Bela Rich
: Company A, 64th Regiment, NY State Volunteers. Age - 43 years; enlisted at Gowanda on October 30, 1861 to serve 3 years. He was mustered in as Private, Company A, November 2, 1861. He died at Craney Island, VA on September 22, 1862.Bela was born on November 29, 1818 in Lake Pleasant, NY. He was the son of Calvin and Hannah (Olmsted) Rich. He moved to Snyder Hill (Cattaraugus County) with his parents when he was 10 years of age. On January 10, 1839, he married Almira (Almyra) Snyder and they had 4 children. "The Historical Gazetteer of Cattaraugus County - 1893" says of him, "He was a farmer and justice of the peace and officiated at several weddings, and was a member, steward, and class-leader of the M.E. Church." He was nearly 43 years old when he enlisted and died of dysentery less than a year later. He is buried in the National Cemetery at Hampton Roads, Va.
Children:
Orsaville Melvina, b. 12/05/1839, m. Abner Babcock
Orvill Monroe, b. 07/22/1844, d. 04/18/1864
Olin George, b. 06/20/1849, m. Eva Andrews
Odell Calvin, b. 02/09/1856, m. Florilla Eunice Burton
References: "Adjutant General's Report, 1901", and collateral descendant Judy Lauder .
