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George CANTLEY was born about 1830, probably in Logan County, Virginia.1
He was the son of Alexander CANTLEY.2 George stood 5' 10"
tall, had a fair complexion, hazel eyes and dark hair.3 He
married Drucilla CLAY, daughter of Charles CLAY on 28 March 1853 in
Raleigh County, Virginia.4 George and Drucilla made their home
in Raleigh County where they worked on their farm and began to raise a
family. They had four children before the outbreak of the Civil War:
Polina Jane (b. 1854), Greene Ballard (b. 1857), Amanda Matilda (b. 1858)
and James Henry (b. 1860).5
On 8 December 1862, George enlisted in the Union army and was
assigned to Company H of the 7th West Virginia Cavalry.6
During the war, he was involved in the battle of Cross Keys and was later
injured during a skirmish at Cotton Hill, Fayette County, West Virginia
where he was thrown from his horse.7 George deserted the army
for a time during the course of the national conflict. He was noted absent
on 8 December 1863 and marked "present, awaiting Court Martial"
April of 1864.8 It is likely he returned to his home during
this period, as a son George Jr. was born to Drucilla on 22 October 1864.9
He was reinstated to the troops in August 1864 after accepting punishment
from his commanding officer.10 He was discharged from the
service on 1 August 1865 and he returned to his farm.11
George and Drucilla had eight more children after his return from the
war: Lucinda (b. 1866), Rebecca (b. 1867), twins Arretta and Ona (b.
1869), John Willis (b. 1870), Ambrose Edward (b. 1872), Mary (b. 1874) and
Ellen (b. 1875).12 Being a veteran, George applied for an
Invalid Pension in 1887. The injury he sustained at Cotton Hill had become
more incapacitating with age and severely interfered with his work as a
farmer. After a long battle with the government, George was finally
awarded a pension in 1891.13 George died at home on 20 January
1898.14
END NOTES
1. Alexander Cantley household, 1830 U.S. Census, population
schedule, Virginia, Logan Co., page 273, line 9, National Archives
Microfilm Publication M19, roll 191.
2. Alexander Cantley household, 1850 U.S. Census, population
schedule, Virginia, Raleigh Co., 57 District, page 19, dwelling 260,
family 260, National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, roll 972.
3. Invalid Claim for Pension, George Cantley and Drucilla Cantley,
widow, Civil War Pension Application File SO 632,287, SC 672,706, WO
672,034, WC 495,408; Records of the Veterans Administration, Record Group
15, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
4. Affidavit of James M. Clay, Ibid.
5. George Cantley household, 1860 U.S. Census, population schedule,
Virginia, Raleigh Co., The Neighborhood of Sand Lick and Marsh Fork, Coal
River Marshes, page 41, dwelling 295, family 271, National Archives
Microfilm Publication M653, roll 1373.
6. Duty Report for George Cantley, George Cantley and Drucilla
Cantley, widow, Civil War Pension Application.
7. Invalid Claim for Pension, Ibid.
8. Duty Report for George Cantley, Ibid.
9. George Cantley household, 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule,
West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Marsh Fork, page 11, dwelling 176, family 75,
National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, roll 1698.
10. Duty Report for George Cantley, George Cantley and Drucilla
Cantley, widow, Civil War Pension Application File.
11. Ibid.
12. George Cantley household, 1880 U.S. Census, population schedule,
West Virginia, Raleigh Co., Marsh Fork, E.D. 127, page 15, dwelling 132,
family 135, National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, roll 1412.
13. Invalid Pension, George Cantley and Drucilla Cantley, widow,
Civil War Pension Application.
14. Application for Accrued Pension (Widows), Ibid. |
