My Alford side of the family will be excited to hear that I’ve located my first Civil War Ancestor!  It’s been a nagging thing on my list since I started researching my family history, but at last I’ve made a connection.  I’m pretty stoked about it.

I’ve had a MyHeritage membership off and on for the past two years and this week it helped me uncover my Union veteran ancestor!  Or at least he’s the first that I’ve been able to confirm. After editing and publishing Cindy Freed’s “Ancestors in a Nation Divided” I was eager to find my connection to the Civil War, but to no avail.  Today that changed thanks to MyHeritage.

Last week I was checking my Record Matches for the tree I had uploaded and I saw that there were several new matches for the newspaper collection.  Newspapers  often get me started on interesting rabbit holes… so I thought, “Maybe I’ll take my lunch break to see what was found.” So when this awesome link to the Civil War was revealed for my 3xGreat Grandfather, John Senn. I was thrilled to read on.  From the Cannelton Telephone (of Cannelton, Indiana) on 7 July 1922:

IN MEMORIAM

Head Quarters de la Hunt Post No. 152 G.A.R.

To the officers and Comrades of the Post:

Your committee appointed to draft Resolutions expressive of the feelings of the comrades of the Post on the death of Comrade John Senn, J. B. Snyder, B. K. Wade and Leonard May would respectfully report the following:

That Whereas: It has pleased the Grand Commander to call comrades Senn, Snyder, Wade, and May from our midst to the grand encampment above—

Therefore, Be It Resolved: That while we deplore and sincerely morn the severance of those ties that bound us together as comrades, we humbly bow to the will of our Supreme Commander.

Therefore, Be It Resolved: That in the death of our worthy Commander John Senn, and our beloved Adjutant Jacob B. Snyder, and Comrades Wade and May, the Post has sustained an irreparable loss, the community the loss of four exemplary and law abiding citizens—and the families of the deceased the companionship of good husbands and fathers.

Be it Resolved: That we tender to the bereaved our heartfelt sympathy and commend them to the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father.

Be it further Resolved: That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Post and a copy give to the families of the deceased, and that the colors of the Post be draped in mourning for the period of 30 days.

Respectfully Submitted.

John Zimmerman, Bruno Frey, Jos. Robertson, Committee [1]

Wow!! With this awesome tie-in I was able to go and find that John F. Senn did indeed serve with the Union and was a part of the 81st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K.  He started as a Private and left as a Corporal. Armed with that information I’m going to see what else I can dig up.  This is so exciting and I’m doing a happy dance right now!  I’m off to find out more about his service! Right now The In-Depth Genealogist has a great deal going with MyHeritage— 1/2 off an annual membership if you subscribe before the weekend.  Check out the deal for yourself here.

[1]  “Comrade John Senn” Cannelton Telephone, 7 July 1922, p. 1, col. 4, in memoriam; digital images, MyHeritage, Newspapers.com (http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10025/newspaperarchivecom?s=182433402&itemId=582622169&action=showRecord&indId=individual-182433402-3000007 : accessed 19 June 2015).