Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery

Michael Painter

Michael Painter, born in 1839, lived nearly his whole life in Ohio until, at the age of 76, he and his wife moved to live with their son, C. A. Painter in North Bend. The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912, by Joseph Gaston reveals some details of his life:

C. A. PAINTER operates his steamboat, Flyer on Coos bay and is employed as tender of the government bridge. He bought his vessel ten years ago and since that time has been a familiar figure on the bay. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio, November 8, 1868, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Spratt) Painter. His father is a native of Ohio and was born in the same house in which our subject's birth occurred. He engaged in farming in connection with the operation of a woolen mill and a tile and brick yard, and was prominent in agricultural circles of Ohio. He served for three years in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer infantry during the Civil war and was wounded in the left shoulder by a cannon ball. He is now living retired.

It seems that members of the 123rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry were taken as prisoners of war with some regularity during their service; a fact that provided a bit of humor back in their home towns. At the close of the Civil War while in pursuit of General Lee, they were again captured at High Bridge near Appomattox on April 6th, 1865, and were being held by Confederate soldiers when Lee surrendered nearby.

A government issue headstone was erected on October 29, 2009 -
92 years after the date of Michael Painter's burial.

No humor was made of the losses to their regiment during the Civil War; one officer and 90 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and four officers and 92 enlisted men died of disease, for a total 187 lost. At the 1890 Grand Army of the Republic Encampment held in Dayton, Ohio, a poem was read to express the state's appreciation.

Ohio honors them with happy tears:
the banners that they waved for her,
the battles that they braved for her,
the glory that they craved for her,
the freedom that they saved for her,
shall keep their laurels green a thousand years.

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