Hi, I am from Gilroy, Ca. My ggreat grandpa came to CA in a covered wagon from Unionville, MO. Both his grandfathers served in MO regiments, as did 2 of my other ggggreat grandfathers. All my MO ancestors fought for the north. Jacob Guffey and Robert "Bert" Trent served in the 42nd Mo. Jacob died of typhoid fever in Tullahoma, TN, at the age of 29. John Henry Guffey served in the 39th MO. Sam Newman served in the 3rd & 11th MO cav. Direct ggggreat grandfathers Early Welch served for the 22nd AL, CSA, Elisha Holland for the 10th Ky cav, CSA, William Davis for the 10th AR cav, CSA, John Williams 7th Iowa cav. USA, and William Leonard, 24th MI USA. I also have lots of ggggreat uncles who served for both the north and the south. I enjoy anything Civil War...I enjoy reading, re enactments, writing, geneology. I have enjoyed researching my ancestors during the Civil War and learning what they have experienced. For example, Jacob Guffey didn't enlist until 1864, possibly because of the threat of draft. He had been married less than a year, and his wife was pregnant with their first child when he was sent south the TN for service. He was one of 7 brothers, all who enlisted for service. He was also one of four who died of disease by wars end. Jacob's only child was born in Nov. 1864. Jacob and his brother James was sick at the time with bronchitis. James died in Jan. of "chronic diarrhea". His brother Henry died in Feb. of typhoid. Meanwhile, Jacob's wife and newborn baby at home are struggling to survive, as they were also raising her three younger brothers. April 10, 1865, Jacob fell ill with typhoid fever. He was sent to Tullahoma Hosp. where he died, May 13. He had yet to be paid for his service in the war at the time of his death. His widow struggled until 1871. She couldn't keep her farm running after her then 18 year old brother died (that she raised) that year. She became declared legally insane, and everything she owned was sold to pay her debts. Jacob's death was a tragedy, and the effects of it were awful for his wife, and son. The more I learn about the people who endured the war, the more I respect them all. As for Gary Scheel, he was able to have James Guffey's headstone replaced. I couldn't locate James' grave, but I knew he died in St. Louis in Jan. 1865, and had to be buried there. Sure enough, he was, and Gary discovered, but with a mispelled headstone. So for 140 years he was buried under an incorrect tombstone. Gary was amazing, he knew how to go about it, and who to talk to, and when I visited St. Louis last year, I was very proud to put flowers on James Guffey's brand new military headstone. Gary had responded to a posting I had put here on this Civil War list. Lorie Castro, GIlroy, CA