The Odom Family
Thomas Odom married Elizabeth Allen in Tennessee, in 1831. Their oldest son, Wiley J, was born there in 1832. By 1836, the family had relocated to a farm in Williamson County, Illinois and had their second son, Archibald. Thomas Jr came along on July 23rd, 1843. They later added six more children to their brood: Hester, Permelia, Mary, Nancy, Elizabeth, and George. |
| Wiley J Odom |
In 1856, Wiley J married Nancy Fidella Walker, and they settled onto a farm of their own, in Marion, also in Williamson County, Illinois. They had three children; a son named Carol (born in 1858), a daughter named Mourning (born in 1859), and another son, Thomas (born in 1861).
In or around May of 1862, Archibald had married Adeline Sanders, and they immediately found themselves expecting a child, that he would not see for years to come.
Their younger brother Thomas Jr was about eighteen, by this time, and had not yet found a wife, if he was even looking.
Their younger brother Thomas Jr was about eighteen, by this time, and had not yet found a wife, if he was even looking.
Enlistment
On September 26 of 1862, these three brothers enlisted with the Union Army, and were sent off to Fort Butler, just east of Springfield, for training. On November 4th, all three were stationed with Company B of the 128th Illinois Infantry Regiment.
This regiment was assigned to join with the Union "Army of the Tennessee" (not to be confused with the Confederate "Army of the Tennessee"), led by Major General Ulysses S Grant, himself.
They likely participated in several failed attacks on Vicksburg, Mississippi, and in the successful taking of Fort Hindman (on the Arkansas River). Archie was injured in one of these missions, and was taken out of action, serving the rest of his military service as a field cook.
This regiment was assigned to join with the Union "Army of the Tennessee" (not to be confused with the Confederate "Army of the Tennessee"), led by Major General Ulysses S Grant, himself.
They likely participated in several failed attacks on Vicksburg, Mississippi, and in the successful taking of Fort Hindman (on the Arkansas River). Archie was injured in one of these missions, and was taken out of action, serving the rest of his military service as a field cook.
Following Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the 128th suffered many deaths by disease, and 700 desertions. Due to such a loss of men, the unit was disbanded on April 1, 1863, and the remaining soldiers, including the three Odom brothers, were transferred into the 9th Illinois Infantry.
Wiley went to Company G, Archie with Company I, and Thomas with Company D. On the 14th of the month, the 9th Illinois combined with the 10th Missouri, the 15th Illinois, and the 7th Kansas to form a large Cavalry Brigade in northern Alabama. Their purpose was to distract the enemy until Colonel Streight could complete his move around Chattanooga and get past the Confederate Cavalry.
Wiley went to Company G, Archie with Company I, and Thomas with Company D. On the 14th of the month, the 9th Illinois combined with the 10th Missouri, the 15th Illinois, and the 7th Kansas to form a large Cavalry Brigade in northern Alabama. Their purpose was to distract the enemy until Colonel Streight could complete his move around Chattanooga and get past the Confederate Cavalry.
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| Andersonville Prison Camp |
Throughout the year, and several skirmishes, many members of the 9th were captured, including Wiley, and held prisoner at Camp Sumter in Georgia, also known as the Andersonville Prison; a place notorious for it's overcrowding and filthy living conditions, where starvation and disease were rampant.
In 1864, while delivering food to the troops in Atlanta, Archie was also captured and sent to Andersonville. Both Wiley and Archie developed a condition known as Scorbutus (or Scurvy) from malnutrition.
On July 19, 1864, Wiley J died of starvation. He is buried there, in plot number 3609, at the Andersonville National Cemetery.
In 1864, while delivering food to the troops in Atlanta, Archie was also captured and sent to Andersonville. Both Wiley and Archie developed a condition known as Scorbutus (or Scurvy) from malnutrition.
On July 19, 1864, Wiley J died of starvation. He is buried there, in plot number 3609, at the Andersonville National Cemetery.
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| Archibald Odom |
Two days later, on July 21, Archibald was released from prison and sent to join Company D of the 9th, until his discharge from service on May 30, 1865.
He reunited with his wife, Adelaine, and met his two year old daughter Sarah Alice, for the first time. They would go on to have four more children, (Martha, William, James, and Jesse), the final birth causing the her death in 1875.
In 1880, he is raising their children alone, but sometime between 1881 and 1889 he married Cynthia Ann Hunter. He may have also married a Nancy Lyons.
He died in 1915 in Benton, Illinois.
Life Goes On
In 1880, he is raising their children alone, but sometime between 1881 and 1889 he married Cynthia Ann Hunter. He may have also married a Nancy Lyons.
He died in 1915 in Benton, Illinois.
I don't know where Thomas may have been while his brothers suffered at Andersonville, and subsequently, but he did survive the war, and go on to have a family. He died in 1920, also in Benton, Illinois.
Archie and Adelaine's eldest daughter, Sarah Alice married Fillmore Sanders (a cousin relation from her mother's side), and they had Fillmore Sanders Jr, the fifth in their brood of eight.
Fillmore Jr married Hattie Henson and had Garland, the oldest of four. Garland married Rosalie Davis and had seven children.
Their oldest, Kenneth, became my husband's step-father.
The Branch Connection
Fillmore Jr married Hattie Henson and had Garland, the oldest of four. Garland married Rosalie Davis and had seven children.
Their oldest, Kenneth, became my husband's step-father.
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