Michael Stanton

~1845 - 1913
Co Mayo, Ireland - Warrick Co, Indiana

Michael Edward or Edward Michael Stanton, apparently known as "Mike," was born . . . well.

In 1850, he was supposedly 5 years old; in 1860 he was 16; in 1870 he had lost a few years and was 24; in1880 he gained them back:37; in 1900 he was 58. When he died in 1913, he was said to be 70 years old. So, let's see, he was born in 1845 or 1844 or 1846 or 1843 or 1842 or 1843 again! According to his pension application, he was born on 15 August 1842, so maybe we should go with that. Which is fine, except that Shari Sheridan (a descendant of his through his daughter Alice Belle) says that in her family, the story is that he enlisted the same week his brother John was killed and that he used his brother's birthdate to enlist. That would mean not only that 1842 was probably John Stanton's birthdate, but that Michael was not old enough to enlist on his own. How old did one have to be to enlist in the Civil War?

So. Mike Stanton was born in the mid-1840s. All of the censuses AND his obit say that he was born in Ireland, so that's good. Of course, on his pension application, he claims to have been born in Warrick County, but what of that?

Do these guys ever answer the same question the same way?

He was born in the mid-1840s probably, probably in County Mayo, Ireland (that's where his brother Patrick was born - at least that's where he says he was born). The family came to the US sometime in the winter or 1847-8, arriving in New Orleans on 4 Jan 1848. They traveled together as a family, which is fairly rare, and their names and ages are all given on the ship's passenger list:

Viceroy - Liverpool to New Orleans - arrival date 4 Jan 1848:
     Michael Stanton 44 born County Mayo laborer
     Mary 36 wife / Thomas 13 / Mary 10 / Patrick 9 / John 4 / Michael 2 / Austin ?Sept? infant

[This has Michael born 1846, so there are two votes for that year and two for 1843. AND, incidentally, if maked John's birth year 1844 NOT 1842. So.] They must have known where they were going (New Orleans was surely a more expensive port-of-arrival than New York) - I am thinking maybe they took a boat or boats up the Mississippi and Ohio? At any rate, they were all (except one) in Warrick County by the time of the 1850 census. But the father (also called Michael) died in 1849/50, so mother Mary was left a widow in a strange country - with 6 children.

1850 Indiana, Warrick, Anderson - 159/160 - 30
Mary Stanton 37 F Ireland
    Thomas 17 farmer Ireland
    Mary 13
    Patsey 11
    John 8
    Michael 5
    Austin 3 all born Ireland

Mother Mary possibly married again in 1851 - there is a record of a Mary Stantlin marrying John P Baker, and in 1860, the person I think is Mary is listed as Mary Baker.  I think her new husband died before 1860, and I don't think the family did too well after that. For the 1860 census, they were scattered among different families. Sister Mary Ann had married Thomas Baker by that time, so one brother, John, lived with her and her family. Mother Mary (possibly) and two other brothers, Patrick and Austin, were living with Mary Ann's in-laws, James and Leah Baker. I don't know where the older brother Thomas was. Michael was living with Benjamin and Miranda McCool.

1860 Indiana Warrick
100-733 (804) Benjamin McCool 51 m farmer 800 Ky
                        Miranda? 50 f
                        Polly A (or Sally) 24 f Ind
                        Fletcher 20
                        Eleanor 18
                        Eithen f 18
                        Elizabeth 18
             Michael Stanton 16 m Ireland

I don't know if or how the McCools were related to the Stantons. The McCools came to the US in the 1700s and were in Warrick County from 1820 on. (Remember that there was a Thomas Stanton in Warrick in 1820.) After the Civil War, brother Patrick married Elizabeth McCool, the daughter (I'm pretty sure) of Benjamin and Miranda. And that's the last connection I've found with the McCools - although in the 1920 census, there is a fellow named Cool Stanton (living in Scott County, Illinois, 43 years old, born in Illinois himself, of parents also born in Illinois) but when I traced him back, I found him a father, Edward, originally from Massachusetts.

Michael, by the way, could read and write. Thomas and Mary Ann could read but not write. The woman Michael would marry, Mary Polly Deweese, could read but not write. According to one of Michael's sons, Michael's native tongue was Irish.

When the Civil War broke out, all the Stanton boys enlisted, as did most of their current and future in-laws. This may have been patriotism, or a hatred of slavery, but it is true that most of the soldiers in the Civil War were poor people, and our Stantons certainly were that.

Enlisted in Civil War as a private; honorably discharged at war's end as a sargeant.
Enrolled Evansville, Ind. 20 Sept. 1861. Pvt. in Company "K", 42 Reg, Ind. Inf. Vol.
Discharged Louisville Ky 21 July 1865
described as: 5'7" tall, sandy complexion, blue eyes, light hair, occupationfarmer.
Roster of Union Soldiers - Indiana
      Stanton, Michael 42 Reg Ind Inf - Co K - Sgt
Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana (Indianapolis 1867)
      42nd Reg Inf - Co K
  name                     where enrolled      mustered in 1861      remarks
Stanton, Michael     Warrick Co                           Oct 30   Vet. Mustered out July 21, 65 as Sgt.
Civil War Database Subscription???
    Stanton, Michael age 19 in 1861
    residence Warrick Co
    enlisted 10/30/1861 Indiana 42nd Inf, Co K
    re-enlisted 1/1/1864
    mustered out 7/21/1865 Louisville

Michael Stanton enlisted October 30, 1861 in the 42nd Indiana Infantry, Company K. His description at that time: 5'7", eyes blue, complexion sandy, color of hair light (they must have gotten these reversed!), occupation farmer.

"This regiment was organized at Evansville and was mustered in Oct 9, 1861. It left the state soon after, going to Henderson, Calhoun and Owensboro, Ky., and thence to Nashville, where it arrived on Feb. 15, 1862.

"It moved into the interior of the state, then to Huntsville, Ala., and back to Nashville. Joining Rousseau's division of Buell's army, it took part in the pursuit of Bragg through Kentucky and participated at Perryville losing 166 in killed wounded and missing. It was in the battle of Stone's River, where it lost 17 killed and 87 wounded, and then remained in camp at Murfreesboro until June 24, when it left for Chattanooga with the 1st brigade of Negley's division.

"It was in the battle of Chickamauga, losing 8 killed, 53 wounded and 32 missing, and participated at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge with a loss of 43 in killed and wounded. The regiment reenlisted at Chattanooga, Jan. 1, 1864, and was given a furlough during February.

"On its return in March it joined Sherman's army for the Atlanta campaign and participated in all the principal battles of that movement, losing 103 killed and wounded. While near Allatoona the regiment was on picket duty within 50 yards of the enemy's skirmish line for seven days and nights without being relieved. It was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro. "After the capture of Atlanta, it marched to the Chattoga valley and to Galesville, Ala., in pursuit of Hood's army, returning to Atlanta in time to take part in the march to Savannah. After the capture of Savannah it moved through the Carolinas to Goldsboro taking part in the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville.

"At the close of active operations, the regiment moved to Washington, thence to Louisville and was mustered out July 25, 1865. During its term of service the regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing 629, of whom 86 were killed on the field, 443 wounded, and 100 taken as prisoners. It mustered out 846, an unusual number.

"The original strength was 1.019, gain by recruits, 929; reenlistments, 215; total 2,163. Loss by death, 254; desertion 60; unaccounted for, 119."
Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 (accessed through the Civil War Research and Genealogy Database.)

Michael was sick and in the hospital at Chattanooga in September and October 1863; maybe you can tell where that would be in terms of the company's activity - I haven't looked up the battles mentioned to see what dates they took place. He was a sergeant when he mustered out. (For his complete pension file: Civil War Documents file.)

He went home to Warrick County and in 1868 married Mary Polly Deweese.

Stanton, Michael E to Deweese Mary P 18 June 1868 by FA Brown JP
Marriage record book 4, Warrick County, Indiana, Sept. 1867-May 1873 / copied ... by Opal B. Phillips ; indexed ... by Opal B. & J. Oscar Phillips.[S.l. : s.n., 1966?]

We always thought her name was DuWeese, which I at least thought was a pretty funny name for an Irish person to have. I assumed she must be Irish because Michael was, and I assumed she came over from Ireland with him. Wrong! The Deweeses have been in the US since the 1600s; they're Dutch, and lived in New York when it was New Amsterdam. One of the Deweeses owned the land containing Valley Forge, and was always complaining to General Washington about the men cutting down all his trees for firewood. Our branch of that family moved from New York and Pennsylvania to North Carolina and then on to Kentucky. Mary Polly's father moved to Warrick County sometime between 1850 and 1860; her mother had died, and the children were farmed out to various family members. I don't know if he gathered them all back together when he remarried in 1860, but by the next census (1870) she was already married to Michael.

1870 Warrick p. 449b l 23 (419-423)
Stanton, Michael 24 mw farmer 100 Ireland
        Mary P 20 Ky
        John 5/12 Ind (Jany)

They had 8 (that we know of) children.
              John b. 1870
              Alice Belle b. 1872
              Michael Edward jr b. 1874
              Rufus b. 1876
              Flora b. 1880
              Clarence b. 1882
              Jonah b. 1885
              Pearl b. 1889

They also had a little boy (born 1888) who must have died young.

Stanton mw ----- 1888 Feb 8 f Mike m Mary Deweese (H-3 4)
Index to birth records, Warrick County, Indiana, 1882-1920 / compiled by Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1939. Owensboro, Ky. : Cook-McDowell Publications, 1980.
v. 1. A-F.--v. 2. G-K.--v. 3. L-P.--v. 4. Q-Z.

Mary Polly died in 1897.

Boonville Standard - July 9, 1897
Mrs. Mike Stanton, of this place, died last Sunday, after a lengthy illness of a complication of troubles. The deceased was 49 years of age, and leaves eight living children. Burial took place Monday at Mt. Gilead cemetery, south of Boonville, Rev. E.B. Landis, of the C.P. church, officiating.

Boonville Weekly Enquirer - Boonville, Indiana - July 9, 1897
Mrs. Mike Stanton, died, July 4, 1897, after a long and serious illness and much suffering. She professed religion when quite young and died triumphant in the faith. Funeral services were held at her home at 2 o'clock, Monday afternoon, after which the remains were taken to their last resting place, Mt. Gilead burying grounds. Peace be to her memory. The deceased leaves a husband and eight children to mourn her loss. The bereaved family have our deepest sympathy.

Michael was left with several youngish children still at home.

1900 Warrick Ward 2, house 149 taken June 8, 1900 - 137 Division St
Stanton, Michael b. Aug 1841 age 58 widowed b Ire f b Ire m b Ire day laborer
        Flora daughter Apr 1880 20 single Ind Ire Ky
        Clarence Feb 1882 18
        Jonah Feb 1885 15 at school
        Pearl Mar 1889 11

Alice was living and working in Evansville at that time, John was already in West Virginia, but the whereabouts of the other two boys (ME jr and Rufus) are unknown.

In 1901 Michael went to the Marion Soldiers Home, and spent about 18 months there. I don't know if this means that he was sick, or if it was an old folks' home. He was there until 1903. I don't know where he was for the next four years, but in 1907, he moved in with his daughter Alice Belle Stanton Miller (Alice married in 1906).

1910 Vanderburg ED 95 Sheet 6A - Pigeon Twp - 4th Pct Evansville - taken 21 April -1210 S Governor St
131-132 Miller Ulysses A. head m w 39 m2 times; married 4 yrs. Ind Ind Ky. carpenter. E&OH RR.
      Alice B. wife fw 38 m1 - m 4 yrs - 2 ch, 2 alive - Ind Ire(English) Ky
      Lillian H daughter fw 2 s Ind Ind Ind
      James E. son m w 1 s Ind Ind Ind
Stanton, Michael father in law mw 69 wd Ire English, Ire English, Ire English

(Ulysses had two daughters by his first wife - I don't know why they aren't with him on this census.  They would have been 12 and 14.)

He died in 1913 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Boonville.

Boonville Standard - Boonville, Indiana - 16 May 1913 - front page
War Veteran Dies (Evansville Courier, 10th)
Edward Michael Stanton, 70 years old, who for the past six years has been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. V. A. Miller, 1000 Cherry Street, died at the home at 9:50 o'clock Thursday night.
Mr. Stanton was born in Ireland and came to this country when a small boy.
He was a member of the Forty-second Indiana regiment during the civil war.
Mr. Stanton is survived by four sons: Clarence, of Owensboro, Ky.; Jonah, of Boonville, Ind.; John, living in West Virginia, and Rufus 2110 Division street, this city, and three daughters, Mrs. Miller, of this city, and Mrs. Pearl Gray and Miss Flora Stanton, of Boonville.
The remains will be taken to Boonville this morning at 9 o'clock, where funeral services and burial will take place. Members of the Forty-second Indiana and G.A,R, will assist in the funeral rites.

Boonville Weekly Enquirer - Boonville, Indiana - Friday, May 16, 1913 p. 3 bottom of column 4
Edward Michael Stanton, 70 years old, who for the past six years has been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. V. A. Miller, 1000 Cherry street, Evansville, died at the home at 9:50 o'clock Thursday night. Mr. Stanton was born in Ireland and came to this country when a small boy. He was a member of the forty-second Indiana regiment during the civil war. The remains were brought to Boonville Friday morning at 9 o'clock, where funeral services and burial took place. Members of the forty-second Indiana G.A.R. assisted at the funeral.

Back to Stanton Home
Back to Home

to Father Michael Stanton's page
to Mother Mary's page
to siblings: Thomas, Mary Ann, Patrick, John, Austin

to children: John, Alice Belle, Michael jr, Rufus, Flora, Clarence, Pearl
to wife: Mary Polly Deweese

contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com

page last updated 4 Oct 2010