Eli Mills of Richland, Iowa - Civil War Iowa Union Volunteer

Eli Mills was a devoted son of Peter Mills an early Settler of Richland Township, Keokuk, Iowa, his mother was Mary Jane Stanley. Eli was born August 2, 1798, in Deep River, Guilford, North Carolina.

At just 31 years old (born in 1831), Eli made the heart-wrenching choice to volunteer for the Union Army in the Civil War, driven by a deep sense of duty. Married to Mary Smith, he was the proud father of three young daughters, all under eight years old, and Mary was expecting their fourth child at the time of his enlistment. Together, they were part of the Quaker faith community, forging a new life in Richland Township,  Keokuk, Iowa. 

Eli enlisted on August 13, 1862, with the 33rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, embodying the bravery that so many soldiers displayed during this tumultuous time. Sadly, he mustered out in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he tragically passed away on March 24, 1865. His death record reveals he succumbed to syphilis, a condition identified with tuberculosis, highlighting the silent struggles endured by many during the war. 

Eli, like so many brave souls, would never return home to embrace Mary, to hold with his daughters, or to meet his newborn son, Eli Elvin Mills, who was born in 1863. His sacrifice is honored at The Little Rock National Cemetery, gravesite #429, a poignant reminder of his love and commitment to his family and country. 

Resources:

Disease during the civil war

Battle Unit Details 33rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry

 

My Czech Families - I found my Great Grandmother's Birth Record! Marie Katherine Benesh (Benes)

I've waited several years for a glimpse of any records near Prague, Czech Republic. I had heard stories that my great grandmother Marie Benes was born on the ship from Austria to the USA, which is now verified as a fable. I found the passenger list of their arrival and Marie was already born about 9 months before travels. Marie came to America with with her parents, Theresie (Oplistil) and Vaclav Benes, both only 24 years of age. Vaclav was a shoemaker in his home village in Rychmburk, Czech Republic. There is no record that these two were married at the time of their travels to America and in fact, Marie is listed on her baptism record as being a bastard child. It's not until later that the father was announces as being Vaclav Benes. 

The passenger list reads they were from Rynchenburg and their destination being Omaha, Nebraska to stay with their brother in law Filip Halda (Philip Halda). Shortly after their arrival to New York on June 7, 1904, the couple would unite in marriage in Omaha, NE on May 25, 1905. 

Birth/Baptism record for Marie Benes: 

Source  - Family Search Records: Digital images of originals housed at Zámrsk State Regional Archives, Czech Republic. Roman Catholic Church records (births, marriages, deaths, indexes) for Předhradí, Předhradí, Chrudim, Czech Republic; formerly Rychmburk, Vysoké Mýto, Čechy, Czechoslovakia; formerly Richenburg, Hohenmauth, Böhmen, Austria. May Include surrounding localities (refer to the archival note for the list of localities in each folder). Text in Czech, German and Latin.

Wikipedia: German  : Richenburg or Reichenburg ) is a municipality in the district of Chrudim , in the region of Pardubice , in the Czech Republic . Its population was 417 in 2020 1 .

Family Search Record No. 101497036 Předhradí, Perálec, Kutřín, Hněvětice, Hluboká, Střítež, Dolany, Lešany, Ochoz, Ochůzka, Chlum, Hlubočice, Rvasice, Přední Borek, Zhoř, Brdo, Rabouň, Miřetín, Zadní Borek, Hesiny - Matriky/Church books Chrudim, 6948, 1877-1904

Record No. (page) 556 - Marie is the 2nd from the bottom. 

She was born in Rychmburk to Vaclav Benes, who was the son of Vaclav Benes Sr. and Aloise. Marie's mother is Theresie Oplistilova (Oplistil), both of house # 53 from the village of Rychmburk. Theresie's father is Josefa and mother Katrina, both from the village of Zhor in house #28. Theresa and Vaclav both born in 1880. 

Marie Benes (Benesh) was later married to Robert Watson Tighe. Her daughter Gwendolyn Helen Tighe was my grandmother and Gwendolyn's daughter Geralyn my mother. 

Photo of 4 Generations

From left to right; my mother Geralyn Mae Schultz, my grandmother Gwendolyn Helen Tighe, my great grandmother Marie Benesh (Benes), the woman to the far right holding my sister (baby) is the mother in law to Marie Benesh who married several times and lastly to Luverne Dallas Hope and she is Margaret Rube, mother of Luverene Hope. 

Vaclav "James" Benes

1880–1966

BIRTH 25 MARCH 1880 • Předhradí, Rychumburk, Czechoslovakia

DEATH 16 FEB 1966 • Los Angeles County, California, United States of America

2nd great-grandfather

Photo of Vaclav Benes (Benesh) who married Theresie Oplistil. The woman in the photo is his daughter "Josie" Josephine Blanch Benesh and I believe the photo was taken in Los Angeles, California. 

Vaclav "James" Benes and Theresie "Theresa" Oplistil didn't marry until they were in the United States.