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Lawrence, Michael and James - Also James T. |
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(Australian Born) |
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Michael and James were the sons of Lawrence Dwyer, born in 1822 and Catherine Dwyer (sometimes spelt Katheryn) born in 1823 both born in Ireland, and were born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Michael in 1836 and James in 1848. After the family migrated to the United States, landing in New York, Michael eventually took up residence in Malden, Massachusetts where he worked as a farmer. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Michael being twenty-eight years of age, enlisted as a Private into "I" Co. of the Massachusetts 57th Vol Infantry, on March 3, 1864 at Worcester, Massachusetts; and on March 10, 1864 was officially mustered in. He recorded his home state as New York. The 57th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry was organized at Worcester and Reedville, Massachusetts and mustered in on April 6, 1864; after which it moved to Annapolis, Maryland. From there it moved to Washington and Alexandria, April 18-20, was attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, until September 1864 and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, until July, 1865. The South Dakota State Historical Society State Archives, however, records Michael as being 17 years of age at enlistment, I suppose confusing him with one of the numerous other Dwyer’s who enlisted. He was described at enlistment as being 5’ 11" tall, light complexioned, having blue eyes, and red hair. Michael saw service in the Campaign from the Rapidan to the James from May 3-June 15, 1864; the Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; at Spotsylvania May 8-12; at the Ny River May 10; the Spotsylvania Court House from May 12th to the 21st; at the Assault on the Salient on May 12 and at North Anna River May 23-26. It was at that battle on May 24th after crossing the North Anna River with his brigade, Union Brigadier General James H. Ledlie, whose courage had been enhanced by large quantities of alcohol, ordered an attack on a group of Confederate "Inverted V" entrenchments centered at Ox Ford. Ledlie's lone brigade charged forth and attacked an entire Confederate division. One of Ledlie’s regiments, Lt. Colonel Charles L. Chandler's 57th Massachusetts Infantry, pressed towards the Confederate defence works. "Suddenly", recalled Captain John Anderson, an officer in the 57th, "every gun flashed out a shower of grape and cannister which shook the very ground and swept everything in front of it...the gallant charge went no further, but turned into a complete rout." The 57th fell back into a shallow ravine and held their position in the face of a murderous Confederate fire. Only when the Confederate’s 12th Mississippi, during a driving thunderstorm, advanced down the hillside to complete the Confederate victory, did the 57th Massachusetts ranks begin to break. Lt. Chandler tried desperately to rally the 57th but moments later a Confederate volley knocked Chandler from his feet and drove the 57th from the field. They went on to participate at Pamunkey May 26-31; at Cold Harbor June 1-12; Bethesda Church June 1-3; Before Petersburg June 16-18 and during the Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864 where Michael was badly wounded on July 12th. Just six months after enlisting, on July 12, 1864, Michael was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia and spent some nine months recuperating; returning to service on April 15, 1865. He never saw as much service as many veterans did, enlisting late in the war, being wounded, hospitalised almost immediately and being discharged shortly after returning to service; but he saw a lot of action for the short time he was in. He was mustered out on July 30, 1865 at Delaney House, in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, he moved to the State of Wyoming and eventually to the Dakota Territory. In September 1875 Michael had been working on his fathers ranch when he mysteriously disappeared. For two weeks his whereabouts remained unknown and a desperate search was made for him. He was eventually found, safely working for the railroad company in Rock Springs, South Dakota. In 1880 at 44 years of age Michael was living in Strawberry, Sweetwater, Wyoming; working as a labourer. Records indicate Michael’s brother, James Dwyer, like wise enlisted as a Private, some say at 17 years of age and others at 18 years of age, into Company “H”, 11th US Infantry in May 1865. He listed his home state as Watertown, New York, and enlisted for 3 years. He had grey eyes, light hair, was fair complexioned and was 5' 81/2" tall. He like his brother participated in a lot of engagements, many alongside Michael, but he went on to also experience the Mine Explosion at Petersburg on July 30, 1864; fought at the Weldon Railroad August 18-21; at Peeble’s Farm September 29-October 2; participated in reconnaissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Roads October 8; fought at Boydton Plank at Road Hatcher's Run and Burgess’ Mill, October 27-28; at Fort Stedman March 25, 1865; participated in the Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9; the assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2; the occupation of Petersburg on April 3; assisted in the pursuit of General Lee April 4-9; moved to City Point and then on to Alexandria April 20-28 and duty there till July. The regiment mustered out July 30, 1865 but James did not terminate his service as a Private until 1868. After discharge, James wound up in Pennsylvania; eventually settled in Wyoming and from there moved to the Dakota Territory; in March 1877. James in 1880 at age 37 lived with his parents and worked as a quartz miner in Pennington County, Dakota Territory. He married a lady named Rosanna and later a lady named Winnie. The 1870 US Federal Census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Ward 7 for James Dwyer lists the following: Dwyer, James age 27 born Australia Dwyer, Rosanna age 24 born Ireland Dwyer, John age 8/12 born Pennsylvania Vaugh, age 30 a housepainter born Ireland Moran, Thomas age 32 housepainter born IrelandMoran, Catherine age 24 born Ireland Diamond, Eliza age 49 born Ireland. The last four may be
boarders or relation to James and Rosanna. 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Wyoming, Sweetwater County, Strawberry prect. shows by 1880 he had moved to the Wyoming Territory: Dwyer, Michael age 44, laborer, born Australia. father and mother born Ireland. Dwyer, Winnie, wife age 27 born Illinois, father and mother born Ireland Dwyer, John age 5 born Wyoming Dwyer, Joseph age 4 born Wyoming Dwyer, Daniel age 11/12 born in May, 1879, born Wyoming. Chapman, James, boarder. Their father, Lawrence Dwyer also served during the American Civil War. Some say he served in the "Gray Hair Brigade" in Iowa and some other states that used the older volunteers for useful purposes such as litter carriers, like many other older men; but not for actual fighting in the Civil War. Indexed papers in Oregon, though, have Lawrence Dwyer recorded as being in Company “F”, Massachusetts 2nd Cavalry Battalion. The first company of the Massachusetts 2nd Cavalry was organized in California, for duty in the Eastern Theatre. Company "A" organized at San Francisco, California on December 10, 1862 and arrived at Readville, Massachusetts on January 4, 1863. Then Companies "B," "C," "D," "G," "H," "I" and "K" were organized at Camp Meigs, Readville, Massachusetts and Companies "E," "F," "L" and "M" organized at San Francisco, California in February and March, 1863 and left San Francisco for Readville, Massachusetts on March 21st and joined the Regiment at Readville, Massachusetts. Companies "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," "L" and "M" moved from Readville, Mass., to Washington, D.C., May 11-16, 1863. Attached to Casey's Provisional Troops, 22nd Corps, to August 1863. King's Division, 22nd Corps, to September 1863. Cavalry Brigade, 22nd Corps, to August 1864. Reserve Cavalry Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to September 1864. 3rd (Reserve) Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Shenandoah and Army of the Potomac, to July 1865. The regiment participated in far too many engagements to list here, but were in continual battles throughout the war; often being involved in skirmishes with the Confederates famous Moseby Partisan Rangers near Ellis and Ely's Fords and near Leesburg. Notable engagements included skirmishes at Warrenton; the Fairfax Court House; Dix's Peninsula Campaign; South Anna Bridge; Muddy Branch; the Wilderness; Point of Rocks; Snicker's Gap; Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign; Charleston; Appomattox Station and numerous others. During their service they lost 82 Enlisted men and 8 Officers killed and mortally wounded, and 3 Officers and 138 Enlisted men who died from diseases. The regiment mustered out on July 20, 1865. Lawrence is also found on several databanks as having enlisted at 42 years of age as a Private on March 15, 1864 into Company “F”, Massachusetts 2nd Cavalry Battalion and mustering out as a Private on July 20, 1865 at Fairfax Court House, Virginia. He is also listed as a Civil War veteran in the Hill City Cemetery records. Like his son, Lawrence at 58 years of age in 1880 was still working as a quartz miner. Though he was not born in Australia he was from Australia and fathered Michael and Henry in Australia. On September 28, 1875 Lawrence was living on a ranch in Laramie, Wyoming when he was visited by sheriff officers and game officials; over a charge of cattle stealing. Cow hides bearing the brand of a Mr. Tom A---- were found in an old barn owned by Lawrence. After he was taken in to the sheriff’s office, officers went back out to his ranch to arrest James Dwyer. At that same time, it was thought that because Michael Dwyer was missing, that he had been brutally murdered. He had gone to a station at Red Butte over a week earlier, inquiring about mail for him and his family, had left the station and had not been heard from since. Michael at that time had been living with his wife and mother-in-law, Mrs. Kennedy, on a ranch half a mile from Red Butte; where Michael and James together owned the Peter Johnson Ranch; but by 1913 they had sold it to a Mr. Axel Palmer. Michael had arrived in Laramie in 1869. James, though, lived seven miles from the station on Sand Creek. Michael had been expected at his father’s house to assist his father and James with haying. After leaving, his wife gave birth to a child; while he was gone. Having been a steady, temperate and industrious man, steps were taken to investigate his disappearance. Suspicion was laid against his mother-in-law, Mrs. Kennedy, as she was said to have been bad enough for anything; including murder. Two weeks later Michael turned up, safe and sound. He had been at Rock Springs all the time; working for the Railroad Company. On the same day, the afternoon of September 28, 1875, Michael had stood in the courtroom before a Judge Nye for the assault and battery upon the person of C.W. Bramel; being found guilty and fined “$5 and cents”. The assault had grown out of an alleged grievance of Michael sustained “while a client of the prosecuting witness”. Laramie Daily Sentinel September 1875
Saturday, Sep. 18, 1875, p. 3(3):
Quite a commotion existed yesterday among the peace officers and
legal fraternity in relation to the arrest of Lawrence Dwyer, on a
charge of cattle-stealing. The case rests upon the fact that some
hides bearing the brand of Tom Alsop were found in an old barn owned
by him. After he was brought in, a deputy sheriff went out to his
ranch to arrest his son James Dwyer, but up to a late hour the
sheriff had not returned.
Tuesday,
Sep. 21, 1875, p. 3(1):
There is no news yet of the missing man, Mike Dwyer, though
there has been considerable effort and search made for him. being appointed as foreman. . . . We were informed
yesterday that the missing man, Mike Dwyer, is at work at Rock
Springs, and that he does not feel the least uneasy about what they
thought had become of him.
Thursday, Sep. 30, 1875, p. 3(3):
The Grand Jury concluded their labors yesterday and were
discharged. Dwyer and his son James, were indicted for stealing
cattle. another indictment was found -- the party not yet in
custody. A Petit Jury was summoned for this morning to dispose of
the cases of those against whom indictments were found. Dwyer Brothers' Original Criminal Case Files #226 & #227
Note: I found no additional newspaper coverage of the Dwyers' trial nor did I find any record of Lawrence Dwyer or either of his sons, James or Michael being imprisoned at the Wyoming Territorial/State Penitentiary. June 3, 1880 Wyoming Territorial Census -
Michael Dwyer; white; male; age: 44; Laborer, born: Australia;
Father born: Ireland; Mother born: Ireland In 1880 James Dwyer, at age 37, lived with his father and mother, Lawrence age 58, and Catherine age 57, and worked as a “quartz miner” in Pennington County, Dakota Territory; what today is today called South Dakota. Michael, on the other hand, at 44 years of age still lived in Strawberry, Sweetwater, Wyoming. He was married to a lady from Ireland named ‘Winnie’ age 57 who was erroneously listed on the June 3rd 1880 United States Federal Census as a “male”, and Michael worked as a labourer. He had living with him at the time his wife Winnie age 44, son John born Wyoming 1875 age 5, son Joseph born Wyoming 1876 age 4, son Daniel born Wyoming May 1880 age 11 months, his brother James age 37 who was then a miner, and James Chapman born Wyoming 1866 age 14; who was a boarder and worked as a cattle herder. 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Dakota Territory, Pennington County, no pct. Records: Dwyer, Lawrence age 58 Occupation: Quartz Miner born Ireland parents born Ireland Dwyer, Catherine age 57 wife, born Ireland, parents born Ireland Dwyer, James age 37 Quartz Miner born Australia. In 1883 James Dwyer had a duel with a WW Driver of Hill City, no cause was given for the duel, and fortunately, no one died. Then in 1897 some one brutally attacked Katherine Dwyer, Lawrence’s wife, in 1897 and she died in Deadwood, South Dakota on August 1,1898. In 1890, Michael Dyer left Wyoming and moved to and lived in, Tigerville, Pennington County, South Dakota; working as a farmer. Tigerville is located 5.2 miles northwest of Hill City, South Dakota. In 1880 Tigerville, later called Tiger City, had some 200 people, a post office, a couple of general stores and a number of mines which included the King Solomon Mine, the Bengal Tiger Mine and the Lucky Tiger Mine. Nothing, however, other than a few older mobile homes and scattered cabins of fairly recent vintage mark the site today, which is at the junction of FR 231 and FR 17. By 1910, at age 68, Michael was living in the State Soldiers Home in Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota. The Grand Army of the Republic had asked the Dakota Territorial Legislature to create a home for invalid veterans, and in 1889 the Dakota Soldiers' Home was established in Hot Springs. Its name was later changed to the South Dakota State Veterans' Home in 1967. From there Michael moved to Hill City, Pennington County, South Dakota; in the Rapid City metro area; Approximately 15 miles north of Custer on US 385. Hill City was the second town founded in the Hills in 1876. It soon became a ghost town as miners, disappointed by not finding enough gold, fled to newer claims elsewhere in the Hills. The tin boom in the 1880s, however, brought the town back to life. It was one of the old mining camps of the Black Hills district, had three churches, an opera house, good graded schools and a bank; with a population of 350 in 1909. The principal industries of the district were the timber products, rough and finished lumber, mining and stock raising, with some farming in the valleys. Michael belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic Post, Silas A. Strickland Post No. 127, chartered July 1, 1887, in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Records there, however, erroneously record his birth as 1849 and his military service as being in Co. I, 5th Massachusetts Infantry; instead of the 57th Massachusetts Infantry. They do, though record his birthplace as being in New South Wales, Australia. He is listed on no known 5th Massachusetts Infantry rosters or databases. There are, however, many other Dwyers that are listed in the 5th Massachusetts Infantry. 1890 Special Union Veteran Census, South Dakota, Pennington County, Hill City and Tigerville, Sheridan Pct: Dwyer, Michael Pvt Co I 57th Mass. Inf. from Apr 1864-6 Oct 1865 served 1 year 6 mo., Dwyer, James Pvt Col H 11th U.S. Inf. from 30 Mar 1865-30 Mar 1868 3 yrs. Both living Hill City South Dakota. No disability shown for pension. 1900 U.S. Federal Census, South Dakota, Pennington County, Tigerville: Dwyer, Michael, born Dec 1845 age 54, married, born New South Wales, parents born Ireland. Farmer Waird?, Minard, born Apr 1896 age 14 born South Dakota, parents born New York, farmer. Note: Minard may be a boarder/hired hand. 1910 US Federal Census, South Dakota Fall River County. Soldiers Home; Dwyer, Michael, Divorced age 64 born Australia, speaks English. parents born Ireland. By now Michael is now divorced. Also, in index his birth is given as Austria; however on the original shown on the internet, his birth is definitely Australia. Michael filed for a military pension on May 6, 1892, Application # 448611, as an invalid; Cert # 657769 from “Dakota”. In 1907 Michael Dwyer owned 80 acres
of land but, by 1917 that had been reduced to only 19.9 acres. James
had also moved to South Dakota by then and he too owned land in the
area in 1913; some 40 acres. Dwyer Land Holdings Pennington Co. SD -- Federal Land Records Bureau of Land Management Database
DWYER JAMES 07 001 S 004 E 015 19.9 251103 PA 598831 DATE 08/31/1917 DWYER JAMES 07 001 S 004 E 009 40 251101 PA 321119 DATE 03/25/1913 DWYER MICHAEL 07 001 S 004 E 016 80 272002 PA 4875 DATE 09/28/1907 Katheryn Dwer was also a land owner, owning some 160 acres, recorded with the Rapid City Land Office, with a title transfer issued on February 13, 1911; document number 012599.
age 10. It appears some of the family used the spelling from the old country ‘Dewyer’ and some the spelling ‘Dwyer’; but they were all of the same family. There was also another Dwyer from South Dakota in the American Civil War, though he is not listed on the databases. He was William S. Dwyer, certification number 76, 987 who received a military pension for a wound to his left hand. He listed his address at the time as being in Crow Creek, Buffalo County, South Dakota. His allowance began in October 1868 and he received $8.50 a month. James T. Dwyer, who was also born in New South Wales in 1843, and migrated to the United States in 1859, entered the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. James T. Dwyer was a Coxswain aboard the USS "Otsego". It is not known if he was related to Lawrence, Michael and James. Lawrence Dwyer died in 1902 at the age of 82 in Hill City, South Dakota and was buried in the Hill City Cemetery in Hill City, Pennington County South Dakota in section C Block 2 Lot 7 Grave 3; beside his wife who died at the age of 80. In 1911 James Dwyer, then known as ‘Jim’ Dwyer, was living in Salt lake City and had located and discovered what was referred to as the “famous Jim Dwyer Mine”; a gold mine. He had several partners working away at the mine when he was told that one of his partners had taken possession of all their bullion and was about to leave the country. James immediately went in pursuit, captured his partner that had stolen the bullion midway between South Pass City and Bryan on the Union Pacific Railroad. He was said to have had about all the gold any one man ought to have, but James with his gun in hand was said to have ‘lightened his burden’. James and his associates eventually sold the mine to investors from St. Louis, Missouri. Their selling price was never revealed. In 1912 James and his wife took a vacation in San Diego, California; where they spent the winter. The year 1913 found Michael Dwyer, one of Laramie’s oldest residents, a resident of Battle Mountain Sanatorium (sic) in hot Springs, South Dakota. Michael Dwyer, father of Joseph Dwyer who was then living in Lander, South Dakota, died of “Civil War apoplexy”, commonly known today as a cerebral haemorrhage or stroke in Hill City, Pennington County South Dakota on October 9, 1913; still residing in the State Soldiers Home in Hot Springs. His body was returned home aboard the train, accompanied by his son John, and his funeral was held in the old home place in Hill City. He was buried in Block 2, Lot 7 of the Hill City Catholic Cemetery in Grave 1. Death certificate number 36047. Michael has a headstone but it has no date of birth; it only says he was 68 years old. By 1920 James Dwyer was living in the Old Soldiers Home in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He filed on June 16, 1898, application # 1207898, as an invalid; Cert. # 989844, from South Dakota. 1920 US Federal Census, South Dakota, Fall River County Battle Mountain Sanatorium: Dwyer, James age 72 Naturalized, came to US in 1854, Naturalized in 1875. Born Australia, parents born Ireland. James Dwyer died on August 28, 1927 and is also buried in the Hill City Cemetery, Lot 7, Block 2 Lot 7 Grave 6. Also buried in the same grave is a second James Dwyer; presumably his son. There are many of the Dwyer family buried in the Hill City Cemetery; Name: ______ Birth-Death: _ Grave Info. Dwyer John
3-23-1912 infant child birth Marvel Dwyer
11-4-1984 35 C-18 2 3 Hill City War? cerebral hemorhage |
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Ancestry.com , 36047 Dwyer, Michael, 24, 10, 09, 13 Ancestry.com, U.S. Army Enlistments 1798-1914 Ancestry.com Civil War Pension Index 1861-1934 Bruce Cain, Kempsey, New South Wales Bureau of Land Management, Land Patent Records, South Dakota Cemetery Record Search, South Dakota Cheyenne Daily Leader, Wyoming newspaper, Sept. 29, 1875 Cindy L Brown, Wyoming State Archives Dwyer Brothers' Criminal Case Files, #226 & #227, Albany Co., WY TerritoryEllen Bishop, Rapid City, South Dakota Hill City Cemetery Records Historical Data Systems, Inc., www.civilwardata.com History of the Massachusetts 2nd Regiment Cavalry Keith G. Harrison, Past National Commander-in-Chief, Past Michigan Department Commander, National SUVCW Liaison to the MOLLUS Lander Eagle, Wyoming newspaper, March 24, 1911 Laramie Daily Sentinel, Wyoming newspaper, Sept. 18, 1875 Laramie Daily Sentinel, Wyoming newspaper, Sept. 27, 1875 Laramie Daily Sentinel, Wyoming newspaper, Sept. 28, 1875 Laramie Daily Sentinel, Wyoming newspaper, Sept. 29, 1875 Laramie Republican, Daily Edition, Wyoming newspaper, August 22, 11913 List of G. A. R. Posts in S. Dakota, South Dakota Historical Collections Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War Matthew T. Reitzel, South Dakota State Historical Society Northern Wyoming Herald, Wyoming newspaper, April 19, 1912 Pennington Co. SD, Federal Land Records Penny Postcards from Fall River County, South Dakota Pensioners in South Dakota, State Archives Rick Crume, Minnesota Sharon Lass Field, Wyoming Silas A. Strickland GAR Post No. 127 Records, Hot Springs, SD Soldiers and Sailors Databank, U.S. National Park Service South Dakota Genealogical Society Quarterly South Dakota Ghost Towns South Dakota State Business Directory,1909 South Dakota Death Index, 1905-1955 Sunday Morning Herald, Sydney, May, 2001 Suzanne Leonard, Wyoming Wind River Mountaineer, Wyoming newspaper, October 17 1913 Wilkinson (57th MA Inf) Mother, May You Never See the Sights I have Seen 1870 US Federal Census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Ward 7 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Wyoming, Sweetwater County, Strawberry prect. 1890 Special Union Veteran Census, South Dakota, Pennington County, Hill City and Tigerville, Sheridan Pct,: 1900 U.S. Federal Census, South Dakota, Pennington County, Tigerville 1910 US Federal Census, South Dakota Fall River County 1920 US Federal Census, South Dakota, Fall River County |
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