Charles C. BOSWORTH, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in December, 1839, the third son of Daniel L. and Lydia (CASE) BOSWORTH, the father born in Oneida County, New York, and the mother a native of Connecticut. Of six children born to them, three only are living at the present time. In the spring of 1840 the family came to Iowa, locating at West Point, Lee County, where the father engaged in boot and shoe trade, remaining till 1853. In that year the parents moved to Washington County, Iowa, where they still make their home, and December 4, 1885, they celebrated their golden wedding.

Charles C. BOSWORTH received his primary education in the district schools of Lee County, and later attended the academy at Denmark in the same county. He subsequently entered the college at Oberlin, Ohio, where he pursued his studies for eighteen months, and was a member of the freshman class when the war of the Rebellion commenced. He then left college to enter the service of his country, enlistingin Company C, Seventh Ohio Infantry. After beingin the service about six months he was promoted to Regular Hospital Steward in the regular army, which position he filled till November, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. He then returned to Ohio and engaged in the mercantile business at Cleveland. From Cleveland he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in manufacturing vinegar. In 1868 he located in Washington County, Iowa, remaining there one year, and in February, 1869, he came to Ringgold County, settling in Tingley Township on the north half of section 11, which he still owns, where he followed farming, and for several years ran a dairy and manufactured cheese, remaining on his farm till 1882.

He was married in September, 1871, to Miss Sarah PRESTON, a daughter of Burnard PRESTON, an old settler of Ringgold County. They have three children - Ida C., Claude and Charles E., all born on the farm in Tingley Township.

Mr. BOSWORTH rented his farm, of which he is still the owner, and in 1882 removed to the town of Tingley, when he began dealing in lumber and coal, and is still engaged in the coal trade. he also owns a half interest in a drug stock and building. He has served his township as trustee, and has been school treasurer for sixteen years. He was elected and represented Ringgold County in the Iowa State Legislature in the eighteenth and nineteenth sessions [1881-1883], in which he proved himself worthy of the support of his constituents.

NOTE: Charles C. BOSWORTH enlisted as a Private June 20, 1861 at the age of 21. He was assigned to Company C of the 7th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He was discharged for promotion to Full Hospital Steward on April 5th of 1864. In the Union Army, hospital stewards were the lowest ranking member of the medical staff. They were noncommissioned officers who received the pay and allowances of a sergeant major. Although considered a member of the medical department, a hospital steward was part of the regimental command staff. Each regiment during the Civil War was authorized to have one hospital steward, often selected based upon the man's education, intelligence, and most of the time upon experience in medicine. A candidate for hospital steward was to be between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, and ablebodied. The candidate must be of good character, temperate, honest, reliable, and able to keep medical records. Temperance was an important quality since the hospital steward was in charge of controlling and dispensing medicinal whiskey.

Charles C. BOSWORTH was interred at Tingley Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. Charles' father Daniel Ladd BOSWORTH was born in 1813, and died April 1st, 1902. His mother Lydia J. (CASE) BOSWORTH was born in 1811, and died July 27, 1897. They were interred at Tingley Cemetery.

Charles E. BOSWORTH, son of Charles and Sarah, was born in 1880, and died in 1959. His wife Eva G. was born in 1889, and died in 1955. They were interred at Tingley Cemetery.

Civil War Hospital Steward Tent, Union Army

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 269-70, 1887.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Database

American Civil War Soldiers Database at ancestry.com

www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1339528921.html

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

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