Pvt Sylvanus Calkins

Son of Chauncey Ira Calkins & Sarah Kellogg

Married Hannah Elizabeth Kilbourn, 23 Jan 1851, Centerville, Davis, Utah

Sylvanus Calkins came of sturdy Welsh ancestors who settled in America before the Revolution and whose sons drifted from the first American home of the family and have through the years carried the name with credit. The father of Sylvanus Calkins settled in the middle west, first in Illinois, then in Missouri and later in Iowa where he died. Sylvanus enlisted in the Mexican war from Iowa in 1846 and served in the famous Mormon Battalion, when after much arduous marching they served their country and were discharged at San Luis Rey Mission, California. The members of this heroic band afterward became the pioneers of California, Oregon and Nevada, and to them much of the important growth of the Pacific coast is due. Sylvanus remained on the coast for three years after his honorable discharge from the service of his country and engaged in mining. Returning then to the east he met Miss Hannah Elizabeth Kilbourn, at Salt Lake City, and they were married. They lived in Utah until 1853 or '54 when they went to Iowa and in 1864 came across the plains to Oregon. His prosperous farm and property were destroyed by the Indians in the Utah Indian wars and with the remnant of his possessions he located at Lafayette, in Yamhill county where he remained for four years. In 1868 he moved to Clackamas county and purchased some two hundred acres of land one mile and a half southeast of Sherwood and remained there until his death, being accounted one fo the best and most popular farmers in the county.

The three brothers, Alva C. Calkins, James Wood Calkins, and Sylvanus Calkins along with their first cousin Edwin R. Calkins enlisted as privates in Company A of the U.S. Mormon Battalion.

Joined for Service and enrolled at the General Rendezvous', July 16th, 1846 at COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, and that all were ‘Mustered into Service' at the same place and on the same date.

SYLVANUS CALKINS. Private. Mustered out with Company July 16, 1847, at Los Angeles, Cal.

• Mormon Battalion members Inscription: Father

Note: Mexican War Veteran. Cemetery Surveyor and Information gathered by: C. Lehan

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via sister Mary Elizabeth Beckstead (born Calkins) by SmartCopy: Jun 27 2015, 22:28:19 UTC