A man with one of the more unusual first names was English born Appollos E Owen. He was nineteen years old when he enlisted at Hastings. He was mustered into the service on April 29, 1861 and placed in Company H. His name was recorded as Apollus E Owen. Due to the various spellings of his name during subsequent service, he probably didn't know how his name should be spelled. He was wounded at Antietam and subsequently discharged for disability on November 5, 1862. On March 13, 1863, he enlisted in the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers and was placed in Company F. Heenlisted under the name of Apollo Owen. He ws 21 at the time. He was discharged on Dec 2, 1863. On the now 23 year old, enlisted as a substitute. He became a member of Company A, 2nd Minnesota Infantry on Oct 24, 1864. This time his name was recorded as Appoles Owen. He was discharged from service for the last time at Louisville, KY, on July 11, 1865. He served a total of 2 years and 8 months in the three diferent units. Apollos was married in Hastings in 1866. They had several children. His wife died in 1912. The 1910 roster of the veterans of the First Minnesota lists him as residing in Hastings, at that time. He attended the 1913 trip to Gettysburg to commemorate the 50th anniversaty of the battle. Alphos, as he was known, spent the end of his life with comrades at the Soldiers Home in Minneapolis. He entered the Minnesota Soldiers Home in 1917. He applied as a veteran of the Second Minnesota Infantry, the last unit he served with. He died at the home on April 26, 1919. He was buried in Hastings. Sources: Roster of the First Minnesota Infantry, 1910. Roster of the Survivors, First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 1917. First Minnesota Association minutes, 1913. Application for Admission to the Minnesota Soldiers Home, Apollos E Owens, March 27, 1917. Burial Record, Minnesota Soldiers Home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
