Oregon, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in the Collection?
This collection contains the Grand Army of the Republic membership records of Union Civil War veterans for the years 1870 to 1930. The Descriptive books are arranged by Post name and number. The Descriptive books may list name, age, state of birth, residence in Oregon, occupation, date-rank-company-regiment of service and final discharge, cause of discharge, when mustered into G.A.R., status, and date of death. The collection is located at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland and is part of manuscript 1378. Oregon G.A.R. posts include:


 * Meade Post 2
 * Lincoln-Garfield Post 3
 * Sumner Post 12
 * US Grant Post 17
 * Hancock Post 21
 * General Compson Post 22
 * Shepardston, Post 25
 * Gettysburg Post 33
 * Reuben Wilson Post 38
 * Arlington Post 40
 * M.A. Ross Post 42
 * F. B. Sprague Post 46
 * Iuka Post 48
 * Benjamin F Butler Post 57
 * John Bucher Post 70
 * Wm P Dickinson Post 78

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records generally contain the following information:


 * Member's name
 * Residence
 * Birthplace
 * Enlistment date
 * Discharge date
 * Rank
 * Organization served in
 * Remarks

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The location or date of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page. br>
 * 1) Select Film Number
 * 2) Select Descriptive Books

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

For more tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * In case you need to find this record again later, copy the citation below in the Citing This Collection section. You can keep track of your research on this sample Research Log.
 * Use the name, enlistment date and organization to find the soldier’s military records.
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other county or Oregon Vital Records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in the United States Census, 1870 (FamilySearch Historical Records) or the United States Census, 1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records) or the United States Census, 1920 (FamilySearch Historical Records)  or the United States Census, 1930 (FamilySearch Historical Records).  Search the state censuses as well.
 * Use the information found in the record to find United States, Internal Revenue Assessment Lists (FamilySearch Historical Records).
 * Use the information found in the record to find Oregon Land or Probate Records.
 * Search for death or burial information in BillionGraves Index or at Find A Grave.
 * If applicable, search for immigration and naturalization records as well.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the infobox above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Related Digital Books

 * Roster of Posts 1886 Department of Oregon Grand Army of the Republic

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used. Below are the proper citations to use for this whole collection as well as for individual records and images:

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation:

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