Have you ever discovered an obituary in a location that you never imagined? While searching for an obituary on a collateral line, I stumbled across a brief obit in a ‘Mustered Out’ column in the National Tribune (Washington, D.C.)

Since I had never encountered this type of obit before, I was curious to see if I could find an ancestor in a similar “Mustered Out” column. Thus, I searched for my great-great grandfather, Washington Marion Crawford who died in 1889. And – I found it!

Crawford — At Dodge City, Kan., recently, ofheart failure, W. M. Crawford Co. H, 2d N. Y. Cav.,aged 51 years. He was captured Sept. 22, 1863, andfor more than 14 months suffered all the crueltiesof Belle Isle, Andersonville and prisons of the South, returning to his home the last day of De-cember, 1864, a mere wreck of his former self, fromthe effect of which he never recovered. He was amember and had been an officer of Lewis Post No.294. He always had a kind word for his comradesand was interested in their affairs. It was his re-quest frequently expressed, that he be buried bythe Post and that ex-Andersonville prisoners actas pallbearers which request was fully carried out.His last act was to respond promptly and cheer-fully to a call to take charge of old Fort Dodgewhich is being refitted and beautified for a StateSoldiers’ Home. He leaves a wife, two sons andtwo daughters; also, one brother, two sisters andmany friends.
I don’t know the extent of this ‘Mustered Out’ column, but I found an 1889 record and a 1910 record. Now, I need to search for all of my civil war veterans to see if I can find a mustered out entry for them!