subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sat, Nov 07 2009 

Published: November 18, 2008 01:01 am    print this story  

LOCKPORT: Lockport Civil War veteran to be honored

By Bill Wolcott
E-mail Bill

Niagara Gazette

Jefferson and John Baylis, twin brothers from Lockport who fought in the Civil War, are buried at the Glenwood Cemetery near Rattlesnake Hill.

Jefferson Baylis was the oldest Civil War veteran from Lockport when he died in 1937. His great, great-grandson Don Holtz has worked to have the Baylis brothers honored for Remembrance Day. An older brother, Samuel Baylis also served in the Civil War and is buried in Michigan.

The grave-side ceremony is adapted from a 1917 service used by the Grand Army of the Republic to re-dedicate a member’s headstone. Remembrance Day is held the Saturday closest to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address which took place on Nov. 19, 1883. National ceremonies are held annually in Gettysburg, Pa.

Members of the Col. John B. Weber Camp No. 44 and the Weber Guard, Sons of the Veterans Reserve, will honor and mark the final resting place of Jefferson Baylis, the last Civil War veteran to be buried in Lockport. Baylis was the past commander of the Spout Post No. 76, the Grand Army of the Republic.

A score of Civil War re-enactors will be among the participants Saturday.

Holtz, who was born in Newfane, will be with seven local descents. Holtz, who was stricken with Parkinson’s disease in 1992, has been a Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War re-enactor. He will dress in the uniform of the Grand Army the Republic.

The former Williamsville teacher can’t carry a musket but dresses as a member of Sanitation Commission. Those are the soldiers who set up the hospitals after a battle.

William A. Christen II of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War plans a procession of military, civilians and descendants, followed by a prayer, placing of a wreath and a three-gun salute with muskets.

The Colonel John B. Weber Camp No. 44, which has headquarters in Lackawanna, was formed just five years ago. It has grown from 20 to 50 members and tries to find who were last surviving local Civil War veterans.

Jefferson Baylis was the last member of the Sprout Post in Lockport.

Dave Kruetz has been invited to recite the Gettysburg Address as Abraham Lincoln. Ben Maryniak, a member of the Chaplain P.G. Cook Camp, the Buffalo Camp 223) portrays Chaplain Cook. Maryniak, an author, historian and re-enactor, is president Buffalo Civil War Round Table and the state historian for the Sons of Union Veterans.

The Baylis twins were born Dec. 8, 1843 on the Wayman farm in the Town of Lockport. The brothers served two terms in the Civil War, a total of four and a half years. Lockport soldiers were members of the 49th New York Regiment, Company H of Lockport.

The Niagara County historian led Holtz led to find he had grandfather who fought in the Civil War.

“I put it together bit by bit through genealogy and military records,” he said.

Jefferson Baylis served as a non-combatant in the Peninsular Campaign in Virginia, south of Washington, D.C. He was also stationed in Gettysburg after the battle.

Jefferson Baylis married Betsy Howd in 1866. He had four daughters and a son and was the commander of the Sprout Post of the GAR. The Sprout Post, which was built for the Grand Army of the Republic, gave way to the United Spanish War Veterans.

John R. Baylis was the court crier in Lockport for many years. He died at 76.

The ceremony is scheduled to coincide with the 52nd anniversary of Remembrance Day, sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Sons of the Veterans Reserve in Gettysburg. Nov. 19 is the anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Glenwood Cemetery was incorporated during the Civil War on Oct. 31, 1863.

Prior ceremonies were in Niagara Falls and Marilla. The ceremony is open to the public.

print this story  

Photos


JOE EBERLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lockport, NY - Don Holtz, stands near the gravesite of his Grandfather, Jefferson Baylis, a Civil War Veteran, in Glenwood Cemetery. None/ (Click for larger image)


JOE EBERLE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lockport, NY - The gravesite of Jefferson Baylis, a Civil War Veteran, in Glenwood Cemetery. None/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Activities Director
Activities Director FT AS Degree and /or or 3-5 yrs exp working in adult home. Send Resume To: Ransomville Manor at 35...>MORE

cosmetologist teacher
Cosmetologists NYS lic., will train to teach NYS cosmetology curriculum 836-6240 or fax 836-3571...>MORE

service greeter
Service greeter wanted, PT entry level. Looking for someone with strong customer service skills to work in our fast grow...>MORE

Wait Staff
WAIT STAFF P/T 11am -2pm or 3:15-6:45pm. Will train. Apply Amberleigh Retirement, 2330 Maple near Transit. ...>MORE

Insulation Installer
Insulation Installers. Exp. preferred but will train the right candidates. Start $8-$10/hr. Earn $15. in less than 30 da...>MORE

automotive service technician
Service greeter wanted, PT entry level. Looking for someone with strong customer service skills to work in our fast grow...>MORE

Registered Nurse First Assistant
REGISTERED NURSE FIRST ASSISTANT. Per diem position. Current NYS RN license with accredited RNFA course required. Must p...>MORE

Marketing & Advertising
MARKETING & ADVERTISING - Niagara County Community College is seeking a Technical Assistant to work part time in the pub...>MORE

Telemarketers
CASHIERS

Looking for dependable people with good customer service skills for afternoons and overnights at con
...>MORE

FLOOR ASSISTANT
Floor asst. needed for approx. 30-35 hrs/wk in a podiatry office, no exp. nec., will train, call between 12-2:30 pm for ...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Ford Windstar 1998
FORD 1998 Windstar $1000 or best offer.
298-5220
...>MORE

Mercury 1999 Grand Marquis
Mercury ‘99 Grand Marquis 4 dr, leather, all options, 49k org mi., showroom cond. $6000. 860-2854, ...>MORE

Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer
531-3548 or 297-1526
...>MORE

Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE

Chevy Astro 1999
CHEVY ASTRO   GOOD CONDITION  1999  with 113K miles.   Asking: $2200.00.  Call: 693 2471:...>MORE

Ford 1999 Ranger
FORD 1999 Ranger, 5 speed, 130K, fair condition, $2000 or best offer, 716-310-0531...>MORE

Pontiac 1999 Montana
PONTIAC 1999 Montana 57,000 original miles, full options, like new, $3300, 694-0441...>MORE

Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT
25,800 mi, ext. warranty
Exc. Cond, $16,500
297-2199
...>MORE

Chevy 2003 Impala
CHEVY 2003 Impala
25,600 miles, loaded
Exc. Cond. $10,000/bo
297-2199
...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index