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War-time Photo |
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In 1864, John Parish was 19 and lived in Brownstown with his parents. His brother Bernard Parish was one of the original members of Company A. John "ran away from home" with his friend Lewis Moore to enlist in Company A on January 21, 1864 at Bloomfield. He was mustered into service on the same day. He joined the Regiment at Culpepper Va. on February 17, 1864. About three weeks after enlisting, while on his way to join the Regiment, a hot cinder from a railroad locomotive flew into the window of the car and struck John in the right eye causing him to go permanently blind in that eye.
Nevertheless he joined the regiment at Culpepper, Virginia. Bad luck continued to follow John, however and he was struck down with an unspecified disease on April 14, 1864. He recovered in time to participate in battles of 1864. He first saw the elephant in the Wilderness. He was captured during the crossing of the North Anna river. For once, however, fortune smiled on John, because his captor was killed during the action and John was able to make good his escape. He was wounded three times at the battle of Petersburg, Virginia, January 18, 1865 - once in the left leg below the knee by shrapnel and above the knees of both legs. He was hospitalized, but eventually recovered and returned to the Regiment. He was present when the 24th participated in President Lincoln's funeral at Springfield. He mustered out with the Regiment at Detroit, Michigan on June 30, 1865.
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John Parish with Second Wife, Mary Jeanette Baker,
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After the war, he married twice, and fathered 5 children. His first wife, Jane Jackson Malley, was the widow of another 24th Michigan Veteran, James Malley. The young couple eventually divorced, and John Parish married Mary Jeanette Baker. Later in life he was a resident of Carleton, Michigan. He was Commander of the G.A.R. Post #76 at Monroe, Michigan when he died in 1930. John was among the last few surviving members of the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry.
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Photo Taken Between 1920 and 1930
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Photographs courtesy of his descendant: Daniel J. Doty, dotyfam@tfs.net
Last Updated: 05/25/98
Webmaster: Rob Richardson
robr@advnet.net
All original material © Copyright 1997,1999 Dan Doty
