Notes:
1 Jun 1850 - age 4
age 13 in 1860
age 24 in 1870
age 53 in 1900
age 64 in 1910
age 73 in 1920
age 83 in 1930
Ninth Cavalry, corporal, discharged by order, listed as Merritt Sayles
Name: Merritt Sayles
Company: M
Unit: 8 Michigan Cavalry.
Rank - Induction: Corporal
Rank - Discharge: Corporal
Allegiance: Union
Notes: 11 Mich. Cav.
Name: Merritt Sayles
Company: C
Unit: 11 Michigan Cavalry.
Rank - Induction: Private
Rank - Discharge: Chaplain
Allegiance: Union
Foremost among the qualities which have made the life of Merritt Sayles of practical use to his fellow-men are courage and faithfulness, evidenced in many ways, particularly in his military service as a soldier of the Union during the Civil war. In the village of Lowell, of which he is now a retired resident, indebtedness is felt for his excellent management of the rural mail route of his locality, where he has been carrier for the past nine years. Mr. Sayles is a product of the farming community of Ionia county, Michigan, where he was born, June 22, 1846, son of Chapin C. and Eliza (Gardner) Sayles. His father was born in the State of New York, June 20, 1812, and in young manhood was engaged in farming in his native locality, but in 1844 turned his face toward the West and, June 10 of that year, arrived in Ionia county. Here he took up uncleared land at ten shillings per acre, erected a small log cabin and began life among the pioneers of the region. A hardworking and industrious man, he succeeded in clearing his land and developing it into a good farm, and he spent the remainder of his career in agricultural pursuits, being able in his declinining years to enjoy the rest and comforts of retirement. He was a Republican in politics and an active worker in the ranks of his party, but rather in behalf of his friends than from any thought of personal reward. His family at one time was considered one of the most remarkable in the state, for as there were fifteen children, there were seventeen ablebodied men and women in the one family. Five of his sons enlisted in the Union army in the Civil war and all withstood the rigors and hardships of the southern battlefields and returned safely to their home. Since then the members of the family have scattered to various communities, but wherever found they have always been honorable and useful citizens, reflecting credit upon their name and their training. Merritt Sayles, the seventh in order of birth of his parents' children, divided his boyhood between attending the district schools and assisting his father with the work on the home farm. He was little more than a lad when he donned the uniform of his country and marched away to fight the battles of the Union, but the records show that he proved a courageous and at all times a faithful soldier and that he conducted himself in a way to win the admiration of his comrades and the respect of his officers. He was promoted to the rank of corporal before receiving his honorable discharge, and when his military service was over he returned to Ionia county, where he again took up farming. For a time he was a renter, but eventually engaged in farming on his own account, continuing to be so engaged until he retired from active affairs and moved to the edge of Lowell, his present home. For nine years he has been engaged in carrying the mail, and few of the old-time residents are better known in the locality or more highly esteemed. He has always been an adherent of the principles of the Republican party and has worked actively in political campaigns for the candidates of that organization. Mr. Sayles was married, Dec. 16, 1866, to Mary Etta, daughter of William M. and Sarah J. Andrews, the former a native of New York State and the latter of Canada. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sayles: Ada, wife of C. D. Miller, of Lowell, has two children-Merritt and Maurice; Phebe, deceased, was the wife of George Severy and had one son-Luther; and Elba is the wife of Fred Pinckney and has had four children Carlyle, deceased, Phebe, Tilden T. and Elaine.
American Civil War Soldiers
Name: Merritt Sayles ,
Enlistment Date: 18 September 1863
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Union
State Served: Michigan
Unit Numbers: 1068 1068
Service Record: Promoted to Full Corporal
Enlisted as a Private on 18 September 1863 at the age of 18
Enlisted in Company C, 11th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 07 October 1863.
Discharged Company C, 11th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 10 August 1865 in Pulaski, TN
a home with no mortgage
filed for civil war pension; application #330802; Certificate #756592
no mortgage
Data source is Marie Owen. E-mail MarieOwen@hughes.net