Anthony, Benjamin

George Tobey Anthony (1824-1896) was born near Maysfield, Fulton County, N.Y., on June 9th, 1824, the youngest of the five children of Quaker parents, Benjamin (d. 1829) and Anna Odell Anthony (1785-1863). At 16, Anthony was apprenticed to a tinsmith in Union Springs, N.Y., at the conclusion of which, he opened his own tin shop and hardware store in Medina. In 1852, he married Rosa A. Lyon, and at an unknown date, moved to New York City and entered the commission business. The couple had one son, George Henry.

In August, 1862, Anthony was authorized to recruit a battery of artillery near Lockport and Medina, N.Y., and was appointed its Captain when it was mustered into the U.S. service as the 17th New York Independent Light Infantry Battery. The battery left the state at the end of August, 1862, and was assigned to the defenses of Washington, where they remained until transferred to the Artillery Camp of Instruction in May, 1863. When attached to the Artillery Brigade of the Army of the James in July, 1864, the battery saw action on the Petersburg front and sustained their only battle casualties of the war, two wounded. The battery was subsequently engaged in a minor role at Chaffin's Farm and during the Appomattox Campaign.

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