Veteran Biographies P – T

There is plenty of room on this page for a picture and/or service record of your Cattaraugus County Civil War ancestor. Email your image and a short service record, together with your name and residence, to CAMP at: [email protected] Need help with sending the image or with the service record? Please ask. We may be able to help! Is your Civil War ancestor pictured in the Memorial Building Dedication Photo? Let us know that, too!

Sgt. Andrew G. Park, Co. B, 154th Regt., N.Y.S. Vol. Inf. He enlisted at Leon at age 19 and was captured by the Confederates during a foraging expedition in Greene County, North Carolina, in March 1865. On that occasion he witnessed the execution of two of his regimental comrades after their capture by the enemy. He was paroled two months later and mustered out in June 1865 at New York City. Park died at Dayton in 1915 and is buried in Park Lawn Cemetery there. Dunkelman and Winey Collection, St. Bonaventure University, from Historical and Biographical History of the Township of Dayton (1901)

Amos Pettit, Sutler, 154^th New York Volunteer Infantry

Amos Pettit was born November 1, 1815 in Niagara County to the parents of Joshua and Elizabeth Pettit. In 1834 he married Rebecca Baker of that county and that same year the couple moved to Rushford, NY. The next year his parents and siblings joined them in Rushford where Joshua purchased two farms. Amos purchased the Fairview Hotel in Fairview and ran that establishment until 1859 when he moved his family to Ellicottville to manage the Irving Hall Hotel. On May 1^st, 1861 Amos left he Irving Hall Hotel to manage the Exchange Hotel of that village. His son, Joshua R. Pettit worked as a bar keeper in both establishments. When Joshua R. enlisted in August of 1862 in the 154th N.Y.V. I. Amos petitioned the Governor for the Sutler job. He was appointed October, 1, 1862 and immediately left for Washington, D.C. to join up with the Regiment located in Alexandria, VA. Amos carried out his duties as Sutler until December 15, 1862 when he turned the job over to another Sutler. Amos returned to Ellicottville and purchased the Exchange Hotel. In 1868 he sold the Exchange Hotel and he and Joshua R. opened a grocery store on the south side of Washington Street. Amos retired in 1880 due to poor health and passed away March5, 1881 and is buried in the Jefferson Street Cemetery of Ellicottville. Amos and Rebecca raised 6 children, three daughters and three sons. Two of the sons were Joshua R. and George W. Pettit, both veterans of the 154^th. Courtesy of Charles R. Pettit

George W. Pettit, 154th New York Volunteer Infantry

George W. Pettit was born March 13, 1844 in the Town of Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, NY to the parents of Amos and Rebecca Pettit. He was the younger brother of Joshua R. Pettit. He grew up in the Town of Farmersville and lived in the Fairview Hotel which his farther owned and operated. In 1859 he moved with his family to Ellicottville where his father took over the management of the Irving Hall Hotel. In 1863 they moved into the Exchange Hotel which his father had leased. He married Miss Jane McCadden of Ellicottville, March 21, 1864. On September 17, 1864 he enlisted as a Private in Company “A” of the 154th New York Volunteer Infantry and joined up with the Regiment in Atlanta, Georgia. He took part in Sherman’s “March to the Sea” and the return march through the Carolina’s to Washington D.C. and was mustered out with his Regiment June 11, 1865 at Bladensburgh, MD Resuming his life in Ellicottville he started a Dray Wagon service. He and his wife had one daughter born in 1866 who diedin 1872 at the age of 6 of a childhood sickness. His wife passed away October4, 1889of Typhoid. George remarried to Miss Louise Frank of Ellicottville. George was an active member with the local GAR Post up until he passed away April5, 1926. He was buried in the Jefferson Street Cemetery in Ellicottville. Courtesy of Charles R. Pettit

Joshua R. Pettit, 154th New York Volunteer Infantry

Joshua R. Pettit was born December1989 in the Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY to the parents of Amos and Rebecca Pettit. Amos and family owned and lived in the Fairview Hotel, Farmersville, NY at the time and Rebecca had returned to her parents’ home for the birth. Joshua grew to manhood in the Town of Farmersville and at the age of 19 he moved with his parents to Ellicottville when his father managed and lived in the Irving Hall Hotel and later they moved to the Exchange Hotel of that village. Joshua was employed as a bar keeper at these two hotels. He enlisted August 12, 1862 as a Corporal in Company “A” 154th New York Volunteer Infantry the same day he married Miss Sabra Simonds of Franklinville. Joshua was attached to the 154^th Ambulance Corps and served throughout the war as a Sergeant in that unit. He was discharged with his Regiment June 11, 1865 at Bladensburg, MD. Upon returning from the service he went into a grocery store business in Ellicottville with his father and later in 1877 started a hardware store business with his son, Guy M. Pettit. Joshua and Sabra raised three children, 2 sons and a daughter. In 1890 they built a new building on Main Street for their hardware business. In 1907 he had a new home constructed at the corner of West Washington and Adams Streets. Joshua was active in the local GAR up until the time of his passing January 8, 1912. He is buried in the Sunset Hill Cemetery, Ellicottville, NY.

Joshua and Sabra’s son, Justin Wilber Pettit Married Emma Marie Bollow, a daughter of Frederick J. Bollow, a 154th New York Volunteer Infantry Veteran. Also, their daughter Lara Elizabeth Pettit married Dr. Charles M. Walrath, a son of Walter E. Walrath, a 154th New York Volunteer Infantry Veteran. Courtesy of Charles R. Pettit

Pvt. Henry Randall, Co. B, 154th Regt., N.Y.S. Vol. Inf. He enlisted at age 27 in July 1862 at Perrysburg and was mustered out with the regiment at the end of the war. He died in 1898 and is buried in Cottage Cemetery, Dayton. Dunkelman and Winey Collection, St. Bonaventure University, courtesy of Phyllis Hubbard.

Pvt. Ransom Terry, Co. C, 154th Regt., N.Y.S. Vol. Inf. He enlisted at Ischua at age 24 and was wounded in the side and captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. After his parole and exchange he was transferred to Co. D, 20th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps (a unit for soldiers to disabled to do duty at the front, but able enough to serve in support capacities). He was mustered out in July 1865 at Camp Cadwalader, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Terry died in Hinsdale in 1911 and is buried in Hinsdale Cemetery. Dunkelman and Winey Collection, St. Bonaventure University, courtesy of Carol Ann H. Fromme.

Pvt. Cyrel Seekins, Co. H, 154th Regt., N.Y.S. Vol. Inf. Pictured with his wife, Phoebe Jane. He enlisted in September 1862 at age 27 at Randolph and was discharged for disability on April 8, 1863. He subsequently served in Co. A of the 188th New York. He died in 1902 and is buried in Randolph Cemetery. Dunkelman and Winey Collection, St. Bonaventure University, courtesy of Leah Bullock

SHIPPY, AARON: Age 21 years. Enlisted September 3, 1864, in Co. G, 13th New York Heavy Artillery; mustered out June 21, 1865, at Norfolk, Virginia. Aaron was one of five Shippy brothers, of Otto, New York, to serve in the Civil War. Courtesy of New York State Adjutant General’s Office

SHIPPY, AUGUSTUS A.: Age 30 years. Enlisted at Otto, to serve three years, July 30, 1862; mustered in a sergeant, Co. B, 154th New York, September 24, 1862; captured in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville Virginia; paroled May 14, 1863, at City Point, Virginia; killed in action May 8, 1864, at Dug Gap on Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia. Courtesy of Mark Dunkelman, Providence, RI.

SHIPPY, EUGENE: Age 21 years. Enlisted September 7, 1861, at Portville, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. D, 85th New York; promoted corporal January 1, 1862; mustered out October 27, 1864, at New Bern, North Carolina. Courtesy of Mark Dunkelman, Providence, RI.

SHIPPY, LEROY: Age 25 years. Enlisted in Co. C, 64th New York; wounded in action June 1, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; wounded again in action July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; transferred to Invalid Corps (later Veteran Reserve Corps); mustered out September 22, 1864, at Washington, D.C. Courtesy of Mark Dunkelman, Providence, RI.

SHIPPY, STANLEY: Age 15 years. Enlisted October 17, 1863, as private, 14th New York Heavy Artillery; captured in action March 25, 1865 at Fort Stedman, Petersburg, Virginia; paroled March 30, 1865; mustered out August 26, 1865, at Washington, D.C. Courtesy of New York State Adjutant General’s Office.

Justin F. Simonds, 100^th New York Volunteer Infantry

Justin F. Simonds was born in 1844 in the town of Franklinville to the parents of Ossian Hall Cole Simonds and Laura Simonds. His parents migrated from the Town of Alexander, NY to the Town of Franklinville and settled into farming on Bryant Hill Road, lot 46 (Chautauqua Road) in 1831. Justin grew up on the farm, learning the farming skills and growing into young manhood. At the age of 17, against his family’s wishes, he enlisted in Company “A” of the 100th New York Volunteer Infantry on October 18, 1861 in Franklinville, NY. He mustered in as a Private October 23, 1861 in Buffalo, NY where the Regiment was formed up in camp. In March of 1862 the Regiment was taken by train to Washington D. C. where they camped in Alexandria, VA. The Regiment was in involved in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. In December of 1862 the regiment was transferred to Charleston, NC for operations to open the harbor and the City of Charleston to the Union. He was killed in action on July 18, 1863 during the second assault against Fort Wagner, Morris Island, NC. His body was not returned home. Courtesy of Charles R. Pettit

TALLMAN, BENJAMIN, Resident of Olean, NY. At the age of 23 he enlisted on December 9, 1863, at Mt. Morris, NY; mustered in as private, Co. M, 24th New York Cavalry January 26, 1864; appointed sergeant, date not stated; killed, August 18, 1864, before Petersburg, VA. Tallman had previously served in the 27th New York Volunteer Infantry from May 1861–May 1863. He is pictured here while a member of the 24th New York Cavalry.