Capt.(USA), William D. Logsdon

There are three sources with minor variations for William's dates of birth and death:

--His grave stone states that he died "March 4, 1885; aged 76 years, 9 months, 6 days." His calculated birth date based on this is May 26, 1808.

--The Bible of William's son, William Bennett Logsdon, has written in it that he died "March 3, 1885, aged 76 years, 8 mo, 25 days." His calculated birth date based on this is June 6, 1808

--His son's Bible also has written in it that William was born "28th of June, 1808."

William Logsdon was born near Elizabethtown (later became Moundsville), Ohio County, (W)VA (that part of Ohio County became Marshall County). His parents were Bennett and Abagail (Lewis) Logsdon.

William married Edith Day Sep. 3, 1829.

William and Edith had four children: Obadiah M. Logsdon (1832– 1864, killed in the Civil War) Sarah B. Logsdon (1835– ) Mary June Logsdon (1837– ) Editha Logsdon (1840– )

After Edith died (before 1846), William married Mary Ellen Bevans on April 5, 1846 in Marshall County. William and Mary had seven children: Amanda E Logsdon (1847– ) William Bennett Logsdon (1848 – 1920) James S. Logsdon (1850–1922) Edgar S. Logsdon (1852–1874) John W. Logsdon (1854–1857) Martha E. Logsdon (1855–1888) Alice May Logsdon (1858– )

During the Civil War, West Virginia raised companies of home gaurds to scout and to protect the people against guerrillas. The majority of them were organized in 1863 and 1864.

During the Civil War, on August 22, 1863, William Logsdon was commissioned Captain of Wood County Independent (Federal) Scouts, headquartered in Belleville. West Virginia raised companies of these home guards to scout and protect their citizens against guerrillas. Each county had one company, some had two. The majority of them were organized in 1863 and 1864.

William's sons, William Bennett and James S., both served in his company. William Bennett (age 16) joined at the time his father recruited the company, August 1863. Younger brother James S. (age 14), joined in March 1864.

One noteworthy incident involving Captain Logsdon occurred in 1864. On September 16, in Wadesville, Wood County, three men killed another by the name of Abram Deem, a well-respected farmer who was a Confederate sympathizer.

Shortly after, the ring leader of the murderers, Daniel Grogan, was caught and arrested by a group which included Captain Logsdon. Grogan implicated the other two, Thomas Boice and Mortimer Gibbony. Boice was immediately arrested but Gibbony fled to the Ohio side of the river.

Captian Logsdon pursued Gibbony and eventually captured and brought him back to Wood County. Logdon held Gibbony in his home in Belleville and then took him to Parkersburg the next day and released him to the sheriff for trial.

All three men were found guilty and were sentenced to hang. While in jail, Gibbony managed to escape. Boice and Grogan were hanged on February 9, 1866 in Parkersburg. Gibbony was recaptured on March 10, 1866 and was hanged on June 15.

At the close of the war, Captain Logsdon's company was discharged on May 30, 1865.

After the war, William and his family moved to Trenton Township, Henry County, IA. His occupation was farming.

Logsdon, William D. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 17th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry SIDE: Union COMPANY: H
SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Private SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Captain ALTERNATE NAME: William D./Logsden FILM NUMBER: M507 ROLL 7 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: General Note - Original filed under William D./Logsden