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The rest of the "Bloody Flag" story by James Boston

October 5, 2018

James Boston response to the national search for the "Bloody Flag' History" in the attached newspaper article photo.

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The following is an article from 2016.

The flag, which has 35 stars, was found in Washington, D.C., in 1885 and has been in storage at the Illinois State Military Museum. It was displayed at the state capitol in Springfield until 1922 and in the Howlett Building until 2003. Then, it was moved to a modern, climate-controlled facility at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, and placed flat in a drawer.

Four years ago, Reed, the president of the Streatorland Historical Society, began organizing a drive to preserve the flag and return it to Streator. On Saturday, it will be re-dedicated at a 1 p.m. ceremony at the Streator Public Library where it will be on permanent loan from the museum.

“This is local history that should be on display and not locked up in a cabinet,” Reed said.

More than $16,000 was raised for the restoration project that included cleaning the surface, stabilizing the paint and adding a cotton backing.

“This will be one of six Civil War flags now on display in Illinois,” Reed said.

The 6-foot-6-inch by 6-foot-6-inch flag will be framed and have a storyboard nearby, telling the story of Poundstone and the flag, Reed said.

“It’s going to be very nice and is now back in Streator where it should be,” he said. “For me, this story has everything. It’s one of our heroes from the Civil War and the story is fascinating and very intriguing to me. I’m just very glad and very proud that we could get this done right.”

Pawnee Republican newspaper article recounting history of the bloody flag

October 5, 2018

This article was recounted by James Boston. A bloody US flag  was found at the war department in 1885. No one knew its history except James.

Gladys Kite donates Quilt

April 19, 2017

Gladys Kite was the last of the Caroline Boston's maternal line that inherited the quilt. Here she is shown visiting with Jonathon Gregory of the museum via Face Time.

A Quilt of Honor

April 19, 2017

Gladys Kite (the last of the maternal line of Caroline Boston) was the caretaker of the quilt. Gladys decided that the quilt should be donated to the International Quilt Study & Museum in Lincon, NE for safekeeping because of its historical importance. Nebraska Educational TV recorded this event.

Western Sanitary Commission Nurse

January 13, 2015

Caroline went to her jusbands side at Benton Barracks Mo. after he was wounded at the battle Hatchie. She volunteered as a nurse and eventually was certified as a nurse by the Western Sanitary Commission.

Grand Army of the Republic

January 13, 2015

James - Member of GAR
Caroline - Member of WRS 

Smith Center Kansas

January 13, 2015

1900 Census Smith County, Smith Center Kansas

James Boston, Farmer, Owned land, age 66

Caroline Boston, Wife, age 66

In separate house hold George Boston, farmer, renting, age 41

Spouse Sarah Boston, Age 50

Son Clie (sp) age 13

Separate house hold Clarence (SP) born 1878, age 28, born NE, Farm laborer, renting

Nora Boston, wife, age 31, born Ne

Ethel Boston Daughter, age 8, born Ne

Marie Boston Daughter, age 5, born Kansas

Garnet, Daughter, age 3, born Kansas

Harry, age 3, born Kansas

1910 Census

James B, Boston, age 76 head of household, farmer

Caroline, wife, age 76

Clarence son, age 38, Farmer

1920 Census

Clarence R. Boston, head of household, age 48, farmer, Could read, born Nebraska

James Boston, Father, age 85

Illinois

January 13, 2015

1860 Census – Dekalb County Illinois

James Boston age 26, Farm Laborer, born Peru, Personal Property Value $300

Spouse Caroline Boston age 26, born Ohio, Housekeeper

Andrew Boston age 5, born Illinois

Frances age 3 born Illinois

George, age 1, born Illinois

Civil War

January 13, 2015

James enlisted January 1st 1862 in Summit County Illinois, Company F of the 53rd Illinois Regiment of the US Infantry

Wounded in the battle of Hatchie October 5, 1862 with a musket ball in the abdomen.

At the US General Hospital, Benton Barracks Missouri.

5’ 11 ½” Tall, light complexion, gray eyes, dark hair

Discharged April 6th 1864, unfit for military service on invalid corps

Homestead

January 13, 2015

Homestead Certificate No 344 – Application 392

Homesteaded NE ¼ Section 31, T1N, R12E Pawnee County, Nebraska July 1st, 1864 (Brownville Nebraska Land Office), Lived on the land beginning 1st of August 1864.

18th May, 1871 - Eben K. Wilson (Willson) and Stephen D. Percival attested they had known James Boston for Seven years and he was the head of family consisting of himself, his wife and children and he is a citizen of the United States and the is an inhabitant of the NE1/4 of section 31, T1N, R12E. He built a house thereon 16 by 18 feet one and a half story high, of hewn logs, with good roof, doors, floor and windows all complete a good and comfortable dwelling house and that he lived in the said house and made it his exclusive home from the 1st day of August, 1864 to the present time, and that he has since said settlement ploughed and cultivated about 40 acres of said land, and has made the following improvements thereon, to wit: Built a stable, fenced 50 acres for a pasture, planed an orchard of 150 fruit trees and planted 5,000 forest trees, dug a well and etc.

Proved up and paid in full and was issued a Patent for the Tract of Land (Beatrice Land Office). Patent delivered to S.B Percival June 21st 1873 – (note the back of the Patent)

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