EDWARD PAYSON TODD GRAVESTONE PHOTO
South Kansas Tribune, March 24, 1915:
After several weeks of illness from a complication of diseases Comrade Edward Payson Todd answered the last roll call Sunday afternoon at the age of 78 years. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in July, 1837, and was taken by his parents to Joe Davies county, Illinois in 1845 where his parents were pioneers on government land. In 1862 he answered the call of “Father Abraham” for 300,000 men and was mustered in Company E, Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteers and saw service with “Pap Thomas” and was engaged in a dozen or more battles including Lookout Mountain, Atlanta; Franklin, Nashville, and served until June, 1865. He was an honored member of McPherson Post and Quartermaster Sergeant at his death. He came to Independence in 1875 with his family, following the family of his sister, Esther, widow of the late J. A. Funk and was ever a good citizen and a prominent member of the Congregational church. He is survived by his daughter, Elsie A., Mrs. Frank E. Stoops, and sons Rev. Herbert Todd of Thayer, and F. E. Todd of Visalia, Calif. The funeral was at home in charge of his pastor, Rev. A. B. Appleby and McPherson Post was present and rendered the ritual service.
Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas