Maj. Thomas Jefferson Larison, (USA)

Short Description:NARA T289. Pension applications for service in the US Army between 1861 and 1900, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served. Collection Title:Civil War Pensions

State:Illinois

Arm Of Service:Cavalry

Regiment:2

Company:B

Name:Larison, Thomas J.

Rank:Cap.

Date:13-SEP-1875

Source: Fold3; entry for Company B>Larison>Thomas

Link:http://www.fold3.com/document.php?doc=23714396&xid=215&p=ma

Biography

In 1850 Thomas J Larison and two of his brothers and a brother-in-law, Alex Matin joined a train of 200 wagons en route to California in quest for gold. One brother died on the way. They were gone almost a year and returned by sail boat. They were out of sight of land for 54 days. They returned wiser, but not richer. (Notes from the August 26, 1953 Centennial Edition of the Lincoln Evening Courier. Copied by Mrs Kenneth Patterson of Beason, Illinois. Printed by the Decatur Genealogical Society December 1970) - - - - - - In 1878 his farm consisted of 240 acres, valued at $12,000 and property in the city of Lincoln valued at $12,000. In 1850 he went to California and spent one year on the trip; in the fall of 1854, was elected sheriff of Logan County for two years, and was chief deputy for two years following, and was re-elected sheriff in 1858 for two years. (History Logan County, 1878, page 435) - - - - - - In 1861 Thomas raised a cavalry regiment and started as their Captain - fought at Shiloh, Tennessee, then on to Vicksburg. In the process, he was promoted to Major. An item from the military records of the National Archives is that he was court martialed for conduct unbecoming an officer. He had circulated a petition calling for the recall/demotion of the commanding officer. He was found guilty, but was not demoted. Later he applied for a pension due to an injury from a fall from his horse. Apparently it threw him over a fence and he injured his testicles. (above given by Marlyn Duff 8/26/1999) - - - - - - By 1890 Thomas was severly disabled from his injury during the war, that he was barely able to walk with crutches or to dress himself. (Marlyn Duff) - - - - - - The Larison family plot in Old Union Cemetery is immediately adjacent to the two Duff plots. (per Marlyn Duff 8/26/99) - - - - - - AN UNEXPECTED DEATH Major Thomas J Larison Dead in Bed, Head Resting on His Hand The news received in Lincoln Saturday morning that Major Thomas J Larison was dead proved a shock to his many relatives and friends in this city and county. Only the day before his familiar vehicle and horse were seen on the streets and his friendly, sociable greeting exchanged with friends. During the early hours of the day he concluded to drive to Stanford, McLean County with Miss Carrie Armbruster, about twenty-seven miles north of here, where he had a sister, Mrs T P Brooks, who was always glad to see him. The deceased, Thomas J Larison, was a son of Abel and Rachel (Caton) Larison, who were natives of Maryland, and was the second of ten children - James M, Thomas J, Abel, Mary and Eliza, who grew to man and womanhood. Five died early, they being Greenbury, Theophilus C, Catherine, Rachel, Melinda. Major Larison was born near Zanesville, Ohio, October 4, 1817, and came to Illinois with his parents in 1830, settling near Waynesville. For years he followed farming pursuits and met with success. He was one of the pioneers of the county. He frequently had to go sixty miles to mill over rough corduroy roads and Indian trails. He came from sturdy stock and his occupation made him athletic, which, with his superb courage, made him a conspicuous figure in the history of Logan County. He was married to Kate A Hoblit in 1839. The fruit of this marriage was seven children, Winfield S, mail agent on the Illinois Central; T J, a farmer in the west; Frank M of Pottawattomie County, Iowa; Emma, wife of David Duff, near Lincoln; Ida I Randolph, deceased; Mary, wife of T H Stokes, and Annie Beach, now in New York City. Before the war he retired from farming and settled in Lincoln. In 1858 he was elected sheriff of Logan County, receiving 1232 votes to Richard T Davis' 1225. He enlisted in the service of the United States early in the war in Co B, Second Illinois cavalry, and retired a major. His estate left consists of two residence properties on Logan Street and the business houses on Chicago street occupied by Thomas Moran and L Drobiach. The remains of Mr Larison arrived in Lincoln at 2:30 pm, Sunday and were met at the depot by a large delegation of Leo W Myers post, G.A.R. under command of A D Cadwallader, and escorted to the family residence, corner of Pulaski and Logan streets. Funeral Monday, Sept 28, at 2 o'clock at the M E church. Elder Weaver, pastor of the Christian church officiated, assisted by Elder T Holton and Rev Chas. B Taylor. Internment in Union cemetery. (The Lincoln Daily Courier - Monday, Sept 28, 1896)

Link:http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=willawiley1&id=I656'''

Information compiled by D. Glenn