Circular No. 11,
Series of 1899,
Whole No. 206.

Military Order of the Loyal Legion

of the United States,

Headquarters Commandery of the State of Michigan.

Detroit, Mich., June 10^th, 1899.

At a stated meeting of the Commandery, held May 4, 1899, the accompanying report of a committee appointed to prepare resolutions on the death of our late companion, Henry Stark Seage, was read and adopted.

By order of

Lansing, Mich., May 4, 1899.

To the Commander and Companions of Michigan Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States:

Companions: --Your committee appointed to prepare a memorial suitable to the memory of companion Henry Stark Seage, deceased, respectfully submit the following:

At the time of his death he was a member in good standing of Chas. T. Foster Post No. 42, G. A. R., of Lansing.

In the bulletin of our Order of Feb. 27, 1895, we find the following:

"For first class by right of inheritance – Henry Stark Seage, Second son of John Seage, Chaplain of the 4^th Mich. Infantry. (R. Watson Seage, eldest son, is eligible in his own right to first class membership.)"

Mr. Seage’s father was a Methodist minister and removed with his family, including Henry, to Michigan while Henry was still young.

As our deceased companion became a member of the Loyal Legion by right of inheritance and not as a commissioned officer in the War of the Rebellion his "Register of Service" could not then be shown. We think it due him to say that he had a military record of which every one of us are proud.

At the age of seventeen he was enrolled on the 10^th day of September, 1861, as private in Co. E, 4^th Regt. Mich. Vol. Infantry (of which his father was chaplain), promoted to Corporal December 16, 1862, and Color Sergeant of the regiment November 2, 1863. Was discharged from service September 10, 1864, at (or near) Petersburg, Va., by reason of expiration of term of service. Was engaged in the following battles for the preservation of the Union: Siege of Yorktown, Va., New Bridge, Va., Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines Mill, Chickahominy Crossing, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Turkey Bend, Bealton Station, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Md., Sharpsburg Shepherdstown Ford, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Culpepper, Gettysburg, Rappahannock, Mine River, The Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Weldon, R. R., Siege of Petersburg and Richmond.

Many companions will remember that a few weeks ago companion Seage read a paper before the Loyal Legion relating to the participation of the old 4^th Michigan Infantry in the battle of Fredericksburg. It was a masterly effort. It was a modest account of his own individual heroism, and of the bravery and fighting qualities of the old 4^th, of which he was color bearer.

As a private soldier he learned to obey. By his promotions as indicated, he won the highest regard of his superior officers, finally winning the honor to that dangerous position of carrying "Old Glory" for his regiment. He loved the old flag.

The fortunes of war did not endow him with shoulder straps. His services, like that of hundreds of thousands of other heroic private soldiers, made it possible for some of us to be members of the First Class of the Loyal Legion.

"May God forbid that yet

Or, in all time to come,

We should their names forget."

At the time of companion Seage’s death he was state agent and adjuster for Michigan of one of the leading fire insurance companies of this country, the "Traders of Chicago." He was an educated fire underwriter. Some time after the close of the war he commenced his career as a local agent at Alpena, Mich., where the firm of Seage & Kelly did a large business. After he became state agent and adjuster his opinions on the hazards of the business were universally recognized by the fire insurance fraternity; particularly was he known as an expert on saw mills, lumber, and other special hazards in the States of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Mr. Seage, during his underwriting career, was the president of the Michigan State Board of Fire Underwriters, a position which he filled with great credit.

Some two years ago or over when the city of Ontonagon was wiped out by a conflagration, Mr. Seage was one of the first adjusters on the ground. He was obliged to sleep under a tent where it was thought he contracted an illness from which he never recovered. Up to within a day or two of his decease he kept at his work. He was about to leave his home on business when the fatal attack came.

For the last year he suffered great pain, but, like a veteran, with a murmur or complaint. He left in Lansing a loving wife, Mrs. Clara Gertrude Seage, who very greatly appreciated the beautiful tribute of flowers sent by the thoughtfulness of your Recorder as an emblem of the esteem in which his companions held him.

He also left a son, Mr. Frank L. Seage, of Lansing; a daughter, Mrs. L. A. Clinton, of Ithaca, N. Y.; and two young daughters, Miss Ella and Grace Seage, of Lansing.

What more could be said of any man than that he was of kindly heart toward all, honest, upright and true, a brave soldier, a genuinely royal man in his own home.

"Sleep ‘til the shadows take

Their endless flight,

Until the morning break

Good night, good night, good night."

Samuel H. Row,

C. V. R. Pond,

Lucius C. Storrs, Committee.

This document was in the possession of Ella Mae (Seage) Dean daughter of Henry Seage until her passing and is now part of the Steve Roberts Collection. Mr. Roberts,a great grand son of Henry Seage has graciously given his permission to display this document on this web page for non commercial use only. Any reproduction of this material is not allowed without the written consent of Mr Roberts. Please contact the webpage owner with any comments or observations.

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