Establishing Jeremiah Delos Bulman's Civil War Service

I have viewed this document for much of my life and have wondered what lay behind it. In the previous post, you can see a medal that Jeremiah wore for the family photograph. I remember it on his son's tunic. In fact, in earlier posts you can see that he wore it after his father's death. I have always wondered what the medal meant. Did he earn it in battle or was it a commemorative medal of the "Grand Army of the Republic"?

In this post, I would like to begin exploring this question. However, it is likely that we may leave this post with more questions than we began. For instance, just what exactly is this document? I had always thought that Jeremiah D. Bulman had entered service on July 29, 1863 and had been mustered out on August 4, 1865. In fact, he joined Company C of the 24th Wisconsin Infantry on 4 August 1862 according to the Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume II (here) which was "compiled by authority of the Legislature, under the direction of Jeremiah M. Rusk, Governor, and Chandler P. Chapman, Adjutant General" and published in 1886 by the Democrat Printing Company of Madison, Wisconsin. The Roster of Company "C" begins on page 262 and lists Carl Von Baumbach as the Commanding Officer holding a captaincy when the company formed in 13 August 1862. By December 24, 1862, he was a Major. He was a Major when he took field command of the 24th Wisconsin Infanty during the battle of Chickamagua (Tennessee) in which the Regiment took heavy losses on 20 September 1863.

I'll follow the campaigns of Company C, both political and military, in later posts. Today, I am interested in establishing if Jeremiah was at Chickamagua. His son was there thirty-five years later as he transited to Puerto Rico. By the way, the muster roll in 1886 lists him as Jerry Bullman residing in New Berlin. The remarks section indicates that he was "Absent sick at M.O. of Regt." From what I can find out so far, it was mustered out on 10 June 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.

Interestingly, in the Index volume (Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Compiled under the direction of the Adjutants General during the years 1895-1899 and published for the state by Democrat Printing Company in Madison, Wisconsin in 1914) page 129 lists a Erwin C. Bulman (Private, Co. C, 38th Infanty) and page 130 lists a Grisel Bulman (Private, Co. G, 36th Infantry), Henry Bulman (Corporal Co. A, 28th Infantry), Jerry D. Bulman (Private Co. C, 24th Infantry) and Nathaniel Bulman (Private, Co. A., 28th Infantry). Henry, Nathaniel and Jerry are brothers. Erwin and Grisel are also brothers and the sons of Jeremiah's cousin Henry. More on this later.

Now, back on page 129 of the alphabetical listing is a Jerimias Bullman who was a Corporal in 2nd Battery [Light Artillery]. Back to Volume I of the roster. There is listed a Jerimia Bullman who enlisted September 16 1861 and who attained the rank of Corporal before being discharged December 18, 1861. At this point, I need to bring to light another family document. It is on the right. There we have Jerimias Bullman as being a former Corporal in 2nd Battery of Wisconsin Light Artillery. He was enrolled on 16 September 1861 in Milwaukee. However, he was mustered for a three year term of duty on 1 October 1861 in Racine, Wisconsin. He was dischared on 18 December 1861 in Racine at the age of 26. This certificate of service was based on records in the Adjutant General's office and signed by the Assistant AG on 8 July 1901. Or, about the time that the Jeremiah Delos Bulman family photograph was being taken.

Why the discharge?

On the 1890 Veterans' Schedules for the Census, a Jerrymiah D. Bolman is listed for Supervisor District 5, Enumeration District 139. This is page 2 of Roll 116 for Washington, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He is listed as a Corporal of Bat (2) Wisconsin LA [Light Artillery] who had served from 16 September 1861 until 19 December 1861, or for 4 months and 3 days according to the Schedule. An annotation at the bottom of the page indicates that his post-office was in Altoona and that he incurred the disability of "Lungs".

Just when you think the mystery is ending, you look at the next entry listed for the same house and you find Jerry Bolman, Private, Co. C, 24 Wisconsin Infantry, enlisted 4 August 1862 and discharged 22 June 1865 after having served 2 years, 10 months and 18 days. There is no disability listed. However, his is discharged almost two weeks after the Regiment itself is mustered out. Was he in hospital at the time?

In fairness, I should add that on page 1 of SD 3, ED 43 for Charlestown, Calumet, Wisconsin, June 1890, Grisel Bulman is listed as having attained the rank of Sergeant in Co. G, 36 Wis Inf after having enlisted on January 1863. He was discharge in June 1865 having suffered a "gun shot wound" during his service. More on this later.

What do we make of the Union Defenders Certificate?

Well, I mistook a splotched "2" for a "5". Perhaps we have also mistaken the certificate for something more than a morale boosting exercise. I would like to find out why it is signed by a Captain C. Bumbaugh and Lieutenant W. Hartong. I have already indicated that Carl Von Baumbach was a Major by 29 July 1863 and the Roster for the Wisconsin Volunteers indicates that Charles Hartung was a 2nd Lieutenant on August 21, 1862 and promoted to Captain on February 3, 1863. Were these ranks not "gazetted"?

In my very brief reading about Company C, 24th Wisconsin Infantry, I have already discovered some interesting items to follow up. For instance, the father of General Douglas MacArthur, Arthur MacArthur (Junior), was very young Adjutant for 24 Wisconsin Infantry who rose to the rank of Colonel by the time he was 21. In 1890, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions taken during the battle of Missionary Ridge a several weeks after the Union defeat at Chickamagua. Supposedly, he rallied the troops waving the regimental flag and shouting "On Wisconsin". He, thereby, helped to rout the Confederate troops. Yet, I have read somewhere that two soldiers from Company C claim that distinction. Was Jeremiah Delos Bulman there? Did he see, hear and respond?

Additionally, there were other issues surrounding Major Von Baumbach.

By the way, Douglas MacArthur was also awarded the Medal of Honour. I should also mention two more items of interest. First, and this is significant for your present artistic endeavours, General Arthur MacArthur was the Commander of the Third Philippine Expedition and led the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, VIII Corps against the Spanish Army at the Battle of Manila in 1898 while Frederick Albert Bulman was in Puerto Rico. Less than six months later he led the 2nd Division against the Filipino Army at the second Battle of Manila. He was the Military Governor of the Philippines for one year in 1900. There is a picture of him on the left. Here is his grave and a short biography. Born in 1845, he died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1912 after spending most of his life serving in the Army in most of its conflicts up until his retirement in 1909.

Here is an excellent site about the Civil War with access to many resources. I am waiting for a copy of this book to read more about 24th Wisconsin Infantry and Company C.

The Jeremiah Delos Bulman Family in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

This has been an amazing day. I have received information about the Jeremiah Delos Bulman family, including a picture. My very great thanks to the contributor who will remain nameless as is the policy of this blog with regards to the living. The quality is not the best at this point. I'll see if we can be a better version up soon. But, the idea of having a picture of Jeremiah and the others to complement the Frederick Albert Bulman family picture was too much to resist.

Now, who is who? Frederick is the male standing on the left. I think that Walter is the young man sitting on the left. The gentleman standing on the right is no doubt Harvey Shepard. According to FAB, he married Elizabeth Sarah Bulman on 17 November 1900. (The Wisconsin Genealogical Index has him marrying Lizzie Bulman on 17 December 1900). This was the first of the marriages I believe.

Since Fred and Lena married on 18 October 1902 and since Lena is not in the picture, I think we can say that the photo was taken between these two dates. Also, it looks like FAB is wearing a service medal as is his father, Jeremiah, who is seated. So, since FAB left D Company of the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in January 1899 and since Jeremiah Bulman died on 17 July 1903, these are the outside dates.

Katherine Louise Bulman was the youngest of the girls. I think that she is on the left. Margaret is sitting the left and I suspect that Mary Jane is sitting on the right. Therefore, Edith (Eda) Loretta is on the right standing. By way of contrast, here is a picture of Katherine and her husband, Carl Miller (Mueller) that I found on the web at a online grave site.

I'll get permissions about some background to this couple and post the information in the future. However, I am trying to keep the information published in this blog as publicly verifiable as possible. I certainly will only post personal stories with permissions. However, I may use information from a variety of stories in a composite fashion.

Of Three Sisters: Margaret Bulman nee Mayer and her two sisters

Well girls, perhaps someday you will have a picture such as this taken. This is my great great grandmother, Margaret Bulman (in the rear) and her two sisters mentioned in the Eye of the Storm post earlier today. If that trip hadn't been in summer I might have thought that this picture was taken then. On the other hand, older people like to stay warm and it can get cold even in the northern states even in summer.

Again, I won't have a great deal of time to work on this blog for a few days. So, I thought I post it as soon as possible. Besides, I would like to get some material up on Jeremiah Delos Bulman and the rest of his family fairly soon so that we have a least the backbone of the Bulman family outlined in the blog. I won't be able to trace out everything quickly; but, I would like to get back to Patrick (Peter) and Sarah (Sally) Bulman, Jeremiah's parents, before next month. Of course, I will only be able to relate a few of the more salient details until I have more time over the Christmas break.

As you know, November is a special month for us remembering our dead and considering the nature of our obligations to both those who have come before us and those who will follow. The book of Tobit is worth reading in preparation for next month. The fourth Thursday in November will be Thanksgiving in the United States. This, as you know, has always been a very important time for families to gather and consider there blessings. I must admit that I am very much grateful for the ability to use technology in a way that helps us to actively remember rather than passively forget. The talents that you three continually develop and deploy are quite amazing in this regards.

The Bulman House Truck

I've spent some time trying to find this picture of the "house" truck mentioned in the previous post. I suspect that this is a picture from around 1932. My grandfather, Otis Arthur Hayes, on the extreme left of the picture. It is not the best picture and I had some difficulty getting it compressed. In fact, I had to manipulate it in some very dubious ways. Later, when you have time, I'll ask one of you to do some more work on it. Edwin is the next from the left. The, it is Archie, Luella, Fred, Lena, Verona and "Speed" or Eugene. Percy and his family are not in the photo. I suspect that this was taken in Puyallup, Washington. I wonder who took the photo. Am I wrong about Percy and is this in Flint, Michigan?

In the Eye of the Storm

This is a photograph of the Fred A. Bulman family in 1928. Fred is 57 and Lena is 47. Eugene Vern is on left rear and is 24. Percy H. is on the right rear and is 21. Verona Irene is in the middle rear and is 17 in the picture. Luella Ione (15) is on the left. Archie (10) is in the middle and Edwin J. (12) is on the right.

Fred and Lena are in the eye of the storm of their lives in this picture. They have endured much as a newly married couple in Wisconsin and while raising their younger children on a homestead in Wibaux, Montana. Since the early Twenties, they have been living in relative stability. This will change with the beginning of the Depression. Shortly, Percy will marry. So will Verona. Both are in Michigan for the 1930 Census. Verona and Otis are with Lena who also has Eugene and Luella still living with her in Flint, Genesee. Percy is also in Flint with his wife, Vida M., and his son, Robert L. Fred, his mother, and the younger boys will move out to Washington State to start the family farm Puyallup in Pierce County and they can be found there in the Washington Census in 1930. This will be the site of the family for decades to come. But, there will be great sorrow in the midst of their struggles.

Accounting for each of their deaths, at least briefly, and locating their resting places will help us to identify key times and places in their lives that can be filled in with family rememberances and other documents over time. The first significant death that I am aware of (there may have been unknown children who died during infancy) was Lena's. The story begins with a news article about a trip taken by Fred and his mother, Margaret.

Waukesha Freeman
6 July 1938

Elderly Woman Comes Here in House-Truck

Fred A. Bulman and mother, Mrs. Margaret Bulman, arrived Friday from their home in Puyallup, Wash., to visit Mrs. William Bochem of this city and Mrs. Lizzie Meyers of Milwaukee. Mrs. Bochem and Mrs. Meyers are sisters of Mrs. Bulman. Mrs. Bulman, who will be 92 years of age in October, is a Civil War widow. The trip from the west was made in a 1 1/2 -ton truck and eleven days were spent in transit to complete the 2200-mile trip. The truck is a house-truck, equipped in similar manner to a house trailer and enabled Mrs. Bulman to have much comfort while en route here.

Sadly, a tragedy was unfolding back home. Lena drowned in the Puyallup River. She was just fifty-seven. According to the death certificate, Lena was born 1 July 1881. The coroner questionably marks 22 June 1938 as the date of her death and this may have been the last day that a family member saw her alive. Her son Eugene seems that have been the one handling all the arrangements. He listed a John Kunfferman as the father. Her mother, Anna, appears to have died on 6 January 1936 according to LDS information that needs to be confirmed. Her parents emmigrated to the United States from Switzerland in 1873 according to census data. They were Romansch speaking from Graubunden Canton (John, Johann, was born in Schied and Anna in Almens it seems). I can remember Verona talking about the German and Romansch languages being spoken by her mother who was born in Wisconsin. This is a picture of Lena which I think might have been taken shortly before her wedding (see the end of the 17 October 2009 post for their wedding photo.)

Lena's creamation was arranged by the Voiles Funeral Home, Sumner, Washington and was carried out on 8 August 1938 at Mt. View, Tacoma, Washington. According to online cemetery records, Lena Bulman is buried with the Kunferman clan (including her parents) in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Eau Claire.

Verona was 27 when her mother died. She had two young children.

Just over eighteen months later, Fred would lose his mother. The following article begins to locate the family in time and space.

Waukesha Freeman
7 February 1940

MRS. BULMAN IS DEAD AT HOME

Mrs. Margaret Bulman, 93, died Monday morning at the home of her sister, Mrs. Louise Bochem 834 Oakland Ave. Born in Germany, Mrs. Bulman came to Waukesha at the age of 6, and lived on a farm east of here until 1874. Then the family moved to Eau Claire. In 1908 they moved from there and took up a homestead in Montana. They went to Puyallup, Wash., in 1929, and returned in August 1939, to Waukesha. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Miller of Wolford, N. Dak.; two sons Fred A. Bulman of Waukesha and Walter Bulman of Wibaux, Mont.; two sisters, Mrs. Louise Bochem of Waukesha and Miss Elizabeth Mayer of Milwaukee; also 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Erling Larsen funeral home, 419 E. Broadway. Rev. Dwight M. Bahr will officiate, and burial will be in the Prairie Home cemetery. Mrs. Bulman was a member of the G.A.R. Custer Circle No. 25 of Puyallup and the Spanish War Veteran's Auxiliary. The local Spanish War Veterans will have a part in the service. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Edwin would die from wounds in September 1944 having fought to breach the Sigfried Line (see March 2009 posts).

Archie died next on 17 Janaury 1961. He was forty-three. Interestingly, the Montana State Death Index 1960-1969 (B) has him dying in Deer Lodge County in Montana. The funeral service took place in Missoula. However, the funeral card indicates that he was creamated in Spokane, Washington. That was probably the closest facility. Spokane eventually became a very important centre for our family.

I don't remember being told of his death. Although we would soon be back in Montana, we were living interstate at this point. Verona was in Missoula then. Fred and Eugene would have been in western Washington. I think that Luella and, her husband, Cecil were there as well. Percy would have been in Michigan. Archie's life and death are somewhat shrouded in mystery. I believe that there had been an accident that affected his sight and severely limited his quality of life. I have placed his funeral card to the left.

Fred A. Bulman died next in either 1962 or 1963 (see previous post). However, I have no obituary for him.

Eugene Vern Bulman, his eldest son, died next in 1972.
Eugene's funeral card is to the right. Here is the text of the obituary. However, the clipping does not indicate which paper, page or date:

Eugene Vern Bulman

Eugene Vern Bulman died Sunday on Route Four (Box 668). His home was at 5525 Boulevard Extension Road. He was born in Superior, Wisconsin, July 14, 1904 and had made his home in the Olympia area since 1942. He had worked at Fort Lewis for 27 years and retired in 1967. He was a member of the Electrical Union. Surviving are one brother, Percy Bulman, Mio, Michigan, and two sisters, Mrs. Cecil E. (Luella) Watkins and Mrs. Edwin (Verona) Vail, both of Olympia. The funeral service will be held in Olympic Memorial Gardens this Saturday, starting at one p.m. The Reverend Winston Ketchum will officiate. Arrangements are by Selene and Eros Mortuary.

Percy was the next to die at seventy-two. Interestingly, he was in the Mercy Hospital in Grayling, Michigan. Otis Arthur Hayes, Verona's first husband, was a close friend of Percy (see the March posts to see an areoplane that they built in 1930). The Hayes family once resided in Grayling in the late 1800s. Also, Percy seems to have married a second time. The Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996 index lists Percy's residence as Elmer, Osconda, Michigan.

Here is a copy of the obituary text; again, there is no information as to paper, page or date:

Bulman, Percy

Percy Bulman of Kittle Road, Mio died May 31, 1979 at Mercy Hospital in Grayling. He was born July 1, 1907 in Janestown, Wisconsin and came to the Mio area in 1969 from Flint. He was a retired mechanic. Surviving are his wife, Eloise, one daughter, Patricia Copnick; one son, Robert Bulman of Goodrich; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two sisters. Funeral Services were held at Larrison's Funeral Home June 2 at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Carpenter officiated. Burial was in Kittle Cemetery.

Luella died just four years later at 70. According to the Washington Death Index, 1940-1996, she died 30 September 1983 and her residence was at Thurston. I believe that she had suffered from diabetes for some years. I am not sure that she and Cecil every had any children. I cannot remember their having ever mentioned any. Here is the obituary without paper, page or date (it is hand printed on clipping as was Percy's):

Obituaries
Luella I. Hawkins

A graveside service for Louella [sic] Ione Hawkins will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Olympic Memorial Gardens, under direction of Selene Mortuary. Mrs. Hawkins, 70, died Friday in a local convalescent center. She was born March 1, 1913, in Wixbau County, Mont. She was a homemaker and attended the Nazarene Church. Among her survivors are her husband, Cecil, at the family home in Olympia, and a sister, Verona Vail, Olympia....[clipping torn]

Finally, Verona Irene died. Here is notice on the mortuary web-site:

Verona I. Vail

Born in Wibaux, Montana on Jun. 27, 1911 Departed on Feb. 17, 2009 and resided in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Vail, Verona I., 97, of Coeur d'Alene, died February 17, 2009 at Ivy Court. Verona was born June 27, 1911 on a homestead near Wibaux, Montana to Fred and Lena (Kunferman) Bulman. Formerly from Missoula, Montana and Olympia, Washington; she moved to Coeur d'Alene in 2002. Verona is survived by a daughter, a son, 9 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was cremated and interred with Otis Arthur Hayes in Missoula. Below is a picture of their new headstone.

Fred A. Bulman: The Energetic, Peripatetic Man

Frederick Albert Bulman seems to have been a somewhat complex man. There are many aspects to his story. He certainly was proud of his military service. This may have been because of his strong identification with the military experience of his father, Jeremiah Delos Bulman, who served in the Civil War with his brothers and cousins.

FAB is seen here with his two youngest sons (Edwin on the right and Archie on the left, circa 1925 according to the back) in his Spanish American War tunic. The boys are regularly seen dressed as bugle boys in a variety of pictures with FAB. This tunic was an item of fascination for me as a teenager.

By way of background, FAB died on 9 October 1962 and was buried in the Olympic Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Tumwater, Washington. His eldest son, Eugene V. Bulman, would die somewhat more than ten years later on 26 November 1972. "Speed" was also buried in the same cemetery. FAB's youngest son, Archie, had died in Deer Lodge County, Montana on 17 January 1961 nearly ninety years after his father was born (26 January 1871).

I believe it was either the Halloween of 1971 or 1972 that I accompanied my siblings and cousins on a Trick or Treat excursion. We walked through a Portland, Oregon suburb where my mother's sister and her husband lived at the time. Being a "very old" teenager, I had not wanted to dress up in the "normal" kit. Instead, I had brought the tunic and hat with me to wear. With all the medals, it was a big hit with everyone. I have no idea what has become of the tunic and medals since then. I graduated from Burns Union High School in the spring of 1973 and headed off to university after fighting forest fires for a second season in the surrounding national forests during the summer.

Here is a picture of FAB in that same outfit towards the end of his life. I am not sure how old he was at the time. However, he was an energetic and peripatetic man throughout his life. A final photo can be found at the end of this post.

Below is a story of how he celebrated his seventy-fifth year. It was passed on to me by a family historian connected to the Bulmans by marriage and highlights the importance of the serendipitous sharing of information. The story also provides an indication of the ground that I am going to have to cover to tell something of the story of the lives of FAB and Lena, as well as their children, etc. I'm not sure exactly which paper it is in as I have not been able to find an original. However, it certainly was located in Waukesha, where FAB was born. It must have been printed in 1946 some two years after the death of his son Edwin J. Bulman during the war (see posts for March 2009):

SPANISH WAR VET, 75, CROSSES THREE MOUNTAIN RANGES ON HIS 1920 CYCLE

Fred Bulman Visits in Waukesha

WAUKESHA, July 14, (Special) - Fred A. Bulman was having the time of his 75 years when he stopped in Waukesha for several days before resuming his 3,000 mile motorcycle trip from Olympia, Wash., to Flint, Mich. The leathery faced veteran who crossed three mountain ranges on a bucking 1920 motorcycle stopped to visit relatives here before proceeding to Flint, where he plans to see his son. The fact that he will soon be 76 was no deterrent to his 6,000 mile round trip. "I haven't had as much fun since I was a kid," Bulman said, "and this gives me a chance to get some fresh air, also take in the Spanish War Veterans National Convention in Milwaukee next month."

Visits With Cousin He visited here with a cousin, Miss Ida Cohen. He will return in two weeks for the convetion and Milwaukee's Centurama. Bulman was born near Brookfield Junction in Waukesha County. He spent his youth in Eau Claire and worked as an engineer in Janesville and Superior. He also worked in Michigan, homesteaded in Montana and finally settled in Washington about 1930. Despite his years Bulman's crew cut brown hair shows no sign of gray and he holds his 160 pound frame erect. Except for the grayish fuzz about the [face].

Started June 18 The veteran's 21 day expedition started June 18. Cruising at about 25 miles an hour and covering an average of 200 miles a day, he traveled through Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and into Wisconsin. He pushed his cycle over the Snoqualmie Pass in Washington at 3,000 feet, through the famous Lookout Pass in the Bitterroot Mountain Range of Idaho at 4,700 feet, and over the ominous Continental Divide in the Rockies at 6,300 feet. He saw a "twister" heading his way in Montana, so he back tracked three miles and spent the night in Bozeman. The cycle sidecar carries clothing and camping equipment which enabled Bulman to spend half his nights under the stars. He by-passed tourist cabins whenever the night was clear because the hardly old man says, "I'm just crazy about fresh air." The trip has been leisurely because Bulman dislikes "burning up" the roads. (His old cycle does a top speed of 35 miles an hour.) He spent two days with a son at Puyall[up], Wash.; three days fishing with his grand children in Missoula, Mont.; three days with a nephew at Wibaux, Mont.; and several days with Cousins Herman and Rube Siewerts, on their Eau Claire farm. Bulman's bike is a weird affair with a 1920 frame, a 1914 crank case, a 1925 cylinder, a bicycle speedometer and the carburettor from a Model T Ford.

This last photo was probably taken just before his death. The date on the left side of the photo says August 1963. This may be the date that the photo was developed. The data I have from the cemetery states that he died in October 1962 as I have it above. However, this data may be in error. Unfortunately, I don't have time now to try to investigate and this will have to be left for another time.

Focusing on Frederick Albert Bulman

Sorry for the delay in returning to the blog. You girls know how busy the year has been. I have also been able to do a great deal of research over the academic year. The brief trip to the States allowed me to obtain some photos for the blog. I'll be putting them up over the next several weeks along with some of the stories.

I'll focus somewhat more on Frederick Albert Bulman for a time. He is my great-grandfather and Verona's father. (Apologies to readers for the repetition of information that will occur occasionally throughout the life of this blog.) He was born on 26 January 1871 in Brookfield Township, Waukesha County Wisconsin.

My father had a few photos of FAB that I had never seen before and I was very excited to see one with Lena, his wife.

Here is a picture of him in his Wisconsin National Guard uniform. It looks like a winter outfit. The photo was taken at R.G. Shaker's studio (116 Kelsey Street, Eau Clair, Wisconsin) some time after returning from Puerto Rico, I suspect. Why do I think this?

During the Spanish American War, he was in D Company of the 3rd (Regiment) Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This company was mustered from Mauston in Juneau County. They were called up in 28 April 1898 and returned 8 November 1898. Interestingly, Fred was not listed in the Mauston Star accounts of their going or returning.

Instead, he can be found listed in the THE SENTINAL ALMANAC and BOOK OF FACTS For the year 1899. Juneau County is south east of Eau Claire with a county in between. So, it will be interesting to discover why he was with this particular company. In any case, the Mauston Star gave the following account of the company's endeavours:

The Mauston boys left home on the 28^th of April last, left Milwaukee May 14 for Chickamauga Park, Georgia, where they remained until July 5^th when they left for Charleston. July 19 they sailed for Puerto Rico, arrived there July 27 and disembarked the 28. On August 6 it began to move toward San Juan and took part in the capture of Coamo, being in the advance, later our boys were in two battles at Albointo pass, but luckily no men were killed or wounded. Since the last engagement Lieutenant Gerhard F. Behnken has been in command and has been a faithful officer and well liked by all. The Third regiment raised the Stars and Stripes over a number of towns on the island among them Ponce, Yauco, Coamo, Albonita, Cayey, Barros, Barmintas, and Cedra. It has always been pushed to the front and had a record which few regiments in the United States can equal.

Now, what is somewhat confusing is the fact that this photo is labeled "F.A. Bulman, 1899". Here FAB is only sporting a moustache. So, it is necessary to seek further information. There is a good summary at the Spanish American War Centennial Web-site. It should be noted that this site indicates the 3rd WVI returned state-side in September 1898. So, it took a couple of months from disembarkation before they returned to Wisconsin.

The information that FAB provided to the State of Wisconsin Board of Health on 2 June 1942 only deepens the mystery. He was seeking to gain a birth certificate. In the section on supporting documentation is an entry relating to a discharge certificate. It reads: Army Discharge: Wis N.G. Discharge for Fred A. Buhman [sic]. Sgd. Earl S. Pearsall, Cap't. 3rd Inf. Dated 11/01/02 Eau Claire, Wis. Enlistment June 19, 1900. FAB and Lena married 10/18/02 in Wash. Twp. Eau Claire, Wis. Perhaps he reenlisted in 1900 in a company closer to home than Mauston.

It was at this point that I remembered some papers my father had sent me a few years ago. It seems that a Jesse C. Good, County Clerk for Genesee County, State of Michigan recorded information in the Soldier's Discharge Record #3 Page 505 on June 9, 1924. The information was taken from a copy of certificate of discharge:

To all Whom it May Concern
Know ye, that Fred A. Bulman, a Private of Company D, of the Third Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, who was enrolled on the 28th day of April, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, to serve Two Years, or during the war, is hereby DISCHARGED from the service of the UNITED STATES, by reason of Muster Out. NO OBJECTION TO HIS REENLISTMENT IS KNOWN TO EXIST. The said Fred A. Bulman was born in Milwaukee Co, in the State of Wisconsin and when enrolled was 27 years of age, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches high, Light complexion, Blue eyes, Auburn hair, and by occupation a Farmer. Given at Mauston Wis this 16 day of January, 1899, [Signed] John Turner, Capt 3rd Wis Vols. Commanding the Co. Countersigned...cannot read signature...Capt. 5th Cav'y Chief Mustering Officer.

On the reverse was:

Military Record
Noncommissioned Officer: Blank
Distinguished Service: None
Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions: In expidition to Porto Rico July 5 @ Oct 31/98 [spelling as on document] Engagement at Coamo...Skirmishes at Abonita Pass
Wounds received in service: None
Remarks: Served in War with Spain in Porto Rico. Service Honest and Faithful

On the front of the form is a stamp that indicates:

PAID IN FULL $ 73.62 MAUSTON, WIS, JAN 16, 99 [Signed] Geo. H. cannot read rest of signature...MAJOR & ADD'L PAYMASTER, U.S.V.

It would seem that the 1899 photograph might have been taken back in Wisconsin before FAB was mustered out of Company D. It is also possible that the photo with FAB bearded was later than the SAW era. There is a second document that was referred to in the application for the birth certificate mentioned above. It reads:

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD

To all Whom it May Concern:
Know ye, That Fred A. Bulman, a Private of Company E., 3rd Regiment Infantry who was enrolled on the 19 day of June one thousand nine hundred to serve 3 years, is herby [sic] HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD, to date the 1st of November, 1902, by reason of removal from county. Said Fred A. Bulman was born in Waukeshaw Co. in the State of Wisconsin, and when enrolled was 29 years of age, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches high, Fair complexion, Blue eyes, Light hair, and was by occupation a Farmer.
1. He has previously served [cannot make out] terms of enlistment in the W.N.G. as follows: 8 months Spanish American War Porto Rico Co. D. 3rd Inft. W.N.G. 2. No objection to his re-enlistment is known to exist. Given at Eau Claire, This 1st day of November, 1902 Earl A. Pearsall, Captain 3rd Inf W.H.G. Commanding teh Company.
Adjutant General's Officer. Madison Dec. 6th, 1902 Approved: By Command of the Governor cannot read signature Asst. Adjutant General.

Military Record
Non-commissioned officer: Blank
Active service: Yes Porto Rico 2 skermishes [sic]
Marksmanship: good
Physical condition when discharged: good
Attendance: good
General Standing as a soldier: Good

Here is a photo of FAB and Lena on their wedding day. I'll put up some later photographs of FAB in his uniform over the years in a later blog.