HAMRICK, Soloman Simpson "Simps" - Putnam

I received a message off-list asking if I could identify A. D. Hamrick or his ancestry.

In this case I can identify him but only because of a very strange story.

Several years ago Virginia Banfield, a co-worker at the Indiana State University Department of History, showed me a newspaper clipping she had saved. The article, printed in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star in July 1971, was about an exhibition entitled "Hoosier Painting: 1850-1920," to be held at the Swope Art Gallery in Terre Haute, Indiana. 1

The article had been illustrated by a photo of a young man in a Union uniform.
". . . oil on canvas portrait (artist unknown), on exhibition at Swope Gallery for the first time, and also a gift from the late Mrs. Harlan [Mrs. Ruth Harlan of Greencastle, Indiana] depicts a Union soldier, Lt. Simpson S. Hamrick, who fought in the Civil War. His identity is unknown, except for his name, and the fact that he resided in or near Greencastle . . . . "

Mrs. Banfield had kept the clipping because the young man in the portrait bore a striking resemblance to her son and she was descended from Hamricks. Was there a connection?

We never learned if there was a connection, although I sincerely think there was. When I began looking into the Hamrick family in Putnam County, I discovered that family members had preserved and then donated letters which Simps had written home during his military service.

One thing led to another and I ended up requesting permission of the Putnam County Historical Society to edit and publish the letters. This permission was granted but I have never been able to decide how to publish the collection. Source: Eileen Jensen, "Hoosier Paintings Show Swope Gallery Feature. " Terre Haute Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, IN. July 4, 1971, page 15.

Solomon Simpson Hamrick was born in Indiana (probably Putnam County), the son of Ambrose D(udley) Hamrick and his wife, Eliza Simpson.

According to the 1860 census, Simpson, 28 years of age, was a merchant with personal property valued at $1200. He was living in the household of his parents along with two younger sisters, Lucinda and Sarah, and two younger brothers, Charles and Walter Hamrick. His parents' home was located near Manhattan, Indiana and there was apparently a railroad station nearby as there is a Hamrick Station on the old maps in that location.

There is no hint of a romantic connection between Simpson and a young lady, but when his personal property was inventoried by the military after his death a "ladies miniature" was among his possessions. Whose likeness was in the miniature? His mother, Eliza Hamrick, or one of his sisters, perhaps.

Like many other young men in Putnam County, Simpson felt he should join the conflict to preserve the union and he enlisted in the 27th Indiana Volunteer Regiment.

In June 1956 Carl Zenor, a Master's degree student at DePauw University, and Putnam County resident, presented his thesis, "Putnam County in the Civil War: Local History of a Critical Period. " His "Selected Bibliography" gave me wonderful leads to locate records of Simps' military service.

Soloman Simpson "Simps" Hamrick

born Indiana circa 1832
Died Chancellorsville, Virginia 3 May 1863
1st Lieutenant, Co. A, 27th Indiana Regiment
Buried St. Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Virginia

I went to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery and climbed St. Marye's Heights (the cemetery is on the side of a hill). I finally found graveside 4431, "Simps'" grave. I must have looked like some kind of a darned fool, sitting there, crying.

All I could think of was the last letter he wrote home before his death. In that letter he asked why his mother had never written to him.

Ambrose Dudley Hamrick, b c 1808 in Kentucky, d c 1899, Putnam Co., IN married Eliza Simpson, b c 1812, KY, died 13 Feb 1879. Both are buried at the Boone Hutcheson Cemetery, Putnam Co., IN.

Their children were Solomon Simpson Hamrick, b c 1832, IN; d 3 May 1863, Chancellorsville, VA; Lucinda B. Hamrick, b c 1839, m Leander M. Campbell, 25 Jun 1867, Putnam Co., IN; Sarah Hamrick, b c 1843, d c 1931; Charles C. Hamrick, b c 1845, d c 1884, buried Boone Hutcheson Cemetery, Putnam Co., IN; and Walter S. Hamrick, b 10 Feb 1849, d 10 Jul 1918; m 24 Jun 1874, Putnam Co., IN Elizabeth "Lizzie" F. Bryant, b 16 Jan 1855, d 15 Aug 1948, both buried at Boone Hutcheson.

Enumerated in the 1850 census, 5 houses/families away was Eliza Hamrick's parents, Solomon Simpson and his wife, Nancy.

I must apologize here to J. R. McKinney who asked me if I could identify A. D. Hamrick. At one time I had a lengthy file in which I had documented both the Hamrick and the Simpson families but I cannot locate it now. If I find a copy in this three-foot tall stack of genealogy papers I will post it.

Ambrose D. Hamrick was born in Kentucky but his father served in the Revolutionary War from Virginia. Gilson Hamrick (transcribed as Gibson Hamrick) was living in Kenton Co., KY when he applied for a RW pension. It was denied/rejected as he had not served a full six months.

Gilson is enumerated in the 1820 Mason Co. KY census as Gilson Hambrick with 0-2-0-1-1-1 males and 1-0-1-0-1 females.

He was also enumerated in the 1810 Mason Co., KY census as Gilson Hamrick with 3-0-0-0-1 males and 1-2-0-0-1 females.

In 1805, 19 Jan, he served as a bondsman for the marriage of Nancy Hamrick to Abner Devore. With neither the 1790 nor 1800 censuses for Kentucky being extant I cannot tell you at this time when exactly Gilson and his family moved to Kentucky.

I do have a list of the men in Co. A, 27th Indiana Regiment if anyone is interested I can post it to this forum.

J. R. I hope this answers your question. Oh, by the way, Solomon Simpson Hamrick and Greenberry O. Mullinix were about the same age, probably only months apart. Since both families lived in the Manhattan area I feel certain the two young men knew each other.

Letters Home: Letter 0ne

October 31, 1861

Darnestown, MD

Father & Friends

Sir, I embrace this opportunity of dropping you a line as it is the first chance I have had in several days. Our Regt. was on the march all last week from Monday night dark until the next Sunday when we again landed back within 3 miles of where we started near Darnestown. We was marched up the Potomac within 18 miles of Harpers Ferry. Our force met with a kind of defeat with crossing the river and was repulsed with considerable loss. The move was severly condemned by McClellan. It is thought by some of our officers that we will likely take winter quarters here but I think not for a while. I think there will be some fighting to do here yet this fall. In marching last week I got wet and lying on the ground together gave me a cold. On Sunday I was attacked severely with rheumitism in my legs and arms, in fact all over me, and I thought I was about gone up for the winter but my friends moved me to the private house of Dr. Bells near Darnestown where I have a good warm room and all the attention I could have at home. The doctor's wife is one of the kindest nurses in the world besides 2 young ladies. They give me every attention required and I am recovering almost as fast as I was taken down. When I first came here I could scarcely help myself at all, now i can walk around and have good use of my hands (six unreadable words). I intend staying here until I entirely recover before going into the Regt. again and even when I do go back to the Regt. again, I intend having plenty of help detailed so I will not have much to do but I will entirely well in a few days if I continue to improve as I have the last few days. Don't think now that I am bad off for if I get so that I am of no use here I will get sick leave and come home during the winter but the Doctors say that I will be good and stout as ever when I recover. All our boys are getting along fine as far as I know and Frank or (unreadable) or some of them is to see me one day. There is some measles in camp but they keep them outside to prevent it spreading (3 unreadable words). I read your letter of the 18th last week while on the march. It was a great satisfaction to me and all the boys. I let the company have full access to it and some of them have it now. Write as often as you can. We was all surprised and sorry to hear of Tommy Knight's death but some die I find at home as well as those that go to war. Our Lt. Col. Harrison has resigned on account of the bad health of his wife at home. We all regret to lose him very much for we all love him. He leaves in a day or two for Indianapolis. There is some possibility of Capt. Morrison being promoted in his place We shall all feel very proud if he does get it and I tell you Morrison stands number one in the Capt. list this Regt. sure. I will close for the present. Give my respects to all.

Yours truly

S S Hamrick

To A D Hamrick Manhattan Ind.

Camp near Darnestown Md

Father

Dear sir I take this opportunity to merely drop you a few lines, not that I have anything at all to write. I am quite well now and am enjoying the best of health I have since I have been here an(d) I am fleshing up considerable. With care I think I will get along fine. The only fear I have is the Rheumatism returning which I think with care will not bother me any more. Most of our boys are well. Most all are getting stouter and heartier as the cold weather comes and they get use to the climate except Tarve Stone who has been declining for the last 6 weeks. I think it will terminate in consumption if he doesn't get relief soon. We are trying to get him a Discharge which I think can be affected. Lewis Stone has also got the measles though very light. Frank, Jake, Jim Burks in fact all of the boys look fine and take camp life first rate. Capt McGrew has resigned and is going to return hom as soon as we are paid off which we expect every day. He is bringing a number of canes home with him of Laurel Wood. I am sending you one from near where the Balls Bluff Defeat occurred near Leesburgh. As you never use anything of the sort give it to Uncle Abe or some on you see fit. The whole army on the Potomac seems to me to be undecided as to whats to be the program for future operations. There has been a good deal of talk the last few days that we would go to South Carolina which the boys are very anxious to do. My opinion is that we will be shipped South or have to take up Winter quarters here on the Potomac. I believe that the leaders on our side are satisified that the Rebel's fortifications across the river at Mqanassas and other points are almost impregnable. For us to try and drive them out would be at too great a sacrifice of life and the object of this breach in the South is done to try and draw the rebels out of their strongholds here. If this succeeds all right it will be admirable (unreadable). I think when they abandon Manassas and other forts here it will be at the Cormans Mouth and not before. But I confess it is too much for me to foresee but one thing I have become satisfied of is that it matters but little to the 27th Ind. where they go or how much fighting they show do it add but very little to their fame. For I think they would never get the credit for their mark. The reasons is and I become more and more convinced of every day because the Regt. has no one to represent it or look after its interests. The truth is we are hardly noticed by the higher officers here. We get no favors in proportion to other Regt. who deserve less. The great trouble is our officers. The privates are superior to almost any other regt. in the Division. Col Colgrove is decidedly the best one and he has become contemptable almost with the Company officers and privates on account of his passionate and abuseful disposition. He is decidely the most profane man I ever came in contact with, but with all his vices he is all the officer worth a notice in the Regt. He would be a good officer to lead an attack but that is all. He is very tyrranical in his government of the Regt. Cpt Morrison is decidely the only Cpt worth to even hold a commission of any kind. The only way I account for it is aspiring men about towns get up companies for their troubles are made officers without regard to merit at all. Since McGrew's resignation the Company has elected Phil Nance and should Morrison be promoted (which I consider doubtful) my opinion is that Phil Wright will be elected in his palce. So yu can see the material from our county alone. Phil Nance is a good easy clever fellow he don't know nothing nor never will. Sigh Williams & Reed are mortified at Nances promotion over them which truly was ridiculous for Reed has ame qualifications for an officer and the other has not. I blame Morton severely for our staff for as good material as composed the 27th deserved better staff officers. But officers or not I have great confidence in the privates of the 17th and should they get a chance they may bring themselves in to notice. There has been no very cold yet though the

(the letter ends)