First Thanksging

https://jamestownecalifornia.org/the-first-american-thanksgiving-was-in-virginia/ 

B. F. Burgess Civil War Veteran Dies (my 6th cousin three times removed)

Member of Famous 107th Volunteers Succumbs at Home of Son.

B.F. Burgess, G.A.R. veteran and the only Civil War veteran making his home in Olean who was a member of the 107th New York Volunteers, passed away Sunday morning at the six-fifteen o'clock at the home of his sone, Clarence A, Burgess, 216 West State Street.

Mr. Burgess was born January 9, 1844 in Trumansburg, N. Y. near Ithaca.  He enlisted with the New York Volunteers, Company D, 107th Regiment in Elmira, July, 1862.

The company left Elmira for Washington and took part in the following important battles and skirmishes:  Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resea, Cassville, Dallas, Pine Knob, Kulpa Farm, Kennesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta, Ga., March to the Sea, Siege of Savannah, Rockingham, Averyboro and Bentonville.

While in action in the battle of New Hope Church, Mr. Burgess was wounded.  He was shot through the hand and the gun he held prevented the bullet from passing through his body.

Mr. Burgess, as a member of the regiment, walked 2,600 miles and was mustered out June 18, 1865,.  The 107th Volunteers were men who answered President Lincoln's call in '62 and the had the proud distinction of being the first of many regiments recruited under that call, fully organized and ready to take the field,  For this honor they received a silk banner from the State of New York.

The veteran was take prisoner October 22, 1862 and was held by the Confederates until march 1865, when he was released.

Mr. Burgess for many years was identified in the hotel and restaurant business in the section and came to Olean nineteen years ago from Titusville, Pa.  He was also interested in the oil producing business in Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

Surviving are one daughter Miss P.L. Siffrinn, this city; four sons Fred F. Burgess, Clarence A. Burgess, Oil City, Pa,  Dr. E. O. Burgess, Gerard, Pa, two brothers, Fred S. Burgess, Charles Burgess, Elmira; two sisters, Miss Harriett Burgess and Miss Rebecca Burgess, Elmira.  

Mr. Burgess was a member of B. D. Bayard Post G.A.R. this city and St. Mary of the Angels Church.

Good Advise

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living.  I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live."

Robert Duvall as Gus McCrae in the "Lonesome Dove."

Veterans Day

Thanks to all veterans who have honorably served our country.

 I want to honor my 7th cousin twice removed, Lieutenant Warren Kenneth Wright, who was shot down on July 4th, 1944.  Following is a part of the story which was posted on Find-a-Grave.

Declared dead February 4, 1946

Graduate of Georgia Tech; entered service from Georgia; Plane shot down over Chichi Jima and he and gunner Fred Pryor did not return to USS Yorktown.  Book  "Flyboys:   A True Story of Courage" by James Brady describes witnesses seeing the plane shot down July 4, 1944 over Chichi Jim and one parachute deploying (not know which person it was).

Hiram Brigham III, my 6th cousin 3 times removed

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/machu-picchu-discovered