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  • Writer's pictureUntangle Your Roots

52 Weeks 52 Stories: Henry Applegarth

Updated: Nov 16, 2019

**Refer to Aaron Sutton for more information about the Minnesota 3rd Regiment and I also have sources. Just email me at Untangleyourroots@gmail.com if you would like them.




A Piece of Henry Applegarth

Henry and his family moved to West Albany, Wabasha, Minnesota in 1857 from Ontario Canada. His father and uncles continued to help settle the township which was established in 1855. While Henry's father, William built and established a store, his Uncle Augustus was the first school teacher.


After sometime living in West Albany, Henry moved to Pine Island, Good Hue, Minnesota. While living there he met his wife Nancy Jane Clark. Sometime after living in Pine Island, the couple moved back to West Albany to be closer to Henry's family.


During their time in West Albany, on 26 February 1864, Henry volunteered to join the Minnesota 3rd Regiment, Infantry, in G Company on the Union side of the Civil War. While joining the Regiment, his father- in-law Justus B. Clark and brother-in-law Aaron Sutton also joined.


Six months before Henry and his family joined the cause, the 3rd Regiment had seen their fair share of battles. The battles they fought were Lebanon, Camp Jenkins, Louisville, and Kentucky. Before Henry joined, the regiment was capture during a battle at Murfreesboro. Amid the fight there was vote to surrender with the 9th Michigan Regiment. After the vote was cast the Minnesota 3rd Regiment surrendered. Two of their men, were killed in battle, nine of them were wounded, and the rest of the regiment were taken as prisoners of war. Some of the regiment had returned home cowardly. The third regiment was reorganized had more drilling at Fort Snelling.


While Henry was serving, he contracted a disease in one of his eyes. Due to this unfortunate illness, he was discharged on 29 September 1865 in Devalls, Bluff, Arkansas. On 22 December 1876, Henry filed for his first pension. At the time, he and his family were still living in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. When Henry and his family relocated to Nebraska he reapplied on 31 July 1890, in Deuel County, with his eyes still being afflicted after so many years from the war.



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