Otto K. Laubscher: a Confederate in the family

 

Otto Laubscher was an interesting individual. His father George and Uncle Lewis served with a Union Regiment from Missouri during the Civil War. Otto served with a Confederate Missouri Regiment. Yet, after the war, and two stints as a POW, Otto spent the remainder of his life in the North.

  

 Otto K. Laubscher^1–2 was born in Jan 1841 or Feb 1841 in Michigan.¹ He died on 6 Jun 1916 at the age of 75 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey, United States.¹ Otto  was the son of George Laubscher and was born in Michigan in February 1841. Although the identity of his mother is uncertain, there is a possibility that she was Louisa Kimble, daughter of Uriah Kimble and Frances "Fannie" Bingham. A handful of family trees have his mother listed as a Kimble. At least two show Louisa as Otto's mother, but the surname listed as Lamshire. Also listed is a daughter Fanny, who died in 1888. Considering Otto and his father were separated by 1850, the likelihood od a sister is doubtful.

An Otto Kimble, aged 9, born in Michigan was living in the household of Otis and Sarah [Mericle] Newton in Marengo, Calhoun Co., Michigan in 1850. [1850 US Federal Census, M432_348, p. 162B] Newton was from Pennsylvania.

By 1860, Otto was in Fredericktown, Madison, MO working as a clerk and residing in the home of Frederick Herzinger, a merchant from Hesse Cassel. Otto's father was also a resident of Madison Co. at the time, working as a lead miner at St. Michael. [Fredericktown was listed as the post office.] [US Federal Census, M653_631, p.390]

Otto's father and Uncle Lewis elected to side with the Union during the Civil War. Otto opted to serve with the Confederacy.

He enlisted with the 1st Missouri Infantry as a private in Co. B at Memphis, TN on 1 July 1861. He gave his age as 25. Otto's record states that he was a clerk in Cape Girardeau, MO and enlisted in Fredericktown. [Two enlistment sites are given in the record. Otto's regiment may have been sent to Memphis after enlistment.] The 1st Regiment was consolidated with the 4th in November 1862. Companies B and D became Co. D in the newly formed unit. Otto was 5' 6½" with a florid complexion, dark hair and blue eyes.

Laubscher saw action at Shiloh, Tuscumbia Bridge, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Bankers Creek and Vicksburg, where was captured there on 4 July 1863. Otto was paroled on the 6th after signing a promise not to take up arms against the US again.

As did many paroled soldiers, Otto returned to his regiment and was with Co. D during the Atlanta Campaign. On 18 June 1864, Otto was carrying a wounded companion off the field of battle near Marietta, GA when he was captured by Union pickets. Laubscher was sent to the Military Prison in Louisville, he was discharged on 27 June 1864 and sent to Camp Morton, Indiana, arriving on the 28th.. Upon signing the Oath of Allegiance to the US on 22 May 1865 at Camp Morton, he was released.

After the war, Otto moved east. In 1870, he was boarding at the home of Charlotte Harris in Deerpart, Orange, NY. Charlotte's son, John, and the men boarding at the Harris residence, worked for the railroad. Otto was listed as a 25 year-old railroad flagman. [US Federal Census, M593_1067,p. 407B

About 1872 or 73, the ex-Confederate married Frances J. Shannon , daughter of Joel Shannon and Elizabeth Hatteras. The couple had four sons, George Marvin [23 Mar 1874], Charles Francis "Frank" [18 Oct 1876], Otto Leroy [21 Oct 1878] and Herbert Lester [19 Nov 1884].

If, indeed, Otto and his father were estranged, they had reconciled by 1880. George was then living with Otto, Frances and their three sons in Texas, Pike Co., PA. Otto was listed as an engineer in that census. [1880 US Federal Census, T9_1202, p. 209C]

The Laubschers were living in Deerpart, Orange Co., NY in 1900. Otto's birth was given as February 1841 and Frances' as September 1852. [US Federal Census, T623_1140, p. 6B, ED 0010] Otto was operating a vegetable market by then. The family had moved to Acquackanock Twp. Passaic Co., NJ by 1910. [US Federal Census, T624_904, p. 2A, ED 0059]

The 1915 New Jersey State Census showed a conflict in birth dates for Otto and son Herbert. Otto's birth was given as Jan 1841, rather than Feb. Herbert's was Mar 1884, rather than Nov. [Clifton, Acquacanock Twp., Passaic, NJ, L17_52]

The Port Jervis Evening Gazette [NY] of 13 June 1916 reported that Otto had died on the 6th of that month. He was aged 75 and had been a passenger conductor on the Erie Railroad. He was survived by his widow and four sons. Laubscher was buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Paterson.

Frances was still living as late as 1925, but was not in the 1930 census.

It is interesting that a young man who served with the Confederate Army during the Civil War opted to spend his post-war life in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

Otto K. Laubscher and Frances J. Shannon¹ were married circa 1873 in Pike Co., Pennsylvania, United States.¹ Frances J. Shannon¹ was born in Sep 1852 in Lackawaxen, Pike, Pennsylvania, United States.¹ She died after 1925 at the age of 73 in Passaic Co., New Jersey, United States.¹

  

 Sources:

1. "Public Member Tree," database, Ancestry.com (http:/www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 January 2018), "Hawks - McClennings -Hendrickson of Tusten, NY" family tree by Patricia Walker, profile for Otto K. Laubscher.

        2. Fold3, "Civil War Soldiers - Confederate - MO - 1st & 4th Consolidated MO iNFANTRY," digital images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 2 January 2018), Otto K. Laubscher service file