Pvt. Walter Cheney (ca. 1890)
Company C

Walter A. Cheney was born on November 20,1848  in Fly Creek, Otsego County New York. His parents were William and Matilda Cheney. William enlisted in the Revolutionary War at the age of fifteen. He died in 1854 at age 93.
His mother also died when he was young and Walter was reared in Colebrook, Ohio by his half-sister until he was
thirteen. The Civil War was coming on, he enlisted in Captain Crowell's Company of the 105th Regiment of Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, but was rejected on account of age. He soon afterward enlisted in the 41st Ohio, but was
again rejected due to age. On September 13,1862 he enlisted in the same regiment and was accepted. This is
probably where he added the extra "E" in his last name. Immediately he transferred to Company C of the 125th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry which was organized in Cleveland. He mustered into service before attaining the age of
fourteen. He was the youngest soldier from Ashtabula County. He served in the 125th for three years and
twenty-six days, first as a musician, but after the Battle of Chickamauga he carried arms. He participated in
twenty-seven engagements, principal among those were Franklin, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Rock Face Ridge. He was wounded in the right leg at the Battle of Dandridge,TN.
On October 26,1865, 24 days short of his 17th Birthday, he was discharged and returned home. For five years
he worked as a carpenter in East Orwell,Ohio. After this time, he sold lumber in his own business. Facts are now
vague, but he served as Postmaster in East Orwell, Ohio from 1901 to 1912.
He was the organizer of the East Orwell Chapter of the G.A.R.
Walter Cheney died in 1924 and is buried in a small cemetary just south of the little town of Colebrook, Ohio.