Are you a history buff who loves learning about past wars and historical events in Iowa from long ago? If you were to guess how old the oldest Civil War soldier was at the time he served, what age would you guess? Fifty, or maybe sixty? How about eighty?! That’s right, the oldest Civil War soldier was 80 years old at the time he served. That would be incredible even in modern times, but when you think about the state of science and medicine 150 years ago, it’s even more impressive. For instance, the average lifespan for an American born in 1860 was just 39.4 years old!
Believe it or not, Curtis King, a descendent of Pochahontas enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 80 years old. He was a farmer near Chillicothe, Iowa in Wapello County at the time the war broke out.
The first two companies he approached turned him down due to his advanced age. The Union Army's Iowa 37th Infantry Regime finally accepted him.
The 37th Infantry Regime was nicknamed the "Graybeard Regiment." All the men in the regime were over 45 years old, which was quite old by 1860s standards. As you can imagine, it was well past the typical age of those serving in the military.
The state of Iowa actually had to request special permission from the country's Secretary of War to form this regiment. The Hawkeye State was the only state to send such a tough, wizened old regiment off to preserve the Union.
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Iowa's Graybeards were organized in Muscatine and served from 1862 to 1865. These Iowa Civil War soldiers numbered 1,041 in total, and the state should be proud of these volunteers. They served by choice alongside their sons and grandsons.
He stood tall, particularly for the time period, measuring about 6 feet, 2 inches. Some of his uncles were reported to be around 7 feet in height! His paternal grandfather, who lived in Ireland, was said to have been 6 feet, 6 inches tall and lived to 115. Records show that King's mother died at the age of 103. This was impressive longevity, especially for the 1800s. There may have been a bit of exaggeration there, but in any event, Curtis King came from hardy stock. This likely explains why his fellow soldiers praised his efficiency and vitality even though he was 80 years old!
Curtis King was discharged from the army at the age of 81 due to an injury. Not long after, he passed away and was buried in the Williams Cemetery in Wapello County.
Today, the graveyard is better known as the Curtis King Memorial Cemetery after its most famous resident.
Curtis King's gravesite is able to be visited today. There's no monument or statue here, just a small little area with a tiny sign. The man that it honors and the regiment in which he served are anything but small. The courage and service of Curtis King and the others from Iowa's Graybeard Regiment should not be overlooked.
The cemetery is marked by a brown sign with white lettering that simply says "Historical Site." You'll see the sign on Highway 63, south of Eddyville, right before the Chillicothe exit. It's a small spot that's very easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled.
Were you familiar with the story of Curtis King in the Civil War? Have you ever visited his grave?
If you love reading about Iowa history, there’s a ton to learn about the Hawkeye State! There are quite a few wild facts about Iowa that you won’t find in history books.
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Lisa Sammons|December 08, 2022
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Iowa sent over 76,000 men into battle in the Civil War for the Union Army. Approximately 13,000 of them died during the war. As a percentage of population, Iowa sent more soldiers than any other state in the Union.
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