Carlos H. Rich
Rank: 1st Sergeant, Company D, 4th Vermont Volunteers
Descendant: Geoffrey H
Carlos H Rich was born in Stanstead, Quebec/Derby Line Vermont on 11 Feb 1841.The town is divided by the US/Canadian border. He was on the Canadian side at birth.
Somehow the family wound up in Roxbury, VT which was a railroad junction and farm community. Carlos joined the Vermont Volunteers in Northfield which is close by and Northfield is still there. He became a part of Company D 4th Vermont Volunteers, and, along with other regiment, the 6th Army Corps.
Carlos H Rich received the Civil War Congressional Medal for saving LT Edward W Carter under fire at the Battle of the Wilderness, according to an affidavit from the Record and Pension Office, War Department, Dec 19, 1894. Upon finding LT Carter badly wounded, and not wanting to move him in fear of causing more damage, he went behind his line and found LT Albert A Carter, Edward’s brother. The two went back to Edward and dragged him to safety.
After the war, he resumed farming and married a Civil War widow named Ellen Hatch Wolffendale, who had a son named Fred. Carlos and Ellen had two sons, Frank and Daniel. Frank, my great grandfather, eventually took over the farm. He married Jessie Reynolds of Beekmantown, NY, and they had 3 children: Fred, Lottie, and my father’s mother Jessie Ellen.
Jessie married Wallie Hewston of West Chazy, NY. They ahd 7 children: Wallie JR (my dad), Gertrude, Lucritia (Pat), Pearl, Jessie (Jane), Lottie, and Linda. Only Gert and Lottie remain.
Wallie JR married Myrtle Evelyn (Lynn) in 1946 when he returned from the World War II. He had been a prisoner of war in Tokyo for 40 months after his capture on May 10, 1942 near Del Monte, Mindanoa, P I. I am the only child of that short marriage.
Carlos Rich died at the Vermont Soldiers’ Home in Bennington, Vermont on May 29, 1918. We have a copy of his naturalization papers dated 1869.
The family always spoke of him and were proud of his service. My father always placed a high value on being an honorable man and being a productive citizen.
I have done my best to never tarnish the family name and instilled the same in my children (I hope).