My Genealogy Hound

Matthew Lasley was born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1845, being a son of Matthew and Rebecca (Eakin) Lasley, who were born in Pennsylvania, and were married in Ohio, removing in 1870 to Cass County, Mo., where the father was killed in the storm of 1876. He was a farmer by occupation, and was township treasurer in Ohio for thirty years. His father, Jonathan Lasley, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio, the maternal grandfather’s (Joseph Eakin) death also occurring in that State, though he was born in Pennsylvania, Matthew Lasley, our subject, is the fourth of nine sons, eight living, and was educated in the common schools of Gallia County. In 1861, when but sixteen years of age, he joined Company H, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and ten months in the Fifteenth Army Corps of Tennessee, and was a participant in the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., the Georgia and Atlanta campaign, and was at the capture of Atlanta. He was captured, and, after being in Andersonville prison for two months, was being taken with others for exchange, but, finding he would have to return to prison, he made his escape, and was six days reaching his command, being all this time without food. Soon after reaching the Union lines, he was furloughed home, as he was almost dead from exposure, starvation, and disease contracted in prison. After remaining at home one month he so far recovered that he again joined his command and remained in the service, although not really fit for field duty, until the close of the war, being present at the grand review at Washington, D. C. A history of his army and prison life would be of deep interest, and many a time while making his escape from prison life to the Union lines, he would lie in fence corners for hours at a time, unobserved by the rebels, by whom he would be surrounded. He entered the service one of the most rugged and healthy men of his company, and came out almost a skeleton, and broken in health. He is a Prohibitionist in his political views, although he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1865, and was an earnest Republican for many years. Since becoming a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church a few years ago, he has made a thorough study of the Scriptures, and for about four years has earnestly devoted himself to the ministry and the cause of Christianity and temperance, and doing all in his power to suppress vice in all its forms. In March, 1867, he was married to Margaret, a daughter of William and Clara Coughenour, who were born in Virginia and Ohio, respectively, the father being only a child when he was taken by his parents to Ohio. In 1870 he removed to Cass County, Mo., but is now residing in Pittsburg, Kan. Mrs. Lasley was born in Ohio, and is the mother of three sons and four daughters. In 1871 Mr. Lasley came with his family to Barton County, Mo., and is now residing on a fine farm of 240 acres.