Sylvester was born to Patrick and Margaret Redmond on 20 Aug 1821 in County Dublin and baptised 11 Sep at St. Michael's Catholic Church. At the time of his baptism, the family was living in Cabinteely.
His obituary states that he came to America (Michigan) in 1846, but the 1900 census says it was in 1853. This makes more sense as Sylvester is living with his mother and several siblings in Liverpool, England, at the time of the 1851 England Census.
In Michgan, he worked as a common laborer, farmer, and for several years, a copper miner in the nothern part of the state.
After the start of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the 8th Michigan Cavalry in late 1862. Redmond was captured near Macon, Georgia, while participating in General Sherman's march to Atlanta. Sylvester spent almost ten months at three of the worst prisons in the southern Confederacy; infamous Andersonville, the Florence Stockade, and Libby Prison. While at Andersonville, Sylvester developed an eye infection which would eventually lead to near blindness in his later years.
After the war, Redmond homesteaded property in Colorado where he would eventually be naturalized as an American citizen. As he ages, his eyes begin to fail and Sylvester spends several years attempting to gain periodic increases in his soldier's pension.
Eventually, his sister, Ellen, a widow, moved to Colorado to manage his household while he farms. Eventually, he cannot see well enough to work the land any longer and they sell the property and return to Michigan in the mid 1890s.
Sylvester eventually dies from "apoplexy" on 14 Apr 1908.
As far as is known, Sylvester never married.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 21st Aug 1821 | |
| Date of Death | 14th Apr 1908 | |
