(NOTE: Frank This probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Frank, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a CDV, like the one of Frank on this site, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and for their friends, in the 86th and back home. This CDV may very well have been made in Nashville, Tennessee c. 1863, but, I would like to believe that he had one made in uniform as well.
Frank This survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Frank probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see some more pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)

Corporal FRANK THIS (THISS), Co. A, 86th Illinois

Frank This (Thiss) was born in Manning, France on ___________ __, 1838, the son of Dominique This and Jeanne (or Jeanette) France "Jane" (Simon) This. Frank is believed to have had at least two other brothers, Charles and John.
Dominique and Jeanne are believed to have brought their family to America about 1851/52. They are believed to have settled briefly in St. Louis, Missouri, before coming on to Woodford County, Illinois about 1852. Stephen This, almost certainly a brother of Dominique's also came to Woodford County, Illinois about this time as well.
These are their families as they are found in the 1860 census of Woodford County, Illinois;
In Olio Township:
Dominiqie Teus 63
Jane Teus 60
Frank Teus 21
Dominique Teus 19
Victoria Teus 17
Felix 16

In Partridge Township, Woodford County, Illinois;
Stephen Theis M 56 France
Mary A Theis F 58 France
Eugene Theis M 20 France
Ahillista A Theis F 17 France

Now to continue with the biography of Frank This;
By 1862, Frank, Charles and John are all known to be residing in Olio Township in Woodford County, Illinois, near Eureka, Illinois.
On August 7, 1862, Frank, Charles and John all volunteered for service in a company which was being raised in the Eureka/El Paso area of Woodford County by William S. Magarity, who was the first Sheriff of Woodford County in the 1840's.

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report

Name THIS, FRANK Rank PVT
Company A Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence OLIO, WOODFORD CO, IL
Age 24 Height 5' 8
Hair DARK Eyes GRAY
Complexion DARK
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity FRANCE

Service Record
Joined When AUG 7, 1862
Joined Where OLIO, IL
Joined By Whom CPT MAGARITY
Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC
Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS CORPORAL

When Magarity had about 100 volunteers, he led the Woodford County company to Peoria, where they went into camp at Camp Lyons, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Magarity and 95 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. A of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Magarity was elected their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched through the streets of Peoria to the railroad depot and the war. During the next almost three years, Frank and the men of the 86th fought in numerous battles and engagements including the Battles of Perryville, Kentucky; Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; and Rome, Georgia. However, it was on June 27, 1864, during the assualt on Cheatham Hill during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia that the men of the 86th, and especially the men of Co. A, that they suffered most. On that fateful day, over 100 men of the 400 who made the assualt were killed wounded or captured in these that 30 minutes. Co. A had 39 men fit for duty that morning. All three of the Thiss' are believed to have been among these 39. Thirty minutes after the assault began, Co. A had 11 men killed, 9 men wounded, and 6 men captured. When the assault faltered, only 13 men of Co. A fell back unscathed, and they were all badly shaken by the decimation of their Company. Charles Thiss was among the killed. (Years later, the citizens of Eureka, Illinois would erect a monument in Olio Cemetery in memory of the Woodford County boys who sacrificed their lives during the Civil War in defence of their country.)
About a week after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Confederates were forced to abandon the Kennesaw Line and fell back toward Atlanta. During the next seven months, the men of the 86th, including Frank and John Thiss, fought in several more battles and skirmishes, including the Battles of Peach Tree Creek, Georgia and Jonesboro, Georgia; Marched with Sherman to the Sea after the Confederates gave up Atlanta, and then in the Carolina Campaign of the Spring of 1865, fought in the battles of Averysboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina, which prevented Confederate General Johnston from reaching Confederate General Robert E. Lee and helped to bring an end to the war. On June 6, 1865, Frank and John were among the approximate 350 to 400 surviving 86th Illinois men to be mustered out in Washington, D.C. Sometime during the war, Frank was so well thought of by the officers and NCO's of Co. A, that Frank was promoted to the rank of Corporal. So when Frank This was mustered out, he was Corporal Frank This. The Co. A men then returned to Woodford County and their families.
Frank Thiss was married to Hannah Sumners on March 22, 1868 in Woodford County. Hannah was born about 1848 in ____________, Indiana, the daughter of ____________ Sumners and ____________ (____________) Sumners. At this time, no children are known to have been born to Frank and Hannah. Sometime before 1880, Frank and Hannah moved to Livingston County, Illinois, where Frank is farming for a living. They are found residing near Forrest, Illinois at the time of the 1880 census. Later in life, Frank and Hannah may have moved to Fairbury, Illinois in Livingston County. At their passing in 1913 and 1930, Frank and Hannah's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Graceland Cemetery in Fairbury, Illinois.

by Baxter Fite

(Baxter Fite would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the Thiss family, who might be able to add more to the Thiss family biographies. Baxter would also love to get copies of pictures of all three of the Thiss brothers for their biographies and for the Woodford County Historical Society. Baxter would love to get copies of pictures of them in uniform, but until such photographs can be located, copies of pictures of them at any age will be greatly appreciated.)