Elisha Hurt Sr. was born in the Spartanburg District, South Carolina on May 26, 1809. He was the son of Joshua and Sarah Davis Hurt. When Elisha was a small boy Joshua moved the family to Tennessee where his mother Sarah passed away. Shortly after his mother’s death his father moved to Kentucky where young Elisha spent his youth and grew into manhood.
On July 12, 1838, Elisha married Margaret Jane Lee who was a native of Morgan County, Virginia and was born in 1818. The following year in 1839, Elisha and Margaret moved to Pike County, Illinois settling in Barry Township near the village of Barry. That same year he purchased the northwest and northeast quarters of Section 24, Barry Township from his brother Berryman Hurt for twenty-five hundred dollars. According to the deed Berryman Hurt was a resident of Montgomery County, Kentucky when the deed was filed. There is no evidence that Berryman Hurt had been to Pike County, Illinois. One must wonder how he owned the land unless it was obtained through land speculation on an old military tract.
Elisha set to work building a home and improving his land until gold was discovered in 1849 in California. Leaving his family behind and being one of the first across the prairie. He had success early on which resulted in him constructing the first building in Placerville, California. In the years of the gold rush many men made their fortunes not in the gold fields but selling the supplies that the miners needed. Elisha soon followed this pattern opening a mercantile store.
By 1852 he left California and returned to his farm and family in Barry. That same year he ran for Pike County Sheriff as a Whig and won serving in the1853-1854 term. In addition to this he invested in opening and running a mercantile business in Barry until 1861. That year as the American Civil War began Elisha raised a company which became Company I, 28th Illinois Infantry. Elisha enlisted on August 27, 1861, at Barry, Illinois at age fifty for three years. He was sworn in the same day as Captain of company I. He commanded his company until his term of service had expired. At the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee he suffered a wound to his head but was able to return to the battlefield.
It is not surprising that Elisha raised a company and served his country. It was in his blood. His great grandfather had come to America from England and joined the continental army when the Revolutionary War began. His paternal grandfather was born in Virginia in 1782 and served in the War of 1812 fighting with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, Louisiana on January 8, 1815. Elisha had three uncles Jon, William P and John Smith Hurt that served in the Mexican War. John Smith Hurt would go on to be the Colonel of the 24th Kentucky Infantry (Union) during the Civil War.
Out of the twelve children (ten boys and two girls) Elisha had three sons that fought in the Civil War. Elisha Hurt Jr. enlisted as a private in Company F, 137th Illinois Infantry on May 5, 1864, at age eighteen for one hundred days. He was sworn in June 5, 1864, and discharged on September 24, 1864, at Springfield, Illinois. On May 27, 1867, Elisha Jr. would enlist in the United States Army at Jeffersonville, Indiana. He was twenty-one years of age. A clerk by trade with blue eyes, dark hair, and a fair complexion. His height was five feet three inches. He was assigned to the 45th United States Infantry, Company B. His record states that he deserted on September 3, 1868. The record continues by stating that he was released from service on April 21, 1892, under an act of congress approved April 11, 1892. This added notation to his record was due to his application for pension on April 11, 1892. His widow Carolina would file for a Civil War Widow’s Pension on October 30, 1920. Attorney George Wellington Chrysup handled the paperwork and filing.
Charles Henry Hurt enlisted as a private in Company G, 8th Illinois Infantry on April 20, 1861, in Griggsville, Illinois at age twenty for three months. Sworn on April 25, 1861, in Springfield, Illinois. Discharged July 25, 1861. Location not stated. Reenlisted in the new three-year 8th Illinois Infantry as a 1st Sergeant on July 25, 1861, at Cairo, Illinois at age twenty for three years. Sworn in same day. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant March 26, 1862. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant on October 18, 1861. Promoted to Captain of Company G October 28, 1864. Absent on arrest April 26. 1866.
John Moses Hurt enlisted in Company G, 8th Illinois Infantry at Griggsville, Illinois on April 25, 1861, for three months. Discharged July 25, 1861. Enlisted in his father’s Company I, 28th Illinois Infantry as 1st sergeant on August 27, 1861, in Barry, Illinois at age eighteen for three years. Sworn in same day at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois. Wounded at the Battle of Hatchie River October 5, 1862. Reenlisted as a veteran on January 5, 1864, at Natchez, Mississippi at age twenty for three years. Sworn in February 12, 1864, at Natchez, Mississippi. Promoted to quartermaster sergeant and transferred to non-commissioned staff no date given. Reduced in rank and assigned to Company B on March 15, 1865. Listed as deserted on June 30, 1865.
John was appointed Captain of Company C, 12th United States Colored Troops Heavy Artillery on May 3, 1865, and sworn in same day. He was appointed from the 28th Illinois Infantry. He was discharged on April 24, 1866.
Elisha Hurt Sr. passed away on August 7, 1888, of dysentery and kidney trouble. He was 79 years, 3 months, and 12 days of age. His funeral was held in M.E. Church with services being conducted by Rev. W.S. Calhoun. He was laid to rest beside his beloved wife Margaret who had passed away on May 6, 1886.