Pitsenbarger, Manassah M

Posted By: Wally Garchow
Date: 9 January 2002

Source: clippings in Family Bible (first apeared in Versailles Policy in 1939)

PATRIOTISM STILL ALIVE, SAYS VET, 96

(By Associated Press) Champaign, Ill., May 30.-----

M. M. Pittsenbarger, 96, the only surviving civil war veteran in Champaign County, believes Americans are just as patriotic today as they ever were.

"From my contacts with people, I know now, I feel that the majority of Americans today are as patriotic and have as great faith in American principles of liberty and justice as they did back in the Civil War times," Pittsenbarger said.

The aged soldier saw service with the Union Army when Grant took Richmond.

He is a relative of J. A. Pittsenbarger and the Pittsenbarger families of this section.

-------------appeared in 1940------------

WAS PARTICIPANT IN SIX MAJOR BATTLES

Had Been Resident Of Champaign County For 53 Years

Manassah M. Pitsenbarger, one of the last two Civil War veterans in Champaign-Urbana, died at 1:10 p.m. Saturday [February 17, 1940] at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. W. Osborne, 306 West Clark street. Next month he would have been 97.

For several years Mr. Pitsenbarger had carried on as the last survivor of Colonel Nodine post 140, Grand Army of the Republic. He was also the last survivor of his regiment, the 40th Ohio infantry, which was merged with the 51st Ohio infantry.

He had been a resident of Champaign county for 53 years, moving to Rantoul with his family in 1887. A few years later he moved to Champaign where he resided continuously. He worked as a farmer and carpenter.

The military record of Mr. Pitsenbarger seemed almost like a history of the Civil War.

He was one of 11 Pitsenbargers, all cousins, who enlisted as privates in Company E, 40th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862. At the time he was 19.

In 6 Major Battles

He participated in six major battles, including Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Buzzard Roost, Chattanooga, and Nashville.

He served under General Sherman until the famous "march to the sea." At that time he was left as a member of the 4th Army corps under General Thomas which guarded General Hood's rebel army as it moved north to Nashville.

All but one of the 11 Pitsenbargers survived the war; one was captured at Kenesaw Mountain and died in a Southern prison. Mr. Pitsenbarger was the last surviving of his fighting cousins.

He was born March 15, 1843, near Versailles, Darke county, O., the son of Henry and Elizabeth Miller Pitsenbarger, pioneer Ohio farmers.

In 1867 he was married to Caroline Gulick at Versailles. Mrs. Pitsenbarger died here in 1927. For more than 20 years he had made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Osborne.

3 Daughters Survive

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Emma Longden, 201 West Williams street, and Mrs. Mollie Gray, Rantoul; four grandchildren, Margaret Osborne and Mrs. Roy Chumbley of Champaign; Mrs. Ethel Richbark, Villa Grove, and Harold Gray, Oakland; and 11 grandchildren.

Two sons preceded Mr. Pitsenbarger in death. They were Dennis who died in 1897, and George who passed away in 1932. He was the last of a family of 11 children.

Mr. Pitsenbarger was one of Champaign-Urbana's best known and best-loved characters. Despite his advanced age, he led an active life until the last and followed current events closely via the newspaper. He enjoyed good health until his last illness two weeks ago.

Voted for Lincoln

Always an ardent Republican, he took pride in the fact that he had cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln when the Great Emancipator was a candidate for a second term.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Mittendorf funeral home at 2 p.m. Tuesday with Reverend H. Clifford Northcutt officiating. Internment will be at Mount Hope cemetery.

Mr. Pitsenbarger was a member of the First Methodist church and the Elks.

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