Today is Veteran's Day and I have to go back to the Civil War to find my first veteran ancestor. Riley Rampley enlisted in Co. D, 78th Illinois volunteer infantry along with a brother. He served during the major part of the war and was discharged at the end of the war.Riley was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1835 and died in Walker Township, Hancock County, Illinois, in 1893.
His 207 page pension file gives quite a bit of information on him and his wife, Nancy.
Fortunately Riley came home or I wouldn't be writing this post. Some soldiers are not so lucky and we should be grateful for their service. Riley and two of his brothers were in the war at the same time. As a parent, that is hard to imagine.
