The 7th MSM Cavalry was organized at large within the state of Missouri during March and April of 1862 and mustered out on July 11, 1865. From this regiment, only Company H was involved in the fight at Lone Jack. 81% of the men enlisted at Georgetown, a small community a little north of Sedalia, while 14% enlisted at Sedalia itself.
Of those present at the battle whose origin is known, almost 24% were born in Germany, while 15% were born in Missouri, 12% were of Tennessee nativity, and 11% from Virginia. The rest were from several other states, and one was born “On the Atlantic Ocean”.
The most common first name was John at 20%, with William at a little over 11% and this was followed closely by James at 10%. The average age of the men present in the fight was 27. The oldest man in the battle was John Atkison. He was age 47, born on November 12, 1815 in Kanawha Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). He was mounted on a $110 horse which he managed to keep and on which he rode back to Lexington. There were four who were born in 1818 and they also survived the battle. The youngest, Benjamin Franklin Dudney, was age 15 when he enlisted and would not turn 16 until November of 1862. He was born in Tennessee and he too survived the fight at Lone Jack. The average soldier was a 27-year old farmer, born in Germany, with blue eyes, dark or black hair, a fair complexion, standing five feet seven inches tall.
Of those men present in the battle, the oldest one to be killed or die of wounds was 45 and the youngest was 18. The average age of the men who were killed outright or died of wounds was 29.
Almost all of the horses in this unit were owned by the men themselves. Although not as extensive as with the 6th MSM, still many of these horses were lost, either killed or captured in the Battle of Lone Jack. The total value of these horses, based on the estimated value assigned to them prior to the battle, was $1,995.
Based on the information I have located so far, the last veteran of Company H who fought at Lone Jack was Oliver Abraham VanHoy. He died on June 8, 1931 and was a little over 86 years old, which makes him the oldest veteran also. Including those who died during the war and after the war, from those graves located, my research developed that 68% of the men are buried in Missouri.