LINDLEY, Charles W. - L-Obituaries

Charles W. Lindley, 94 year old Parke county Civil war veteran, who was a member of the famous Persimmon Brigade in Tennessee, died Wednesday of infirmities at his home south of Bloomingdale. Born October 5 1846, at Cates, the son of Aaron and Juli Ann Lindley, he enlisted at the age of 16 in the 116th Indiana infantry, later serving with the 154th Indiana infantry, before joining the Persimmon brigade. Mr. Lindley united in marriage with Miriam Towell on September 19 1872. Surviving are the widow; two daughters, Mrs. Lucille Rusk, of Waveland, and Mrs. Marianna Griest, of Chicago; three sons, Birchard, of San Bernardino, Calif., George of Alexandria, Ind., and John, of Elwood, and a brother Elwood of Cates. Mr. Lindley was a member of the Friends church at Bloomingdale and was one of the best known men in Parke county. His death reduced the ranks of Civil war veterans in Parke county to one, Dr. Rodgers, of Rockville, now being the sole surviving members of the war between the states.

Charles W. Lindley (Miriam Powell)

Ch: Royal, Birchard, George, John, Mariana, Iva, Lucille Bloomingdale

RA Penn sec 24S O 268 a. Bloomingdale tel.

Charles W. Lindley, Civil War Officer, pioneer survivor, died at 94, marched off to Civil War at age 16. Charles W. Lindley, son of Aaron and Julia Ann Dotson Lindley, was born near Cates, Ind., October 5 1846. He was the eldest of six children, all of whom have passed on except one brother, Miles Elwood Lindley. The county was then so sparsely filled that there were not enough children in that immediate neighborhood to maintain a school until Charles was eight years old. He was ever an apt pupil, learning rapidly, and in a few years was compeled to seek a more advanced school. For some time he was a pupil in the famous old Rush Creek school. Then he attended Bloomingdale Academy, until ready for a course in higher mathematics. He entered Indiana university where mathematics became his major study. There he practiced surveying in the pursuance of his studies, and in later years he was elected surveyor of Parke county. His work was satisfactory in cases where other had failed. He was a capable teacher in the common schools of Parke and Fountain counties for a number of years. During the Civil War, filled with patriotism, he answered Abrahamn Lincoln's call for volunteers, and he became a member of company C. 116th Indiana Infantry when he was 16 years of age. After serving his time out he again enlisted in Company C of the 154th regiment, as first corporal, and during his entire life, he liked to talk of his days in the Union army. At the February Quarterly meeting in 1869, he was happily converted, and was ever after a firm believe in the efficacy of the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His voice was often heard singing praises to his Heavenly Father. On the 19th of September, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miriam L. Towell and their new home was established. Of the nine children that came to brighten their home, four have passed on. There yet remain Burchard Lindley of San Bernardino, Calif., not permitted to be present today. With us are Dr. C. R. Lindley of Alexandria, Ind., Dr. J. H. Lindley of Elwood, Ind., Mrs. Marianna Griest of Chicago, and Mrs. Lucille Rusk of Waveland Ind.

Taps were sounded for the last member of the gallant Persimmon brigade of Civil war fame, Friday morning when Charles W. Lindley, age 94, commander of Steele post, No. 5, G.A.R. was laid to rest in the Friends Cemetery at Bloomingdale. Mr. Lindley died at 9:30 o'clock, Wednesday morning of last week, at his home near Bloomingdale following an illness of several weeks. The body of the veteran lay in state at the Bloomingdale Friends church from 9:30 until 10:30 o'clock, Friday morning, with an honor guard of Boy Scouts of the Bloomingdale troop. Impressive rites were conducted at 10 o'clock by Rev. E. Partington, pastor of the church, assisted by Rev. E. M. Woodard, Leland Chapman and Mrs. Lowell Osborne, accompanied by Mrs. Partington, sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Crossing the Bar." An obituary was read by Mrs. Lenora Hobbs. Pareticipating in the last rites of his comrade was Dr. H. C. Rogers of Rockville now the only surviving Civil war veteran in Parke county. Dr. Rogers read an original poem in tribute to "The Boys in Blue". At the close of the service the audience stood and sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and the first verse of "America." Pall bearers were Henry Lindley of Danville, Ill., Fred, Bernard and Earl Lindley of Cates and Ed Lindley of Logansport, all nephews of the veteran,and Private Charles Orin Woodrow of Fort Thomas, Ky. Flowers were carried by Bloomingdale Girl Scouts. Taps were sounded by Mack Ralston, music instructor of the Bloomingdale schools.

Charles W. Lindley, the only Civil War Veteran in this community who for a few years has been responsible for placing flags on the graves of comrades did not feel able physically to perform this labor of love on Memorial day and furnished the flags for members of the families of the veterans to mark the sleeping places of the soldiers. The community owes much to Mr. Lindley for his loyalty in this matter.

The last survivor of the famous Civil War fighting unit, the Persimmon Brigade, and one of the two remaining Civil War Veterans of Parke County, Charles W. Lindley, 94, died at his home south of Bloomingdale at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, 1941. Mr. Lindley was born Oct 5, 1846 at Cates, son of Aaron and Julia Ann Lindley. On Sept 19, 1872, he married Mariam Towell who survives him at age 92. He attended Friends Bloomingdale Academy and later Indiana University and for a number of years taught school. He was a member of Bloomingdale Friends Church. At age 16 he enlisted in the 116th Indiana Infantry and served with that unit and later the 15th Indiana. For several years he was commander of the Steel Post, GAR at Rockville. He served two terms as Parke County surveyor. Other survivors besides his wife are three sons, Birchard Lindley of San Bernardino, Calif; George Lindley of Alexandria, Ind; John Lindley of Elwood Ind; two daughters, Mrs. Lucille Rusk of Waveland and Mrs. Marianna Griest of Chicago and a brother, Elwood Lindley of Cates. - kbz