Hervey (Veteran Union) DIX

CORPORAL Company C Iowa 3 Infantry
Civil War Union
August 27, 1840 - August 19, 1861
Killed in Action
Kirksville, Missouri

Hervey enlisted with Union forces for the Civil War from Iowa on May 22, 1861. He began his duty as a Corporal in Company C of Iowa's 3rd Infantry Regiment on June 8, 1861.

Hervey was on a scouting mission for his company around the Kirksville, Missouri area when he was shot and killed on August 19, 1861, becoming the first Civil War soldier to be killed in Adair County, Missouri.

Hervey was buried in the city cemetery of Kirksville, Missouri, called Forest Park, which was just 3 blocks west of the downtown square of Kirksville. It is now called Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery.

Years later, a tombstone was placed at Hervey's grave. The Kirksville post of the Grand Army of the Republic was named for Hervey Dix when it was organized in 1866.

Back in Hervey Dix' county of residence, Clayton County, Iowa, a 25-foot high Civil War monument was constructed with a statue of a Civil War soldier on top. This is located at Pleasant Grove Cemetery. A plaque on the side of this monument honors Hervey Dix, WRC No 89. Another plaque on the monument commemorates the Hervey Dix Post 37.

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The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), was created by Dr. B.F. Stephenson of Springfield, IL, for Union veterans of the Civil War.

Missouri's first post was organized in Kirksville, October 1, 1866, and was named for Corporal Hervey Dix, the first Union soldier to be killed in Adair County. Later described by GAR historian Robert R. Beath as "one of the most efficient Posts in the interior of the state", it lasted only a couple of years before becoming the victim of internal political strife. When reorganized in 1882, it was designated Post No 22 by the Department of Missouri which had been fully organized by twenty-one other posts during its hiatus.

During its active years, Corporal Dix Post helped establish posts in several Adair County communities including Brashear, Millard, Shibley's Point and Sublette. Locally, they sponsored annual soldiers' reunions and staged one of the earliest post-war battle reenactments when they recreated the Battle of Kirksville on the site of that engagement in 1868. In the mid 1910s they raised funds for and erected a monument to fifteen Confederate soldiers who were executed the day after the Battle of Kirksville on charges of parole violation. Decoration of the monument was part of the Dix Post's Memorial Day observances each year until it disbanded.

With only a few elderly members still living, the Post voted to disband in the Spring of 1934. The records, including membership applications, were given to the library at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) along with some documents from the local chapters of the Woman's Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans.

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Residence McGregor IA; 21 years old.
Enlisted on 5/22/1861 as a Corporal.
On 6/8/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. IA 3rd Infantry
He was Killed on 8/20/1861 at Kirkville, MO
(Killed while leading a scouting party)
born 8/27/1840 in Massachusetts

Sources: http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1712576
http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1712576


Inscription:
Co. "C", 3rd Iowa Inf.

Note: 21 at the time of enlistment on 5/22/61. He was killed while leading a scouting party at Kirkville, Missouri.

Photo contributed by Larry and Susan Olson lolson60@cableone.net

Contributed on 12/23/15 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 780845

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