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Elijah Wishart

This biography was submitted by Mary Campbell Ballard. Copyright 2005.

My g-g-g-uncle, Elijah Wishart, the son of a Scotchman and a Metis mother, was born in Red River Settlement, Manitoba , Canada . Shortly after his birth the family moved to Clayton County, Iowa. When Elijah was only four years of age, his father, Thomas, died at Turkey Junction. Barbara or Barbary , his mother, went to live and work in the household of Edmund B. Lyons and the children went to live in the Pearson household. From these beginnings, the family dis- persed.

Elijah was living in Agency City , Wapello County , Iowa when he enlisted on May 6, 1861 at Ottumwa , Iowa in 2 Iowa Infantry Regiment, Company K. He re- enlisted on December 23rd, 1863 at Pulaski , Tennessee on condition he could "have a furlough of at least (30) thirty days in his state before expiration of original term of enlistment in compliance with G. O. No. 371 A. G. O. Washington, D. C."

Transcription of re-enlistment paper:

I, Elijah H. Wishart, born in Dubuque County , in the State of Iowa , aged 27 years, and by occupation a mechanic, DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this 23rd day of Dec. 1863 to serve as a SOLDIER in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS unless sooner dis- charged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, Elijah H. Wishart, do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America , and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States , and the orders of the officers ap- pointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War. Sworn and subscribed to, at Pulaski , Tenn. this 23rd day of Dec., 1863 before E. E. Mastick.

E. H. Wishart

I certify, on honor, that I have carefully examined the above named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that, in my opinion, he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would in any way disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.

W. A. Turner apt
Surg. 2 Iowa
Examining Surgeon

I certify, on honor, that I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, E. H. Wishart previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgement and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service.

This soldier has Black eyes, Dark hair, Dark complexion, is 5 feet, 10 inches high.

N. R. Howard, Maj
2nd Regt. of Iowa Infty Volunteers
RECRUITING OFFICER. (A. G. O. No. 74 & 76.)

There is a copy of this re-enlistment paper done 2 days later. The only differences are Elijah is listed as 28 years, instead of dark hair it says black, and his height is 5 feet 9 1/2 inches high.

Elijah was discharged on July 12, 1865 in Louisville , Kentucky .

Transcription from MEMORANDUM FROM PRISONER OF WAR RECORDS:

Name: Wishart, E. H., Rank: P., No. of Reg't: 2, State: Iowa, Co.: K, Information obtained from Records of: Mis Roll, Vol.: 383, Page: 4. Captured & parolled at Holly Springs on Dec. 20, 1862 . Reported at B. B. Mo., Jan. 9-11, 1863. Present at B. B. Mo. Jany. 31, 63 at B. B. Mo. Feby. 28, 63 absent without leave.

Copied by J C H

On September 9, 1869 , Elijah married Jennie Doughtery. This substantiated by the widow many years later, when she brought in the family bible. 'That the date of the publication of the bible is 1871. The appearance of the writing in said record appears to be of an old date.' They may have been married in New Brunswick where Jennie was born. I haven't been able to find them on the 1870 census or the marriage record itself. Someone on the Canadian side might have access to these records.

The 1880 7th Ward, Des Moines , Polk County , Iowa , pg. 416B, ED 166, enumerated by A. W. Branch on June 16, 1880 on lines 12-15, household # 108 lists: Wishard, E. H., white, male, age 40, married, Wood Turner, born in Spain , father born in Spain , mother born in Spain ; Jennie, white, female, age 32, wife, married, Keeping house, born in New Brunswick , father born in Ireland , mother born in New Brunswick ; Albert M., white, male, age 5, son, born in Iowa, father born in Spain, mother born in New Brunswick; Halley S., white, male, age 3, born in Iowa , father born in Spain , mother born in New Brunswick . Third street is notated at the side.

The book, "Iowa Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, 1885", on page 235, lists Wishart, E. H., Private, Company K, Present Post Office Address-- Des Moines .

On November 3, 1885 , Jennie died, apparently during childbirth, since the cause of death was puerperal convulsions (eclampsia?). However, when the physician filled out the death certificate, he dropped the Mrs., so Jennie's death certificate and then her head- stone are identified as E. H. Wishart--Emeline had to prove all of this before she could collect a dime on her widow's pension!!

On May 3, 1887 , Elijah married Mrs. Emeline Martin. I believe this to have been Emeline Thornley, born July 9, 1849 to Edward and Mary J. Thornley.

The 1889 and 1890 Des Moines city directory lists: Edward H. Wishart, Location 2: 614 e s 6th, Business Name: A. Anderson, Occupation: wood turner, City: Des Moines , State: Iowa .

On December 23, 1890 , Elijah applied for his pension: "On this 23 day of Dec A. D:, one thousand eight hundred and ninety personally appeared before me, a notary public within and for the county and state aforesaid, Edward H. Wishart aged 54 years, a resident of the City of Des Moines county of Polk State of Iowa who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Edward Elijah H. Wishart who was enrolled on the 6 day of May 1861, in Co K of the 2nd Regt Ia vols. (The enrolling officer made a mistake in his first name) in the war of the rebellion, and served at least ninety days, and was honorably dis- charged at Louisville "K" on the day of July 1865. That he is unable to earn a support by reason of Injury of right leg, nervous debility & malarial poisoning, diarrhea, piles, and dis- ease of kidneys & hematuria. That said disabilities are not due to his vicious habits, and are to the best of his knowledge and belief permanent. That he has not applied for pension. That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of June 27, 1890 .

He hereby appoints REEVE & GASTON of Des Moines , Ia. , his true and lawful attorneys to prosecute his claim, and hereby agrees to allow them a fee of Ten Dollars to be paid by the U. S. Pension Agent when his pension is paid. That his post office address is 614 S E 6th St. Des Moines county of Polk , State of Iowa .

Edward H. Wishart"

The Des Moines city directory for 1891 lists: Edward H. Wischart, Location 2: 614 e s 6th, Occupation: Special police, City: Des Moines, State: Iowa

Elijah's son, Sheldon is also listed on this directory: Sheldon Wischart, Location 2: 614 e s 6th, Occupation: teamster, City: Des Moines, State: Iowa .

On June 30, 1891 , apparently in the preformance of his duties, Elijah was shot and killed. "The graveyard at Burlington was used as a dumping ground for garbage by a few individuals and it became necessary to forbid it. On June 30, 1891 , Frank Pierce came to the graveyard with a load of garbage and was informed by E. H. Wishard that he could no longer unload there. Pierce had a reputation for ugly acts, and he drew two revolvers and shot Wishard. Pierce was arrested and brought to jail, and by the time he arrived a mob of about five hundred awaited him. They would have lynched him had not the militia been called out and blank cartridges used. This was the second time that a mob came near lynching him, as he had been sought by one in 1888."--From " Iowa History Project", Annals of Iowa , Vol. XI Iowa City, January, 1914, Attempted Lynchings in Iowa by Paul Walton Black. "Governor Drake on Thanksgiving day pardoned out the notorious whisky searcher of Des Moines , Frank Pierce, who was sentenced to four years imprisonment for the murder of E. H. Wishard. He had yet two years to serve and should have done so."--From the Fayette County Union Newspaper, December 3rd & 10th, 1896.

The death certificate says the cause of death was gunshot wound at the hands of Frank Pierce. It lists the date of death as July 1, 1891 and that he was to be buried in Woodland Cemetery on July 2.

The WPA Iowa Graves Registration Survey, Polk County , Iowa lists E. L. Wishart, date of death: July 1, 1891 , birth date: 1837, cemetery: Woodland.

From the submittor:

Elijah's death placed Emeline as dependent on the generosity of friends and neighbors.  The commissioners paid the taxes on her house and some friends raised the money and paid off her mortgage.  One neighbor provided coal in the winter to prevent the family from freezing to death. Finally after providing mountains of documentation, Emeline was able to get her pension before her death December 29, 1907.  She was buried in Peoria Cemetery.