Daniel Ellington - Celebrating 85 years

May 1928
The Daily Pantagraph

DANIEL ELLINGTON —OUR OLDEST CIVIL WAR VETERAN

Daniel ELLINGTON is the oldest of the three surviving members of the Frank Sampson Post, No. 298, G. A. R., now living near Waynesville, being 85 years old the 23rd of May. He was born on a farm three miles northeast of Waynesville, May 23rd, 1843, and with the exception of the time he was a union soldier in the great Rebellion, it was his home until he reached the age of 82. Since that time he has made his home with his children, just a mile from the spot where he was born. His parents came from Ohio in 1828, and settled at Blooming Grove, about two miles from the present siege of the city of Bloomington, whose population at that time consisted of only four families and one store and in those early times the people of this part of the state had to go to a little grist mill near Springfield to have their corn ground into corn meal. In 1830 the Ellington family came to a tract of land three miles northeast of Waynesville, which they entered from the Government, and here they reared their large family of twelve children, excepting one little child that died in infancy, and here these old pioneers remained until they were called to the Great Beyond: David ELLINGTON, the father, August 22, 1884, on his 86th birthday, and Catherine ELLINGTON, the mother, October 12, 1886, at the age of 84 years. Of this large family Daniel is the only surviving member.

When the Civil War broke out he promptly came to the aid of his country and June 16, 1861, enlisted with eighteen others, under Lieut. Ainsworth, Co. E., of the 8th Missouri volunteers. He served gallantly and was in many engagements, the principal ones being the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donnalson and Shiloh. On the second day of the battle of Shiloh, April 7th, 1862 while making a charge on a Rebel battery, he was shot, breaking the thigh bone of his left leg. The battle was so fierce that he was left lying on the field between the lines the entire day, and it was after sundown when he was rescued and taken to headquarters. In this great battle so many were wounded and surgeons so few, that he did not receive surgical attention until a week later when he arrived at a government [hospital]. [He] left the hospital June 30th and received honorable discharge August 2, 1862, when he returned to his home near Waynesville, and although crippled to some extent, resumed farming on his father's farm.

He was united in marriage to Catherine ELLINGTON on May 30, 1863, and to this union nine children were born, seven of whom are living as follows: Isaac, Mrs. Viola FINGER, Mrs. Maude FINGER, all living near Waynesville; Michael, Robert, May and Sarah, all four residing together with their [father]...(remaining text cut off)...

May 25, 1928
The Daily Pantagraph

Cares Not for Cars, Waynesville Veteran Has Horse and Buggy.

(Special to The Daily Pantagraph.)

WAYNESVILLE, May 25.—One of the few men in the vicinity of Waynesville not concerned with modern modes of travel is Daniel ELLINGTON, 85, who drives into town each day with his horse and buggy. Mr. Ellington is a civil war veteran and was badly wounded at the battle of Shiloh.

Mr. Ellington's eighty-fifth birthday was celebrated this week at his home two miles northeast of Waynesville. He is still hale and hearty for his age. He enlisted June 16, 1861, and was in the siege of Fort Henry and the Battle of Donelson. At Shiloh, he lay wounded on the battlefield between the lines for a day. He was taken to the Union hospital at Cincinnati, where he remained until discharged, Aug. 2, 1862. Several Waynesville men were in the same battles, but Mr. Ellington is the only survivor.

In 1863 Mr. Ellington was married to Katherine ELLINGTON, who is now deceased. They were the parents of nine children, seven of them living in this vicinity. They are Mrs. William FINGER, Mrs. Charles FINGER, Robert, Michael, Sadie and May, the latter four residing with their father.

Mr. Ellington's father was David ELLINGTON, who moved near Bloomington from Ohio in 1828. At this time there were only four families living in Bloomington, those of Mr. Gridley, Mr. Scrogin, Mr. Miller, and the name of the other family has been forgotten. Mr. Gridley owned the only store there, a general store. While residing near Bloomington, Mr. Ellington and these four men founded the Scrogin cemetery near Lexington.

Submitted by Marcia Wriggle
Date: 02/2005

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