BRITTON STACEY, a well known resident of Elizabethtown, Ill., was born
near Gainesboro, Jackson county, Tenn., May 1, 1844. When he was about two
years old his parents removed to Kentucky and in 1852 to Illinois, locating
on a farm about twelve miles north of Elizabethtown. Here the subject of
this sketch grew to manhood, working on a farm in summer and attending the
public schools during the winter months. On July 4, 1862, he enlisted as
a private in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-first Illinois volunteer
Infantry, and was mustered in at metropolis City on September 16th of the
same year. He was engaged in the military operations on the Yazoo river,
fought at Hanes' Bluff, Arkansas Post and the siege of Vicksburg. After
the fall of Vicksburg he was taken ill with typhoid fever and sent to the
hospital at St. Louis, where he remained for seven months. He then rejoined
his command at paducah, Ky., and soon afterward the regiment was consolidated
with the Twenty-nith infantry at Vicksburg. For the next eleven months he
was at Natchez on guard duty, then to new Orleans, Dolphin's Island, at
the battle of Spanish Ford and in numerous minor skirmishes. At Spanish
Fort he was severely wounded by the explosion of a shell, the left arm being
so badly lacerated that it had to be taken off above the elbow. He was discharged
on Sept. 16, 1865, just three years after being mustered in, and returned
to the farm. On March 22, 1866, he was married to Miss Amy J. Tinsley, who
came with her parents to Hardin county when she was about thirteen years
of age. After his marriage Mr. Stacey engaged in farming about ten miles
northeast of Elizabethtown until 1881, when he moved into town. At one time
he owned 220 acres of land. Mr. Stacey is one of the stalward Republicans
of Hardin county. He was for twelve years a deputy in the sheriff's office,
having previously served eight years as constable while living on the farm.
He has several times been elected to a place on the town board and served
one term as mayor of Elizabethtown. He was one of the charter members of
Alexander Ragon Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Elizabethtown, and
has been commander of the post. He also belongs to the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor. As a public official he has won
the reputation of being a capable and conscientious one, and in his fraternal
organizations he has won popularity by his genial disposition and his ready
benevolence to those less fortunate than himself.
Submitted by H. C. Davis |