2nd Wisconsin Cavalry

Residence Marcellon WI; 17 years old. Enlisted on 12/21/1863 as a Private.

On 12/21/1863 he mustered into "E" Co. WI 2nd Cavalry

He was Mustered Out on 11/15/1865 at Austin, TX

George Washington Albee, son of Hiram Albee and Mary Jane Barrett, was born December 30, 1845 at Perth, Fulton County, New York. He died January 4, 1938, at Spirit Lake, Iowa, aged 92 years and 4 days, and was buried beside the remains of his wife in the Ocheydan Township Cemetery, with full military honors rendered by the American Legion. Prior to his death he was Esterville's last surviving Civil War Veteran.

On March 10, 1872, George was united in marriage to Mary Ann Kettring in a ceremony performed by Reverend Ira J. Wilkins at the residence of her parents in La Porte City, Blackhawk County, Iowa. Mary Ann was born August 1, 1847 in Woodbury, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. She died May 27, 1923 at Harris, Osceola County, Iowa aged 75 years, 9 months and 26 days and was buried there in the Ocheydan Township Cemetery. Their children all born in Iowa were:

Aaron E. born 1 May 1873

Drane Jewette 14 Jul 1876

Madison Eden 3 Jan 1878

Elva Carmenta 20 Aug 1880

June Sylvester 1 Jun 1886

Hiram Gay 15 Nov 1886

Rose Foley Nov 1894

Rose was listed as an adopted child in the 1900 U.S. Census.

George was a veteran of the Civil War having enlisted December 21, 1863, nine days short of his 18th birthday, at Portage, Wisconsin, to serve three years as a Private in Company E of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. On February 1, 1864, he was mustered into Federal service with Company E at Madison, Wisconsin. At that time he receive $60.00 of his $300.00 enlistment bounty and was listed as a 5'5" tall farmer, with brown hair, dark eyes and a light complexion.

George served for nearly two years with his company around Memphis, Tennessee and Vicksburg, Mississippi, until the regiment was mustered out of Federal Service at Austin, Texas on November 15, 1865. The regiment then traveled by train to Madison, Wisconsin, where the men were returned to their homes. His military records reveal that he sick and confined to the General Hospital in Memphis from July 2, 1865, to an unspecified date in August, and at the General Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin from September 4, 1865, until released on December 15, 1865. However, his discharge was to date from November 15, 1865, the same as the rest of the men in the regiment. Upon discharge he was paid $41.70 for his clothing allowance and also received $120.00 which was the balance due him from his enlistment bounty.

At the close of the war George returned to the home of his parents in Marcellon Township, Columbia County, Wisconsin, where he resided for four years. In 1869 he moved to La Porte City, Iowa, where he taught school for a couple of years. After his marriage in 1871, he and his wife engaged in farming. In 1881 the family moved to Goldfield, Wright County, Iowa, where their five sons and a daughter were raised. In 1903, he retired and the family moved to Goldfield, Wright County, Iowa. In 1904 they moved to Harris, Osceola County, Iowa, where his wife Mary Ann died on May 27, 1923.

In 1926, George moved to Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, where he resided with his son Hiram Gay Albee, at his residence at 107 North 12th Street. In excellent health, he made short visits to see his other children and it was on a visit at the home of his son Aaron Albee, when he was taken with his last sickness three weeks prior to his death. His son Hiram Albee sent an ambulance for him and cared for him at his home until he was taken to the Spirit Lake Hospital where he died.

On June 8, 1887, George filed Application No. 612,348 for an Invalid Veteran's Pension, which was approved under Certificate No. 475,110. That pension file and his compiled military service record are on file at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

In the 1880 U.S. Census, George Albee was listed as a 34 year old farmer living in Cedar Township, Benton County, Iowa, with his wife 31 year old wife Mary and their children: Aaron, age 6; Jewette, age 4; and 2 year old Eden Albe.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, George Albee was listed as a 54 year old farmer living in Liberty Township, Wright County, Iowa, with his 54 year old wife Mary Ann and their children, 16 year old June and 13 year old Hiram Albee. Also living with them was their 13 year old adopted child, Rose Foley, born in November 1894, in Iowa, daughter of a father born in New York and a mother born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1910 U.S. Census, George Albee was listed as a 64 year old Civil War Pensioner living on Leora Street in Harristown, Osceola County, Iowa, with his 62 year old wife Mary A. and their son Madison E. Albee, a 32 year old house carpenter. They had been married 38 years and owned their house free and clear. Madison E. Albee was also the census enumerator for Harristown.

In the 1920 U.S. Census, George W. Albee was listed as a 74 year old retired farmer who owned his house free and clear in Fairview Township, Harris, Osceola County, Iowa, where he lived with his 72 year old wife Mary Albee.

* * * *

Last Estherville Civil

War Veteran Is Called

Geo. W. Albee, 92, Dies at

Spirit Lake Hospital After

Short Illness; Funeral Held

Today

Funeral services for George Washington Albee, 92, Estherville's last surviving civil war veteran were held this afternoon. There was a short prayer service at the Sternborg funeral chapel at one o'clock and the rites proper were held at the Methodist Episcopal church at one-thirty with Rev. F. W. Ortmeyer, pastor of the church, in charge. Interment was made in the Ocheydan cemetery beside his wife.

The American Legion accorded him full military honors, attending the services in a body and providing a color escort, pall bearers and buglers at the grave. Acting as pall bearers were G. M. Donovan, J. Monroe, Art Bringle, I. C. Nichols, Leland Case and Glenn Pullen. Color bearers were Harry Adams, W. M. Roberts, L. E. Thomas and M. E. Huckaba. On the firing squad were Leo Brawford, Wallace Westbrook, Gordon Griffis, Wm. V. Hiles, Arthur Fossum, Melvin Warren, A. J. Knepper, Emanuel Stavros, and Andrew Peterson. Taps were sounded by bugler, Henry Paulson.

Mr. Albee was a well known figure in Estherville. Although he had retired from active work when he moved to this city in 1926 to make his home with his son H. G. Albee, he was in excellent health and took a great deal of interest in the affairs of the town. He was always on hand for patriotic occasions and almost every one knew him.

Mr. Albee was born on Dec. 30, 1845 at Perth, Fulton county, New York. He migrated when two and one-half years old with his parents by canal boat and across the Great Lakes to Pardeeville, Wis. He grew to manhood on the farm. On Dec. 21, 1863 at 17 years of age, he enlisted in Co. E 2nd Wisconsin volunteer cavalry. He served as private around Memphis, Tenn. and Vicksburg, Miss., for nearly two years and was discharged at Austin, Texas on Nov. 15, 1865.

At the close of the war he returned to his Wisconsin home, then moved to LaPorte City, Iowa in 1869. He taught school for a couple of years until his marriage in 1871 to Mary Ann Kettring. They started farming. In 1881, the family moved to Goldfield where the family of five sons and a daughter were raised. In 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Albee retired and moved into Goldfield, and in 1904 to Harris. There the good wife passed away on May 27, 1923 and was buried in the Ocheydan cemetery.

In 1926, Mr. Albee came to Estherville to reside with his son and with the exception of short visits with his other children has remained here. It was on a visit at the home of his son A. E. Albee at Eagle Grove that he was taken with his last sickness about three weeks ago. His son here sent the ambulance for him and he was cared for until a few days ago at their home. At that time he was taken to the hospital at Spirit Lake where he died yesterday morning at 2 a. m.

Four sons survive the passing of Mr. Albee. They are A. E. of Eagle Grove; D. J. of Long Lake, Minn.; J. S. of St. Paul, Minn.; and H. G. of Estherville. Another son M. E. Albee, Shell Lake, Wis.; and a daughter, Mrs. E. C. Wiegman, Claude, Texas had preceded their father in death. [Vindicator & Republican, Estherville, IA, January 6, 1938.]

* * * *

George W. Albee Last of Civil War Veterans is Dead

For many years the ranks of Civil War veterans have been diminishing. For the past few years, George W. Albee was the only remaining veteran in Emmet county. Tuesday [January 4, 1938] morning he answered the last call and passed away at the ripe old age of 92.

Mr. Albee had been in good health until recently when the extreme age began to tell. He was the only soldier of the Civil War which the youth of this city could look upon as a hero of a former generation. The boys in blue will be missed from the Memorial Day parade hereafter.

Mr. Albee volunteered in 1863 in Wisconsin and served during the remainder of the war. He came to Estherville to make his home in 1926. A genial companion, he made many friends here. He is survived by four sons, H. G. Albee, with whom he made his home, J. D. Albee of Long Lake, Minn., E. A. Albee of Eagle Grove and J. S. Albee of St. Paul, Minn.

Funeral services were held today at the Sternborg funeral home at 1:30 and from the Methodist church at 2:30, Rev. F. W. Ortmeyer officiating. The members of the local post of the American Legion participated. Interment will be made in the family lot at Ocheyedan. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, January 6, 1938).]