My fourth great-grandfather, Bartemus Pack, lost his life in Shelbyville, Tennessee during the civil war. If I had to find one positive thing about Bartemus’ untimely death, it’s that at least we know his final resting place. He is buried in Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville. It’s on my bucket list of places to visit and once I do, I’ll add photos.

Bartemus was born in 1823 to Bartemus Pack Sr. and Mary Ann (last name unknown) in Warren County, Tennessee. It confuses me as to why some family trees list the elder Bartemus as the civil war solider, since he would have been in his late 60s at the time.

About 1842, at the age of 19, Bartemus Jr. married Mary Emaline (rumored last name is Hildreth) in DeKalb County, Tennessee. They are on the 1850 census, living next door to Bartemus’ parents and older brother, John. They had at least six children together: John, Mary, Bartemus III, Margaret Emaline, Margaret Manda Jane, and James. His wife Mary died in October 1959 at the age of only 38 from consumption, better known as tuberculous.

A few months later, Bartemus married Elvira Priscilla Melton on March 19, 1860 in DeKalb County. No, he didn’t waste any time remarrying, but that was normal then. He likely needed help taking care of the household and children. Priscilla, as she was typically called, was 14 years his junior, but judging from later records, I believe Bartemus and Priscilla shared a true connection. They had two daughters: Frances (Fannie) Nancy and Mourning Bartemus.

His brother John was Captain of Company I in the 35th Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War. He died probably from an illness on November 18, 1862. John might have inspired Bartemus, because a week later, Bartemus joined the 84th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry on November 25, 1862 at Smithville, Tennessee for a three year commitment to the confederate cause.

The 84th Regiment stayed near McMinnville until December 29th before joining the Army of Tennessee at Murfreesboro for the Battle of Stone’s River. The 84th was in the back of the battle and only had two casualties. The regiment was declared illegal in March 8, 1863 and went on to join the 28th Tennessee Consolidated Regiment.

However, muster rolls show that Bartemus passed away on either March 4th or 5th in Shelbyville, Tennessee, at the age of about 40. He was sick in the hospital on the muster roll for January and February of 1863. A logical conclusion would be that Bartemus was one of the many men who died from illness during the civil war.

On the 1870 census, his 25-year-old widow Priscilla is living with Francis and Mourning, and another Pack relative named Joseph. In 1880 and 1900, she’s living with her now-grown daughter Francis. She never remarried.

As for Bartemus, his final resting place is in Willow Mount Cemetery, among the confirmed list of the dead buried there. Rest in peace, grandfather.