Frederick Ernest Toy (1860s – August 5, 1933) was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

and

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

s; During his enlisted service, he was assigned to the

7th Cavalry Regiment The 7th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry regiment formed in 1866. Its official nickname is "Garryowen", after the Irish air " Garryowen" that was adopted as its march tune. The regiment participated in some of the largest ba ...

until promoted to ordnance sergeant and served at a variety of posts. He received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for bravery at the Battle of Wounded Knee, but now called the Wounded Knee Massacre, against the

Dakota Indians The Dakota (pronounced , Dakota language: ''Dakȟóta/Dakhóta'') are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided into ...

on December 29, 1890. Toy retired from the Army in 1910. He was recalled and commissioned as a captain during World War I. He worked as an employment manager and as a railroad police officer.

Early life

Toy was born in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

in the early– to mid–1860s to Ernst and Catherine Toy. The 1870 U.S. Census shows his given name as Fred and his estimated birth year as 1864–1865."United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8FB-TRL : 17 October 2014), Fred Toy in household of Ernst Toy, New York, United States; citing p. 259, family 2133, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,432. He was educated in the Buffalo public schools. The 1880 U.S. Census shows his given name as Friedrich and his estimated birth year as 1865."United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZZB-2T6 : 14 July 2016), Friedrich Toy in household of Ernst Toy, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 134, sheet 386B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0829; FHL microfilm 1,254,829. The record of his first enlistment shows his estimated year of birth as 1862. The Hall of Valor shows his birth year as 1866.

Enlisted Army career

Sergeant Toy receiving the Medal of Honor

Frederick Toy was a career enlisted soldier, serving from 1883 to 1910. All of his enlisted terms of service ended with the expiration of his term of service and with character evaluations of "excellent." All of Toy's service was with Troop G,

until he was promoted to

ordnance sergeant Ordnance sergeant was an enlisted rank in the U.S. Army from 1832 to 1920. The Confederate States Army also had an ordnance sergeant position during its existence. Ordnance sergeants were part of the Army's Ordnance Department and were in charge o ...

."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-7F1C : 24 May 2014), Frederick E Toy, 16 Oct 1883; citing p. 37, volume 082, Chicago, , Illinois, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 43; FHL microfilm 350,349."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-LRXF : 24 May 2014), Fredk E Toy, 16 Oct 1888; citing p. 214, volume 086, Fort Riley, , Kansas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 45; FHL microfilm 1,319,378."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-HW3F : 24 May 2014), Frederick E Toy, 15 Nov 1893; citing p. 202, volume 092, Fort Riley, , Kansas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 48; FHL microfilm 1,465,934."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-Z8QQ : 24 May 2014), Frederick E Toy, 15 Nov 1898; citing p. 238, volume 096, Huntsville, , Alabama, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 50; FHL microfilm 1,465,936."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-F911 : 24 May 2014), Frederick E Toy, 15 Nov 1901; citing p. 227, volume 108, Columbia Barracks, , Cuba, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 56; FHL microfilm 1,465,942."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-VPN5 : 24 May 2014), Frederick E Toy, 15 Nov 1904; citing p. 215, volume 116, Fort Sheridan, , Illinois, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 60; FHL microfilm 1,465,946."United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-2VXL : 24 May 2014), Frederick E Toy, 15 Nov 1907; citing p. 241, volume 120, Madison Barracks, , New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 62; FHL microfilm 1,465,948. Toy first enlisted on October 16, 1883 at

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

; his enlistment record reflects the given name of Frederick and his age as 21 (birth year ). In April 1888, Toy was promoted from corporal to sergeant while assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On September 15, 1888, Toy was discharged as a sergeant at

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., and the oldest perma ...

. Toy reenlisted on October 16, 1888 at

Fort Riley, Kansas Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Gea ...

. He was among the cavalrymen ordered to capture Chief Big Foot. On December 29, 1890, troopers surrounded the Sioux camp on

Wounded Knee Creek Wounded Knee Creek is a tributary of the White River, approximately 100 miles (160 km) long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 30, 2011 in Oglala Lakota County, ...

with the intention of arresting the Sioux chieftain and disarming his followers. Toy, a sergeant on the day of the battle, was commanded by Captain

Winfield Scott Edgerly Winfield Scott Edgerly (May 29, 1846 – September 10, 1927) was an officer in the United States Army in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Born in New Hampshire in 1846, he attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1870. H ...

. Toy was one of twenty men awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day. Toy was cited for "bravery displayed while shooting hostile Indians;" It was changed on the final citation after being returned by the War Department. Captain Edgerly said Sergeant Toy did "deliberately aim at and hit two Indians who had run into the ravine." Toy was presented the medal in a public ceremony, which was featured in

Harper's Weekly ''Harper's Weekly, A Journal of Civilization'' was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor, ...

. He also attained the rank of first sergeant by the time his Medal of Honor was awarded on May 26, 1891. The appropriateness of the award of the Medal of Honor to Toy, as well as to the others awarded for Wounded Knee, was challenged more than 100 years later. Toy was discharged at Fort Clark, Texas. In early November 1893, Toy and Alice Marrow (''sic'') were married in

Junction City, Kansas Junction City is a city in and the county seat of Geary County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 22,932. Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army post, is nearby. History Junction City is so named from its ...

; the Toys expected to proceed to

Fort Clark, Texas Fort Clark was a frontier fort located just off U.S. Route 90 near Brackettville, in Kinney County, Texas, United States. It later became the headquarters for the 2nd Cavalry Division. The Fort Clark Historic District was added to the National ...

. First Sergeant Toy reenlisted on November 15, 1893 at Fort Riley. First Sergeant Toy was discharged at Camp Forse, Alabama. On November 15, 1898, Toy reenlisted at

Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in ...

. He was discharged at Columbia Barracks, Cuba. Toy reenlisted on November 15, 1901 at Columbia Barracks. On June 4, 1903, Toy, who had been promoted from first sergeant to ordnance sergeant on June 2, 1903, was ordered to proceed from Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia to

Fort Sheridan, Illinois Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood within the cities of Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as Fort Sheridan, an Army post named after Civil War cavalry gene ...

. He was discharged as an ordnance sergeant while assigned to Fort Sheridan. Toy immediately reenlisted at Fort Sheridan on November 15, 1904. He was discharged, again as an ordnance sergeant, at Madison Barracks, New York. Toy reenlisted on November 15, 1907 as an ordnance sergeant at Madison Barracks. On October 13, 1908, the War Department ordered Toy, then at

Madison Barracks File:Madison Barracks.jpg File:Madison Barracks02.jpg File:Madison Barracks Stone Tower.jpg File:Madison Barracks Stone Tower 02.jpg Madison Barracks was a military installation established in 1813 or 1815 at Sackets Harbor that was built for occ ...

, to report to

Fort Niagara Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built by New France to protect its interests in North America, specifically control of access between the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great Lakes. The fort is on the river's e ...

, New York for duty. In the 1910 U.S. Census, Toy is shown to be living at Fort Niagara while serving as an "O.S." in the U.S. Army."United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5HJ-BKM : accessed 4 June 2017), Frederick Toy, Porter, Niagara, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 130, sheet 8B, family 208, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1049; FHL microfilm 1,375,062. He retired from the Army on October 15, 1910 as an ordnance sergeant by authority of

War Department War Department may refer to: * War Department (United Kingdom) * United States Department of War (1789–1947) See also * War Office, a former department of the British Government * Ministry of defence * Ministry of War * Ministry of Defence * D ...

Special Orders 239 dated October 12, 1910. During his career, Toy served as an

orderly In healthcare, an orderly (also known as a ward assistant, nurse assistant or healthcare assistant) is a hospital attendant whose job consists of assisting medical and nursing staff with various nursing and medical interventions. The highest ro ...

to President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

Commissioned Army career

During World War I, Toy was among retired Regular Army personnel who were recalled to serve as trainers; he was commissioned as a captain in the

Quartermaster Corps Following is a list of Quartermaster Corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties: * Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army * Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστών ...

and assigned to the 303d Stevedore Regiment; he returned to his Niagara Falls, New York home on July 18, 1919 and anticipated mustering out of the U.S. Army during August 1919. He served as a transportation quartermaster in

Brest, France Brest (; ) is a port city in the Finistère department, Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of the peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French m ...

. He reverted to the rank of master sergeant after the war; a special act of Congress restored him to the rank of captain without increasing his retired pay. In the 1920 U.S. Census, his occupation is reflected as "Captain, U.S. Army.""United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVMG-SWB : accessed 2 June 2017), Frederick Toy, Niagara Falls Ward 10, Niagara, New York, United States; citing ED 124, sheet 34B, line 56, family 750, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1242; FHL microfilm 1,821,242. Toy, identified as a major, commanded the Special Troops, 98th Infantry Division (part of the

Organized Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces. Since July 2020 ...

New York State New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...

) from March 26, 1922 to November 10, 1924. Toy, again identified as a major, was ordered to attend training camp from July 15 through August 2, 1922.

Later life and death

After his military service, Toy was employed as the employment manager of the

Aluminum Company of America Alcoa Corporation (an acronym for Aluminum Company of America) is a Pittsburgh-based industrial corporation. It is the world's eighth-largest producer of aluminum. Alcoa conducts operations in 10 countries. Alcoa is a major producer of primary ...

and later as a lieutenant for the

New York Central Railroad Company The New York Central Railroad was a railroad primarily operating in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The railroad primarily connected greater New York and Boston in the east with Chicago and St. Louis in the Mid ...

police. In December 1921, Toy was a candidate for chief of police of Niagara Falls. Toy was a member of Camp number 7 of the

United Spanish War Veterans The United Spanish War Veterans was an American veterans' organization which consisted of veterans of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and China Relief Expedition. Origins Soon after the Spanish–American War ended, in earl ...

He also joined the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Military Order of the World War. He died on August 5, 1933, and is buried at Riverdale Cemetery in

Lewiston, New York Lewiston is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 15,944 at the 2020 census. The town and its contained village are named after Morgan Lewis, a governor of New York. The Town of Lewiston is on the western bord ...

. Toy's grave marker identifies him as a captain.

Awards

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Troop G, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak., 29 December 1890. Entered service at:--. Birth: Buffalo, N.Y. Date of issue: 26 May 1891. ;Citation:

Honors

Frederick Toy's name is memorialized on side C of the Medal of Honor monument in

Niagara Falls State Park Niagara Falls State Park is located in the City of Niagara Falls in Niagara County, New York, United States. The park, recognized as the oldest state park in the United States, contains the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion ...

References

External links

Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Frederick E. ToyCongressional Serial Set Spanish War Veterans
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toy, Frederick Ernest 1866 births 1933 deaths American military personnel of the Indian Wars American military personnel of the Spanish–American War United States Army personnel of World War I United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Military personnel from Buffalo, New York People from Niagara Falls, New York United States Army officers American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor Pine Ridge Campaign