Stumped; Need Assistance

[huskerblitz]

My students are doing a project and this one has me stumped. My students are researching local CW vets and creating a profile for them. A student is about 95% sure he has the guy he needs. But when searching for a homestead record they find a discharge for the soldier....but he's from a different regiment! Our guy is from the 17th Michigan but the discharge is for the guy in the 110 Ohio. And there is a John T Dunning in the 17th Michigan and one in the 110 Ohio and most definitely not the same guy. (Meaning he couldn't have reenlisted in the other...the services overlap.)

John T Dunning (1844-1907) 17th Michigan Infantry, buried in Polk County, Nebraska.
John T Dunning (1845-1999) 110 Ohio Infantry, buried in Sandusky County, Ohio.

How can this happen? Family info all seems to line up, just this discharge is the only hiccup and I'm stumped as to how an error like this happens.

 

[huskerblitz]

Bumping this to see if anyone has an idea.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

My thought: Two different people.....Have you found two separate enlistments (one for each unit?)
If everything else lines up, then there is a good chance you have the discharge papers of a completely different person.

 

[huskerblitz]

My thought: Two different people.....Have you found two separate enlistments (one for each unit?)
If everything else lines up, then there is a good chance you have the discharge papers of a completely different person.

Yes. Two different John T. Dunning's, one for each regiment. Can't be the same guy because their service overlaps and both muster out in 1865. Everything else lines up for the Michigan man. It's just really odd that the discharge in his homestead file is the guy from the 100th Ohio. I just don't understand how that could happen.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

17th Michigan: After Appomattox surrender, sent to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Grand Review, remaining there until June 3, 1865, when it was mustered out of service and started for Detroit, arriving there on June 7, 1865, to be paid off and disbanded.

110th Ohio: Mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. on June 25, 1865.

 

[MOBDEnut]

Was the 110th Ohio Infantry or ? Haha never mind I just saw it.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Yes. Two different John T. Dunning's, one for each regiment. Can't be the same guy because their service overlaps and both muster out in 1865. Everything else lines up for the Michigan man. It's just really odd that the discharge in his homestead file is the guy from the 100th Ohio. I just don't understand how that could happen.

Perhaps an error that simply never got corrected??

 

[huskerblitz]

I realize not everyone researches homestead records here like they do CSR. But I would think the soldier applying for the land patent would be the one handing over his discharge for his proof of service. Washington didn't send those out to the land agents, did they?

 

[MOBDEnut]

If he has discharge papers for the Michigan unit, I would say a mix up. However I do not know how common it would be for Federal units, in my research of CO B 6th MO Inf. CS. I have found several guys transfered to Cav. and Art. or even listed as deserted, just to find the guy in another unit.

My "thought" on the matter if not two different people, he could have transfered units.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

This link shows the Dunning from Ohio was POW http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cemeteryproject/110th/CoA.html which is consistant with your discharge, stating: POW on 9 July 1864 at Monocacy, MD; Mustered Out at Camp Chase, OH

Here is a photo of his grave: http://coloradogravestones.org/view.php?id=15611 which is in COLORADO!!....hmmm, the plot thickens!

The 17th Michigan John is listed as missing in action, April 30, 1864 https://books.google.com/books?id=x...ohn t. dunning 17th michigan infantry&f=false

Perhaps he was found again and returned to ranks??

 

[huskerblitz]

If he has discharge papers for the Michigan unit, I would say a mix up. However I do not know how common it would be for Federal units, in my research of CO B 6th MO Inf. CS. I have found several guys transfered to Cav. and Art. or even listed as deserted, just to find the guy in another unit.

My "thought" on the matter if not two different people, he could have transfered units.

No, no transfer. The service records indicate the Michigan Dunning was there (I think) from 1863 to the end. I think I have safely ruled out a transfer in this particular case. Although....who knows. Never ran into something like this.

This link shows the Dunning from Ohio was POW http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cemeteryproject/110th/CoA.html which is consistant with your discharge, stating: POW on 9 July 1864 at Monocacy, MD; Mustered Out at Camp Chase, OH

Here is a photo of his grave: http://coloradogravestones.org/view.php?id=15611 which is in COLORADO!!....hmmm, the plot thickens!

The 17th Michigan John is listed as missing in action, April 30, 1864 https://books.google.com/books?id=xw0MdUH2EwIC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=john+t.+dunning+17th+michigan+infantry&source=bl&ots=qtI2OnQ-gM&sig=lzWf1qYDOGdEq4xBuIOWimMojvU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi699Dn5ebTAhXM7IMKHbd-B_AQ6AEILzAC#v=onepage&q=john t. dunning 17th michigan infantry&f=false

Perhaps he was found again and returned to ranks??

Umm....my notes have the 110 Ohio Dunning buried in Sandusky, Ohio. I think I need a drink now...

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

No, no transfer. The service records indicate the Michigan Dunning was there (I think) from 1863 to the end. I think I have safely ruled out a transfer in this particular case. Although....who knows. Never ran into something like this.


Umm....my notes have the 110 Ohio Dunning buried in Sandusky, Ohio. I think I need a drink now...

Yes, I figured I found a "fly in the ointment"!!

 

[huskerblitz]

Here is the other John T Dunning
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=100486139

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Perhaps his "grave" in Ohio is actually a "Memorial".....For example, there is a cemetery in my town that my son and his Boy Scouts have taken care of, with 3 CW Vet graves. I did research to perform a remembrance ceremony.....turns out one of the "graves" is just a plaque to honor the fellow, as he is buried elsewhere....

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Here is the other John T Dunning
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=100486139

Looks to me that this is the grave of John and Harriet's children, showing birth and death dates to commemorate John and Harriet....

 

[huskerblitz]

Looks to me that this is the grave of John and Harriet's children, showing birth and death dates to commemorate John and Harriet....

Hmmm....I see that now, too. I'll see if I can find more evidence of their burial. I may have to go to the cemetery tomorrow and look for myself.

There is another John T Dunning that homesteaded in Sidney, Nebraska...just a stone's throw from Colorado. Wonder if that is the other guy?

 

[John Hartwell]

Is there another Homestead file for the other John T.? The discharge certif. you want may be there.
What about pension files? They might reference Homestead grants.

 

[huskerblitz]

So I scan the homestead record for the guy in Sidney thinking that dude was from the 110 Ohio and buried in Colorado, like you linked to.

But noooo.....this John T Dunning is from the 89th New York!!!

 

[MOBDEnut]

NPS has a John F Dunning supposedly conected to John T as an alternative name both listed in 17 Michigan. Might be worth searching.

 

[huskerblitz]

Is there another Homestead file for the other John T.? The discharge certif. you want may be there.
What about pension files? They might reference Homestead grants.

I'll have to check again. At best all we have been able to get are the pension index cards.

NPS has a John F Dunning supposedly conected to John T as an alternative name both listed in 17 Michigan. Might be worth searching.

Yep, already found that.

Speaking of him again...the 17th Michigan John T Dunning is in Nebraska. The 1890 Veteran census shows him in Saunders County which isn't that far from here.