Eli Mitchell Hurt

1963 Hurt Newsletter:

On May 30, 1867, a wedding was performed in Macksville, Washington County, Kentucky. The minister was W.C. Campbell, and the witnesses were W.H. Barnett and William Yates. The pretty, blue-eyed, brown-haired bride was very young---16 1/2 years, and her name was Nancy Jane Bryant. The bridegroom stood 5 ft., 10 in. tall, had blue eyes and very light brown hair. He was 23 years old, and his name was Eli Mitchell Hurt.

Now, 96 years later, the descendants of this couple number more than 100. The exact count has not yet been determined.

There were no Hurts aboard the Mayflower. The Hurts were rural Englishmen, so they landed in Virgina, where there was land for farming. Yes, the Hurts, for the most part, have always been farmers. And after the Revolutionary War (there were Hurts in that war, too) , they wanted more land--new land--so they pushed on to new frontier--Kentucky.

For the same reason, Eli and Nancy came to Illinois. Nick Spainhour, a Garrard County neighbor and old Civil War buddy of Eli, came to Illinois first. He wrote to Eli, describing farming conditions, saying crops were much better, and corn was selling for more per bushel than in Kentucky. So Eli and Nancy hitched up "Old Bill" to the wagon and set out for the Illinois Country in 1871.

Migrations.org:

Eli was a Union Civil War veteran, serving from 21 August 1862 to 12 July 1965 in Company A, 11th Regiment of Kentcky Cavalry.

1963 Hurt Newsletter:

ELI MITCHELL HURT was born in Garrard County, Kentucky, on Jan. 28, 1844, the son of ABEL and SALLY WRAY HURT. He had five brothers--JOHN H., JOSHUA, WILLIAM A., JAMES and DAVID-- and one sister--MARY J. ELI, like his father before him, was a farmer.

He was only 18 years of age when he enrolled as a private in the Union Army, on Aug. 21, 1862. He and his brothers, WILLIAM and JOSHUA, fought with Co. A, 11th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry Volunteers. WILLIAM and JOSHUA both died in hospitals during the war-- WILLIAM from small pox, and JOSHUA from measles. ELI, too, was stricken with both diseases while in the service, but managed to survive, and on July 12, 1865, he was

discharged at Louisville, Kentucky.

On May 30, 1867 ELI married NANCY JANE BRYANT in Maxville, Kentucky. In 1871, he and his wife migrated to Cumberland County, Illinois, where their nine children were born--IDA MAE, ANDREW N., HULDAH A., ELMER (TELL), OSWORTH (POD), JESSE ELI, BENJAMIN HARRISON, ALVA J., and LUTHER MARTIN. Only three of these children are still living-- ELMER, ALVA and LUTHER.

ELI purchased a farm in Cumberland County, near Vevay Park, where he continued his agricultural pursuits. But the rigors of war took their toll. Small pox and measles, and their after effects, left ELI subject to neuralgia and rheumatism. When his joints stiffened, and he became too crippled to perform his labors efficiently, he applied for a veteran's invalid pension on Sept. 26, 1885. The pension was granted, and he received the

"magnificent" sum of $24.00 per month.

ELI was an expert horseman, truly "at home" in the saddle. He must have made an imposing figure as he rode erect, with shoulders back, ever mindful of his cavalry training. Though only 5ft., 10 in. tall, his excellent posture made him appear much taller. In his younger days, his hair was very light brown--almost blonde--but in middle age it had turned to gray. He had blue eyes and a fair complexion, and a beard that reached almost to his waist.

What kind of man was ELI MITHCELL HURT? I do not know. I am his grand-daughter, but he died before I was born, so I never knew him. There are so few persons still living who did. He was probably one type of person to his parents, another to his wife, someone else to his friends, and, no doubt, a stern parent to his children.

ELI passed away at his farm home on Feb. 12, 1912, and was laid to rest in Washington Cemetery, a few miles southwest of Casey, Illinois. On Memorial Day we visit his grave beneath the cedar tree. A small American flag, placed thereon by a Civil War Committee, waves proudly in the breeze. And the simple monument at the head of his grave bears this inscription;

ELI HURT

CO. A

11 KY. CAV.

American Civil War Soldiers

about Eli Hurt

Name: Eli Hurt

Enlistment Date: 18 Aug 1862

Enlistment Place: Louisville, Kentucky

Side Served: Union

State Served: Kentucky

Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 18 August 1862.

Enlisted in Company A, 11th Cavalry Regiment Kentucky on 22 Sep 1862.

Mustered Out Company A, 11th Cavalry Regiment Kentucky on 12 Jul 1865 at Louisville, KY.

Sources: 78
Eli Mitchell Hurt married Nancy Jane Bryant May 30, 1867 Washington County, Kentucky by Rev. W. C. Campbell* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 29 2023, 22:20:16 UTC