(NOTE: George Washington Truitt probably never sat for a portrait prior to the outbreak of the Civil War and during the 3 months that he was with the 86th in Nashville in the winter of 1862/63, George, spent much of this time sick in the hospital before his death. However, if he did feel up to sitting for a portrait to send home to the loved ones he left behind it would have come in one of two forms. There were the older styled cased pictures, known as "Tin types", and then there was a new fangled paper picture, which was called a "Carte de vista" or "CDV" for short. The CDV's, unlike the Tin type, could be printed over and over and over, so the boys could, inexpensively, purchase multiple copies, not only to send home to their loved ones, many of whom they were away from for the first time in their lives, but also to swap among their messmates and tentmates.
So if George W. Truitt did sit for a picture in Nashville, it was probably the only picture he ever sat for. If such a picture was made, there may be copies in the hands of descendants of the family, as well as in the hands of descendants of his messmates, tentmates and friends he served with in the 86th. If anyone reading this, has a copy of a photograph of George W. Truitt, I would dearly love to see it scanned and added to his Find A Grave Memorial for the benefit of descendants, the Washington Historical Society and for all with an interest in seeing the face of this veteran of the Civil War. Can you help in this matter? Thanks! Baxter)

Private GEORGE WASHINGTON TRUETT, Co. G, 86th Illinois

George Washington Truett (also spelled Truet, Truit & Truitt). The family Bible has his date of birth as July 30, 1818, though many records have him being born as late as 1821. George was born in Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio. Many descendants of the family believe that George Washington Truett was the son of John Wesley Truitt, who was born about April 5, 1797 in Surry County, N.C., and his wife, Susan (McCarty) Truitt. Others believe that George Washington Truett was the son of Thomas Truett and his wife Catherine (McCarty) Truett.
I believe, at this point, that Thomas Truett was married twice and probably had a set of children from each. Thomas definately had a son named George. Thomas Truett is known to have brought his family from Ohio to Indiana in the 1830's and to Woodford County, Illinois in the early 1840's and finally to Peoria County by 1850. Thomas Truett is believed to have died c. July 8/18, 1850 in Peoria County. This is the Truitt /Truett family that is listed in the 1850 census of the city of Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. The name was spelled Truet in the census, but, the typed copy available on the internet has their name spelled Trust. Here is what is found;
477 485 Trust Thomas 84 M None Delaware
477 485 Trust Catherine 41 F N.C.
477 485 Trust George 24 M Laborer Ohio
477 485 Trust John 20 M 200 Ohio
477 485 Trust Margaret 17 F Ohio
477 485 Trust William 11 M Indiana
477 485 Trust Thomas 9 M Indiana
477 485 Trust David 6 M Ill

From this record, you can see that Thomas definately has a son named George, but his George was born c. 1825/26 and I believe this is a different George than this George Washington Truitt. I believe they were related, but, I do not believe that Thomas was George Washington Truitt's father.

Within months of his death, Catherine (McCarty) Truet was married to Samuel Clifton. In Vol. 1, page 194 it is recorded that Catharine Truett was married to Samuel Clifton. This is License #1672 and the marriage occurred on ____________ __, 18__ in ____________ County, Illinois.

In the 1850 census of Peoria County, though the name is badly misspelled in the typed copy available on the internet, this is believed to be the William Drury and Susan (Truitt) Drury family as it is found not far from Thomas Truet listed above;

490 499 Downy Wm. 33 M Brick mason 1,500 Va
490 499 Downy Susan 22 F Ohio
490 499 Downy Rebecca 10 F Ill
490 499 Downy Geo. A. 4 M Ill
490 499 Downy Mary 3 F Ill
490 499 Downy Wm. 8/12 M Ill

In the 1860 census of Woodford County the following is found in Spring Bay Township;
Samuel Clifton 36 M KY
Catherine 49 F NC
Margaret Truet 24 F OH
David Truet 16 M IL

George Washington Truett is believed to have still been in Indiana in the 1850's. If he was in Indiana in the 1850, did he return there from Peoria after being listed in the 1850 census? It is believed that it was there that he was married to a widow by the name of Nancy Jane (Mortimer or Mortimore) Parker. According to the family Bible, Nancy Jane Mortimer (Mortimore) was born on January 10, 1823 and it appears that they were married in Fountain County, Indiana on either February 17, 1853 or February 5, 1854. James Parker and Nancy Jane Mortimore/Mortimer were the parents of;
1. Charles A. Parker, born April 17, 1845 in Indiana.

2. William R. Parker, born April 5, 1847 in Fountain County, Indiana; William R. Parker was married to Frances R. "Fannie" Smith on December 3, 1874; They may have had five children;
A. Annie Sophia Parker, born c. October 2, 1876
B. Reuben N. Parker, born c. October 12, 1878; married to Annie Hasty on July 3, 1898.
C. Hattie Parker, born c. Jan./June 17, 1881; married to Harmon Cook on November 13, 1898; Hattie and Harmon had children, Roasa M. Cook, born September 26, 1899; Shelby Cook, born May 2, 1901 and Nelson Leroy Cook, born March 13, 1903.
D. Walter Parker, born c. May 15, 1883.
E. Trecia Dora Parker, born c. January __, 1884 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; married to Robert Carr on December 4, 1906.

At the time of the 1880 census this William R. Parker is found in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois;
Self William R. Parker M 30 Indiana
Wife Francis Parker F 20 Illinois
Son Reuben N. Parker M 1 Illinois

At the time of the 1900 census, the following Parker family is found in Mackinaw Township Mackinaw Village, Tazewell County, Illinois. This W. M. Parker is listed as having been born in Indiana in March of 1849, his father being born in Indiana and his mother in Ohio. Is this our William R. Parker?
Head W M Parker M 51 Indiana
Son Walter Parker M 17 Illinois
Daughter Thresa D Parker F 16 Illinois

William R. Parker died on March 28, 1915 in Peoria County, Illinois. His death certificate, however, appears to list his father's name as Chas. Parker and his place of birth as Ohio. His mortal remains were laid in Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois.

3. Margaret A. Parker, born December 28, 1849 in Indiana; Margaret was married to John T. Francis on January 25, 1867 in __________ County, ___________. They had the following children;
A. Charley R. Francis, born April 26, 1868.
B. William H. Francis, born May 4, 1870.
C. David F. Francis, born September 24, 1871.

James Parker is believed to have passed away, probably in Davis Township, Fountain County, Indiana, sometime between September of 1850 and 1853.
On the 6 September 1850 federal census, Davis Twp., Fountain Co., IN is this family unit:
James Parker 38 Farmer Ohio
Nancy Parker 27 Ohio
Charles Parker 6 Indiana
William Parker 4 Indiana
Margaret A. Parker 1 Indiana
George W. Parker 15 Farmer Indiana
Lucinda Parker 13 Indiana
Francis M. Parker 9 Indiana
Aaron J. Parker 7 Indiana

Nancy Jones Mortimer b: 10 Jan 1823 OH, died:1 May 1900 Lilly, Tazewell, IL

Children with George Washington Truitt and Nancy Jones Mortimer:
-David Francis Truitt 1854-1860
-Hester Marian Truitt 1857-1929
-Sarah Catherine Truitt 1858-1940
-Samuel Thomas Truitt 1859-1859
-John Wesley Truitt 1861-1935

On the 7 June 1860 federal census, in Washington, Tazewell County, IL are three Truitt families: John and Hester A. Truitt, William and Mahala Truitt, and George and Nancy Truitt. This last family was of particular interest because of the following information. Because these names are listed consecutively, my assumption is they were brothers.

In the George Truitt family is
George Truitt 39 Labourer Ohio
Nancy Truitt 36 Indiana
Chas Parker 16 Labourer Indiana
William Parker 14 Indiana
Margaret A. Parker 12 Indiana
David Truitt 6 Indiana
Hester Truitt 5 Indiana
Catharine Truitt 3 Indiana

The first three children in this listing match the three children in the 1850 federal census of James and Nancy Parker.

By the way, both David F. Truitt and Samuel T. Truitt are buried in the Old City Cemetery, Washington, IL. David F. Died October 19, 1860 at 6 years of age. Samuel T. died September 30, 1859 at 2 months. If the tombstones are correct, and if the census is correct, then David, Hester and Sarah Catherine were born in IN and Samuel was born in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. Raises questions about the birthdate of Samuel Thomas also??

As state above, the family Bible appears to read that George W. Truit and Nancy J. Mortimore were married on February 17, 1855, but the last 5 could be a 3 making it 1853. Their first child, David, was born on January 5, 1855 according to the Bible in Indiana, making it doubtful that the George Truett that is found in 1850 in Peoria County in the Thomas Truet family is our George Washington Truit.
At least two more children were born to George and Nancy before they moved to Illinois sometime between 1857 and 1859. As seen above, at the time of the 1860 census, George and Nancy, her three children from her first marriage, and her three Truett children are all found in Washington, Illinois, Tazewell County. Following are the children of George Truett and Nancy Jane (Mortimore/Mortimer) Parker Truett;
1. David Francis Truett, was born according to the family Bible on January 5, 1855 in Fountain County, Indiana; died on October 19, 1860 at the age of 6; buried in the Old City Cemetery.

2. Hester Marian Truitt; born April 5, 1857 in Attica, Logan Township, Fountain County, Indiana; married William James Gridley on October 26, 1873 in Tazewell County; died March 3, 1929 at Streator, Illinois; buried in the Olio Township Cemetery, Eureka, Illinois.

3. Sarah Catherine Truett; born February 17, 1858 in Indiana; married Benjamin R. Lyon on March 12, 1873 in Tazewell County, Illinois according to the family Bible; Sarah died on January 10, 1940 in Streator, Illinois; buried in Riverview Cemetery, Streator, Illinois.

4. Samuel Thomas Truett; born on July 30, 1859, according to the family Bible; He was probably born in Washington Township, Tazewell County, Illinois; died September 30, 1859; buried in the Old City Cemetery, Washington, Illinois.

5. John Wesley Truett; born January 30, 1861 according to the family Bible. He was possibly born in Peoria, Illinois, but more likely in Washington, Illinois; John was married to Mary Colista "Molly" Corwin in 1879 in Metamora, Woodford County, Illinois.
Ten or eleven children are believed to have been born to Wesley and Molly, including;
A. Avis Boonie Truit, born March __, 1880 in Illinois. Avis was married to Bert Briggs c. 1898/99 in Wyoming and at the time of the 1900 census, they are found in Sheridan (excl. Sheridan city), Banner, Lower Prairie Dog Township, Sheridan County, Wyoming;
Bert Briggs Head M 26 Nebraska
Avis B Briggs Wife F 20 Illinois
Corwinn S Briggs Son M 0 Wyoming

Avis Boonie (Truitt) Briggs died on ____________ __, 1953 and her mortal remains were laid in the Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo, Johnson County, Wyoming. See her Find A Grave Memorial #102933555.

B. Charlton Truitt, born c. 1882. Charlton is known to have died in 1891. His mortal remains were almost certainly laid in the Old Ridge Cemetery in Newcastle, Weston County, Wyoming where there is a stone for a child Truitt, who died on January 15, 1891. This could be Charlton Truitt or Hazel Truitt, seen below, who is also known to have died in 1891. See his/her FAG Memorial #60837743.

C. Cecilia Nancy Truitt, born August __, 1883 in Nebraska. Cecilia may have been married to a ______________ Garretson. Cecelia is believed to have died in 1947.

D. Rex Truitt, born and died in 1886 in Nebraska.

E. Hazel Truitt, born ____________ __, 1887 in Nebraska. Hazel is known to have died in 1891. There is a young child Truitt, who died on 15 Jan 1891 and his/her mortal remains were laid in the Old Ridge Cemetery in Newcastle, Weston County, Wyoming. This could be Hazel or it could be Charlton Truitt, seen above, who is also known to have died in 1891. See his/her FAG Memorial #60837743.

F. George Edward Truitt, born December 17, 1888 in Nebraska, probably in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. George was married to Sylvia Aldrich on April 7, 1909 in Sheridan County, Nebraska.
George is believed to have had the following son;
a. George Rule Truitt, born Nov. 11, 1916 in Denver, Colorado, died on December 2, 1916 and whose mortal remains were laid in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery in Sheridan, Sheridan County, Wyoming. See his FAG Memorial #65872347.

George E. Truitt died on 16 Feb 1938 at San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. He is recorded as being born on 17 Dec 1887 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the son of John W Truitt and Mary Corwin.

G. Alice Katherine "Katie" Truitt, born April __, 1891 in Wyoming. Katie Truitt was married to Robert Claude Garretson on 10 Dec 1910 in Sheridan County, Wyoming.
Alice and Robert are known to have had at least two daughters;
a. Mary G. Garretson, born c. 1914/15 in Idaho.
b. Kathryn V. Garretson, born c. 1917/18 in Idaho.

Alice Katherine (Truitt) Garretson died sometime after 1917.

H. Albert Truitt, born ____________ __, 1893 in Wyoming. Albert died on ____________ __, 1894 and his mortal remains were laid in the _________________ Cemetery in _______________, Wyoming.

I. Gladys Gay Truitt, born July __, 1894 in Wyoming. Gladys G/ Truitt was married to Roy L. Schaiffer on November 24, 1912 in Sheridan County, Wyoming. Gladys is believed to have died in 1968.

J. Nellie M. Truitt, born February __, 1897 in Wyoming. Nellie was 1st married to Clarence W. Wagner on February 6, 1917 in Sheridan County, Wyoming.
Nellie and Clarence are known to have had at least one child;
a. Margery J. Wagner, born ____________ __, 1920 in Washington.

At the time of the 1920 census, Nellie and Clarence are found in Seattle, King County, Washington;
Clarence W Wagner Head M 28 Wyoming
Nellie M Wagner Wife F 22 Wyoming

Clarence and Nellie are believed to have been divorced in the 1920's and Clarence is almost certainly the Clarence Wallace Wagner we find who was born on 25 Dec 1890 in Parkman, Sheridan County, Wyoming, who died on 19 Dec 1965 in Los Angeles County, California and whose mortal remains were laid in the Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, California. See his Find A Grave Memorial #72153854.

By 1930, Nellie is found living with her father in Sheridan Wyoming and her name is listed as Nellie Michael, so Nellie must have remarried. Nellie is believed to have died in 1968.

K. Corwin William Truitt, born ____________ __, 1901 in Wyoming. Corwin W. Truitt died on 16 Jan 1973 and his mortal remains were laid in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney, Cheyenne County, Nebraska. See his Find A Grave Memorial #113387609.

At the time of the 1880 census, Wesley, and his family are found residing in Washington Township, Tazewell County, Illinois with his, widowed, mother;
Nancy Fruit Self F 56 Ohio Ireland Pennsylvania
Wessley Fruit Son M 20 Illinois
Molly Fruit Daughter-in-law F 20 Illinois
Boonie Fruit Granddaughter F 0 Illinois
Jason Corvin Other M 18 Illinois

At the time of the 1900 census, Wesley and his family are found in the city of Newcastle in Newcastle Township, Weston County, Wyoming. Wesley and Mary are recorded as having been married for 21 years and as having 10 children, only 6 of whom are living at this time;
Westley J Truitt Head M 39 Indiana
Mary C Truitt Wife F 39 Illinois
Cecil N Truitt Daughter F 17 Nebraska
George E Truitt Son M 12 Nebraska
Katie Truitt Daughter F 9 Wyoming
Gladys L Truitt Daughter F 6 Wyoming
Nellie M Truitt Daughter F 3 Wyoming

Wesley and Molly eventually moved their family west to Sheridan, Wyoming. At the time of the 1910 census, Wesley and Molly are found residing in Ward 1 of the city of Sheridan, where they appear to running a small boarding house or hotel;
John W Truitt Head M 51 Illinois
Mary Truitt Wife F 51 Illinois
Katie Truitt Daughter F 19 Wyoming
Gladdis Truitt Daughter F 15 Wyoming
Nellie Truitt Daughter F 13 Wyoming
Corwin Truitt Son M 8 Wyoming

At the time of the 1920 census, Wesley and his family are found residing in Ward 1 of the city of Sheridan, Sheridan County, Wyoming;
Wesley J Truitt Head M 62 Indiana
Mary C Truitt Wife F 62 Illinois
Mary G Garretson Granddaughter F 5 Idaho
Kathryn V Garretson Granddaughter F 2 Idaho

At the time of the 1930 census, Wesley is found residing in Sheridan Township, Sheridan County, Wyoming;
John W Truitt Head M 69 Illinois
Nellie M Michael Daughter F 32 Wyoming
Margery J Wagner Granddaughter F 10 Washington

Wesley died on August 27, 1935 in Sheridan Wyoming. John was a Switchman on the railroad for many years; John and Mary had 11 children according to the 1910 census; buried in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Now to continue with the biography of George Washington Truitt;
On August 9, 1862, 44 year old George Washington Truett and his now 18 year old stepson, Charles A. Parker, volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in the Washington, Deer Creek and Morton areas of Tazewell County by a local Washington Photographer, William B. Bogardus.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name TRUET, GEORGE
Rank PVT Company G Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence WASHINGTON, TAZEWELL CO, IL Age 44 Height 5' 8 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes BLUE Complexion DARK Marital Status MARRIED Occupation FARMER
Nativity GERMANTOWN, MONTGOMERY CO, OH

Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where WASHINGTON, IL
Joined By Whom W B BOGARDUS Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where CAMP PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DIED IN HOSPITAL AT NASHVILLE TENN FEB 19, 1863

When Bogardus had about 90 volunteers he led the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton volunteers into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Bogardus and 87 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. G of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Bogardus was elected Captain of Co. G by the men of the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton company.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Three weeks later, the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come.
After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from the State of Kentucky, while the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp. The first few months in the field was very hard on the green troops. The living conditions, the quality of food and the new army life was difficult and took it's toll on the green troops. The hospitals were full to the point of busting and hundreds upon hundreds died in Nashville during the winter of 1862-63.
Among the many men of the 86th Illinois who were sick in the hospital was Private George Washington Truett. In her attempt to get her young children dependants pensions, Nancy Jane (Mortimer) Parker Truett stated her husband died of an extreme case of Diarrhea. Whatever his ailment, the doctors were unable to stop it's progress and on February 19, 1863 at the age of 44, Private George Washington Truett succumbed to his ailment in a Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. His body was probably initially buried in a burying ground near the hospital. His step son was most likely there to see his step-father's body lowered in the grave.
There is a possibility that Charles A. Parker made have tried to make arraignments to have the body sent back home to Washington. However, it is more likely that he remained buried in this makeshift Union burying ground until after the war. If this was the case, then it appears that by the time the bodies of the Union dead in this cemetery were exhumed and transferred to the newly established Nashville National Cemetery, the identity of his grave had already been lost. If Charles, at some point, was successful in getting the body of his step-father sent home to his family back in Washington, then the location of his burial site is unknown and will probably remain unknown forever.
There are 4,131 soldiers buried in the Nashville National Cemetery whose identity were lost to time. It is more likly that the earthly remains of Private George Washington Truett, Co. G, 86th Illinois lie in a grave in the Nashville National Cemetery under a tombstone marked simply, UNKNOWN U. S. SOLDIER.
Private Charles A. Parker served on with Co. G and the 86th as the men of McCook's Brigade served in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Private Charles A. Parker was killed at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia on July 1, 1864. See his biography for more information about his service.
Nancy Jane (Mortimore/Mortimer) Parker Truett applied for and received a widows pension. At the time of the 1880 census, Nancy is found, widowed, residing in Washington Township, Tazewell County, Illinois with her son, Wesley, and his family;
Nancy Fruit Self F 56 Ohio Ireland Pennsylvania
Wessley Fruit Son M 20 Illinois
Molly Fruit Daughter-in-law F 20 Illinois
Boonie Fruit Granddaughter F 0 Illinois
Jason Corvin Other M 18 Illinois

Nancy died on May 21, 1900 at the age of 77. She is believed to have died at Lilly, Tazewell County, Illinois. If she did die in Lilly, she may very well have been residing with her son, William M. Parker, who is known to have resided in Lilly for some time. It is not known where her mortal remains were laid to rest.

by Baxter B. Fite III, Carol Dorward, of Washington, Illinois and ___________ Parker, of 701 Short Street, Smithville, Texas, whose husband is a _________ _________ Grandson of ___________ Parker.

(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the Truett (Truitt) family, who might be able to add to the biographical material we have on Private George Washington Truett and the Truett family. Though it unlikely that George lived long enough to ever have his portrait made, Baxter would love to get a copy of any picture which George may have had made if it has survived the years for his Find A Grave site and for the local historical societies.)