How can I go about looking up a relative who was a colonel in the Civil War?

Question

His name was Horace Willsie. Need to know the year of his birth, death, wife's name, children's names. Where did he serve and under who.

Answer 1

Horace H. Willsie (First_Last)
Regiment Name 148 Illinois Infantry
Side Union
Company F&S
Soldier's Rank_In Colonel
Soldier's Rank_Out Colonel
Alternate Name
Notes
Film Number M539 roll 99


best I could get.

Answer 2

Horace H. Willsie, Lt. Col.
Illinois 139th Infantry
Served under Col. Peter Davidson
http://www.civilwarbadges.com/shop/searchresults.asp?ProdTypeList=CDV+-+UNION&inexid=8VMX3BW7DS

Born January 27, 1827
http://www.longislandgenealogy.com/mather/gp557.htm

Apparently enlisted on 9/2/62 (as a Captain), and lived in Galesburg.
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/knox/civil_war_2.htm

For the coup de grace, his life history, including wife and children:
http://www.illinoisancestors.org/knox/Biographies/BiosW_Z.html#willsiehorace

His unusual name makes him very easy to find on the internet, at least regarding his Civil War history.

In answer as to "how" to go about looking up a relative, I found the sources by doing two searches on Yahoo!:
1. horace willsie "civil war" (the first expected search, not knowing if he used a middle name or initial or not, but putting "civil war" as a phrase because that would be a critical search qualifier)
2. "horace h. willsie" wife (knowing his initials from the first search I thought searching on his name as a phrase and putting the most likely relationship as a second term would likely yield info on his family - it did)

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Try doing a genealogy search at ancestry.com.

Try your local library.

Search cemetery sites online.

Search your state Archives or the state from which he served.

Search birth & death records in the state he was born or died.