Surnames: LAVINE

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald Wednesday 4 May 1932 Page 9

Lavine, Franklin (1844 - 30 Apr 1932)

CIVIL WAR VETERAN BURIED ON TUESDAY

Neillsville Pays Tribute to Frank Lavine; 88 Years Old

Neillsville, May 4---Taps sounded today for Franklin Lavine, one of the last of the "Boys in Blue" as surrounded by an escort of men in khaki, he started on his last parade, his destination the final resting place of all "Abe Lincoln's Yankees".

Lavine, born in New York state in 1844, joined the army in 1862 shortly after his arrival in Wisconsin, and served for two years, illness bringing about his discharge.

He fought at Bull Run and Gettysburg and treasured memories of seeing Lincoln and Grant.

He came to Clark County immediately after his discharge from the army and has lived near Neillsville for 68 years. Although 88 years of age when he died last Saturday, he was young in spirit, and like nothing better than to dance a jig for the entertainment of anyone who happened to be near.

A lover of music, he was the possessor of several hundred phonograph records which he never tired of playing. Until the day before his final illness seized him, April 9, he made three trips to the business section of the city daily, and on that day he made the trip four times.

He left no relatives but a cousin, William Lapp, with whom he spent the last seven years of his life. Married late in life, death claimed his bride shortly after their marriage.

All Neillsville turned out yesterday to do him honor. Although he was buried, according to his request, by the Odd Fellow's Lodge, of which he was a member, other organizations participated in observing the last sad rites. The Women's Relief Corps of Neillsville joined in the funeral ceremony at the Congregational church and the Neillsville high school band, in full uniform, marched at the head of the procession to the grave.

Members of the Odd Fellow lodge followed the band while a military escort of ten Neillsville service company members surrounded the funeral coach on the mile-long march to the cemetery.

There, amid a circle of bowed, uncovered heads, the final salute was fired and the shrill, sweet noted of "taps" sounded a last tribute to Franklin Lavine, one-time soldier in the Grand Army of the Republic.

Franklin Lavine is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."