An Old and Respected Citizen and a Brave Soldier Gone.
Col. Ezra L. Walrath, for half a century a prominent citizen of Syracuse, died yesterday afternoon at 4:30 of pneumonia. Col. Walrath has been ill for several months, but was not thought to be in immediate danger.
Col. Walrath was born in Clockville, Madison county, May 2, 1828. He came to Onondaga when a young man and always made Syracuse his home.
He served as captain of the Syracuse Citizens’ Corps and later as Colonel of the 51st Regiment, New York State Militia. At the outbreak of the war he was Colonel commanding the Twelfth New York Volunteers, (“The Old Twelfth”), and was present at the battle of Bull Run, Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill and second Bull Run.
Colonel Walrath was taken sick with congestion of the lungs and resigned. Upon his recovery he enlisted in the 115th New York Volunteers as Captain, and was promoted to Major and afterwards to Lieutenant-Colonel. He served to the end of the war. He was promoted Lt. Colonel by brevet by President Johnson for gallant and meritorious conduct at the storming of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Colonel Walrath was first commander of Post Dwight. He was first commander of Root Post, No. 151, G.A.R. He was also charter member and first commander of Veteran League of Onondaga county.
Before the war Colonel Walrath was very active in military matters and considered one of the best drill-masters in the State. The interest which he then showed he never lost.
Colonel Walrath was a Democrat in politics and at his death a vestryman of St. James church.
The Syracuse Courier, June 27, 1894