You have an Elijah Thompson listed as a Civil War veteran from Jefferson County Company F regiment 20. That was my great-grandfather. I thought you would like an update as I sent for his records from the National Archives. He was proud of his service as both his and his wife's obituaries mention the fact he was a veteran of the Civil War.

His real name was Elijah Thompson Hurst -- there was an error in recording his name on the rolls. He was born November 3, 1845 in New Market, Missouri. Served in the Civil War on the Union side out of Illinois. Pension granted in 1920. Pension # 839900. He served from October 13, 1864 (entering at age 16) to July 16, 1865 when he was mustered out in Kentucky. He served as a private under Captain Milton Whinreys, Company F, 20th Regiment, Illinois Infantry Volunteer Service, record # WC 1.563.384. The pension records show his post office as Osborn? in Clark County, Illinois when he enlisted and a notarized statement from him regarding his name as listed in the service rolls states: ". . . that his true name and correct name is and always has been Elijah Thompson Hurst but in some manner his name was received and carried on the roll in the army as Elijah Thompson."

I don't know why he was born and raised in Buchanan County, Missouri (along the state line with Kansas) and was there in 1860 but was in Clark County in 1864 but then joined a company out of Jefferson County. There are 134 additional pages I've sent for hoping to be able to answer some of those questions. After his service he returned to Buchanan County, Missouri where he married in 1867 and started his family. About 1879 they moved across the Missouri River to the Kansas side where they lived until their deaths.

SUBMITTED BY: Marta Hurst