Jonathan Davis Platts

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: 1 May 1861; American Civil War (North) 71st New York Infantry, Co. I Battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Gettysburg Siege at Fredericksburg, 2nd Bull Run.

Notes:

CITY’S LAST SURVIVING VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR DIES – Age 96.
Born Feb. 23, 1843 – Died August 4, 1939
Jonathan D. Platts, 96, Saw Action in Several Important Battles. Jonathan D. Platts, 96 and sole surviving G.A.R. man in Poughkeepsie and Dean of Dutchess County’s thinning ranks of the Civil war veterans died this morning at the home of Miss Jennie Wofford, 52 Taylor Ave.. Despite his advanced age, Mr. Platts has been actively interested in the Hamilton Sleight post and it’s allied orders. Mr. Platts was born in Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, He received his education in the country school there. Preceding and after the war he was employed a salesman, selling washing powders and household accessories and later specialized in the sale of hardware. He was the youngest of fire brothers who volunteered for service on May 1, 1961, not long after the Civil War began. He was 18 at the time and with the others he enlisted in Company 1, 71st New York volunteers, and was sent to Staten Island for training. His company saw plenty of action. It scaled the heights at Yorktown in April of 1862 and was in the thick of the fighting at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, two of the bitterest battles of the war. In the important battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863, Mr. Platts had one his many narrow escapes from death carrying water to the Union Troops, he crossed the Confederate line of fire without harm. He also participated in the siege of Fredricksburg, the last night of which General "Stonewall" Jackson was shot, and saw action in the second battle of Bull Run. Mr. Platts made his home in Highland for many years and moved to this city about 10 years ago. He is survived by two sons, LaCount Silas Platts and Frank Everet Platts of Brooklyn, a daughter, Nellie Platts of this city, one step-daughter, Mrs. Florence Wager of this city and a step-son, Bruce Bennett of Highland. There are also several grandchildren.
Mr. Platts was married twice, first to Sarah C. Barber in 1866, with whom he had several children and then after her death, he married Helen Bennett, a widower with two children whom he adopted.
(Poughkeepsie Evening Star, August 4, 1939 - Front Page)

Jonathan married Helen A. Brown in 1903 in New York. Helen (daughter of William Riley Brown and Sarah Ann Sherwood) was born in May 1860 in Liberty, Sullivan County, New York; died on 21 Sep 1932 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York; was buried in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]