believing that he would put “the flanking machine” in force whenever he made a demonstration on the enemy's position, but Sherman resolved to execute any plan that promised success. These two assaults were made at the time and manner prescribed in the order, and both failed. General Thomas chose the 2nd division of the 14th Corps to aid in the work along his line, and early on the morning of the 27th it was massed preparatory to a charge. The 3rd, brigade, Colonel Dan. McCook commanding, was on the left of the division; the 2nd brigade, Colonel Mitchell commanding, was on the right, and the 1st brigade, General Morgan commanding, was held in the rear as reserves. The signal for the charge was given at 8 A.M., by the simultaneous discharge of a battery of guns; the lines advancing slow and steady, passing over our line of works, descending a hill over a small stream, then crossing an open field, ascended the acclivity on which the enemy's works were built, when a desperate rush was made upon them with all the fortitude and heroism of men under a most galling fire of cannon and musketry. The brigade on our right failing to come up, we had to receive the cross-fire of the enemy. It was too withering, the men falling before it as the grass before the scythe. When the works were reached by those who did not fall in the attack, they were too weak and too few in number to effect a breach in them, the men lying down in front of the works and up against them, until the order to fall back was given. When the order of retreat was given, it was hard to obey, being attended with a greater slaughter than the assault, the enemy having the chance of taking cool and deliberate aim. Thus our broken lines fell back, again taking position only thirty yards from the enemy, and in the most difficult manner threw up a line of works, at the same time hugging the ground for dear life, and where we remained in defiance of the exultant rebels. This was our darkest day of the war. The loss of the brigade on this occasion was truly severe. Colonel Daniel McCook fell mortally wounded, and Colonel Harmon succeeding him, survived his command but one moment, when he was carried off the field a corpse. The total loss of the regiment in this charge, in killed, wounded and missing, was ninety-six men."
It should be noted that the actual loss in the 86th was actually just over 100 men in the 30 minute assault. McCook's Brigade suffered over 500 casualties during the 30 minute assault, including Brigadier General Daniel W. McCook, himself, who was mortally wounded while standing on the Confederate breastworks. Among the wounded were 6 men from Co. E. In his diary after the battle, Colonel Allen L. Fahnestock, commanding the 86th Illinois, made a list of the wounded and killed in his regiment. No one from Co. E was killed outright, however, among the wounded were Private John W. Groves, Head slight; Private Julius Bridegroom, Right arm and Left shoulder; Private Benjamin F. Smith, Arm severely; Private Andrew Doran, Shoulder severely; Private John M. Terry, Arm flesh; and Captain Edward Van Antwerp, Hips severely. Three of these men would die from their wounds, all most likely suffering terribly, Van Antwerp in July of 1864, Doran in August of 1864 and Smith in December of 1864.
When the retreat was made from the Confederate breastworks, Captain Van Antwerp was brought back to the newly established Union lines, just 30 yards from the Confederate breastworks. Still undoubtedly under fire, men helped Captain Van Antwerp to the read, where he initially treated at a field hospital. Whether Captain Van Antwerp was sent north 1st to Chattanooga, Tennessee in a hospital train and then onto Nashville, Tennessee, but Captain Van Antwerp, undoubtedly suffered greatly, perhaps suffering amputations, for more than two weeks, before finally succumbing, probably to infections, on July 15, 1864. His tombstone is believed to read that he died in Nashville, Tennessee.
Where ever he died, as an officer, someone looked after his body, making sure that it was cared for and returned to Central Illinois for burial. The mortal remains of Captain Edward Van Antwerp were laid to rest in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois.
On August 11, 1864, his widow, Gertrude (Williams) Van Antwerp was granted a Widow's Pension. After Edward Van Antwerp's death, Gertrude stayed on in Sparland, Illinois, at least for some time. At the time of the 1870 census, Gertrude is found in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois, living with the Garrett family;
John Garrett M 35 Illinois
Sophronia Garrett F 31 Pennsylvania
Evin Garrett M 11 Illinois
Harrison Garrett M 10 Missouri
Clara Garrett F 8 Illinois
Bertie Garrett F 0 Illinois
Gertrude Vanantwerp F 26 Illinois

Gertrude (Williams) Van Antwerp went on to marry Lewis A. Burson (FAG #116772299). They are known to have had at least one child, Gertrude L. (Burson) Patzelt (1872–1963). Gertrude (Williams) Van Antwerp Burson died on 22 Apr 1902 and her mortal remains were laid in the Oakland Cemetery in Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial #116772411.

by Baxter B. Fite III and Judy Murphy, of Sparland, Illinois, a great great granddaughter of Timothy Van Antwerp, whose email address is [email protected]

(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Vanantwerp family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Edward Vanantwerp and the Vanantwerp family. Baxter would also love to see copies of any photographs of Edward Vanantwerp that may have survived the years, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)