| Notes |
- Joseph is shown in the 1850 Alabama Census for Montgomery County as living with his parents at the age of 18. A special census taken in 1855 shows a Joseph McElvin over 21 years and under 30 years boarding in the city. Civil War records indicate that he enlisted at the age of 29 years in 1861 as a volunteer in Alabama regiment, and was killed in action. He died in 1862 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Joseph was in the 8th Alabama Cavalry (Livingston's Regiment)
The 8th Alabama Cavalry was organized at Gadsden during the spring of 1864 by increasing the
strength of Livingston's Cavalry Battalion. In the summer, it reported to and was brigaded under Gen'l Gideon Pillow at Blue Mountain, strength about 250 men. It operated in the vicinity of the Army of
Tennessee while it lay at Dalton, and it was with Gen'l Pillow for about eight months. Transferred to Gen'l James H. Clanton's Brigade in the Dept. of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, the 8th fought under that officer at Ten Islands, with some losses. It was soon after sent to west Florida where it
made head against Union Gen'l Frederick Steele's column at Bluff Spring, losing a number. By February of 1865, the regiment had grown to about 600 men, but after skirmishing in Alabama and resisting Union Gen'l James H. Wilson's Corps, on 4 May 1865, there were but a few to surrender at Gainesville.
Field and staff officers: Col. Henry J. Livingston (Autauga); Lt. Col. Thomas L. Faulkner (Autauga); Major Sidney A. Moses (Russell); and Adjutant Charles E. Stewart (Dallas; transferred to line).
Joseph was found in the Census in 1850 in Montgomery County, Ala. He served in the military in 1861/62 in Alabama 8th Cavalry. In a letter dated June 9, 1987 to Hazel and Joe White, Leon White , addressed the military service of Joseph M. McElvin.
"According to the Muster Rolls of the 8th Alabama Cavalry Regiment under Colonel H. J. Livingston, Joseph M. McElvin was shown as age 29 when he enlisted in 1861, and was killed in action in 1862. The exact date and location were not shown, nor have I located his grave site".
These same records on James and Melvin show they enlisted in the same cavalry regiment, Company C. They are buried on the old McElvin land which is now owned by the Cantey family. The cemetery where they both are buried is known as the Cantey Cemetery. I have seen their graves. According to the marker James was born in 1839 and died July 21, 1862, and Melvin Jeter was born in 1846 and died
Oct. 28, 1871. Their cemetery is just off the Old Mt. Zion Road. The column on the muster rolls which shows if they were wounded or killed does not have a check mark in it, nor is there any mention of this in any of the related papers in the file.
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Abt 1832 - 1862 (30 years)
