Samuel D. Lively [33]

  General Notes:

Samuel D. Lively, born in Meadow Bridge, Fayette County, West Virginia on a farm established by Caleb W. Lively. This was considered a pioneering family by historians in West Virginia. Served as a private in the Union Army, 5th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry which was combined with other military units on November 1864 to form the 1st Veteran West Virginia Infantry. Samuel was in Company G. (Ntl. Park Service microfilm record M507 roll 7).

He married Carrie Mae Hughart, a nickname for Carolyn Mae Hughart, (sometimes Hugart); daughter of F. Hughart and E. E., Putnam County, West Virginia.

Regarding the military history of Samuel's unit in the Civil War, the West Virginia Book Company describes the 5th West Virginia Infantry campaign as follows: (Loyal West Virginia 1861, 1865, by Theodore Lang)

The 5th West Virginia was organized at Credo, West Virginia during the summer of 1861 and was mustered into the United States service October 18, 1861 with the following field officers: John Zeigler, Colonel; Stephen P. Colvin, Lieutenant Colonel, and Ralph Ormstead, Major. The regiment was engaged in protecting the loyal citizens of the Kanawah Valley and ridding it of the Confederates, until ordered to Parkersburg on December 10. A principle part of the regiment was sent to New Creek and in February 1862, accompanied Colonel Dunning of the 5th Ohio commanding the brigade, on his expedition to Moorefield against Colonel Harness of the Confederate Army. On the 2nd of May, the regiment left New Creek and went to McDowell, joining the command of General Milroy and taking part in the battle at that place and after that battle, became a part of General Milroy's brigade. They remained with the brigade all through Pope's campaign participating in all battles in which the brigade took part, from Cedar Mountain to the second Battle of Bull Run, both officers and men being conspicuous for their soldierly conduct while in camp and on the march, and for gallantry upon the battlefield. The regiment returned to the Kanawah Valley October 1862 and was detached from Milroy's brigade, and in May 1864 it became a part of General Cook's command, participating in his expeditions. It took part in General Hunter's advance on Lynchburg and the battle at that place June 18. Returning, it proceeded with General Hunter's army to the Shenandoah Valley, forming a part of the Army of West Virginia under General Crook in the brigades commanded by Colonel I. H. Duval, 9th West Virginia Infantry, and Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes 23rd Ohio Infantry. Colonel Hayes commanded the brigade for several months, during which time he fought a number of closely contested battles. The survivors of the regiment have cause for congratulation that they served under a commander who not only illustrated the highest idea of the true soldier while on the field of battle, but when the war was over and the people of the nation had called the commander of the 1st Brigade, Army of West Virginia to the presidential chair, he illustrated the same high idea of American statesmanship in the exalted civil position that he had shown on the battlefield. On the 9th of November 1864, the 5th and 9th West Virginia Infantry were consolidated by order of the War Department, and designated the 1st Regiment West Virginia Veteran Infantry, and were mustered out of service July 21, 1865. The regiment lost during the war, killed and died of wounds - four officers and 57 enlisted men; died of disease and accident, two officers and 88 enlisted men. Total 151.

Samuel Lively suffered combat wounds in the left arm and left leg. He claimed a pension on that basis as shown in the 1890 census. The publication, "West Virginia Civil War Almanac, Vol 1," by Tim McKinny shows Samuel's unit as the 7th WV Infantry, although he does not appear on their roster.

Cemetery Marker at the Wickline Cemetery, Meadow Bridge, West Virginia - and as certified by the G.A.R. (below) shows Samuel D. Lively as a member of the combined 1st West Virginia Infantry, Company G.

SRC: 1900 census - Quinnimont District 278A and family history. Age of Samuel determined by the 1850 US Census (Virginia, Fayette, Roll 943 Book 1, pg 371).

GAR marker at the Samuel D. Lively gravesite.

Grand Army of the Republic - - -

In early 1866 the United States of America--now securely one nation again--was waking to the reality of recovery from war, and this had been a much different war. In previous conflicts the care of the veteran warrior was the province of the family or the community. Soldiers then were friends, relatives and neighbors who went off to fight--until the next planting or harvest. It was a community adventure and their fighting unit had a community flavor.
By the end of the Civil War, units had become less homogeneous, men from different communities and even different states were forced together by the exigencies of battle where new friendships and lasting trust was forged. With the advances in the care and movement of the wounded, many who would have surely died in earlier wars returned home to be cared for by a community structure weary from a protracted war and now also faced with the needs of widows and orphans. Veterans needed jobs, including a whole new group of veterans--the colored soldier and his entire, newly freed, family. It was often more than the fragile fabric of communities could bear.

State and federal leaders from President Lincoln down had promised to care for "those who have borne the burden, his widows and orphans," but they had little knowledge of how to accomplish the task. There was also little political pressure to see that the promises were kept.

But probably the most profound emotion was emptiness. Men who had lived together, fought together, foraged together and survived, had developed an unique bond that could not be broken. As time went by the memories of the filthy and vile environment of camp life began to be remembered less harshly and eventually fondly. The horror and gore of battle lifted with the smoke and smell of burnt black powder and was replaced with the personal rain of tears for the departed comrades. Friendships forged in battle survived the separation and the warriors missed the warmth of trusting companionship that had asked only total and absolute committment.

With that as background, groups of men began joining together--first for camaraderie and then for political power. Emerging most powerful among the various organizations would be the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), which by 1890 would number 409,489 veterans of the "War of the Rebelion."

Founded in Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866 by Benjamin F. Stephenson, membership was limited to honorably discharged veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marine Corps or the Revenue Cutter Service who had served between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865. The community level organization was called a "Post" and each was numbered consecutivelly within each department. Most Posts also had a name and the rules for naming Posts included the requirement that the honored person be deceased and that no two Posts within the same Department could have the same name. The Departments generally consisted of the Posts within a state and, at the national level, the organization was operated by the elected "Commandery-in-Chief."

Post Commanders were elected as were the Junior and Senior Vice Commanders and the members of Council. Each member was voted into membership using the Masonic system of casting black or white balls (except that more than one black ball was required to reject a candidate for membership). When a candidate was rejected, that rejection was reported to the Department which listed the rejection in general orders and those rejections were maintained in a "Black Book" at each Post meeting place. The meeting rituals and induction of members were similar to the Masonic rituals and have been handed down to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

The official body of the Department was the annual Encampment, which was presided over by the elected Department Commander, Senior and Junior Vice Commanders and the Council. Encampments were elaborate multi-day events which often included camping out, formal dinners and memorial events. In later years the Department Encampments were often held in conjunction with the Encampments of the Allied Orders, including Camps of the Sons of Veterans Reserve, which at the time were quasi-military in nature, often listed as a unit of the state militia or national guard.

National Encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic were presided over by a Commander-in-Chief who was elected in political events which rivaled national political party conventions. The Senior and Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief as well as the National Council of Administration were also elected.

The GAR founded soldiers' homes, was active in relief work and in pension legislation. Five members were elected President of the United States and, for a time, it was impossible to be nominated on the Republican ticket without the endorsement of the GAR voting block.
In 1868, Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan issued General Order No. 11 calling for all Departments and Posts to set aside the 30th of May as a day for remembering the sacrifices of fallen comrades, thereby beginning the celebration of Memorial Day.

With membership limited strictly to "veterans of the late unpleasantness," the GAR encouraged the formation of Allied Orders to aid them in its various works. Numerous male organizations jousted for the backing of the GAR and the political battles became quite severe until the GAR finally endorsed the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (later to become the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) as its heir. A similar, but less protracted, battle took place between the Womans' Relief Corps (WRC)and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic(LGAR) for the title "official auxiliary to the GAR." That battle was won by the WRC, which is the only Allied Order open to women who do not have an hereditary ancestor who would have been eligible for the GAR. But in this case the LGAR retained its strength and was made one of the Allied Orders.

Coming along a bit later, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, similar to the SUVCW but for women, also earned the designation as an Allied Order of the GAR. Rounding out the list of Allied Orders is the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, which is open to women with hereditary ties to a veteran or who is the spouse, sister or daughter of a member of the SUVCW.

The final Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic was held in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1949 and the last member, Albert Woolson died in 1956 at the age of 109 years.
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Died of "Senility". (SRC: Death Certificate #7521-West Virginia Dept. of Health)

  Noted events in his life were:

• Sources. This is where it all began for Lively Roots. A cousin presented me with a folder of unorganized paper records and wondered aloud if there was some chance I might sort these out for her. Not being able to say no, I began and have not stopped yet.

From here down a few generations in this line, including myself, I have relied on personal knowledge and family contacts for confirmation. Most, if not all of this data had been confirmed by U. S. Census data.

• Gravestone Marker. Samuel Lively GAR headstone.

Samuel married Carolyn Mae Hughart [39] [MRIN: 32], daughter of Francis Thomas Hughart [575] and Eliza Emily Campbell [576], on 19 Mar 1883 in Fayette County, West Virginia. (Carolyn Mae Hughart [39] was born on 16 Aug 1858 in Putnam County, West Virginia, died on 18 Jan 1946 in Meadow Bridge, Fayette County, West Virginia and was buried in Patton Cemetery, Meadow Bridge, West Virginia.)