William Lassey Mustered Out

Taps sounded and another veteran of the civil war is mustered out. William Lassey has been afflicted at his home, 720 West Laurel street, for long and weary months from paralysis and other difficulties, but death relieved him early Thursday morning, near 74 years of age.

His parents were English and located in Monroe county, Mich., where William was born. Before he was 31 years old the Civil War burst upon the country and William Lassey was among the first ninety-day men to respond to Lincoln’s first call and he went to the front as a Sergeant in Company A, Fourth Michigan Volunteers, and when discharged re-enlisted for the full term of three years, and saw the real war in twenty-three hard found engagements, including Bull Run, the siege of Yorktown, Hanover court house, Harrison’s Landing, the second Bull Run, Antietam, Shephardstown, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and many others where steel met steel. After the war he railroaded until 1878 wehn he located near this city in the Morgantown district. After the death of his father and stepmother he continued on the farm until in early 1890 when he with his sister Sarah, loyal to him until death, moved to this city.

Mr. Lassey was an ardent Odd Fellow and Grand Army man, and an honorable citizen. He is survived by his sisters, Sarah, Mrs. Mary Ellenger, Mrs. David Navarre and Mrs. H. E. Nessel of Adrian, Mich.

The funeral occurred Sunday, Oct. 31, 1915, from the home and was largely attended by I. O. O. F. local lodge, Encampment and Canton, may coming from Cherryvale, Neodesha, Parsons, Caney and elsewhere, and a large crowd of friends. Rev. Dr. Poe delivered the funeral sermon. Interment in Mount Hope cemetery beside the grave of his father.

From History of Montgomery County, Kansas, By Its Own People, Published by L. Wallace Duncan, Iola, Kansas, 1903, Pg. 386-387:

Lassey, William Bio

Since the year 1878, the subject of this personal review has been a citizen of Montgomery county, Kansas. Until recently, he maintained a leading position as a farmer in West Cherry township, but is now withdrawn from active affairs and is in modest retirement in the city of Independence.

With no attempt at extravagance in statement, the Lasseys have been aggressive Americans and have been a positive factor in our internal development. Wherever fortune has cast them, the members of this branch of the family have occupied a conspicuous place as citizens and, in peace or in war, duty’s first call has been obeyed. As artisans or as farmers have they led lives of usefulness, and with this brief reference to their position the life story of our subject is here narrated.

William Lassey was born in Monroe county, Michigan, November 20, 1841. His parents, William and Mary (Richardson) Lassey, were immigrants from Yorkshire, England, where the father was born in 1808. In 1833, the latter came to the United States and resided for two years in the State of Massachusetts, going thence to Monroe county, Michigan, where, near the town of Monroe, he erected the first paper mill built in the “Wolverine State”. He was a mill-wright by trade and was employed at this and in the operation of factory and farm for more than forty years. His wife died after their fourth child was born, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Jane (Inglis) Gardner, a Scotch lady, who bore him two children and died in Montgomery county, Kansas, in 1883. The issue of his first marriage were: William Jr., of this notice, who was the third child; Richard, the oldest, who died a Federal soldier in Libby prison; John, of Monroe county, Michigan; and Mary, wife of Harmon Ellinger, of Sycamore township. By the second marriage the two children were: Joseph H., of Cloud county, Kansas and Sarah, who resides with her brother, William. The father died in 1887. Mrs. Jane Lassey had two daughters by her marriage to Mr. Gardner: Jane, wife of David Navarre, of Sycamore township, and Marion, wife of Herman Nessel, of Monroe, Michigan.

As Mr. Wm. Lassey, Jr., approached his majority the great Civil War came on and when he would, in the natural course of events, engage in civil pursuits, patriotism prompted his enlistment in the army. He joined Company A, 4th Michigan Inf., three months’ men, in April, 1861, and was elected orderly sergeant of the company. He re-enlisted in August following and served continuously ‘till his term of enlistment expired in August, 1864, when he was mustered out of the service at Detroit, Michigan, after a service unusual for its rigor and intensity. He took part in twenty-three hard-fought battles, from first Bull Run down through the calendar, including the siege of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, New Market, Malvern Hill, Harrison’s Landing, Gainesville, second Bull Run, Antietam, Shepardstown Ford, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gainesville, Va., Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Bristow Station, Rappahannock Station and Mine Run.

On leaving the army Mr. Lassey engaged in the business of railroading. In 1878, in company with his father’s family, he came to Kansas, to build them a home, when Montgomery county was being settled up, and the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which has recently been abandoned, evidence the thrift and independence which the household has enjoyed. He is a Democrat in politics, a Presbyterian, an Odd Fellow and a member of McPherson Post G. A. R.