Charles E. Van Vlack, Ashland County's last Civil War Union veteran burial, died at age 96 (on Oct. 14, 1942). He was born on Dec. 9, 1845 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Van Vlack was a musician in the 89th Illinois Infantry, Co K., from July 30, 1862, until a disability discharge on April 11, 1863. Then he was a private in the 52nd Illinois Infantry, Co. D, from March 14, 1864, to July 6, 1865. Musre records indicate

Van Vlack was married to Catherine J. Garnett Van Vlack. He was employed as a locomotive engineer for the Chicago & North Western Railroad for 40 years until his retirement at age 74. He was a member of George A. Custer Post 140, GAR, in Ashland, Wis. and served as Post Commander in 1901. He died in Duval County, Florida, and was buried in Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Ashland County, Wis. along with his wife.

Information sources:
Find-a-Grave Memorial 10998414
Chicago & North Western Historical Society; Berwyn, Illinois; Pensioners Records and History
Ancestry.com. Web: Illinois, Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995
Ashland Weekly News, 18 Sep 1901, Page 1

Researched by Thomas Mueller

Last Updated: 28 December 2018