by Maggie Fitzgibbon
It was a war of devastating defeat, one that resulted in the loss of over 600,000 soldiers and the destruction of countless homes and villages. The Civil War, also known as the “War Between the States,” began 150 years ago. Earlier this year, Spencerport attorney Fred Holbrook shared his knowledge of the war during tours of the Fairfield Cemetery in Spencerport, where many Civil War soldiers are buried.
Fairfield Cemetery contains 66 Civil War soldier graves. “I asked Fred to do these tours because we had so many soldiers serve in the Civil War who were from here (Ogden), and Fred is an expert on the Civil War,” said Ogden Historian Carol Coburn. “These tours are a way to recognize those local soldiers,” something that is especially significant in this anniversary year, Coburn said. She also notes that Ogden was a stop on the Underground Railroad route for slaves escaping from the South, a fact which reinforces the area’s historical significance in the war.
Holbrook is a Civil War history buff who says his father fostered his interest. “In the 1950s, my father took me to Gettysburg and over time my curiosity grew. I love to educate people about the history of the Civil War and its effect on society,” Holbrook said.
Holbrook’s comprehension and understanding of the Civil War is extensive and the reason Coburn asked him to lead tours of graves of Civil War soldiers buried in Fairfield Cemetery.
“In 1861, the population of Monroe County was approximately 100,000 and approximately 10,000 men from our area served in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865,” he said.
Through years of research and visiting battlefields, Holbrook has built an archive of historical facts. One of his favorite stories to share is that of his relative, Silas Holbrook.
“I was able to obtain Silas’ enlistment papers from the National Record and found that he served in the Seventh New York Mounted Rifles in October 1861 in Troy, New York. He served until June 1865 and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Brockport. Per family lore, Silas built houses in Brockport after moving there in 1875. He later served as the custodian of the Brockport Normal School for several years until his death in 1915,” Holbrook said.
Many of the Civil War soldiers buried in Fairfield Cemetery came from well-known Spencerport-Ogden families including Sidney Brown and Woodruff Brown, Oscar Colby, William Seward Millener and Samuel Vroom. Holbrook’s research finds that Millener’s grandfather, Alexander, was supposedly George Washington’s drummer boy. Millener was the assistant surgeon of the 11th United States Infantry.
A confederate soldier, DeWitt C. Guy, is buried at Fairfield Cemetery. After the war he married Martha Flagg of Ogden. They lived in his home state of Virginia until his death in 1889. Her family had his body disinterred from his grave in Virginia and reburied in Fairfield Cemetery in 1903. In the recent past, Confederate re-enactors have visited Guy’s grave and conducted memorial services.
Local Spencerport resident and former village mayor Bob Kincaid has a connection to one of the Civil War soldiers buried in Fairfield Cemetery. His great great uncle, Henry Kincaid, is one of these soldiers.
“Henry was born in 1842 in London, England and immigrated to America with his parents sometime in the 1850s. He enlisted at the age of 20 and was wounded in the Battle at Bethesda Church in early June 1864. He was transferred to Washington, D.C., for medical care. He was 21 years old when he died on June 19, 1864,” Kincaid said.
Bob Kincaid refers to a book of family history to give the account of these important details. However, it’s the family stories that have kept this connection alive.
“I remember my grandma and aunts telling me this family story when I was in my 20s. This book of family history keeps the details for the next generation,” Kincaid said.
Fairfield Cemetery is not the only local cemetery where Civil War soldiers are buried.
“There are 48 graves in other town cemeteries. Six at the Colby Street Cemetery, nine at Locust Grove Cemetery, 20 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ogden and eight at St. John’s Cemetery in Spencerport. There are also five at Maple Grove Cemetery in nearby Chili,” Coburn said.
For those who wish to research these soldiers and other historical information, Coburn encourages researching information at the Ogden Farmers’ Library.
“Visit the local history section of the Ogden Farmers’ Library or contact me for references. There are publications that will tell more about the soldiers. There are also many online sources of material including the National Archives Military Records,” Coburn said.
The Fairfield Cemetery tours of the Civil War soldier graves will resume in the spring. The tours are free of charge and open to the public. Contact Coburn at 617-6127, the Ogden Historian’s office or at carcob@rochester.rr.com to be placed on a list for notification for future tours.
There are 66 Civil War soldier graves in Fairfield Cemetery in Spencerport. Shown right foreground is a memorial marker engraved with the name of Woodruff H. Brown who was a member of the 140th NY Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and who died at the Battle of the Wilderness. In the background is a Grand Army of the Republic statue engraved with the words: “In the memory of the brave men who gave their lives for the preservation of our union.” Photograph by David Knox.
Among the Civil War soldier graves in alleged to have been Fairfield Cemetery is that of William Seward Millener. Millener’s grandfather, Alexander, was alleged to have been George Washington’s drummer boy. Millener was the assistant surgeon of the 11th United States Infantry. Photography by David Knox.
On Thursday, November 29 Ferris Goodridge Legion Post #330 and its members welcomed home Spencerport Hometown Heroes Chris Spallina, U.S. Army National Guard, Bradley O’Keefe USMC, and Sgt. Ron Meyer with applause from a large number of legion members. After their introduction by Mayor Joyce Lobene, Commander Joe Laught presented their banners that have been on the light poles throughout the village, back to them. After a few words from Sgt. Meyer who thanks everyone for their support, he, along with Chris and Bradley, led their families and legion members to the food and dessert table that was supplied by the legion members. Provided photo.
