Benjamin Stout had the distinction of being the oldest man to serve in Battery G.  He enlisted on January 12, 1864 at the ripe age of 67.  Although he was in Wisconsin as early as 1854, his residence at the time of enlistment is listed in company records as being in Chicago.  He was described as having a dark complexion, 5'9" tall, and by trade a miner.  He served until the battery was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois on Sept. 4, 1865. True to his name, and despite his age, he was present at every mustering (taken every two months) of the battery, during the entire length of his service.

He was born on September 13, 1798, and died near Darlington, Wisconsin in 1879.  Family tradition says he was born near Lexington, Kentucky, came north sometime before 1854, and was disowned by his family for his pro-Union sympathies during the war.  He and his wife, Ellen (Davis) (1828-1882), lay at rest in a small hilltop cemetery, just south of Lamont, Wisconsin.
 

SOURCES: Personal research by Carol Buttery; posted with permission.  Battery G muster roll information, as extracted by Linda Barnickel..

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Benjamin's picture and additional biographical information is available as part of the Illinois in the Civil War site.