Capt. Charles Warren Guy
Capt. Charles Warren Guy is a fine representative of Ohio's gallant sons who won distinction as officers during the Civil War, and he has since become no less prominent as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of his native county (Madison), and one who has done much to elevate the standard of the cattle and horses bred within its bounds. His home is on the farm which is his birthplace, in Pike Township, a mile and a half west of Rosedale, where he carries on a large business as a stock dealer.
Captain Guy was born in a typical pioneer home, a little log house built by his father in the early settlement of the county. Novembers, 1843, was the date of his birth, and he was the sixth child and fifth son of William and Adelaide (Fullington) Guy, an account of whom appears in the biography of their son, William H. Guy. Our subject's first experience at school was in the local district schools, whence he went to the Mechanicsburg High School, where he was prepared for college, and he then entered the Ohio University at Delaware.
He was a student in that institution when the war broke out, and in 1862 he laid aside his books for the sword, full of youthful ardor in his patriotic desire to help defend the honor of his country at the front. He enlisted in Company D, Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, as a private, but he gave such evidence of his courage, fortitude, and efficiency in battle, that he was raised from the ranks to the position of Sergeant, then to that of First Lieutenant, and he finally was promoted to be Captain of Company K of the regiment in which he enlisted, which was one of the first that was veteranized. He was in the battles of Dumfries (Va.), Chancellorsville (Va.) and Gettysburg (Pa.) He was then dispatched with his regiment to New York City at the time of the big riot, and for a while was enencamped on Governor's Island in the harbor of that city, being under command of Gen. Hooker.
The Captain was subsequently transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and his company was sent to Chattanooga with other forces, about twelve thousand strong. He helped win the day in the celebrated battle "above the clouds" on Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863, and the day after, that of Mission Ridge, and subsequently he did good service at Ringgold, Ga. That same year he re-enlisted as a veteran for three years, or as long as the rebellion should last. He fought with his usual valor and coolness at Rockface Ridge, Ga., and in the hotly-contested engagement at Resaca. At Peach Tree Creek he saw Gen. Joseph W. Hitt shot from his horse and killed in the midst of the battle. The Captain accompanied Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and he was present and in vigorous action in the battles of Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, and Peach Tree Creek, and helped to lay siege to Atlanta. Our subject followed the fortunes of war until after peace was declared, and he was mustered out of the army under General Order No. 24, June 28, 1865, having served with his regiment in twelve different States, traveled eleven thousand miles, and done his share of the fighting in eighteen hard-fought battles. During all that time he never received a scratch, although he was often in the hottest of the fray, and he was off duty only one week, and that on account of sickness.
On his return home to Pike Township, Capt. Guy was taken sick with infammatory rheumatism from the effects of exposure while in the South, and for five long and weary months he was helpless and confined to his bed. He was finally taken to a Cleveland institution and was cured of that terrible malady. Since his recovery he has devoted himself to the management of his extensive interests. The fine farm upon which he lives comprises six hundred acres of land belonging to himself and his wife, being the combined homesteads that once were the property of their fathers. Beside this estate, the Captain has seven hundred acres of land which he has leased for fifteen years. He is largely engaged in handling imported horses, and in 1870 went to England to purchase some very fine draft horses. As a member of the Darby Plains Importing Co., he is doing much to encourage the breeding of blooded horses.
April 15, 1879, Capt. Guy was united in marriage to Miss Flora E., daughter of John and Abigail Kennedy. She too is a native of Pike Township. She was educated at the Western University at Delaware, and is a lady of much culture, of superior tact, and understands full well the art of making home a cheerful, pleasant and hospitable abode. Two children complete the household of our subject and his wife: Earl W.,born September 26, 1880; and Erma Belle, born July 29, 1882.
A man of great force of character, with a strong, evenly-balanced mind, the Captain is a leader in public and political affairs in his community. He is a firm Republican, and has never faltered in his allegiance to his party since the days that he fought so nobly for its principles on Southern battlefields. He is Trustee of Pike Township, and for twelve years has looked faithfully after the interests of the township in that capacity. For four years he was Justice of the Peace. He is a stockholder in the Central Bank of Mechanicsburg, and one of the Directors of that institution. He is prominently identified with the Grand Army of the Republic as Commander of the Stephen A. Baxter Post No. 88, of Mechanicsburg.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]