Indiana McCaslins

In the 1840 US Federal Census for unknown township, Johnson, Indiana, Hervey (recorded as Harvey by the census taker) has in his household one male under 5 (Joseph Bethuel), one male between 5 and 10 (Thomas Allen), two males between 10 and 15 (William David and Stephen Montgomery), one male between 30 and 40 (himself), one female between 5 and 10 (Rachel Amanda), one female between 15 and 20 (Mary Elizabeth), and one female between 30 and 40 (his wife Mildred B Montgomery McCaslin who is his step-sister). His farmstead is next to that of his Uncle, George King who is Hervey's father David Wasson McCaslin's half-brother.

In the 1850 US Federal Census for Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, 48-year-old Hervey (recorded as Harvey by the census taker) and his 42-year-old wife, Mildred have in their household their daughters, 24-year-old Elizabeth and 17-year-old Rachel E, and their sons, 20-year-old William, 15-year-oldThomas A, 12-year-old Joseph B, and 6-year-old George (age 6). Thomas, Joseph and George have all attended school in the past year.

In the 1860 US Federal Census for Franklin Township, Johnson County taken 12 Jun 1860, 57-year-old Hervey (spelled Harvey by the census taker)and his 47-year-old second wife, Sarah P[rice Carson Jeffery] McCaslin have in their household his sons by his first wife Mildred, 21-year-old Joseph B and 18-year-old George, his son by Sarah, 7-year-old Hervey, Sarahs 12-year-old son, James Carson and Ellen Jackson, a 16-year-old domestic. Joseph is listed as a farmer who has $3,000 worth of real estate and $500 worth of personal property.

But Joseph wasnt there on 16 Nov 1860, he was farming in Minnesota.

In the 1860 US Federal Census for Minnapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota taken on 16 Nov 1860, 22-year-old farmer Bethuel Casland [Joseph Bethuel McCaslin) is living with 55-year-old farmer Andrew W Oliver, presumably head of household since he is listed first, Andrews wife, 49-year-old Sarah, 9-year-old Frank Miller, 48-year-old clergyman James A MacKay and his wife, 49-year-old Sophrona MacKay and 20-year-old Margaret Mullen. The relationship between Joseph and the Olivers, Frank Miller, and Mackays is not known, Joseph is probably a boarder. The relationship between Bethuel McCaslin and Margaret Mullen is known as he left her a bequest during his service in the 3rd Minnesota Regiment, Company C. Miscellaneous records in the Recorder's office for Johnson County, Indiana, Book I page 14 have the following note: Joseph Bethuel McCaslin of the City of St Anthony, , Hennepin, Minnesota, age of 25 years mentions Miss Rachel Margaret Mullen of St Anthony, Minnesota, "my brother George and Sister Rachel Amanda of Franklin, Johnson, Indiana and father Harvey [Hervey] McCaslin of Franklin, [Johnson] County, Indiana.

Joseph enlisted in the 3rd Minnesota Regiment on 3 October 1861 which was mustered in by companies at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between October 2 and November 14, 1861. The regiment was sent to Kentucky on November 14, 1861. It remained on garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee until most of the men were captured by Nathan Bedford Forrest at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 13, 1862. Joseph was among those captured. He was paroled at Warren County Ferry 15 July 1862 and sent to Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri, where he was marked as present on 30 August 1862. The regiment was formally exchanged on August 27, 1862, and moved home to Minnesota, where it participated in the suppression of the Sioux Uprising of 1862. In September 1862, it participated in Col. Henry Hastings Sibley's campaign against the Sioux, culminating in the defeat of the Indians at the Battle of Wood Lake on September 23. At the end of the brief campaign, the regiment returned to Fort Snelling to reorganize. The 3rd Minnesota returned to garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee in January 1863 and remained there until joining in the Siege of Vicksburg until the surrender of the defenders on July 4, 1863. The regiment then participated in the campaign to capture Little Rock, Arkansas, from August 13 to September 10, 1863, and remained in garrison there after the fall of the city until April 28, 1864. Joseph became sick with dysentery and was sent to Indianapolis, Indiana to recover on 27 November 1863. He was back in his company and was sent on detached duty to Little Rock, Arkansas on 6 February 1864, which is probably the time he entered the hospital there. On 8 August 1864, Joseph died of dysentery in the General Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas.

He is buried in Little Rock National Cemetery, Section 2 Site 1907.

The 3rd Minnesota Regiment lost during service 17 Enlisted men killed in battle, and 4 Officers and 275 Enlisted men by disease. Total 296.

At his death, Joseph was due $100 bounty money. His effects, consisting of one pair of trousers, two shirts, 1 pair of shoes, 2 pairs of socks, one blanket, one poncho and a knapsack, were sold for a total of $6.75. It is not recorded in his complete Civil War Service Records who got the money .