David St. Germain was one of the first pioneers of Sherwood, Clark County.  He was he son of William and Madeline (Bruno) St. Germain and born October 14, 1832 in Canada when a Cholera Epidemic which claimed nearly 1,000 lives was raging in Québec.

August 12, 1862, David enlisted in the Union Army of the Great Civil War and was assigned as a Private to Company D, 31st Wisconsin Infantry which was primarily a troop of rural farmers.  November 14, his company was sent to Camp Randall in Madison.  After being relieved by the 30th Wisconsin infantry, the 31st joined the remainder of their regiment, who were mainly from the Milwaukee area, at Camp Utley.  The majority of his fellow soldiers were from the Milwaukee area.  These soldiers extremely strict discipline and numbered 878.  They left Wisconsin March 1, 1863 and arrived in Cairo, Illinois by rail and quartered at Fort Halleck where they belonged to the 6th Division, XVI Corps, Army of the Cumberland. They were on picket duty, provost duty, and also guarded steamers.  They had a number of skirmishes with guerillas, but fighting off disease proved to be their most difficult task. By August 30 of their men had fallen ill and died.  Sometimes only half the soldiers were able to report for duty.  Their fought in both Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee and following a train derailment at at Adairsville (near Kingston) on July 18th, which killed one of their men and injured 2 officers, they participated in Sherman's March to the Sea.  During the Siege of Atlanta, David's regiment was among the first of the Union soldiers to enter the city. Three of their soldiers were mortally wounded and twelve others suffered notable injuries.  After August 25th, they returned to the Chattahoochee Railroad Bridge and guarded it until Atlanta was evacuated.  During that battle, Company D lost Private Norman Sherman and Privates William Evans and M. Dunn were wounded.

They engaged in battle at Harrison's Field in Georgia and fought in the Battle of Savannah up to March 16th, 1865. From there they battled in Averasboro and Bentonville.  By the time they set up camp at Goldsboro, they were in desperate need of shoes and clothing.  Nearly 10% of them had marched one hundred and fifty miles without shoes.  During this time, it rained for 23 days. 

Grand Review in Washington D. C., May 23, 1865

They reached Richmond May 11, 1865, Alexandria by the 20th and were in the Grand Review in Washington on the 24th of May.  After nearly three long years, he received an honorable discharge and was mustered out June 20, 1865 when he returned to farming.

The Clark county survivors held their first reunion at the Hubbard House in Neillsville on the 9th day of October, 1866..

The Hubbard House was located where the Merchants Hotel was later built. At the time, U. K. Hubbard (better known as "Kale" Hubbard) was Landlord. During this first reunion W. T. Hutchinson spoke; there was a celebration supper, music and dancing. Subsequent reunions of the surviving members were held for two or three years, after which a re-union of the old soldiers, irrespective of what company or regiment they were attached to, or from what state they came, was for many years held on the 9th day of October at Neillsville. Some of them were elaborate affairs, a parade would be had, consisting of the local military company, and the old soldiers, speeches were made, and in general it was a red letter day in the calendar.  For many years, Major Geo. W. Hubbel, Capt. Geo. Austin and Capt. Thomas La Flesh mounted their prancing steeds and rode at the head of the column as it passed before the residents of Neillsville, Wisconsin.

After David's first wife died, he married Sarah Elizabeth Sparks ( 8 May 1839 - 17 Feb.1922) who was born in Sullivan County, New York, May 8th 1839, and was the daughter of James Freeman and Sylvia (Calkins) Sparks.  Sarah was married to David in Sullivan Co. on January 4, 1880.  They were the parents of two children, one daughter, Ascenith, and one son, David (b. Oct. 14, 1832).  They followed the Methodist religion and had a large circle of friends and were well liked.

David died August 4, 1912.  Ten years later, Feb. 17, 1922, Sarah Elizabeth died at the Marshfield asylum at the age of 83 years, 9 months, 9 days.  They are both buried in the Sherwood Township Cemetery in Clark County, Wisconsin.

Sources: Robert J. McBride's History of Clark Co., WI; History of Canada; Family Records, Clark Co., WI Court House records.

1900 Federal Census - Sherwood, Clark County, Wis.

Name

Relation

Race

Sex

Birth Month

Birth Year

Age

Martial Status

Martial Years

Kids Born

Kids Living

Birth Place

Father birth Place

Mother birth place

Occupation

St. Germain, David

head

w

m

Oct.

1832

67

m

20

Canada - French

France

Unknown

Farmer

St. Germain, Sarah S.

wife

w

f

May

1839

61

m

20

2

2

New York

New York

New York

Military Records

Name: David St. Germain
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Wisconsin
Regiment Name: 31st Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Company: D
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private