While the Civil War was fought over 140 years ago, we have two living descendants, both residents of Kent County, whose father fought in the war. There are fewer than 55 such men and woman in the United States who can claim their father fought in the Union Army.

This Project is inspired by these two men who are known as “True Sons” in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Mr. Blakely, whose father Egbert was in attendance at the 1885 dedication of the Monument, has stated it is his desire to, “…live long enough to stand where his father stood,” at the Monument’s rededication service. Mr. Blakely will be 100 years old on December 8, 2003.

Please read more about these men and their fathers.

BLAKELY		BECKER

Mr. Blakely’s father, Egbert Blakely, was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the 10th Michigan Cavalry, Co. E, as a private in 1863 at the age of fifteen (apparently lied about true age to join). Egbert was promoted to Corporal at the age of sixteen.

Edward also had an uncle, Buell Blakely who served in the 21st Michigan Infantry, Co. E from 1862-1865 at the age of eighteen. Both men were lifelong residents of Kent County.

Mr. Blakely was born December 8, 1903 and his father passed away in 1910. The family farm on Blakely Road (named after Ed) near Cannonsburg is still owned by him. Some of the employment that Ed has had over the years is farmhand, farmer, streetcar conductor with the Grand Rapids Railway, and active leader in area credit unions.

Mr. Blakely’s first car was a 1922 Ford Model T, which he purchased at the age of nineteen. To his recollection, there were only two gas stations around at the time, one on Plainfield Ave. and one on Fulton St. SE. Ed remembers Monroe Ave. being the FIRST PAVED road out of Grand Rapids.

Ed married in 1929 and moved to the farm in Cannonsburg, which had no running water or electricity. Mr. Blakely remembers digging by hand a trench 100’ long, 3’ wide and 4’ deep to the creek in order to obtain water using a vacuum pump, which proved quite a challenge to keep running (this is also where Ed states he first learned to swear!).

Electricity was finally available in 1936, but each local resident had to pay for the cost of running the wire to their residence. Ed and a neighbor canvassed the area and collected the $1.50 needed from everyone; only to find out they needed another 25¢. But get their electricity they did. Natural gas service was also available about this time but the cost was $2,000 to have a line directly to your residence, which Ed paid, only to have it reimbursed three years later.

Today, Ed is long retired and spends his winters in Florida with his second wife Thelma (they were married in 1985), affectionately known as Chelsea, but he hasn’t forgotten his home. He has been a life-long resident of Kent County. He also hasn’t forgotten his father and uncle, both who fought to preserve the Union and the freedoms we enjoy today.

When Ed was born, the Kent County Civil War Monument, which was dedicated in 1885 in honor of men like his father and uncle, was only 18-years-old. Today, the Monument is 117-years-old and is in serious need of restoration.

Mr. Blakely has not forgotten his father nor does he wish to have the Monument become a forgotten piece of history. He has stated it is his desire to “see the Monument Restored before he leaves this earth.” As Ed’s father and uncle were at the dedication ceremony in 1885, Edward hopes to stand on the same ground at the rededication.

He asks for your help in honoring his father, one of the 4,200 men who served from Kent County, by making a donation today.

Mr. Egbert Blakely and the 10th Michigan Cavalry

Organized: Grand Rapids on 11/18/63
Mustered Out: 11/11/65 at Memphis, TN
Total enrollment 1886
Killed in Action 13
Died of Wounds 12
Died in Confederate Prisons 11
Died of Disease 121
Discharged for disability 80

Source: Record of Service of Michigan
Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 (vol. 40)

Egbert took part in over 65 engagements during his time of service and was wounded twice – once when his horse stumbled and fell on him, injuring his knee and leg and once shot in the side.

Mr. Harold Becker is an avid golfer and states when he can’t shoot his age, he’ll retire from the game. Mr. Becker’s father, Conrad (Charles) Becker, served in the 128th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Co. H, enlisting in 1864 at the age of 17 and mustering out in 1866.

After the war, Conrad entered into the grocery store trade and lived in Chicago. During his stay there Conrad was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and served as Commander of the Lyon Post, No. 9. He later settled down in Montague, MI where he is buried.

Harold, age 85, remembers seeing his father wearing his G.A.R. uniform and badges to the different encampments. He also remembers the old infantry uniform that hung in the closet and the Hershey kisses candies that were left in the pocket by his father – to which Harold would occasionally help himself. Amazingly, the pocket was never empty.

There remains still living, around 55 true sons and daughters of Union soldiers. There are nearly 150 Confederate sons and daughters as well as one widow of a Civil War soldier – one of the South.

Mr. Conrad (Charles) Becker and the 128th Regiment Indiana Infantry

During his term of service, he served in Sherman’s army and participated in the “March to the Sea.” One of the last duties performed by the 128th was the re-interment of nearly 10,000 Union soldiers who had died at the Confederate prison near Salisbury, NC. Many of these graves had been hastily or improperly dug and the bones of the men were protruding from the earth after the rains.

Organized: Michigan City, Indiana, December 15, 1863, to March 7, 1864. Mustered out April 10, 1866.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 27 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 112 Enlisted men by disease. Total 144.