Civil War Veterans - 85th Illinois Infantry

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

Biographies - W

     LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES P. WALKER, son of Joseph Walker, was born in Adair county, Kentucky, April 6, 1826. His father, Joseph Walker, removed to Illinois and settled on a farm in Sangamon (now Logan) county in 1830. Seven years later found the Walker family at Irish Grove, in Menard county, where his father died in 1841, leaving a crippled wife and younger son to the care of James P. He took his mother to his mother's father in Kentucky, where he remained for three years, working on a farm to get money to return to Illinois. He was fortunate in that his father was an educated man, as all his schooling was obtained from his father before his death. On his return to Illinois in 1844 he began the study of medicine and by working on the farm and teaching school he earned the money which enabled him to prosecute his studies.
     When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted in Company F, Fourth regiment, Illinois infantry, commanded by Colonel Edward D. Baker, was a messmate of Colonel R. S. Moore and participated in the battle of Cerro Gordo and the siege of Vera Cruz. After the war he resumed the study of medicine and graduated from Rush Medical College in 1850. In 1857 he located at Mason City and was practicing his profession when the War of the Rebellion began. Under the first call for troops in 1861 he recruited a company and entered the service as captain of Company K, Seventeenth regiment, Illinois infantry. He participated in the battles of Fredericktown, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. After the battle of Shiloh he resigned, returned home, helped to raise the Eighty-fifth, and at the organization of the regiment he was commissioned surgeon. He was promoted to be lieutenant colonel on June 14, 1863, and was dismissed from the service on October 6, 1863.
     Just prior to the battle of Chickamauga he was arrested for permitting his hungry men to forage, that being at that period of the war about the worst thing an officer could be accused of. Unfortunately for Colonel Walker he did not violate his order of arrest when the battle came on. If he had no doubt he would have escaped punishment. But his remaining under arrest afforded an opportunity for those whom his kindness to his men had offended, and he was summarily dismissed without a hearing.
     He returned to his former home and resumed the practice of medicine, which he continued to his death, which occurred on January 14, 1892. He was buried by his comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, a special train carrying the post from Havana to Mason City to attend his funeral. (pages 334-335)

FIRST LIEUTENANT WILLIAM W. WALKER was born in Adair count, Kentucky, July 8, 1822, removed to Illinois and was engaged in the practice of medicine in Mason county when he enlisted in August, 1862. He was elected second lieutenant at the organization of the company, served with his company through the Kentucky and Murfreesboro campaigns and was promoted first lieutenant February 7, 1863. He took part in the Tennessee campaign and the battle of Chickamauga, Ga., but soon after his health failed and he resigned for disability incurred in the service. He returned to Mason county, resumed the practice of his profession, which he continued until a short time previous to his death. He died at Easton, Ill., March 20, 1890. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 376)

JEREMIAH WAGONER, was born in Sangamon county, Ill., in 1839, and was a married farmer when he enlisted from Mason county. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864, but served to the close of the war and was mustered out with the regiment. He returned to Illinois, resumed farming, and resides in Mason City, Ill. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 391)

CORPORAL GEORGE M. WELCH was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, and was married and a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company, served through the Kentucky campaign, and died at Nashville, Tenn., December 26, 1862. His remains are buried at No. 6156 in the national cemetery near that city. (Company A, Chapter 27, pages 348)

JAMES H. WESTERFIELD was born in 1838, and enlisted from Fulton county. He served to the close of the war and was mustered out with the regiment. He returned to Fulton county, but died soon after. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 374)

FIRST LIEUTENANT DANIEL WESTFALL was born in Allegany county, New York, in 1828, and was married and a farmer when he enlisted as a private from Manito. He was promoted to be first lieutenant January 11, 1863, and resigned his commission and returned home on March 25 of the same year. Is reported to be living in Iowa. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 345)

MARCELLUS A. WHIP, aged twenty-five, born in Tazewell county, Illinois, married, farmer, enlisted from Mason county, served to the close of the war, but was absent (sick) at the muster out of the regiment. He was honorably discharged from the hospital at Camp Butler, Ill., May 26, 1865. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 391)

CORPORAL BENJAMIN WHITE was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, and was unmarried and a farmer when he enlisted from Spring Lake, 111. He was chosen corporal at the organization of the company, and served until killed at the battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862. His remains are buried in the national cemetery at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, in No. 251. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 347)

MARTIN L. WHITE was born at Sellins Grove, Union county, Tennessee, in 1842, and enlisted as a farmer from Tazewell county, Illinois. He served with the company through the Kentucky campaign, and died in the hospital in the capital of his native state, December 13, 1862. Is buried in grave No. 6890 in the national cemetery at Nashville, Tenn. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 359)

WESLEY J. WHITTAKER was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1844, and enlisted as a farmer from Tazewell county, Illinois. He served with his company through the Kentucky campaign, and died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., December 20, 1862. His remains are buried at No. 5097 in the national cemetery near that city. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 359)

MUSICIAN JASPER N. WILCOX, aged eighteen, was appointed musician at the organization of the company, and served with his company until the command reached Bowling Green, Ky., where he was sent to the hospital. He died December 18,1862, and his remains are buried at No. 10858 in the national cemetery at Nashville, Tenn. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 366)

GEORGE WINCHELL, aged twenty-one, enlisted from Fulton county, and served with his company until captured at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864. He was exchanged some two months later, returned to his company, and was mustered out with the regiment. He removed to Iowa some years ago, where he now resides. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 374)

WILLIAM B. WINCHELL was born in Ohio, July 8, 1838, removed to Illinois, and enlisted from Fulton county. He served with the company until captured at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864, was a prisoner some two months, when he was exchanged, and served to the close of the war. He was mustered out with the regiment, returned to Fulton county, and resumed farming. He resides at Lewistown, Ill. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 374)

DAVID WOOD was born in Scotland in 1841, emigrated to Illinois, and enlisted as a farmer from Mason county. He served with the company until captured in the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864. He was exchanged and returned to duty and was mustered out with the regiment. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 359)

JOHN A. WOOD, aged twenty-three years, enlisted as an unmarried farmer from Tazewell county, but the place of his birth is not given. He served with the company through the Kentucky campaign, but was discharged for disability at Nashville, Tenn., February 10, 1863. He is supposed to be living in Blackhawk county, Iowa. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 359)

ADJUTANT JOHN B. WRIGHT was commissioned adjutant from Havana at the organization of the regiment, served through the Kentucky and Murfreesboro campaigns, participating in the battles of Perryville, Ky., and Stone River, Tenn. He resigned February 23, 1863, and returned to Havana, where he died many years since. (pages 334-335)

SERGEANT LEWIS P. WRIGHT was born in Harrison county, Indiana, March 28, 1844, removed with his parents to Illinois in 1856, and was a farmer when he enlisted from Kerton, in Fulton county. He participated in all the battles and campaigns in which the regiment was engaged, was slightly wounded in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864, was promoted sergeant, and was mustered out with the regiment. At the end of the war he returned to Illinois, resumed farming and now resides at Enion, Fulton county. (Company G, Chapter 33, page 437)

QUARTERMASTER SAMUEL F. WRIGHT was commissioned quartermaster with the rank of first lieutenant at the organization of the regiment, served through the Kentucky campaign, and was dismissed from the service at Nashville, Tenn., November 21, 1862. He appears to have regarded his office as a private snap, the charges under which he was dismissed stating that he had issued vouchers on the government for a carriage for private use. He returned to Havana, where he died many years since. (page 338)

Any contributions, corrections, or suggestions would be deeply appreciated!

Fulton County Home Page