ELIAS N. DELASHMUTT was 62 when he enlisted on 11 September 1862 and mustered in the same day to serve as a Private in Company "G" 37th Iowa Infantry. He attained the rank of 5th Corporal and mustered out 14 February 1865 at Camp Chase, Ohio, with a disability discharge.

Elias was born in Tyler County, Virginia in 1800, the son of William Waugh Delashmutt and Mary Ankrom. The exact location of Elias' birth, as well as the current county his birthplace is in, are unknown, since Tyler County divided into other counties over time. Tyler County was actually part of Ohio County, Virginia until 1814.

In Tyler County, Virginia, on 29 August 1822, Elias N. Delashmutt married Susannah Gorrell. In 1834, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa, acquired land and established their home. A number of relatives also moved to Iowa, including his parents.

The obituary of Elias N. Delashmutt describes his life:

OBITUARY - ELIAS N. DELASHMUTT

The Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, February 2, 1890

One of the Oldest Pioneers of Des Moines County Passes Away

It is with extreme and sorrowful regret that we chronicle the death of this old pioneer citizen, partiot and honorable man. He was born in Tyler county, Virginia, in 1800. At the age of twenty three he was united in marriage to Susan Gorrell, also a native of Virginia. The young couple determined to found a home of their own in the far west, and in 1834 came to Des Moines county and took up land which has now become a valuable farm. Mr. Delashmutt remained upon his farm, increasing its value and its productiveness by careful and judicious husbandry until 1862, when, in answer to his country's call, although sixty years of age, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-seventh Iowa Volunteers. He served gallantly in his regiment until deprived of his eyesight by a peculiar incident. On a march a heavy wind storm arose and the air was filled with fine particles of sand, which were driven by the wind with cutting force. Mr. Delashmutt's eyes were so affected by the sand that inflammation set in which resulted in the total destruction of his eyesight. He returned to his home and has resided here continuously since that time.

A large family was the fruit of his marriage, Mrs. S. F. Stephens, T. L. Delashmutt, Mathies J., W. W. (deceased), Mrs. J. Storer, Thomas R., Priscilla, (deceased), Henry W., and Mrs. Charles H. Hathoway. Mr. Delashmutt was one of the most prosperous farmers in Des Moines county and was highly respected and esteemed not only by the old settlers who with him laid the foundations of this commonwealth, but by the younger men as well.

He was given a length of life that is vouchsafed to few, he having passed by but thirteen days of his nintieth year. And it is due to his memory to say that he lived not in vain, and that in his long life he did good to his fellow men. Hundreds of friends and old citizens who knew him in his prime, will join with his afflicted family in sorrow for his death and reverence for his memory. He will be buried Monday in the Spring Creek church yard.