Picture and text about Nicholas Therry presented with the kind assistance of Jack Bantle of Athens, Ohio.

Most Probable Newspaper Source- Harbor Springs Owl

Nicholas Therry-

Passes Away

___________

Old Pioneer and Public Spirited Citizen- Member of G.A. R. - Funeral Wednesday

Nicholas Therry, formerly commander of the I.B. Richardson Post, G. A. R. of Harbor Springs, Michigan was born at Duchess of Luxemberg, Germany, April 1st, 1842. He came to America in August 1853 and on April 17th, 1861 enlisted in company H, 2nd Michigan Infantry under Captain Whipple.

He came to Emmet County in the spring of 1877 and to Harbor springs in the fall of 1879.

He passed away Monday evening at eleven o'clock. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon from the home. The Masons and the G.A.R. escorted the body to the cemetery.

The following interview with Mr. Therry relative to his military service which was given us several months ago will be of interest.

"I.B. Richardson was colonel of our own regiment and it was in his honor that our Harbor Springs post was so named. He was killed in the battle of South Mountain, Maryland. In my first battle of Bull Run my teeth chattered, my knees knocked together and my hair stood straight up. I was not scared, but I resembled the man afflicted with buck fever on his first hunt. As soon as we began our march, however, this feeling was entirely gone. Saw service in a good many battles. When Gen. Longstreet charged on Ft. Sanders I was on picket duty with another man. We had orders to hold our post as long as possible, one man would sleep while the other watched. I was sleeping when suddenly the watch wakened me saying "the rebels are coming." We, together with two or three hundred of our men were captured. We were kept for nearly a month under guard where we received fairly good treatment. We were then taken to Richmond and placed in the Pemberton building in back of the ware-house. There was a long floor on which men stood as thickly as could be. Jan. 1st, 1864 were sent to Belle Island, the day was frightfully cold. It has been said to be the coldest the country ever witnessed. We were given clothing and treated fairly well at the island. On March 15th, 1864 we were removed to Andersonville prison, GA where we remained until October 1864. We received inhuman treatment while there. Captain Wurtz, a Swiss was in charge of the prison. We made use of every means that human minds could conceive of, that we might escape. Inside the camp was band of raiders. They conducted their indecencies with so high a hand that they were finally removed from the prison. We organized a court with judge, jury and prosecutor. Six men were turned over to us and they were hung. There were two gates to this ***is the north* and* stockade there was established a dead line over which none dared step under penalty of being shot. We had formed a compact to aid in our escape. By night four or five hundred men would work in the effort to undermine a portion of the stockade. A one legged man finally proved traitor and so disagreeable did life become for him that he finally stepped over the dead line, that his miseries might end. Of course after this time, were not permitted to talk in groups. If a prisoner escaped food was absolutely denied the rest of the prisoners until he was found. I finally escaped at the time of Sherman's march to the sea. Our headquarters were changed several times. When I was removed from Charleston, I succeeded with another man in making an escape, by jumping from a moving train into a swamp. We lived in the woods and were given food by the Negroes whose sympathies were with us. The union forces came to the plantation where we were hiding and they told us how to reach our company and regiment.

I was discharged from service July 11, 1865. Was married in April 1867 to Louise Smith of Lowell, Michigan, J.N. Bradkley, Stephen Manchester, Charles Ingalls, Alphonso Ingalls and Mr. Drake were in my regiment."

The community life of Mr Therry has been very active. He has held nearly all of the public offices including village president, trustee, marshall, justice of the peace, member of the school board etc. He was one of the able leaders of the Democratic party and a standpatter.

It is with deep regret we lose such an active and respected citizen.

Those present at the funeral from out of the city were: John smith and wife Ada, Wm. Smith and wife of Lowell, Fred Brunner or Freeport, Mrs. Wait of Freeport, and Donald Smelaker of Hastings.