Joseph H. Proctor, Biography - Gillespie, Illinois

G i l l e s p i e Gillespie, Illinois - Macoupin County Illinois, - State of Illinois - United States Of America

Joseph Henry Proctor January 18, 1833 - November 17, 1902 Pencil Drawing of 1^st Lieutenant Joseph H. Proctor and his brother Private Rubin Proctor (on left) Company A, 12^th Tennesee Cavalry of the United States Army Shown here with permission of the artist : Steve Whitby © 1999

Joseph Henry Proctor was born in Tennesse on January 19, 1833, the son of Wiley J. Proctor (1805-1870) and Nancy ( nee Knapp ) Proctor. He married Martha E. Moore on December 23, 1852 in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee. See : *Copy of Mariage License* Joseph Henry Proctor served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a 1^st Lieutenant in Company A, 12^th Tennesee Cavalry. At the age of 30 years he enlisted and mustered in on April 10, 1863 1^st LT Proctor resigned and his resignation was accepted on February 17, 1865. See : Letter of April 1864 to his Commanding Officer; requesting leave. *shown below* See : Letter written to newspaper in July 1864. *shown below* After moving to Illinois sometime between 1870 and 1880, the Proctors resided in Brushy Mound Township, Macoupin County, Illinois to the north of Gillespie, Gillespie Township, Macoupin County, Illinois. After 1880 and before 1900 they relocated to Gillespie. See : Newspaper articles about Joseph Henry Proctor's Death *shown below* Joseph H. Proctor and his wife Martha (nee Moore ) Proctor are buried in Wheeler Cemetery, Gillespie Township, Macoupin County, Illinois

Joseph Henry Proctor
January 18, 1833 - November 17, 1902

Pencil Drawing of 1^st Lieutenant Joseph H. Proctor and his brother Private Rubin Proctor (on left)
Company A, 12^th Tennesee Cavalry of the United States Army
Shown here with permission of the artist : Steve Whitby © 1999

Joseph Henry Proctor was born in Tennesse on January 19, 1833,
the son of Wiley J. Proctor (1805-1870) and Nancy ( nee Knapp ) Proctor.
He married Martha E. Moore on December 23, 1852 in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee.
See : Copy of Mariage License

Joseph Henry Proctor served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a 1^st Lieutenant
in Company A, 12^th Tennesee Cavalry.
At the age of 30 years he enlisted and mustered in on April 10, 1863
1^st LT Proctor resigned and his resignation was accepted on February 17, 1865.

See : Letter of April 1864 to his Commanding Officer; requesting leave. shown below

See : Letter written to newspaper in July 1864. shown below

After moving to Illinois sometime between 1870 and 1880, the Proctors resided in Brushy Mound Township, Macoupin County, Illinois to the north of Gillespie, Gillespie Township, Macoupin County, Illinois. After 1880 and before 1900 they relocated to Gillespie.

See : Newspaper articles about Joseph Henry Proctor's Death shown below

Joseph H. Proctor and his wife Martha (nee Moore ) Proctor are buried in
Wheeler Cemetery, Gillespie Township, Macoupin County, Illinois

Copy of Marriage License furnished by : Steve Whitby
Marriage License of Joesph H. Proctor & Martha E. Moore
Issued in Greene County, Tennessee on December 21, 1852.

This is a letter that Lt. Joseph H. Proctor wrote to his commanding officer in 1864.
The only reason why this still existed in federal records was that he was granted leave so they deducted 30 days worth of pay.

Copy of letter furnished by : Steve Whitby

	H^d Qr^s 12^th Tenn. Cavly Camp Gillem, Tenn. Apr. 14^th 1864
Edward S. Richards Lt. aacoG	*[? spelling ]*
Sir I have been in service a period of Eighteen months I have been discharged my duty faithfully as an officer. I have obeyed every Order given me with promptness, I now ask you to give me leave of absence from my Company for the period of 30 thirty days. That I may go and visit my family in east Tennessee Who are in needy circumstances and need my assistance. I have not seen my family for 18 eighteen months I have positive evidence that they are in destitute circumstances. reduced to that condition by the Robberydevastation and wanton cruelty of rebels and Traitors. I wish to go and administer to their wants. I can now go to their assistance and therfore I ask you to grant me this favor.
	Very, Respectfully Your Obt. Servt. J. H. Proctor 1^st Lt. Co A, 12^th Tenn Cav

This is a letter that that was sent to and published in the "Nashville Daily Times and True Union", July 29, 1864.
Copy of letter furnished by : Steve Whitby

                                    Friend Mercer:
                                          I am a soldier; one who has been in the "war" ever since the Fall of 1862. I have acted in more than one capacity since I came into the service of the United States. I have tried to fulfill all my duties and obligations as a soldier should, and now everything is going well, and we have driven the enemy from out country, guided by our gallant leaders.
      I am an East Tennessean. I have been driven from my home and family, and have been prohibited the enjoyment of my family, my fond companion and children, ever since I enlisted in the service of my country. I was at my home, for the first time since I enlisted, about the first of May, 1864. I found the country perfectly devastated by the wanton cruelty of traitors and rebels. I found on my way at Knoxville, as I went home, persons of all classes, men and boys of all ages, from the upper part of East Tennessee, who would tell you that they had been driven from their homes by rebels and traitors, and they seemed to be in a quandary what to do. I frequently had time to pause and listen to the ideas some had of the past, in connection with some of the very momentous ideals some have also of the future.
      The question arises to every sane mind, what should be determined on. The time has passed when men should begin to think. The war has been in progress over three years. The loyal people of East Tennessee have the fruits of a terrible rebellion before their eyes in the shape of devastated homes and rights. The serpentile coils of a rebel horde have for years been biding you tighter and more tight, until having you in their power, physically, for the time, they have nearly crushed all the vitality that, by the rights of God and man, are, or, let me say, should have in you.
      I have, while I was in Knoxville, frequently heard the question asked: (John, or William) what are you going to do; are you going over the mountains? Over the mountains! My friends much going over the mountains; too much folding of hands to sleep, during there great, this terrible rebellion. Should East Tennesseans - those who have more reason to fight than any portion of God's people - flee their homes, hang around from corner to corner, asking what shall we do? Let me beseech you, in the name of God, to take up arms and fight for your country. Aye, I will not say for your country; I will make it smaller - your own homes and fire-sides, your mothers, wives and children. Leave my home, give up my title deed that God, by my industry, has given me, to a horde of thieves and cut-throats? Now, let me say to you, my home is in East Tennessee, and I have there a living wife and children, and I left them and my home to fight this accursed rebellion, and, if it was necessary, I would sign my name to a roll that would bind me to fight such rebels through all time, and, if I could, through all eternity.
      I would suggest to you, as you cannot stay at home to, out and follow the banner of some brave East Tennessean. I was going to say, for instance, Col. Kirk, or Col. Fry, or some other brave and patriotic leader. Follow them, or some other of such principles in arms, and in less than six months there will not be a rebel in arms left this side of the Gulf States. If you do this, Tennessee will soon appear as she once did, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. You will then have a deed worth holding; you will them be enabled to enemy freedom as we never have enjoyed it before in the full sense.
      Ask me no more what shall we do. The case is plain enough. The robbers have stolen our property, and all we have to do is fight and get it back, killing all who are the holders thereof.
                                    Very respectfully,
                                    Your obedient servant,
                                    Joseph H. Proctor,
                                    1^st Lt. Co A, 12^th Tenn Cav

Newspaper articles about Joseph Henry Proctor's Death
"They got his first name wrong in one, and the middle initial wrong in the other, but I believe the conclusion the sheriff came to was wrong. Being woke up in the middle of the night by your barking dog, getting up and dressing, then going out to see what all the fuss was about doesn't sound like a planned suicide to me. I wonder who made the suggestion to look in to the well? I think the poor old guy was murdered. He was 70, he probably could have live another ten or twenty years."

Steve Whitby

Source :
"The Carlinville Democrat"
Carlinville, Illinois
November 19, 1902

J. W. Proctor Drowned in a Well.       Sheriff Fahrenkrog received a telephone message Monday evening from Gillespie conveying the intelligence that J. W. Proctor had committed suicide by throwing himself into a well.
      The sheriff notified Coroner Robinson, of Hagaman, who went down early Tuesday morning to hold the inquest. The supposition among those at Gillespie who informed the sheriff was that he had been watering the cattle at the well and had fallen in, but a neighbor of his, it is learned since, heard him make the remark a week or so ago that he meant to commit suicide.
      Mr. Proctor was near 70 years of age, and one of the pioneers of southern Macoupin. He is the father of J. E. Proctor, of Hettick, and J. W. Proctor, who recently moved to the north part of the state.

FOUND CORPSE IN WELL
James H. Proctor, an Old Resident of
Macoupin County, is Found
Dead in a Well
      James H. Proctor, well known in this city, is dead. His body was found this morning in a well at his home on a farm near Dorchester.
      The full story of his deed will probably never be known. His wife, who deeply mourns his death, tells the story of his last actions a short while before he took the fatal plunge into the well which ended his earthly career.
      At an early hour this morning they were awakened from their slumbers by the furious barking of the watch dog. The faithful animal kept up his barking and growling, and Mr. Proctor remarked that he believed he would go out and see what was the matter. He arose, slipped on some clothing and left the home. That was the last time he was seen alive. As he did not return within a reasonable, Mrs. Proctor became alarmed and started out to look for him. She called and, receiving no answer, began a search of the premises. He could not be found anywhere, and she caused the neighbors to be alarmed. A number of near-by neighbors came to the Proctor home and assisted in the search.
      A suggestion was made to look into a well, and there the body was found floating on the surface of the water. He was brought to the top of the well, carried into the house and Coroner Robinson sent for to hold an inquest.
      Suicide is the theory of many, the act being committed while temporarily deranged. An inquest is being held this afternoon.
      Mr. Proctor was probably 70 years of age, and leaves a family of full-grown children.