Pvt. Justin (Justis) A. Carpenter

Pvt. Justin (Justis) A. Carpenter

From the Kane Co. Honor Roll

Co. E       3rd Ill. Inft.

Died – Nov. 1, 1898
Interred at Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin
Location – Lot 12, Soldiers Reserve

From the Ill. Adj't. Gen's. Report

Co. E       3rd Ill. Nat. Guard

Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill.
Enlisted – April 26, 1898
Mustered In – May 7, 1898 at Camp Tanner, Springfield, Ill.
Left for Chickamauga Park, Georgia May 16, 1898 and arrived at Newport News July 24, 1898.   Sailed on board the 'St. Louis' for Puerto Rico.   Duty in the area of Guayama, Puerto Rico.
Remarks – Died, Nov. 1, 1898 at Elgin, Ill.

       Known Actions;
Aug. 2, 1898 – Under fire while landing at Arroyo, Puerto Rico
Aug. 5, 1898 – Battle at Guayama, Puerto Rico
Aug. 8, 1898 – Engagement north of Guayama, Puerto Rico
Aug. 13, 1898 – Engagement north of Guayama, Puerto Rico

Excerpt – from the Aug. 10,l 1898 issue of The Elgin Daily Courier

     Justin A. Carpenter writes from the harbor of Ponce that they voyage of the Third was not a cheerful as it would have been had the boys been free from a p******* Nauseated feeling in the region of the stomach.   There was an almost unanimous decision to hang over the rail and gaze into the depths of the Atlantic.   They were all anxious to set foot on terra firma.

From the Bluff City Cemetery files; Lot – 12 * Section – GAR * Grave – 2 * Interment No. - 2184 * Date – Nov. 3, 1898 * Head of Grave from – South line 6.6', East line 1'

Obit – Nov. 1, 1898 issue of the Elgin Daily News
     Justus A. Carpenter, a member of Company E, who arrived home from Virginia last Thursday, died at 5:25 o'clock this morning.   He had been very sick with malarial fever following exposure, but was slowly regaining his health and it was hoped he was out of danger.
     Deceased was a son of A. H. Carpenter, who has charge of the elevator in the Cook block.   He was born Sept. 21, 1877, at Watertown, Wis., and had lived in Elgin about six years.   The family home is at 267 McClure avenue.
     Besides the father, two sisters survive the deceased.   Nellie Carpenter, who is attending school at Normal, and Alice who is at home.
     Justus Carpenter was a member of Company E previous to the outbreak of the war.   He attended the Elgin public schools and later graduated from Callow's Business college.   When called to the front he held a position as stenographer with the Elgin Milking company.   He was a member of the Elgin Congregation church and a young man of sterling worth.
     When Mr. Carpenter was first sent home from Puerto Rico, he was cared for in the Josiah Simpson hospital.   Oct. 20 he was allowed to leave and start for home, but he missed his train and that evening Major DeWitt of the post hospital at Fortress Monroe found him up on the streets unable to walk.
     The patient was given every care at the post hospital and the physicians that refused to allow him to leave except under the care of a competent physician.   Accordingly Dr. A. L. Mann of Elgin went to Fortress Monroe to accompany him home.   He was given every care, but the fever and exposure in camp had exhausted him below the recuperative point.   Monday morning he seemed to revive slightly, but at night it became evident to the attending physician and nurse that the end was very near.
     The funeral service will be conducted by the Grand Army.
     All ex-soldiers are invited to attend the funeral.