More information about this collection...

HAMILTON FAY, Senior vice commander of JF Reynolds Post, No. 98, department of California; was born in Muscatine, IA, December 3 1841; is a son of Pliny Fay, who was a prominent and respected citizen and druggist of that city. Enlisted, September 18, 1862, in the 35th Iowa Infantry; served as private, corporal, and sergeant; was attached to the Seventeenth Army Corps, and took part in the battles at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Tupelo, Shreveport, Jackson, Nashville, Spanish Fort and mobile, and many skirmishes; was slightly wounded in the side by a ball at Vicksburg, while on skirmish duty; marched in different parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Kansas, covering in all about 3,000 miles of marching under the leadership of Generals Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Rosecrans, Banks and Canby. Comrade Fay is at present a resident of Santa Cruz, Cal, where he is engaged in the drug business.

Unidentified Santa Cruz Newspaper (January 7, 1913) Contributed by Phil Reader

Passing H. Fay

Hamilton Fay, who passed away yesterday, died as a result of a fall. On Saturday afternoon he fell, and after 2 o'clock Sunday morning he became unconscious and never regained consciousness.

For 37 years he has been one of the well-known residents of this community and has been identified with its life, as he came here 1875.

He was a son of the late Pliny Fay, for a number of years a highly esteemed resident, and was born in Muscatine, Iowa, and enlisted when under 20 years of age and served in the Civil War for three years, and for many years has been a member of Wallace Reynolds Post, G.A.R.

He succeeded his father in the drug business, with whom he was associated until a few years ago.

Mr. Fay was a pioneer pharmacist of this city, and of late has been in the Dr. Walter Johnston drug store on the East Side.

Mr. Fay, besides being a member of the G.A.R., has been a member of the San Lorenzo Lodge of the Odd Fellows and of the A.O.U.W. and has been an office holder in both orders.

When a young man he united with the Congregational church and was at one time a deacon in the local church, where he was a regular attendant.

He leaves a wife, who as Miss Ella Howe, he married when she was one of the teachers of the local schools. They were married on July 17 1877, at the residence of Dr. C. L. Anderson on Front street, and on Oct 7, 1877, moved into their present home on Riverside avenue, where they have since resided.

Date of Birth: 1841-12-03

Date of Death: 1913-06-01

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Santa Cruz Memorial Park

Plot: A82

Mortuary: W&S

Cause of Death: Acdt/Fall

Date of Marriage: 1877/07/17

Spouse: Howe_ Ella

Occupation: Druggist

Religion: Co

Height: 6'0

Complexion: Dk

Eye Color: Gr

Hair Color: Dk

Local Address: Riverside 17

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: IA

Father Native of: Pliny (NY)

Mother Native of: St.John_ Adelia (NY)

Enlisted: 1862/08/13

Discharged: 1865/08/10

Military Unit: IA_ 35 Inf_ Co D

Rank: Sgt

Military Notes: R-Muscatne_ M/O-Davenport

GAR#: R98

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: JFR 1886 Roster