Joy Howland Napier (also: Naper) was the son of John Nelson Naper and Betsey Elizabeth Goff. Joy's family accompanied his Uncle Joseph Naper to Illinois aboard the schooner Telegraph in June 1831, where his uncle established Naper's Settlement (now Naperville) on the DuPage River in July. Joy appears as a resident at the home of his parents at Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois, in the 1850 U.S. Census. Joy later relocated to California where he appears as a resident at Placerville, El Dorado County, in the 1860 U.S. Census. In 1862 he was in Los Angeles County. Joy Howland Napier (Orton: Naper) enlisted as a 1st Sergeant at Camp Drum (Wilmington), Los Angeles County, June 21, 1862. However, he was soon discharged to accept a commission as a 2nd lieutenant and mustered into Company I, 2nd California Cavalry, at Camp Drum July 20. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant November 27, 1862. Lieutenant Napier resigned his commission at the Presidio of San Francisco December 31, 1864 (Orton, 267). After the war he returned to Placerville where he registered to vote August 13, 1866 (1866 El Dorado Great Register). Joy worked as a miner and stayed in Placerville until his death in 1889. He was buried in the Placerville Cemetery. Joy was never married.
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His brothers, George Austin Naper and John Nelson Naper, were also Civil War veterans (Company K, 13th Illinois Infantry).
Joy Howland Napier (also: Naper) was the son of John Nelson Naper and Betsey Elizabeth Goff. Joy's family accompanied his Uncle Joseph Naper to Illinois aboard the schooner Telegraph in June 1831, where his uncle established Naper's Settlement (now Naperville) on the DuPage River in July. Joy appears as a resident at the home of his parents at Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois, in the 1850 U.S. Census. Joy later relocated to California where he appears as a resident at Placerville, El Dorado County, in the 1860 U.S. Census. In 1862 he was in Los Angeles County. Joy Howland Napier (Orton: Naper) enlisted as a 1st Sergeant at Camp Drum (Wilmington), Los Angeles County, June 21, 1862. However, he was soon discharged to accept a commission as a 2nd lieutenant and mustered into Company I, 2nd California Cavalry, at Camp Drum July 20. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant November 27, 1862. Lieutenant Napier resigned his commission at the Presidio of San Francisco December 31, 1864 (Orton, 267). After the war he returned to Placerville where he registered to vote August 13, 1866 (1866 El Dorado Great Register). Joy worked as a miner and stayed in Placerville until his death in 1889. He was buried in the Placerville Cemetery. Joy was never married.
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His brothers, George Austin Naper and John Nelson Naper, were also Civil War veterans (Company K, 13th Illinois Infantry).
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Aged 60 Years.
Gravesite Details
Damaged headstone needs to be replaced with a VA Civil War veteran headstone.
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