Individual biographical notes about each identified veteran, arranged by war and alphabetically.
Civil War
James Bennet, a Madison, Wisconsin resident who served in Company A, 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and Company D, 37th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Bennett is an older man in his portrait, wearing a suit and his G.A.R. medals. Bennett died in 1903 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
General George A. Custer, a Monroe, Michigan, resident who served as lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh Cavalry of the United States army. Custer also served as a general, leading forces to remove the Native Americans from land the government wanted in the 1870's. Custer famously died in 1876. This portrait of Custer does not appear to be one he sat for, rather a portrait done from other portraits and photographs after his death in 1876. Interestingly, the shoulder boards where his rank insignia should be feature the letters GAR, seemingly granting him an honorary membership.
Stephen Arnold Douglas. The portrait of Douglas includes a biographical and dedication note. The image was sent to the Madison GAR by a grandson of Douglas.
Ira B. Dutton, a Janesville, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company B, 13th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Dutton has two images: a carte-de-visite of him in his uniform at the time of his enlistment and a later, larger portrait. The later portrait is dated after Dutton changed his name to Brother Joseph Dutton and went to help those suffering from leprosy in Hawaii. Dutton lived for many years in Hawaii as a Catholic brother. Dutton joined the brotherhood several years after the Civil War ended, but remained an involved member of the Lucius Fairchild GAR Post in Madison, Wisconsin. Dutton is buried in Hawaii.
Samuel Dyer, a Wisconsin resident who served in Company I, 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Dyer is featured in the “Fortunes of War” photograph with McFarland. His grave card says the War of 1812, but I'm pretty sure that isn't right at all.
Lucius Fairchild, a Madison, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company K, 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and three-time governor of Wisconsin. There are two portraits of Fairchild. One is an etching, most likely from his time as governor. The second features Fairchild as a much older man, probably close to his death in 1896.
Oliver P. Gardner, a Beetown, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company H, 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Gardner is featured on a large copy photograph of a carte-de-visite or tintype. This image is clearly an enlargement, featuring Gardner in front of a back drop in full uniform, holding a gun. Gardner died in 1883 and is buried in Hurricane Cemetery in St. Lancaster, Wisconsin.
Henry/Harry Lovejoy, a Leeds, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company K, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Lovejoy is featured in a bust portrait with a short biography included on the reverse. He died in 1902 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
Lucy Lovejoy, a Leeds, Wisconsin, resident who was an active member of the Madison WRC Lucius Fairchild post.
Arthur MacArthur, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, resident who served in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. MacArthur is featured in a 3/4s length, 3/4s portrait image. This image features MacArthur from around the time of the Spanish-American War, wearing a uniform contemporary to that time period, holding a sword.
George S. Martin, Jr., a Mosinee, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company E, 18th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Martin is featured in a bust portrait with a short bibliographical and service note attached. Martin is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
William H. McFarland, a Raymond, Wisconsin, resident, who served in Company B, 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. McFarland is featured in a photograph of veterans with amputations, titled “The Fortunes of War”. McFarland died December 10, 1900.
John circa McFarlin, a Richland Center, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company F, 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. McFarlin's image is a bust portrait of McFarlin done after the war. McFarlin died in 1922 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
Charles Olson, a Verona, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company K, 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Olson's portrait is a hand-drawn oval portrait of a young Olson in uniform with his name and company written on the matting. Olson died in 1927 and is buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
Jeremiah M. Rusk, a Viroqua, Wisconsin resident who served in the 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and governor of Wisconsin. Rusk is featured in a small black and white etching with his name below him. Rusks' image is noteworthy for the two layers of glitter matting surrounding his portrait. Rusk died in 1893 and is buried at Viroqua Cemetery in Viroqua, Wisconsin.
Henry Scheler/Schler, a Madison, Wisconsin resident who served in Company D, 23th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Scheler is featured later in life in a charcoal bust drawing with his GAR medals on. Scheler died in 1910 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
Edward Charles Sprecher, a Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company G, 11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Sprecher is featured on an arched oval charcoal portrait. The image is in color and appears to be drawn from a photograph of Sprecher in uniform. Sprecher is seated with his forage cap, a “G” for Company G clearly visible, in his uniform. Sprecher died in 1909 and is buried in the Sun Prairie Cemetery in Sun Prairie.
Marcus P. Wheeler, a Windsor, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company G, 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Wheeler's portrait is an enlargement of a smaller photograph. He is featured standing for a portrait with his name and regiment written next to him. Wheeler died in 1898 and is buried at Windsor Cemetery in Windsor, Wisconsin.
Several photographs, both individual and group, feature the Women's Relief Corps, specifically the Lucius Fairchild post attached to the Lucius Fairchild GAR post in Madison. The Women's Relief Corps formed as an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, helping them raise funds, organize and hold functions, and doing charitable work.
Spanish-American War
B.F. Hart, an Oregon, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company G, 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The portrait of Hart is a smaller black and white photograph. Hart died in Jacksonville, Florida in 1898 and is buried at Prairie Mound Cemetery in Oregon, Wisconsin.
George H. Joachim, a Madison, Wisconsin, resident who served in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry as a major. Joachim is older in his individual portrait, in his uniform. Joachim died in 1938 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
Henry W. Quentmeyer, a Madison, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company G, 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment as a captain. In his individual portrait, Quentmeyer is older and in uniform. Quentmeyer died in 1905 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.
Alfred G. Thoreson, La Crosse, Wisconsin, resident who served in Company M, 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Thorseon is featured with his face turned profile in a bust portrait, dressed in a tuxedo. A note on the back of the painting indicates that Thoreson died of illness at sea in 1898 and was buried at sea.
World War I-World War II
A Portrait of Clare Leslie Wheeler. The image is in color and has the dates August 6, 1924-September 27, 1944 written on the back.
The Veteran Portrait Collection is arranged into three series: Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I-World War II. Images have been arranged by war, regiment, and then name of the subject. Included for identified portraits are brief biographies and descriptions. The collection was gathered for display by the donor and then donated all together, though the donor wishes to remain anonymous.
Civil War (1861-1910) include many individual images of veterans and family members, as well as group photographs of organizations and veterans.
Identified people are arranged in alphabetical order. Of note is the photograph titled “The Fortunes of War” featuring Samuel Dyer and William McFarland, both from the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, along with three other veterans with amputated limbs.
Unidentified images feature similar portraits to those identified. Two unidentified images are damaged chalk drawings, both featuring Civil War soldiers in uniform, posed in front of a back drop. The two soldiers are young-looking, with few identifying features. The other unidentified images are of older veterans, dressed in suits, often wearing GAR pins, badges or company insignia. Of interest are two portraits, one of an old veteran and one of a younger veteran, both wearing the star lapel pin of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment from the Civil War. It is unclear if these men are the same.
Unidentified women are two portraits of older women, one drawing and one photograph. It is likely that these women are either Frances Bull Fairchild, the wife of Lucius Fairchild, or one of their daughters (Box 4, Folder 3 and Box 7, Folder 8). These two women were likely included in the collection due to their relationship with Fairchild and involvement in the Women's Relief Corps.
Group images include a members of the Iron Brigade Association. The image shows older men dressed in suits and are identified by an Iron Brigade ribbon worn by the men. The GAR Memorial Hall Staff is also featured in a group photograph, including Hall Custodians Jesse S. Meyers and Hosea Rood. The staff in the photograph are all identified on the matt of the photograph. Another photograph is of the Lucius Fairchild Post of the Women's Relief Corps, taken at the GAR Hall. The women are posed in front of a wall of portraits, wearing the Women's Relief Corps pins. The panoramic photograph in the collection (Box 6, Folder 2) is of the Women's Relief Corps and Grand Army of the Republic gathered in the Hall for a combined meeting.
Reunions include two images, one at Gettysburg and one at Vicksburg and the 50th reunion of the Lucius Fairchild GAR post. The Gettysburg reunion features a group of men and women gathered behind two cannons at Gettysburg. Visible in the image is Lucius Fairchild, easily spotted due to his missing left arm. Next to him is most likely his wife, Frances Bull Fairchild. The Vicksburg reunion photograph is an aerial view of the encampment, featuring a view of the tents, amphitheater and several cars lined up. The group photograph of the Lucius Fairchild post features the veterans in a panoramic photograph with the event name written below them.
Spanish-American War (1898-1899) photographs are arranged alphabetically. All of the images within the Spanish-American War series are identified. Interestingly, there is one partially identified group photograph of Spanish-American War officers. Two of the officers are George Joachim and H.W. Quentmeyer, also featured in individual portraits.
World War I-World War II (1914-1945) includes only one identified portrait. One unidentified image is of a 1st Lieutenant of the 127th Infantry, 32nd Division from World War I. He is identified as such from the markings on his shoulder boards and collar. The image is a large, 3/4s, seated image of a soldier in uniform, and was hand-colored. A stamp in the corner reads Rue 7, Paris. Also unidentified is a copy photograph of an older veteran with no information within the photograph to help identify him. A group photograph of the Company Number 28, Detention Camp Battalion, Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, 1918.
