| This biography appears on pages 556-559 in "Soldiers' and Citizens' Album of Biographical Record containing personal sketches of Army Men and Citizens Prominent in loyalty to the Union" Published in 1890 |
| John F. Moorhouse, Racine, Wis., member of G. A. R. Post John L.
Stewart, No. 134, at Oneida, New York, was born May 31, 1845 at
Coldbrook, Herkimer Co., New York. His father, Charles A. Moorhouse, bas
born Nov. 1, 1805, of German parentage and died Feb. 2, 1861, in the
State of New York. The mother, Elizabeth Gray before marriage, was born
June 20, 1812, in New York of American parentage and died July 30, 1875
in Ohio. Their children were born in the order named as follows: --
Catherine, Romania, Eugenia S., John F. and Martha J. The father was a
blacksmith and followed that business until five years before his death
when he bought a farm. John was the only son and remained with his
parents until he succeeded in entering the army. He had all a boy's
enthusiasm and tried at various times to enlist but was too young and
when he did enroll he stretched one year until it counted two, to
accomplish his purpose. Finally, he recorded as a defender of the flag
Jan. 27, 1864 in Company D, 10th New York Cavalry at Morrisville, N. Y.
He was mustered and joined the command at Warrentown, Va., where the
regiment was in quarters preparing for the spring campaign, which opened
in May, and Mr. Moorhouse was in the 2d Division under Gregg and
attached to Sheridan's cavalry corps. He was first in action May 5th and
four successive days fought in the Wilderness. May 8th he was in the
fight at Todd's Tavern and pressed on to Richmond when Sheridan moved
his forces May 9th to co-operate with the plans of Grant, who had taken
position at Spottsylvania. He was in the movements in which the work of
destruction was pushed, on the Virginia Central railroad, including the
rolling stock, 1,500,000 rations and other property. On the route they
released 40 Union prisoners on their way to Libby. He was in the actions
at Beaver Dam Station, South Anna, Ashland and Yellow Tavern. Prior to
this he was in a close action at White Grove Church near Port Royal,
which was nearly a hand-to-hand encounter. He was in the fights on the
North Anna River and on the 27th of May fought in the passage of the
Pamunkey River. May 30th he was in the fight at Hanover C. H., and went,
not long after to Washington, where he was seized with typhoid fever and
after a long time in hospital obtained a furlough of 60 days, rejoining
his regiment at City Point and went into winter quarters. Preparations
were made for the activities of the spring campaign, which were opened
by the reconnoissance at Hatcher's Run, in which the Union troops
suffered heavily, Colonel Gregg being among the wounded. Mr. Moorhouse
was in the subsequent movements prior to April 1st, when he was in the
fight at Five Forks, after which the command was in position on the left
of Petersburg until its surrender, the cavalry remaining there until
after the surrender of Lee. He returned to City Point and sent next to
Alexandria and to Cloyd's Mills, where the regiment was consolidated
with the 24th New York Cavalry, the new organization being called the
1st Division of Cavalry. The authorities wished to send them West, but
they demurred and the regiments went to Syracuse where Mr. Moorhouse was
mustered out July 19, 1865. He returned to Coldbrook, and learned the
blacksmith trade which he followed in his native county and therabouts
until his removal to Racine, where he arrived in January, 1889. He has
since worked for the Racine Wagon and Carriage Company.
He was married Jan. 28, 1868 to Elizabeth, daughter of Justus and Ann (Simpson) Kelley at Rome, New York. Her parents were of New York birth, where her father died June 30, 1870. Her mother is still living in Coldbrook, N. Y. |