Chamberlain House

The Bradley L. Chamberlain family moved to St. Charles from New York in 1848 and built this Federal-style house around 1854.

Chamberlain owned and operated a grocery business on East Main Street and served as a postal railway agent before joining the 8th Illinois Cavalry in 1861 to fight in the Civil War. Bradley's son, Oscar, also enlisted in the 8th Illinois Cavalry.

Bradley Chamberlain was quartermaster of the 8th Illinois Cavalry and provided supplies and provisions to its troops. Bradley and Oscar Chamberlain were captured in May 1862 and imprisoned at Libby Prison in Virginia.

They were released from prison in late 1862 as part of a prisoner exchange and returned to St. Charles.

Bradley reenlisted in May 1863 as quartermaster in the 8th Illinois Cavalry and served until the end of the Civil War in 1865.

Bradley returned to St. Charles and operated his grocery business until his death on September 18, 1872. Oscar ran the grocery for several years after his father's death.

Sources

• Durant, Pliny. Passing in Review

• Durant, Samuel. History of St. Charles, Illinois p. 133

• Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database