great-grandfather of Jacalyn Vohlken

Private     Co H      49th MA Vol. Inf

Dates of Service:  22 Sept 1863 - 1 Sept 1864

James Hubbell Fosdick was born November 16, 1827 in Sandisfield, Massachusetts where he was raised and educated.  In 1856, he married Moina S. Campbell of Connecticut.  In the dark days of the Rebellion, James, moved by patriotic enthusiasm and a desire to defend the Union, enlisted in Company H, 49th Massachusetts, with which he served faithfully at the siege of Port Hudson, La., until he was mustered out in September of 1864.

In the year of 1866, James and Moina, along with four children, moved to Manilius Township, outside of Fennville, Michigan, where they lived in a log cabin while working on a farm house which was completed in 1884.  Eventually, the farm included hundreds of fruit trees, as well as pasture for livestock, and was considered a model farm for the community.  

James was active in community affairs and served as chaplain in the A. H. Fenn Post #271 Grand Army of the Republic.  While not actively engaged in politics, he served in other capacities, such as the position of path master.  James stood 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall, with light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, and when mustered out of the Union army, he was ill due to chronic kidney affliction, among other problems.  He died in 1912 at his home in Manlius Township.

GRAVESITE: Fennville Cemetery, Fennville, Michigan

Written by Jacalyn Vohlken, November 2002