Puffer Genealogy

OVITT, Charles Fox

Male 1828 - 1887  (58 years)


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  • Name OVITT, Charles Fox 
    Birth 12 Nov 1828  Fairfax, VT Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Male 
    Milit-Beg 11 Sep 1862  VT Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Co. G. 13th VT Infantry 
    Milit-End 21 Jul 1863  Brattleboro, VT Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    _COLOR 11 
    Death 20 Jun 1887  Enosburg, VT Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Burial Bakersfield, VT Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Maple Grove Cemetery 
    Person ID I44373  Puffers
    Last Modified 6 Sep 2019 

    Father OVITT, Daniel Baldwin,   b. 12 Feb 1784, Milford, CT Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Mar 1868, Fairfield, VT Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years) 
    Mother FOX, Bazy Wallin,   b. 1792, New Hartford, CT Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 May 1841, Fairfield, VT Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years) 
    Marriage CA 1823 
    Family ID F16315  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 PUFFER, Samantha J.,   b. 16 Jul 1844, Bakersfield, VT Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Dec 1929, Fairfax, VT Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years) 
    Family ID F16054  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 17 Mar 2024 

    Family 2 FOSTER, Matilda Esta,   b. 29 Nov 1826, Swanton, VT Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Jul 1916, Enosburg, VT Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 89 years) 
    Marriage 1 Jan 1853  Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Children 
     1. OVITT, Edward Daniel,   b. 15 Oct 1865, Bakersfield, VT Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Aug 1867, Bakersfield, VT Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 1 year)
    Family ID F16314  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 17 Mar 2024 

  • Photos 2 Photos

  • Notes 
    • This comrade was one of the choice men of Company G. To know him was to love him. His royal good fellowship, his overflowing good cheer, his pleasant address, won all his comrades. He combined marked business ability with intense activity which won him success. Few got on in life better than he. He was quick to help a comrade whose necessities were greater than his. He sought them out and relieved them. As a soldier whatever duty was assigned him he did well and at Gettysburg he won the admiration of all his comrades by his unflinching courage and zeal. Nobody could question his patriotism. When duty called he did not shrink at sacrifice. He left his wife and children and a business that demanded his presence to succeed and entered the ranks with no ambition beyond serving faithfully his country. He had however, no strong hope that the Union armies would succeed in crushing out the rebellion. He would often remark, "The rebellion will never be put down by fighting." His sister and his brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Wells of Hutchinson Kan., have furnished me the following facts. Charles F. Ovitt, son of Daniel Ovitt and Bazy Fox, was born in Fairfield, Vt. November 12th, 1828. He learned industry and economy and acquired steady habits on his father's farm. But the farm did not content him. With a good business education he entered the mercantile life and began business in Bakersfield before the war, January 1, 1854, he married Matilda E. Foster. The fruit of their happy marriage were three children, Charles L., Eddie D., and Wesley Ray. Eddie died in early childhood. On retiring from the war he resumed work as merchant in Bakers field. His army comrade, H. H. Wells, was for a time associated with him. After a few years he left Bakersfield and settled in West Enosburg. Here he kept a store and ran a grist mill. Here he spent the rest of his life and accumulated a handsome property. He died at his home June 20th, 1887, after a long and painful illness from a complication of diseases contracted while in the army, yet he never asked for a pension and often said there were many others that needed it more than he. His wife and two sons still survive him. His sons are every way worthy such a parentage and training as they enjoyed. They are successful and respected business men in Enosburg and worthy members of the church. Charles is owner and manager of the telephone at Enosburg Falls and lives there; Wesley has inherited the mill and store of his father; both are married. Mrs. Ovitt still resides at West Enosburg with and near her children, enjoying a serene old age, happy in the memory of "ideal husband and father, a perfect moral character and a devoted Christian." Our Comrade's life long friend, W. O. Brigham, says of him, "I am intimately acquainted with him and prized him very highly. I usually tented with him and marched in the same rank. He was fearless in battle, generous and kind to all in need of help, ready to divide the last crust with those in need, but he had no patience with those who sought to shirk duty." His keen sense of justice was illustrated in this incident: "In one of our regimental drills early in our service, we were thrown into confusion and our guns were not in line. The commanding officer became very angry and cursed and swore at us and declared "we hadn't brains enough to make a monkey of." Ovitt was very indignant at such treatment. He determined to beard the lion in his den. He sought out the officer and told him, "The soldiers were not accustomed to such treatment at home" and in strong terms expressed his disapproval. The officer saw his mistake and apologized. "On the third day when Pickett began his charge we were ordered to move forward and lie down behind some rail breastwork which we had previously built and in this protected place load and fire, lying down. Charles was the first to jump to his feet and said, 'Boys, we are here to whip the rebels, so let's go about it.' He stood erect, loading and firing. Inspired by his example the whole company without command sprang to their feet and poured a deadly fire into the enemy's flank." Comrade Wells gives this incident: "After the enemy had surrendered, Colonel Randall called on 20 volunteers from the regiment to go and take in the prisoners. This was dangerous work for after the charge of the enemy failed the rebels opened upon us with their artillery. Ovitt was the first to volunteer. I was second, and 12 of us went and gathered them up. Upon this the Colonel ordered the 2nd Company to guard the prisoners to the rear. Upon that Lieutenant Searles of Company I ordered his company to go. Then I said, 'Your company does not happen to be the 2nd Company to-day.' Then Lieutenant Searles asked the colonel which company, by letter, he meant. He replied, 'Company G are the ones that took the prisoners.' Finally the honors were shared by both companies." In early life Charles joined the Methodist Episcopal church and continued an active and constant member till his death. Thus far his children have followed his example. Source: History of the 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers

  • Sources 
    1. [S538] Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908.

    2. [S213] US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, , 1861-1865.