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Descendants of Edward Ground - August 2006

21. WILLIAM⁶ GROUNDS (JOHN⁵, ROBERT⁴ GROUND II, ROBERT³, EDWARD², ROBERT¹) was born 02 Dec 1834 in Edwards Co, IL, and died 18 Apr 1930. He married (1) LOUISA MOUNTS 07 Sep 1854 in Edwards Co, IL; divorced. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown. He married (2) LAVINA MATILDA BUTLER 29 Mar 1866 in Warren Co, IL, daughter of JOHN BUTLER and ELIZA SMITH. She was born 21 Jul 1844 in Wayne Co, IL, and died 1929 in Creston, IA; 83y 3m 7d.

Notes for WILLIAM GROUNDS:
Additional sources from Evelyn Barclay:
      Civil War records, William Grounds
      Served 1Lt, Co. K, 55th Reg, Ill Vol. Infantry
      US Census 1850-1860-Edwards Co, IL
      US Census 1880-1900-Union Co, IL
      Helen Lucas Wallace family files

One or more of the sons of William Grounds had these children:
      George Grounds of Waverly KS (Apr 1987)
      Wallace Grounds of Greenfield, IA (Apr 1987)
(from obit of sister Margaret Grounds)

The History of William Grounds
Ground-Grounds Family Association Newsletter, Vol. IV, No. 3, pages 7-8.
Ground-Grounds Family Association Newsletter, Vol. IV, No. 4, pages 2-3.

(summarized)
Son of John Ground, who was born 18 Feb 1799 in Mercer Co, KY. Some years later, the family moved to Warren County, KY where John first married Prudence Jamison 21 Mar 1823. Consent given by her father, William Jamison.

John second married Elizabeth Ann Doughty (or Doty) 13 Sep 1831 in Warren Co, KY. Their first child was born here, but they then moved to Edwards County, Illinois, where William was born 2 Dec 1834.

William grew up near Samsville, 7 miles north of Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, and married first Louisa Mounts 7 Sep 1854, which ended in divorce. At the beginning of the Civil War, William went to Warren County, Illinois. His uncle Henry Ground lived in nearby Galesburg and dozens of cousins, including Mary, daughter of his uncle Henry and his first wife, Nancy Smith. Mary was married to James W. Butler who was the President of the Christian Church College at Abingdon where, when the war broke out, he volunteered in Suiet Company while there. ** (Story follows)

William Grounds was wounded twice in the Civil War. He ran for Congress, but was defeated.

From Ground-Grounds Family Association Newsletter, Vol. V, No. 1, p. 4-6:

William Grounds was the only known Union soldier in the family, while 30 Ground(s) served in the Confederate Army including William's first cousins, Edward Ground, Thomas Jefferson Ground, Isaac Henry Ground, and Robert Ground Boydstun. When he was age 87, his daughter, Mary urged him to write a narrative about his wartime experiences.

"Civil War Narrative" by William Grounds, 1921, aged 87"

"There was a company raised at Abingdon, Illinois, at the commencement of the Civil War. I volunteered in Suit Company and on the 24th left for Chicago and Camp Douglas, where we drilled in company drills. And when the regiment was full, it was organized and took the name of 55th Regiment -- the companies were named alphabetically. My company was K. We drilled in all the company manemouts (sic) necessary to good discipline. About the first of January, the Regiment was ordered to Benton Barof (sic), Missouri. There we kept up company drills, occaisionally had regimental drill. Not long after going to St. Louis, the Regiment was ordered south, so the Regiment marched aboard the old transport, "D. A. January." When within about 10 miles of Cape Geradeau (sic), Missouri, our boat struck a sand bar and there we were for three or four days amid snow--and it turned bitter cold. There was another transport tied up on the Illinois side of the rivr and I and Capt. Slish and one of the engineers ferried over and pumped the boiler full of water and fired it up. Got it over to our boat. Landed the soldiers on the Missouri side where there was plenty of wood. They got the old boat afloat and the Regiment marched to the town below and then got aboard again.

"The next stop was Cairo, for a short time. Then out the Ohio to Paducah. The Regiment wasn't long there until General Sherman was in command. It wasn't long until the exposition against Forts Vanloon and Henry. The Regiment would have been in that drive but it was armed with very poor guns. (They stacked on the color line and the order had to make detail to carry them back into the barracks.) When the time came to move up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, the Regiment wa sready, and camped a mile and a half south of the Landing. Near Kiner on the extreme left flank in Stuart's Brigade and Sherman's Division, where we had done a little scouting and drilling until the sixth of April when Sidney Johnson's army paid us a visit and I will not try to describe the battle, as that has been done perhaps better than I can. And after the battle, the Army was about 30 days making the trip. And when we got there we found a line of earth works with a few flour barrels for Cannon. Sherman's Division moved west along the Charleston and Memphis Railroad.

"The division reached Memphis on the 3rd of July, 1862. It was there five months and then moved down the river and up the bayou to Hiner Bluff and Chicataw Bayou. After a week or so the officers gave up trying to find a weak place to approach Vicksburg. They gave their attention to Arkansas Post. The gunboats and a good portion of the Infantry moved up the Arkansas River to the Post where some 10,000 Rebs were in camp. Ten Texas and two Arkansas regiments. That over, the army returned to Young's Point and commenced digging that canal across Young's Point. About the first of May the water in the river had receded and the land had dried so the army could march dry shod. It moved 50 miles down the river and camped.

"Had a hard battle at Champion Hills, Mississippi. Next we were at the fortified city of Vicksburg, which lasted from the 22nd day of May, 1863, until the 4th of July, 1863. After Vicksburg, Chatanuga (sic) up the river to Memphis. Then cross country to Chatanuga (sic). There we had some fun again. We crossed the river below the city and marched south until we reached what they called North Chiamonga river. There were goodly numbers of pontoon boats in the stream. The officers told us that we were to embark in them about eleven at night. Move out into the river and go down until we came to a man on the bank with a red lantern, where we were to cross south of Bragg's line of battle. The 8th Missouri to accompany the 55th. The opposite bank was bristled with Pickets. We got over alright. Landed between to (sic) Picket Posts, scrambled up the bank through the brush without being detected. Captured their Picket without a gun being fired. Next we were off to Knoxville to relieve Brunside. And then back to Larkinsville, Alabama. There we went into winter quarters October, 1864.

"Our three years was out and the war not over. The government offered all old veterans a bounty of $500 if they would re-enlist. About two thirds of the 55th Regiment re-enlisted and went home on 30 days furlow and when back started for Atlanta. It was a hard road to travel, but we got there. After Atlanta was taken the next move was Savannah on the coast. When the army got to Savannah, Fort MacAllister had to be taken. They called for volunteers to storm the Fort. When all was ready, the bugle sounded and in a very short time the Fort was surrendered. Also, City.

"The next move was through South Carolina. The first place was Columbia, the Capitol. The 15th Corps or one division if it attacked (blank) the City. The next place of note was Charan. There was a RR from Charleston to that place and when Charleston was about to fall, the Rebs ran a lot of artillery to that place for safekeeping. Our officers had teams hauling and dumping the cannon in the Pede River at that place for two days. They also had a Magazine of Powder at that place. We were about three miles away when it exploded and it shook the earth.

"When we got to the Edisto River, the water had overflowed it and banks and the lowlands on the other side was covered with water. The main road was levied up five or six feet high. The Rebs had burned the bridges and dug trenches across the levy. They were so protected we could not shell them out, so the 55th was detailed to go up river and try to find a crossing. We cut a small tree across the main stream and about 40 of us cooned it across and waded out to high land. We had axes along and blazed the trees so we could find our way back if necessary.

"After we got over, we held a council of war. We did not know how many Cavalry were camped down at the road. But we were wet and cold and did not want to wade in that cold waterback, so we decided to march down close to the water--as close to their camp as we could--and fire into them, make a charge, get possession of the road and get back to camp. But when we got almost to their camp, another stream headed us off and we had to march back. We only got back as far as the island spoken of above until it was dark.

"The next morning the cavalry was gone and we moved on. We marched past Camden, that old city of Revolutionary time. There was nothing more to note until we got to Bentons Ville (sic). There the 1st Crops ran on to Johnson's Army and they had a pretty severe battle. We were called the next day to reinforce them, so we did. The 55th lost one man killed: his name was Morehead, cousin to O. D. Morehead. Johnson's Army left in the night, so we marched on to Goldsburough (sic) and camped for a short time. We were there when General Lee surrended his army. We next moved to Raughley (sic) the capitol. After Johnson's surrendered, our next move was to Petersburg and Richmond and then Washington. After passing in review, we started west on the Baltimore RR. Went to Parkersburg on the Ohio River, then took transport for Louisville, Kentucky, and from Louisville, Kentucky, we were sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, where the Regiment was discharged onthe 26th day of August, 1865."

William Grounds served 3 years, 10 months and 4 days. He was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the spring of 1864. He was the last living commissioned officer of his Regiment at the time of his death and had a military funeral at Creston, Iowa. The above narrative was written when he was age 87, in 1921.

Notes for LAVINA MATILDA BUTLER:
Spouses of the children was obtained from The History of William Grounds, published in the Ground-Grounds Family Association Newsletter, Vol. IV, No. 3, page 7.

Lavina Butler Grounds graduated from the Christian Church College in Abingdon, Illinois, where her uncle James Whitman Butler was president.

Children of WILLIAM GROUNDS and LAVINA BUTLER are:

	i.	MARY⁷ GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1868, Illinois; d. 1903, Denver, CO; m. THOMAS MCCORMACK, Unknown, Creston, Union Co, IA (?); no children; b. Unknown; d. 1905.
78.	ii.	IRA BUTLER GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1870, Illinois; d. 28 Feb 1944, Denver, CO.
79.	iii.	LENA GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1872, Illinois; d. Unknown, d a young woman; Casper, WY.
80.	iv.	JOHN FRANKLIN GROUNDS, b. 05 Oct 1873, Illinois; d. Unknown.
81.	v.	GRACE L. GROUNDS, b. 07 Aug 1876, Creston, Union Co, IA; d. 20 Sep 1968, bd Denver, CO.
82.	vi.	WILLIAM SANFORD GROUNDS, b. 02 Dec 1879, Creston, Union Co, IA; d. Unknown.
	vii.	MAUD GROUNDS, b. Jan 1881, Creston, Union Co, IA; d. 1935, (unmarried).
83.	viii.	FLORENCE O. GROUNDS, b. Aug 1885, "Floy" b. Creston, Union Co, IA; d. 02 Dec 1949, Los Angeles, CA.

22. RHODA⁶ GROUNDS (JOHN⁵, ROBERT⁴ GROUND II, ROBERT³, EDWARD², ROBERT¹) was born 17 Apr 1837 in Edwards Co, IL, and died 08 Dec 1855 in Edwards Co, IL. She married WILLIAM E. HOCKING 09 Nov 1854 in Edwards Co, IL, son of JOHN HOCKING and SUSANNA ... He was born Abt. 1835 in Illinois, and died Bet. 1879 - 1880.

Notes for WILLIAM E. HOCKING:
Additional sources:
      Evelyn Barclay:
            Bonnie Beckham
            Marriage Certificate, William H. Hocking

Child of RHODA GROUNDS and WILLIAM HOCKING is:

FREDERICK⁷ HOCKING, b. 1855, Edwards Co, IL; d. Unknown.

23. ROBERT⁶ GROUNDS (JOHN⁵, ROBERT⁴ GROUND II, ROBERT³, EDWARD², ROBERT¹) was born Feb 1839 in Edwards Co, IL; went to Christian Co, IL, and died Aft. 1910 in on 1910 Census, Macon Co, IL. He married (1) MARY ELIZABETH STONE Bet. 1859 - 1860, daughter of JOHN STONE and MARY HORSEMAN. She was born Abt. 1846 in Kentucky, and died Bef. 03 Nov 1872 in Illinois. He married (2) MARY E. WHITAKER 03 Nov 1872 in Edwards Co, IL, daughter of REUBEN WHITAKER and PATSEY ... She was born Jan 1847 in Illinois, and died Unknown. He married (3) SARAH PELLAM 11 Oct 1874 in near Samsville, Edwards Co, IL. She was born Abt. 1851 in (from marriage records & Census) b. Tennessee, and died Unknown.

Notes for ROBERT GROUNDS:
Additional sources:
      Evelyn Barclay:
      Marriage records:
            Martha Ground & Henry Schofield
            Robert Ground & Sarah Pelham
            Robert Ground & Mary Whitaker
      Guardianship papers, Mary Whitaker
      Phyllis Schofield Flowers
      1850-1870-Census-Edwards Co, IL
      1800 Census-Shelby Co, IL
      1880 Census, Edwards Co, IL (see below)
      1900 Census-Christian Co, IL
      1910 Census-Macon Co, IL

1880 Edwards Co, IL (Shelby Co., Tower Hill Twp.), Sheet 1, line 27
Grounds, Robert 43M b. IL
Grounds, Sarah 29F wife b. TN (2nd wife)
Grounds, Lizzie 17F dau b. IL
Grounds, William Harrison 15M son b. IL
Grounds, Frank 7M son b. IL
Grounds, Margaret 5F dau b. IL
Gounds, John 3M son b. IL
Grounds, Grace 1F dau b. IL

Notes for SARAH PELLAM:
May have married a Pellam or a Hicks, maiden name either Pellam or Hicks. Some sources say Sarah was born in Georgia.

Children of ROBERT GROUNDS and MARY STONE are:

84.	i.	MARTHA A.⁷ GROUNDS, b. 15 Jan 1861, Edwards Co, IL; d. 16 Nov 1921, Chicago, Cook Co, IL.
	ii.	MARY ELIZABETH GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1863, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	iii.	WILLIAM HARRISON GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1865, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	iv.	JOHN GROUNDS, b. 30 Aug 1868, Illinois; d. 04 Jan 1869, Illinois.
	v.	FRANK GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1871, Illinois; d. Bef. 1880, not on 1880 census.

Children of ROBERT GROUNDS and SARAH PELLAM are:

	vi.		MARGARET⁷ GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1875, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	vii.		JOHN GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1877, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	viii.		GRACE GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1879, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	ix.		UNKNOWN GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1880; d. Unknown.
	x.		ROBERT GROUNDS, b. Abt. 1882, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	xi.		NELLIE GROUNDS, b. May 1887, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	xii.		DAVID GROUNDS, b. Oct 1888, Illinois; d. Unknown.
	xiii.		LEWIS AMES GROUNDS, b. 1892, Illinois; d. Unknown.

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