A Few of My Military Ancestors and Relatives

As part of my Veterans Day / Remembrance Day tribute, I'd like to list some information on a few of my ancestors and relations who served in the military.

Donald R. Andrus, 5th cousin3 times removed. Born April 19, 1917 in New York. Served in the United States Army from February 21, 1950 to August 31, 1975. Served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Died in Coos Bay, Coos County, Oregon on May 10, 2001. Buried at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

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Charles Gordon Dence, 3rd cousin 3 times removed. Born April 11, 1916 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 30, 1942 to March 12, 1945. Died March 29, 1991 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
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Jonathan Everett, 6th great-grandfather(Jonathan Everett, Daniel Everett, Pedda Everett, Ira Austin, William Dence Austin, John Ralph Austin, Alfred Austin Sr., A.J. Austin, Jacqueline Austin). Born August 3, 1717 in Dedham, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Married Jemima Mann September 5, 1744. Fought in the American Revolution specifically at one of the very first battles of the War:

“He was a minute man from Wrentham, in Oliver Pond's Company, which marched on the Lexington alarm of April 19, 1775; and he also served in the same company from September to December of that year.” (Everett, Edward Franklin, Descendants of Richard Everett of Dedham, MA, (Boston, MA: 1902 (privately published)), p. 50.)

Jonathan Everett died in Wrentham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts on December 15, 1796.

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Edward George Henneberg, great uncle. Born August 8, 1923 in the Bronx, Bronx County, New York. Served in the United States Army, enlisted March 4, 1943 during World War II. Died February 14, 2004 in Sparta, Alleghany County, North Carolina.

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Cornelius Putman, 2nd cousin 5 times removed. Born April 25, 1841 in South Valley, Cattaraugus County, New York.

“During the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company I of the 152 New York regiment (infantry), and served his country for three years as a soldier. He participated in the following engagements while in the service: Battles of the Wilderness, Bald Knob, Beans Station, Petersburg, Rocky Faced Ridge, Vicksburg and Gettysburg. After his term of enlistment expired, and having received honorable discharge from the army, returned to his home in Otsego, New York.” (Putman, George W., Genealogy of David Putman and His Descendants (Private publication, 1916), copied owned by Thomas MacEntee, Chicago, IL, p. 10-11.)

Married Nancy L. Burnette on March 13, 1866. Death date and location unknown.

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Francis Cornelius Putman, 1st cousin, 8 times removed. Born May 4, 1752 in Mohawk, Herkimer County, New York.

“ . . .a soldier of the Revolution, who was a member of a mixed company of Mohawk Indians and Dutch farmers, and who became Captain of his company by reason of having, with two companions, captured a company of British soldiers who were making a raid by night to procure cattle for beef supplies for Burgoyne's army. The three men hid in a tree at the bars of the field where the cattle were pastured." (Source unknown – based on Family Lore (of the descendants of Thomas Borne) written by Jim Burns.)

Francis was a Lieutenant in the Revolution, serving under Captains Jacob Gardinier and Harmanus Mabie, and Col. Frederick Fischer; he was in the battle of Oriskany, at the taking of Burgoyne, and in the battles of Stone Arabia and Johnstown; length of service was about three months.

Married Maria Hansen Fonda on December 28, 1777 at Caughnawaga, Montgomery County, New York. After the Revolution, he and wife Maria ran a hotel in Tribes Hill for fifty-six years. He received a pension in 1832. Died November 23, 1834 at Tribes Hill, Montgomery County, New York.

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Peter Putman, 1st cousin, 6 times removed. Born September 4, 1834 at Cayuga County, New York.

"On July 15, 1861, after the opening of the Civil War, we enlisted in the 5th IA regiment (infantry), Co. C. and went to the front. After his term of enlistment expired and having passed through all the dangers of war, he reenlisted at Larkinsburg, Ala., in 1864, and remained in the service until the last battle was fought and the Confederate army surrendered. The following are a part of the engagements in which he participated during his service in the Rebellion: The battles of Corinth, Miss, New Madrid, Miss., Hamburg, Miss., Iuka, Tenn., Yazoo Pass, Miss., Champion Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Nashville, Tenn., Selma, Ala., Montgomery, Ga., and Macon, Ga., where they had three battles on Wilson's raid and also a battle at Franklin, Tenn." (Genealogy of David Putman and His Descendants, p. 40-41.)

Married Alice S. Teague on February 17, 1866 at Fairbank, Buchanan County, Iowa. Death date and location unknown.

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Kenneth Von Ronn, cousin 1 time removed. Born September 29, 1984 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Served as a Sergeant in the Army, Company D, 101 St. Cavalry, Newburgh, New York, assigned to the 69th Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard in Manhattan, known as the Fighting 69th. Died on January 6, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq. Burial at Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty, New York.

© 2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee