Courtesy of Nancy Benton.
Retouched.
Tinted.
This photo of Elizabeth, a daguerreotype, would have been taken somewhere in the late 1840s to about 1850. Perhaps it was made in 1848, at the time of her husband’s death. Or was it made not long before her own death? Sadly, it is a solo portrait and doesn’t show her with her two sons.
Elizabeth Noyes, b. 1819 March 22 in New York, died 1850 Sep 11 in Michigan, was the daughter of James Noyes and Sally Marble.
On December 24, 1835, in Kalamazoo, Michigan Elizabeth married Daniel A. Lovett. The family record shows them as having had two children:
- William Lovett (so given in family but is John William Lovett) b. abt. 1839 in Michigan. Though family gave him as marching with Sherman, and dying, I believe he may have married a Mary E. who was born about 1847 in Michigan. The 1880 Colon, St. Joseph, Michigan census shows them with a child, Luna E. b. abt. 1867.
- Frank Lovett (so given in family but is James Frank Lovett) b. 1841 in Michigan. Family gave him as marching with Sherman in the Civil War. I think he may have been the one who died. More info below.
Daniel Lovett’s tombstone at Gourdneck Prairie Cemetery shows him as having died May 11 1848 at the age of 31 years and 5 months.
Elizabeth, too, is buried at Gourdneck Prairie Cemetery in Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The 1840 census shows them in Brady living beside a John Lovett who I assume was Daniel’s father.
1840 Brady, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Daniel A. LOVETT 1 – – – 1 / – – – – 1
John LOVETT – – – – 1 – – 1/ 1 – 1 2
The 1850 KALAMAZOO SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP MICHIGAN CENSUS shows at household 1332/1346 an Elizabeth LOVETT, 31, $1000, b. NY, with John W. 11 and James F. 9, both born in MI. Living also in the household is Malissa NOYES (Melissa), 14, b. MI. Melissa is her sister and was perhaps there to assist her. The census was taken August 14 or 19th so Elizabeth died shortly thereafter. A few households up live Freeman and Susan WATERS, 22 and 23, both born NY. Freeman is perhaps a relative of Susan WATERS who was father James NOYES’ 2nd wife.
John Lovett, who I assume is Daniel’s father, is living not far away in the household of a Samuel Lovett, likely a brother of Daniel.
The two sons being orphaned with the death of Elizabeth were quite young and must have been taken in by family, but I don’t know who. I’ve been unable to locate them thus far in the 1860 census.
1850 Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo, Michigan
1332/1346
LOVETT Elizabeth 31 $1000 b. NY
John W. 11 b. Michigan
James F. 9 b. Michigan
NOYES Malissa 14 b. Michigan
…
1341/1325 Samuel LOVETT 33 Farmer $1000 VA
Amanda 30 NY
Edna 3 MI
Lina 6/12 MI
John LOVETT 62 VA
I’ve been unable to locate John William Lovett in 1860 or 1870. I don’t locate James Frank either.
Ancestry military databases don’t show a John or William Lovett from Michigan enlisting in the Civil War. It does show, however, a James T., who I think is our James Frank, and he didn’t survive the war.
Name: James T Lovett
Residence: Centreville, Michigan
Age at Enlistment: 20
Enlistment Date: 24 Aug 1861
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Centreville, MI
State Served: Michigan
Survived the War?: No
Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, Michigan 11th Infantry Regiment on 24 Aug 1861.
Mustered out on 20 Sep 1863 at Chickamauga, GA.
Birth Date: abt 1841
Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65Name: James T. Lovett
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Michigan
Regiment Name: 11 Michigan Infantry (1st Organization)
Regiment Name Expanded: 11th Regiment, Michigan Infantry (1st organization)
Company: A
Rank In: Sergeant
Rank In Expanded: Sergeant
Rank Out: Sergeant
Rank Out Expanded: Sergeant
These men did march with Sherman, as shown in a history on them from michiganinthewar.org
The Eleventh was recruited at White Pigeon, the several companies being mustered into United States service at different dates, but the organization was completed Sept.24, 1861, with an enrollment of 1000 officers and men.
The Regiment left its rendezvous Dec. 9, 1861 for Kentucky, and remained during the winter at Bardstown. During the spring of 1862 the Eleventh was occupied in guarding the Nashville and Louisville railroad, then in July made a series of long marches in pursuit of the Confederate raider John Morgan, being a part of the force that defeated Morgan at Gallatin, Tenn., on the 13th of August. Upon its return to Nashville, it was assigned to Negley’s Division rendering valuable assistance in fortifying that city so it was impregnable to the attack of the opposing forces. Colonel May resigned April 1, 1862, with Lieutenant Colonel Stoughton being commissioned Colonel on that same date. The Regiment under his command was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division of the 14th Corp.
The Eleventh participated in the advance upon Murfreesboro and was in the fiercest fighting at Stone River. Negley’s Division, the Second, was in the center of the Union line which was stoutly assailed by the Confederates in such overwhelming numbers as to force it back toward Murfreesboro Pike. The Eleventh fought gallantly with the many casualties of the Regiment attesting to the severity of the contest. The Eleventh was one of the first Regiments to cross Stone River, and was among the troops that captured a Confederate battery which had been abandoned when the Confederates were driven from the field. During January, 1863, the Eleventh was detached from its Division then placed on provost duty at Murfreesboro, remaining there until the following June, when the advance was made upon Tullahoma.
In September the Eleventh left its camp at Dechard, Tenn., making a toilsome march over the mountains and reaching the battle of Chickamauga ,in time to participate in two days of the fiercest fighting of the war. The Regiment was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mudge during the battle as Colonel Stoughton was then in command of the Second Brigade. Colonel Stoughton, after the battle of Chickamauga, withdrew his Brigade to Rossville by command of General Thomas, holding that position until the Union army had passed to Chattanooga, then on the morning of the 22nd returned to Chattanooga, being one of the last of the Union Troops to leave the field. The Eleventh was in the Second Brigade commanded by General Stoughton November 25, 1863, when the famous charge was made by General Grant’s troops up the steep and difficult side of Missionary Ridge. The Eleventh sprang up the almost impassable barrier, with the Confederates on the crest of the ridge pouring a murderous fire of musketry and artillery into the faces of the Union troops, but step by step, clinging to the trees and shrubs, to help them in their advance, they finally reached the summit, driving the Confederates in confusion down the other side of the mountain. The Eleventh was one of the first regiments to gain the crest of the ridge. Major Benjamin G. Bennett led the Regiment, but was killed before reaching the crest, when Captain P.H. Keegan assumed command. The Regiment suffered severely in this charge.
The following May the Regiment entered upon the Georgia Campaign with the army under the command of General Sherman, fighting its way steadily to the Chattahoochee River, which it crossed July 17th, then took part in the Seige of Atlanta. A few miles from Marietta, Ga., the Confederates had entrenched and the Eleventh charged the Cofederate works, but met with considerable loss, including Colonel Stoughton, who was so seriously wounded in the leg as to cause amputation. While in front of Atlanta, the Eleventh was in a number of charges, losing many in killed and wounded.
The term of service for which the Regiment enlisted, expired while in the trenches before Atlanta, so the Regiment was sent back to Chattanooga, then from there to Sturgis, Mich., where it was mustered out of service on Sept.30, 1864.
In the “Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Michigan for the Year 1863”, James T. Lovett, of St. Joseph, is given as having died in action at Chicamauga, Tennessee on September 11, 1863.
Not finding John or William, I don’t know if he served or not and I’ve simply been unable to locate him, but if he did serve, I don’t think he died in the war. I believe the below 1880 census is a strong possible for him, especially as James Lovett, who died in the war, is given as having been of St. Joseph.
1880 MI, St. Joseph Co., Colon
183/301 LOVETT John W. 41 Fire insurance and Real estate agent b. MI father b. VA mother b. NY
Mary E. 33 wife keeping house born MI parents b. NY
Luna E. 13 daughter at home b. MI parents b. MIYear: 1880; Census Place: Colon, St. Joseph, Michigan; Roll: T9_603; Family History Film: 1254603; Page: 273D; Enumeration District: 190; Image: 0205.
Gourdneck Prairie Cemetery where Daniel and Elizabeth Lovett are buried (she apparently is in an unmarked grave). Elizabeth’s grandparents, James Noyes and Rebecca Russell Noyes are there as well.
Elizabeth, and her brother, James Allen Noyes, would have been the only children of James Noyes and first wife, Sally, Marble, who left descendants, the majority of the nine siblings having died in their youth. If you have further information on the family of Elizabeth Lovett Noyes,and its descendants, I’d enjoy hearing from you.
