Bonny Blue Flag
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2008
- Location
- Grand Prairie, Texas
Expired Image Removed
Before the war Abraham Conger made, repaired and sold saddles.
On 11.8.1863 he enlisted at Bucyrus, Ohio in Co. A of the 12th Ohio Volunteers as a
corporal/saddler. He was then assigned a 3-yr old horse named Frank as his cavalry
mount.
The 12th O.V.C. served under Gen. W.T. Sherman throughout most of the war, including the
famous/infamous March to the Sea in Georgia.
Abe, as he liked to be called, and Frank were also under the command of Gen. George Stoneman
in the campaign that fought behind enemy lines. You could say Abe's life literally depended
on Frank getting him back to the safety of the Union lines on several occasions.
Abe was promoted to Sgt in 1864.
Both Abe and Frank survived the war without any wounds.
Abraham Conger was discharged with his unit at Nashville, Tn on 11.14.1865. He was then
offered the opportunity to purchase Frank, which he did.He took Frank back to the farm he
owned in Eden Township, Wyandot County, Ohio. They lived alone on the farm for 6 yrs until
Abe married Elizabeth Brintlinger on 12.21.1871. The family grew to include 3 children, who
looked upon Frank as a family member. Abraham Conger and his family took care of Frank for
20 yrs.
During those years, Abe and Frank attended several reunions together. When music played,
Frank would trot up under the flag, ready for battle. When the bugle was sounded at the reunions, Frank would again trot up to the flag and stand, ready for battle. Frank is also said to have accompanied Abe Conger into a tavern in Nevada, Ohio.
Frank died in 1886 at the age of 28. It was about the time of a reunion in Bucyrus, Ohio .
The men of the Keller and Leith Posts of the G.A.R. took old Frank out to the farm of
Capt. Harter In Oceola, Ohio for burial. They took up a collection and placed a large
granite monument on his grave. His obituary is in the September 17th 1886 issue of the
Bucyrus Journal.
Shortly after Frank's death, Abe's health began to fail and he was forced to sell his farm and
move to the small community of Lewis Center in Delaware County, Ohio. Abraham Conger died
in 1905. He is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio.
The Conger family has kept Abe's gun, sword and a photo of Frank with his saddle. They do not
have a photo of Abe.
Expired Image Removed
Sources:
- "Henthorn Genealogy News: Conger,Abraham" / Written by Robert R. Guilinger, January 1998
www.henthorn-website-news.blogspot.com
www.roadsideamerica.com
www.Findagrave.com
--BBF
Before the war Abraham Conger made, repaired and sold saddles.
On 11.8.1863 he enlisted at Bucyrus, Ohio in Co. A of the 12th Ohio Volunteers as a
corporal/saddler. He was then assigned a 3-yr old horse named Frank as his cavalry
mount.
The 12th O.V.C. served under Gen. W.T. Sherman throughout most of the war, including the
famous/infamous March to the Sea in Georgia.
Abe, as he liked to be called, and Frank were also under the command of Gen. George Stoneman
in the campaign that fought behind enemy lines. You could say Abe's life literally depended
on Frank getting him back to the safety of the Union lines on several occasions.
Abe was promoted to Sgt in 1864.
Both Abe and Frank survived the war without any wounds.
Abraham Conger was discharged with his unit at Nashville, Tn on 11.14.1865. He was then
offered the opportunity to purchase Frank, which he did.He took Frank back to the farm he
owned in Eden Township, Wyandot County, Ohio. They lived alone on the farm for 6 yrs until
Abe married Elizabeth Brintlinger on 12.21.1871. The family grew to include 3 children, who
looked upon Frank as a family member. Abraham Conger and his family took care of Frank for
20 yrs.
During those years, Abe and Frank attended several reunions together. When music played,
Frank would trot up under the flag, ready for battle. When the bugle was sounded at the reunions, Frank would again trot up to the flag and stand, ready for battle. Frank is also said to have accompanied Abe Conger into a tavern in Nevada, Ohio.
Frank died in 1886 at the age of 28. It was about the time of a reunion in Bucyrus, Ohio .
The men of the Keller and Leith Posts of the G.A.R. took old Frank out to the farm of
Capt. Harter In Oceola, Ohio for burial. They took up a collection and placed a large
granite monument on his grave. His obituary is in the September 17th 1886 issue of the
Bucyrus Journal.
Shortly after Frank's death, Abe's health began to fail and he was forced to sell his farm and
move to the small community of Lewis Center in Delaware County, Ohio. Abraham Conger died
in 1905. He is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio.
The Conger family has kept Abe's gun, sword and a photo of Frank with his saddle. They do not
have a photo of Abe.
Expired Image Removed
Sources:
- "Henthorn Genealogy News: Conger,Abraham" / Written by Robert R. Guilinger, January 1998
www.henthorn-website-news.blogspot.com
www.roadsideamerica.com
www.Findagrave.com
--BBF
Forum Host
Bringing the