Last Two Veterans of the Civil War

       I thought because it being almost Veterans Day and the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War I would do a post about the last two surviving Civil War Veterans in Potsdam who are buried in Bayside. They are Melzar Corbin and Hosea Drake.

Melzar Corbin

   Melzar Madison Corbin was born May 10, 1842 in Cobins Corners in the town of Clayton to Simeon & Masbry Corbin. He came to St. Lawrence County and worked on the W.H. Wright Farm in Bucks Bridge. At the same time Melzar attended the St. Lawrence Academy.

     When the Civil War broke out he left the load of hay he was on and enlisted. Of the thirteen workers of the Wright farm who enlisted he was the only one who survived. Melzar enlisted in Co G. of the 106th NY. He was in 21 battles and was wounded three times.When Melzar was wounded in 1864 he clerked in the War Department in Washington D.C. He served throughout the war.

       After the war he married Helen Harriet Wright. Melzar and Helen had a son Aaron who became a Methodist minister. Melzar operated a marble and granite monument company. He died Apr 23 1934.

Photo of Melzar Corbin (Courtesy of St. Lawrence County Historical Association)

Melzar Corbin's Headstone

Hosea Drake

    Hosea Drake was born May 19, 1846 in Stockholm to Prosper and Alvira Ober Drake. He and his two brothers enlisted in the army. Hosea was the only one who survived. His brother Henry died in Andersonville Prison and his other brother Hiram died in Philadelphia in his way home after being wounded (gangrene set in). Hosea enlisted Nov 18, 1861 at age 15 in Co D. of the 92nd NY Inf. Hosea participated in many battles. He was wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks May 31, 1862. Hosea was one of the lucky survivors of the Petersburg mine explosion. Toward the end of 1864 he was transferred to the 96th NY. In January of 1865 he was promoted to Corporal. Hosea Drake was given an honorable discharge at City Point VA on Feb 6, 1866.

     Hosea was a farmer. He married twice, first to Sarah Harriman and secondly to Phebe Goulding. Hosea was one of the last of the old time fiddlers. When he died Jun 23, 1935 he had outlived six of his nine children.

Hosea and Phebe's Grave

Norton Brand

    One of the fascinating males who is buried in Bayside I have learned about during my research is Norton Brand.
     He was born in Fairbault Minn on May 5 1869. Mr. Brand received a law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1896. He practiced law in Minnesota and Washington for six years.
       In May of 1902 Norton Brand moved to the Philippines where he was chief inspector for the forestry department for two years. He also was editor of the Official Gazette which is a law publication of the Philippine Government for two years. In Manila he married Harriet V. Fritts Badger.
       After the Philippines the Brands moved to Canada. In Canada Norton taught school in Northern Alberta for four years. Later on he was a law editor in St. Paul, Minn and Chicago.
        Norton Brand served as American consul in the following places: Salina Cruz, Mexico, Ferni, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Brand retired in 1934. When he retired he moved to Potsdam.
        Norton Brand authored numerous books including: "Brand's Justice Code for the State of Washington", "The Mexico Southland", and "The Pastor's Legal Adviser" (which he coauthored with Verner M. Ingram who is also buried in Bayside.)
         Norton Brand died April 10, 1947. He was survived by Harriet, a son Robert a professor of languages at the Old Citadel in Charleston, S.C., a stepdaughter Eunice Badger who worked at the Potsdam Teacher's College, two grandchildren, and two brothers.

Brand Family Headstone in Sec E Lot 112