Civil War Veterans - 85th Illinois Infantry

History of the 85th Illinois Volunteers
Illinois Volunteer Infantry
by
Henry J. Aten

Biographies - P

JACOB PARKS was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1837, and was single and a farmer when he enlisted from Tazewell county, Illinois. He served to the close of the war and was mustered out with the regiment, but the writer has been unable to learn anything about his subsequent career. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 356)

JOHN N. PARR was born at Heidelburgh, York County, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1838, and was a brickmaker when he enlisted from Pleasant, Fulton county, Illinois. He served with his company through all the battles and campaigns in which the command was engaged, and was mustered out at the close of the war with the regiment. He returned to Illinois and engaged in farming in Pleasant township, where he served as member of the county board and commissioner of highways. His address is Summum, Fulton county, Illinois. (Company G, Chapter 33, page 445)

SECOND ASSISTANT SURGEON JAMES C. PATTERSON was born in Adair county, Kentucky, in 1824, and removed with his father, John Patterson, to Illinois in 1828, locating in Sangamon (now Menard) county. In 1845 James began the study of medicine with Dr. Grinstead at Middletown, attended lectures at Jacksonville, paying his tuition by serving as janitor of the college during the terms of 1846-7-8. He then entered Rush Medical college at Chicago and was graduated in 1849. He began the practice of his profession on Prairie creek in Logan county, where he remained until 1859, when he removed to Mason City, in Mason county. He enlisted as a private in Company C, and was promoted hospital steward at the organization of the regiment, and on September 1, 1862, he was commissioned second assistant surgeon. He served with the regiment until April 16, 1864, when he resigned for disability. He returned to Mason City, resumed the practice of medicine, and died in 1871. During the latter years of his life he was greatly afflicted with what he and other doctors who saw him thought was rheumatism, but which finally resulted in ataxia. (Chapter 26, pages 340-341)

JAMES C. PATTERSON (promoted assistant surgeon. See field and staff.). (Company C, Chapter 29, page 389)

FIRST LIEUTENANT JOHN W. PATTON was born in Havana, Mason county, Illinois, August 9, 1841, and was attending school when he enlisted as a private from his native town. He served with his company to the close of the war, was promoted sergeant, and on May 19, 1865, to be first lieutenant. He was mustered out with the regiment, and returned to Havana, Ill., where he learned and worked at the trade of a carpenter. Between the years 1872 and 1879 he served as marshal and deputy sheriff of Mason county, removed to Colorado in 1879. Is a carpenter and builder and now resides at Canon City, Fremont county, Colorado. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 361)

EBENEZER PAUL, aged forty-three when he enlisted on July 26, 1862, served with his company through the Kentucky campaign and was discharged for disability on February 8, 1863. He is reported to have died in Nebraska about 1876. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 372)

EBENEZER PAUL, aged thirty-five, born in Brown county, Ohio, married, shoemaker, enlisted from Mason county, Illinois, was left in the hospital at Bowling Green, Ky., where he died November 14, 1862. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 389)

SAMUEL PAUL, aged forty-one, enlisted August 20, 1862, served through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged for disability February 8, 1863. He died soon after the close of the war. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 372)

THOMAS E. PAUL—Date of enlistment not given on the roll. Died December 7, 1862, and is buried at No. 5666 in the national cemetery at Nashville, Tenn. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 374)

JAMES H. PEARCY, aged twenty-eight, born in Putnam county, Indiana, married, carpenter, enlisted from Mason county, Ill. His health failed on the Kentucky campaign and he was discharged from disability February 2, 1863. Is now living in Burlington, Coffey county, Kansas. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 389)

CORPORAL JAMES J. PELHAM was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, June 20, 1831, was a farmer and enlisted from Mason county. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company; served through the Kentucky campaign, but his health failed and was discharged from Nashville, Tenn., for disability under date of February 13, 1863. He is a veterinary surgeon, and resides in Thermopolis, Fremont county, Wyoming. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 379)

STERLING PELHAM, aged thirty-five, married, farmer, enlisted from Mason county, and served with his company until captured at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864, was held in rebel prisons until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged June 17, 1865. Reported dead by pension office. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 389)

CORPORAL WILLIAM C. PELHAM, aged thirty-two, was married and a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county. Was promoted corporal; his health failing on the Kentucky campaign he was left in the hospital at Bowling Green, Ky., where he died November 11, 1862. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 382)

BEAUROP PEMBERTON, aged nineteen, born in Menard county, Illinois, and enlisted from Spring Lake. His health failed in the Kentucky campaign, and he was left in the hospital at Bowling Green, from which he was discharged January 10, 1863. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 356)

WILLIAM J. PEMBERTON was born in Menard county, Illinois, in 1841, and enlisted as a farmer from Tazewell county. He was discharged for disability from the hospital at Bowling Green, Ky., January 24, 1863. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 356)

IDEA F. PETERS was born in Germany in 1841, emigrated to America and enlisted as a single farmer from Mason county, Illinois. He served through the Kentucky campaign, but fell sick at Nashville, and died on May 2, 1863. His remains are buried in No. 957 in the national cemetery near Nashville, Tenn. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 356)

FIRST LIEUTENANT CHARLES W. PIERCE was born in Benton, Yates county, New York, October 7, 1823, removed to Illinois in 1855, and was a mechanic when he enlisted from Havana. He was elected first lieutenant at the organization of the company, served through the Kentucky campaign and until November 2, 1863, when he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve corps, was slightly wounded at the battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862. He acted as sub-commissioner of refugees, freedmen, and abandoned lands for a district composed of fifteen counties in western Alabama, under General Swain, was promoted major, and was mustered out with that rank at Demopolis, Ala., January 1, 1868. He was assessor of internal revenue for the First district of Alabama and a member of the fortieth congress from the Fourth district of that state. He removed to Nebraska in 1872, was a member of the constitutional convention in 1875, was twice a member of the state senate, and served a term as register of the United States land office. He is engaged in farming and stock raising, and resides at Waverly, Lancaster county, Nebraska. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 360-361)

SERGEANT THORNTON S. PIERCE was twenty-two years of age when he enlisted from Mason county as a private. He was promoted sergeant and served with his company through all the campaigns the command was engaged in until he was wounded in the wrist and right arm at the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. He died from the shock of his wounds during the night of June 27, 1864. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 363)

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT JAMES T. PIERCE enlisted as a private in Company B from Havana, and was appointed quartermaster sergeant at the organization of the regiment. He served through the Kentucky campaign, and was discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in 1863. He was elected commissary of the regimental association at its organization in 1885. He was a printer, and removed to Waverly, Neb., where he died on June 7, 1897. (Chapter 26, page 342)

ROBERT PORTER was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1831, and emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1851. He enlisted as a farmer from Fulton county, and served with his company through all the campaigns in which the regiment had a part. He was wounded while guarding a train to Murfreesborough, Tenn., but not severely. He was mustered out with the regiment, returned to Fulton county, and resumed farming. He now resides at Lewistown, Ill. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 372)

LEWIS POSTER was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1839, and enlisted as an unmarried farmer from Manito. He was discharged for disability from the hospital at Bowling Green, Ky., January 19, 1863. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 357)

JACOB H. PRETTYMAN was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 30, 1845, removed with his parents to Illinois in 1845, and enlisted in Havana. He served with his company [Company K] until the close of the war; was in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864 and was mustered with the regiment. At the close of his service he returned to Illinois, and is an architect and builder residing at Peoria. (Company K, Chapter 36, page 493)

JOHN W. PRICE was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1844, and was a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county, Illinois. He served with his company to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He is supposed to be living at Wyoming, Stark county, Illinois. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 357)

ROBERT PRINGLE was born in Newcastle, on the River Tyne, England, in 1845. In 1849 he emigrated with his parents and settled in Illinois, enlisting from Mason county. He served with his company in all the campaigns in which the command was engaged, and was mustered out with the regiment. He removed to Nebraska in 1874, and served as school director and assessor in Box Butte county. He also served as first sergeant in the National Guard of Nebraska for eight years. He is a plasterer and resides since 1894 at Hot Springs, S. D. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 356)

FIRST SERGEANT GEORGE D. PRIOR enlisted at the age of twenty-six, and was chosen second sergeant at the organization of the company. He was promoted to be first sergeant, and served with his company until killed at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864. His remains are buried at No. 1910 in the national cemetery at Marietta, Ga. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 362)

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