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The Dodgeville Chronicle June 7, 1895
An Interesting Letter from a Dodgeville Veteran dated June 2, 1895 Lockport, NY
Chronicle Editor: Perhaps you will excuse the liberty I take in writing you, a stranger, whom I never saw, but having a good many fond recollections of your beautiful town of Dodgeville, where, in the year 1859 I first set foot and made my home until the fall of 1860 with my dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. R. Elliott, now deceased.
I also remember of coming to my own home in the east and returning early in the spring of '61, and we all remember those days of early spring with the roll of the drum and the call of the bugle we were told that war in all its fury was upon us. Recruiting was going on, everything else was forgotten, men were wanted to go down south and clean out those rebels and have a good time generally. Well, I was one of those people who went. I walked from Dodgeville to the Point on the 3rd of May and enlisted the next day in what was known as Co. I, 2nd Wis., the "Miners Guards" the history of that company being well known, and you have some of those men in your town yet living and some in the surrounding towns. Wm. A. Owens, who is yet a resident of your place and was a brave soldier, he was my tent-mate with J. O. Williams who was killed at Gettysburg, and Geo. Jeuck, of the Point. But the greatest number of the company were from the Point, and I have the pleasure of having in my possession the roll-call of the whole company and I prize it very highly. I miss very much in seeing my comrades, as we are many miles apart, but I cherish memories deep down in my heart and can not forget them. There is that tie that can never be severed while time shall last and the last Grand Army man has been mustered for the last roll-call.
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JOHN M. FURSE
John Marlin Furse was born in Lockport, NY July 28, 1838 to William and Elizabeth Furse. He enlisted April 22, 1861 and was promoted to full Corporal. He mustered out May 15, 1864. His married Jeanette Smith around 1867 and had four children: Agnes, William (1866-1941), Margaret Jean, and George. He died in Chicago Jan 13, 1925 and his death certificate list his profession as contractor-plaster/mason. John and Jeanette are buried in Cold Spring Cemetery in Lockport, New York.
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