Captain John Henry Lassell
Civil War

Captain John Henry Lassell

Captain John Henry Lassell was born 11 Aug 1829 in Lassellsville. He was the son of Daniel Lassell and Emeline Juliet Burnham. John married Elizabeth Fical on 19 Sept 1854. Elizabeth Fical was the daughter of Abram Fical and Nancy Goodemote of Lassellsville. John died 19 Mar 1919 in Lassellsville.

From Fical cemetery records: 
Lassell, Captain John H., Co. F, 153 NY Vol. 1829-1919. 
Lassell, Elizabeth, wife of d.1894, age 56.

John enlisted as a private in the 2nd Regiment Cavalry (Black Horse Cavalry) on 6 Nov 1861, organized and mustered in Troy, NY. The War Department changed its designation to 7th Cavalry on 18 Nov 1861. John mustered out 31 Mar 1862.

John re-enlisted as a Lieutenant,  2nd Lt. in the 153rd Regiment, NY Infantry, Company F.  This company was organized in Fonda, NY and mustered in 17 Oct 1862. John was mustered out at Savannah, GA on 2 Oct 1865. John was mustered out as a Captain at Albany, NY 16 Oct 1865.

According to his civil war papers: John H. Lassell, 2nd Lt, age 27, promoted to Captain on 28 May 1864 at Morganzia, LA.  He was a recruiting officer at Fonda and Ephratah, NY in 1862.

He was wounded at Camp Near Cedar Run, VA on 24 Oct 1864--abdomen slight (Letter from N. Leslie Snow, surgeon 153rd NYV).

Civil War Pension Papers: 
John H. Lassell, rank Captain, Co. F, 153rd Regiment NY Volunteers, date enlisted 18 Oct 1861; date discharged 16 Oct 1865; time in service 4 years, 4 days.

John was appointed postmaster in Lassellsville on 5 Aug 1880. Upon the death of his father, Daniel Lassell, he inherited the Lassellsville store.

John Lassell and Elizabeth Fical Lassell had one son, Brockway John Lassell, born 29 Mar 1861 in Lassellsville. Brockway married Perlia Melinda Drake on 2 Dec 1884. Perlia was the daughter of Dr. William R. Drake and Delia E. Dempster of Lassellsville. Perlia is buried in the Dempster Cemetery, Lassellsville.

John's civil war uniform can be seen in the Town of Ephratah Museum. More information and pictures can be seen in "Our Todays and Yesterdays" in the Town of Ephratah, vol II--page 44 and 201.

John's house is still standing in Lassellsville. My grandfather (Fay Bronk) owned the large home across the road from John Lassell's house.

John Lassell is listed as serving as Ephratah Town Clerk, 1859.

From 1869 Lassellsville Business Directory:  John H. Lassell, patent right dealer

1860 census, Fulton County, Oppenheim:
John Lassell age 28, teamster; 
Elizabeth age 22; 
Francis Still age 74 carpenter; 
Margaret Fical age 19 (sister of Elizabeth)

1870 census, Fulton County, Ephratah (Lassellsville):
John Lassells age 41 clerking in goods store; 
Elizabeth age 34 keeping house;
Brockway age 9.

1880 census, Fulton County, Lassellsville:
John H. Lassell age 50 postmaster;
Elizabeth age 44 keeping house; 
Brockway age 19 clerk in store; 
Malinda Crown (should be Crouse) age 14 servant.

John Lassell's grandfather was  William Lassell.  Lassellsville was named after William Lassell who owned the hotel -- which is still standing but now a private residence. William's son Daniel Lassell was John's father.

Children of Daniel Lassell and Emeline Juliet Burnham: 
Edward, Lydia A., Mary, Jane E, Albert, Helen A, Sarah Frances, John H., Martha Caroline, and Hannah.

John's sister, Helen A. Lassell married Ephraim Bronk (much is written about him- he was a surveyor, etc). Ephraim Bronk and Helen Lassell were born/lived/died/buried in Lassellsville. Helen and Ephraim were my great grand parents.

Submitted and written by Donna Bennett

Update: John's obituary published in the Amsterdam Democrat and Recorder on Tuesday, 1 Apr 1919, states that his death was on Monday. This would have given his date of death as 31 Mar 1919, not 19 Mar 1919. - sent in by Christine Emerson Moulton and double checked on www.fultonhistory.com.