Rev. Orlando Keyes Joins the War of 1861, a.k.a. the Civil War

The Reverend Keyes was my paternal great-great grandfather through my father Howard Oswald Page/Paige (born Mason, Ingham County, Michigan), his father Charles Orlando Page (born Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan), and his mother the former Sarah M. Keyes (also born at Climax).

Orlando Keys was born May 9, 1824 in Niagara County, New York, to parents Lyman and Hannah (Frances) Keys. He married Lucinda Shook in Cambria, Niagara County, New York on May 15, 1845. She was born October 19, 1827, in Niagara County and was a daughter of Jonas (a.k.a. Johnathan) Shook and Anna LaRoche of Niagara County. Orlando and Lucinda were united by Moses Bairsto, Justice of the Peace for Niagara County, who later submitted a deposition verifying the fact of marriage, since there were no church or public records of the event.

The new family settled in Cambria, where they were living at the time of the 1850 federal census. Living in the household at that time were: Orlando Keys, 26, a cooper (i.e., barrel-maker); Lucinda, 21; Irena, 3; Lyman, 1; and Robert Brown, 16, also a cooper.

The Keys family moved to Climax Township, Michigan in 1851 and shortly after son Wilbur's birth, taking up residence near where Orlando's widowed mother Hannah (Francis) Keyes had settled around 1835. By the time the 1860 federal census was taken, all the Key(e)s children except Etta M. had been born. Also, an "e" had been added to the surname. Orlando was still listed as a "cooper."

The following excerpt is taken from the 1880 publication History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

West Climax Methodist Church-A class was formed at West Climax, at the Wilson school-house, by a local preacher named Orlando Keyes some time about 1858. Keyes was a cooper by trade, and lived on the northeast corner of section 17. Having the talent and the inclination, he spent his spare time in preparation for the ministry, and preached at various places in the vicinity of his home as occasion and opportunity afforded...

The Keyes family was living on a sixty-four-acre farm in Climax Township in 1864, the year Orlando joined the Army of the Republic. The following is his last Will and Testament, drafted shortly before he and his new son-in-law departed for their roles in the Civil War:

In the name of God, Amen, I Orlando Keyes of the town of Climax in the County of Kalamazoo and state of Michigan, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail life, do therefor make, ordain, publish and declare, this to be my last Will and Testament: That is to say, First, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, the residue of my estate, real and personal, I give, bequeath, and dispose of, as follows, to wit: (To my beloved wife, the land and appurtenances situated thereon, known and described as the Keyes farm, lying in the town of Climax, county of Kalamazoo, state of Michigan, now possessed by me, during the term of her natural life, and after her death, to be divided equally among my heirs; share and share alike). And further, in case of my release from the Army of the United States This instrument shall be null and void.

Likewise I make, constitute, and appoint Elijah Powers, of the town of Pavilion, state of Michigan, and Nelson Eldred of the town of Climax, state of Michigan, to be executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made; In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, this 12th day of September, 1864.

Orlando Keyes

Some history of the 12th Michigan Infantry prior to
privates Keyes and Powers joining its ranks

On January 14, 1864, the 12th Michigan Infantry left Little Rock, Arkansas, and started for Michigan. It arrived at Niles, Berrien County on February 1, where its soldiers were furloughed for 30 days. Prior to that time, the 12th Regiment had been involved in a number of military actions. Among the engagements were: Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee, April 6-7, 1862; Iuka, Mississippi, September 19; Metamora, Tennessee, October 5; Middleburg, Tennessee, December 24; Mechanicsville, Mississippi, June 4, 1863; siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in June and July; and the siege of Little Rock, Arkansas, in August and September.

The regiment reassembled at Niles on the 6th of March after receiving a large number of new recruits, and left on the 21st for Little Rock, where it arrived on April 1. On the 26th, it marched toward Pine Bluffs, Arkansas, and arrived on the 28thóa distance of 48 miles in two days. The next evening the regiment marched 12 miles in knee-deep mud as guard for an army wagon train under General Steele. On the 30th of April, it returned to Pine Bluffs and proceeded by steamer the next day to Little Rock. The regiment was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Dwight May.

For the next several months, the 12th maneuvered throughout Arkansas, engaging the rebel General Shelby on June 26. It returned by steamer to DeValls Bluff, Arkansas. But by this time the theater of war was moving to the east, and the regiment was discovering that its chief enemy was disease, not Confederate troops.

Rev. Orlando Keyes of Climax and James Powers of Kalamazoo enlisted in the Civil War for one year as volunteers on August 31, 1864. On Orlando's enlistment form he was detailed as being 40 years old, born in Niagara County, New York, and a clergyman by civil occupation. He was described as having hazel eyes, dark hair and dark complexion, and measuring five feet eight inches tall. The form was notarized the same day in Kalamazoo by William A. Blake, Notary Public. Rev. Keyes and 21-year-old James enlisted as Privates.

The next day, September 1, Private Rev. Orlando Keyes officiated at the marriage of his daughter Irene Hannah "Rene" to Private James Powers. Witnesses were: Daniel C. Powers, W. Scott A. Simmons (Winfield Scott Arthur Simmons), and Orlando's sons Lyman E. and Wilbur Keyes.

Privates Keyes and Powers mustered in Kalamazoo on September 5 and 7, and on the 27th in Jackson, Michigan. They then traveled to DeValls Bluff, where they mustered with the 12th Michigan Infantry, Company D, on October 5, 1864. On November 1 the regiment, still camped at DeValls Bluff, began an 8-month engagement guarding railroads; and on picket, provost guard, and fatigue duties, with occasional scouting by detachments.

The original chaplain of the 12th Regiment had been Andrew J. Eldred of Niles, but Mr. Savage held the post for a while until resigning near the end of 1864. ["Mr. Savage" was probably John R. Savage from Hudson, Michigan, who enlisted at age 34 and was serving in the 12th Michigan Infantry but was "Unassigned" as to Company.] On December 19, Orlando received and accepted a commission from the governor of Michigan, Austin Blair, to become the new chaplain. Private Keyes was dismissed at DeValls Bluff on December 26, and was the same day re-enlisted as Chaplain, for three years, to the 12th Michigan Infantry Veteran Volunteers. He was mustered at DeValls Bluff on January 7, 1865, and was that month transferred to Regimental Staff.

Chaplain Keyes was present for duty through May. On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of North Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. And on April 26, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his army to General William T. Sherman. In May, President Andrew Johnson declared an end to the conflict, and Captain Orlando Keyes submitted a request for a 30-day leave of absence.

Camp of 12th Mich. Vet. Infantry
DeValls Bluff, Ark. May 17, 1865

Lieut. Col. John Levering
Assistant Adjutant General
Department of Arkansas

Colonel—

I have the honor to apply for a leave of absence for thirty days based on Surgeon's certificate of Disability. (Enclosed)

I am Colonel
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
Orlando Keyes
Chaplain 12th Mich. Vet. Infantry

-Surgeon's Certificate-

Devall's Bluff Ark May 17^th, 1865

Chaplain Orlando Keyes of the 12 Regt. Mich. Vet. Vol. Inftry having applied to me for a certificate of Disability on which to ground an application for a leave of Absence. I certify that I have carefully examined this Officer and find him suffering from extreme nervous prostration and great debility, the result of a serious attack of Bilious colic. He has had several attacks of this disease in the past three (3) months and they grow more frequent and serious, rendering him incapable of performing the duties of his office. And I further declare my belief that he will not be able to resume his duties in a less period than thirty (30) days. It is absolutely necessary that he should have a change of climate and diet in order to prevent permanent disability if not to save life.

E. H. Coller
Asst. Surg. 12 Mich. Vet. Vol. Inftry, In charge
[Eli H. Coller from Waukeshma, Michigan-C.Paige]

The May 20 muster for the regiment listed Orlando absent with leave per Special Order #121 from Department Headquarters.

During Orlando's leave, the 12th moved by rail to Little Rock on June 6. Then on June 13 it began a march to Washington, Arkansas, arriving on the 21st. Two letters were issued from Michigan requesting an extension to Orlando's leave of absence: one on June 22 from Climax Prairie, by A. F. Seely, M.D.; and one by Dr. Isaiah P. Babcock (below).

Galesburgh June 24, 1865

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Rev. Orlando Keys, and on the 16th inst, he consulted in relation to debility of the general system, in consequence of which he had obtained a leave of absence for thirty days from his Regiment. I at that time made a presentation for him. I have this day again been in consultation with him, and find him somewhat improved, but not sufficiently to resume his duties as Chaplain to the 12th M. I. V. Volunteers. I am decidedly of the opinion that his term of leave of absence should be extended at least thirty (30) days, longer that is, from June 29th to July 29th, 1865. For this we ask if consistent with the regulations of the Department.

Isaiah P. Babcock
Physician & Surgeon at Galesburgh, Kalamazoo Co., Mich.

Chaplain Keyes was listed as present for duty at the times of the July and August musters, but it soon became necessary for him to submit his resignation:

Camp of 12th Mich. Veteran Infantry
Washington Arkansas Aug. 18, 1865

Colonel John Levering

Assistant Adjutant General
Dept. of Arkansas

I have the honor to tender the immediate and unconditional resignation of my Commission as Chaplain in the 12th Regiment Michigan Veteran Infantry. My reasons for so doing are urgent private business in Michigan requiring my immediate and personal attention, and a due regard for my health, which is seriously affected by this climate. I have been quite unwell since early last Spring and in May last with a Surgeon Certificate obtained a leave of absence for 30 days, from which on account of ill health I have but lately returned not having been able to do so sooner. Since my return I find that I am again affected the same as before visiting Michigan, and I fear by remaining that my health will be permanently impaired.

I certify that I am not now, nor have I ever been responsible for government property of any description, and that I am in no way indebted to the Government. To my knowledge there are no charges preferred against me. I was last paid by Major Johnson to include the 31st day of March, 1865.

It took a month for the letter to wend its way through the chain of command.

19 August	Letter forwarded and approved by Phineas Graves, Major, 12th Mich. Vet. Vols., Commanding Regiment, at Headquarters in Washington, Ark.
19 August	Letter forwarded and approved by Dwight May, Colonel, Commanding, Headquarters Post of Washington, Ark.
25 August	Letter forwarded and approved by J. A. Soward, Major Commanding, Headquarters US Forces, Camden, Ark.
6 September	Letter forwarded and recommended by J. J. Reynolds, Major General Commanding, Headquarters Department of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.
18 September	Resignation accepted per Special Order #117 at Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, St. Louis, Mo, by William T. Sherman, Major General Commanding, who forwarded the letter to the Adjutant General of the Army.

Orlando's son-in-law James reached the end of his one year enlistment and was discharged at DeValls Bluff September 9, 1865. Chaplain Keyes was listed as present for duty in the September and October musters, but was shown as "Resigned" in those of November and December. He returned home to West Climax in early December, at which time the Keyes family physician, Dr. Thomas Bradshaw, was summoned to look into his condition. The doctor later submitted a deposition regarding Orlando:

State of Michigan
County of Kalamazoo

On this 9th day of January, 1867, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County & State aforesaid, Dr. Thomas Bradshaw to me known to be a credible witness and a physician of good reputation for skill and integrity who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is a practicing physician in the County of Kalamazoo Michigan, that he was personally acquainted with Orlando Keyes who was a Chaplain in the 12th Regiment Michigan Infantry Volunteers, That he attended the family and was their physician before the said Orlando Keyes enlisted in the US service, that prior to entering the service aforesaid the said Orlando Keyes was a person of good health and possessed a sound and vigorous constitution, That (he) was called upon to attend the said Orlando Keyes immediately after his discharge and return from the service aforesaid and found him in a very critical condition and suffering from chronic Dysentery from which disease he died about 6 weeks after his arrival at his home, to wit on the 12th day of January, 1866, That he was present about one hour after the death of said Orlando Keyes, and saw him after he was dead, That his said disease of which he died was Chronic Dysentery and was contracted while in the service of the United States, that said disease did not exist prior to his enlistment and that the same was not induced or aggravated by the personal habits of the said Orlando Keyes. That the habits of said Keyes were uniformly good and were not of a character to induce sickness or disease. That I have no interest in the prosecution of this Claim.

Thomas Bradshaw M.D., etc.

Subscribed and sworn before me on the day and year first above written and I hereby certify that I have no interest in the prosecution of this Claim.

George Eberstein
Justice of the Peace

Rev. Orlando Keyes was laid to rest at a cemetery near Scotts in January of 1866. On March 6, the 12th Regiment was disbanded in Jackson, Michigan. The 12th had been mustered into service on March 5, 1862, with an initial strength of one thousand officers and men. During its four-year history, its membership had totaled 2,325 men, 52 dying of wounds and 380 of disease.

Orlando and Lucinda's son-in-law James Powers became administrator of the estate. By submitting various evidences, the widow Keyes was able to obtain a pension, Civil War Pension #89,426, with the help of E. W. DeYoe. (DeYoe was an attorney who made it his business to represent Civil War-related claims against the government for Kalamazoo County residents.) Among the people who testified regarding Lucinda's identity and who witnessed her signature to documents were: Solomon Francis, Jane Shook, Charles Shook, and John R. Milliman.

Lucinda's pension began as of January 13, 1866, and consisted of $20 per month (an amount which was later increased to $25). During the fifty-two years she received the stipend, Lucinda During the fifty-two years she received the stipend, Lucinda lived with James and Irene Powers and never remarried.

The war over, James returned to farming in 1866. Politically, he became a Greenbacker after first being a Republican. He was employed as a Climax Twp. teacher in 1865, 1867 (with wife Irene), and 1875. He was a school inspector in 1868 and 1875. As a Republican he was elected Highway Commissioner in 1871 and 1873, and Township Clerk 1874-76, but as a Democrat he was chosen as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Michigan in 1896. He was also elected by the 2nd District of Kalamazoo County to Michigan's House of Representatives for 1897-8 on the Democratic People's Union Silver ticket, and was an unsuccessful candidate for circuit judge in Michigan's 5th Circuit, 1899.

At the time of her death on April 5, 1918, at age ninety, Lucinda had outlived all but two of her and Orlando's seven offspring: Irene Hannah "Rene" and Lyman Eugene—incidentally their first two children. Irene and James Powers moved to Marshall, Calhoun County, Michigan, by 1920, where they lived with their youngest son and his wife Frank Glenn and Florence Maud (Cooley) Powers, but spent their last years in Seattle, King County, Washington, presumably with their eldest son and his wife the Rev. Jesse Daniel Orlando "J. D. O." and Esther Mary "Etta" (Kraft) Powers of that location. Lyman E. and wife Clara Jane (Dean) Keyes had settled at Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri in 1879, and finally at Clinton, Henry County, Missouri in 1891, where Lyman became the owner of the Keyes Mill & Elevator Company. She was also survived by six of her grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

For more information about Michigan in the Civil War, and for numerous links to other Civil War-related sites, go to Don Harvey's Michigan in the Civil War.

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Last modified: Monday May 11, 2009

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