Person:Samuel Ouderkirk (1)

Served 3 years in the Civil War including the Battle of Shiloh. The Illinois in the Civil War site at Rootsweb lists him as Onderkirk. The 1878 History of Knox County, page 348, Lists Samuel as a Corporal from Maquon who enlisted Aug. 2, 1862 and was mustered out June 6, 1865.

The following is verbatim from THE OUDERKERK FAMILY SAGA, comp. by H. John Ouderkirk, 1990 page 215-216 online The following letter was written by Private Samuel Bond Ouderkirk of Maquon, Illinois, probably to his oldest sister, Caroline Ouderkirk Jones. At the time the letter was written, Samuel Bond Ouderkirk was twenty-four years old and Caroline was nineteen years old and manied to John George Jones. Samuel Bond Ouderkirk did not marry Emma Walker until January 1866. The letter was written from the Union Army bivouac in Northern Georgia at Gordon Mill which is on the Chickamauga Battlefield. April 1864 was about six and one half months after the Battle of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. His unit had played a significant roll in the battle on the Union right.

Samuel Bond Ouderkirk's unit was Co. F, 86th Regiment, Illinois Vols., Third Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. No changes in spelling or grammar have been made. At Gordens (sic) Mill April the 3rd 1864 Dear Sister I take up my pin to answer yours ofthe twenty second which I received on the first and was truly glad to hear that you was well and that Polly and the children is getting better. Barbero was hear to day he is well the wether has turned of pleasant today It is quite warm Trees are beginning to put forth there leaves the spring has been A cold and backward one the prospect is good for our stoping whare we are some time the teams has been ordered up they hav ben staying at McAfee Camp. April the 6th I commenced this just before night and had to quit writing to go on duty perade the next morning we went on picket and it was raining so did not take my portfoleo out with me I will try to finish it this sitting on the night of the third I lot a letter from John and one from Mary and Hariet Wilson Maria is improving She wrote a firstnote letter Carie I wrote to often to write enny (any) news Cary Walters sailed (started) home on the 3rd Ernest Goreman has come back to the company I sent A memorial to Johns wife last week you wanted to no whether Charley McKowen had got back on not he got back A fu days after we came out hear Co F sstil in the best of health John Vogler is my mess mate he is a goodfellow to mess with we hav messed together ever since I quit going with the team we are having easy times nothing to do but picket; and drill about four or five times a week Carie I would like soldiering a grate deal better if I could spend my iddal (idle) time time at home with my friends today is very plesant just sutch (such) a day as I would like to spend at home that weding you spoke of in your last was a huge affarc my opinion is that they are pretty well suited to go to gether dont you I wish them much joy and hope thear path through life ma (may) always be smooth and offered as much plesure as th present Carie I would like to hav you come down on the 26lh of this month that being my birth day we will hav a good time if you will we can sling on our haver sack how a strole throw the forest of Georgia over the Chickamauga battle field our present camp is where McCooks division was at the comencement ofthe battle The hardest fighting was down about two miles from hear on the road to Chattanooga I will close fore the want of something of interest to write Signed S. B. Ouderkirk

From: Mary and Robert Roeder Watkins, Colorado-2003 Edited by: H. John Ouderkirk-2003

1855 Illinois State Census, Knox, Haw Creek Twp. roll ILSC_2191 online at Ancestry.com Males: one 20-30 and one for militia Females: one 10-20 and two 20-30. livestock: no value listed

Household Record 1880 United States Census Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Samuel B. OUDERKIRK Self M Male W 50 NY Farmer NY NY Emma OUDERKIRK Wife M Female W 37 OH Keeping House OH OH Frank OUDERKIRK Son S Male W 14 IL At School OH OH Carra OUDERKIRK Dau S Female W 12 IL OH OH Maud OUDERKIRK Dau S Female W 7 IL OH OH

Source Information: Census Place Haw Creek, Knox, Illinois Family History Library Film 1254220 NA Film Number T9-0220 Page Number 193A

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Comp. by Knox Co. Genealogical Society, Galesburg, IL. Cemetery Records, Knox County, IL,, Haw Creek Twp.
2. ↑ Obit John Ouderkirk, Galesburg Evening Mail, Dec 18, 1912.
3. ↑ Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox Co., Chapman Bros., 1886
   see Andrew C. Housh bio.