Memorial

My great-grandmother, Eva Seymour Jenks (1852-1927), was a family historian where much of our Jenks and Seymour lines were recorded and handed down through the family. She wrote this poem in tribute for her half-brother, Dr. Henry Parker Seymour (1830-1885). It was published in her local Oakland County, Michigan newspaper, May 30, 1906.

 

I thought I was going to only share her heartfelt poem until I saw his Civil War military record and felt it was worthy of sharing too. Sadly, I do not have a picture of him, so I decided to share a picture of her and her husband, Oliver T. Jenks (circa 1886).  It is my hope that someone may come across this blog and will have a picture of Dr. Seymour in order to put a face to this tribute.

 

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Memorial by Eva Seymour Jenks

Away in a far-distant churchyard
Lies a soldier, one stalwart and brave,
Who enlisted way back in the sixties,
His country and flag to help save;
But today, in his green grave at Linden,
He is sleeping to waken no more –
A dearly loved brother – my only –

Who fought in those battles of yore.

But I know that some hands kind and tender
“Old Glory” will place on his tomb,
And will cover his lonely bed over
With the sweetest of flowers in bloom –
And so, for the sake of that brother
Who sleeps his last sleep far away,
I will scatter some beautiful blossoms
Over other brave soldiers today.

So bring hither the loveliest flowers,
The sweetest and brightest in bloom,
And scatter them tenderly – kindly –
O’er each soldier-boy’s tomb,
And let the bright flag wave above them –
Our soldiers – so brave and so true;
For next to their love for their country,
Was their love for the Red, White and Blue.

Red as the life blood shed for it.
Blue as the bright summer sky.
White as the mantle that winter
Spreads over the low graves where they lie:
Let “old glory” its bright colors wave,
And scatter the beautiful flowers
Over each brave soldier’s grave.
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American Civil War Soldiers
Name: Henry P Seymour ,
Residence: Linden, Michigan
Enlistment Date: 14 August 1862
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Union
State Served: Michigan
Unit Numbers: 1074 1074 1106 1106
Service Record: Enlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class on 14 August 1862 at the age of 31
Enlisted in Company G, 5th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 28 August 1862.
Promoted to Full Lieutenant 2nd Class on 14 December 1862
Discharged Company G, 5th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 24 March 1863
Promoted to Full Lieutenant 1st Class on 29 July 1864 effective 15 October 1864 (1st Lieut & Adjutant)
Commission in Company S, 29th Infantry Regiment Michigan on 15 October 1864.
Transferred on 27 March 1865 from company S to company F
Promoted to Full Captain on 27 March 1865 effective 01 May 1865 (Of Co. F.)
Promoted to Full Asst Adjutant General on 15 June 1865 (On Colonel Saylor's staff.)
Mustered out Company S, 29th Infantry Regiment Michigan on 06 September 1865 in Murfreesboro, TN