Born in Monroeville, Jefferson County, Ohio, August 7, 1841. Enlisted May 18, 1861, at Wellsburg, W. Va., in Co. G, 1st Reg't., W. Va. Vol. Infantry, for three months and served as Corporal and was with the Regiment during its campaign in Western Virginia, commencing on Wheeling Island, then to Grafton, then to battle at Phillipi, June 3, 1861, thence to Beverly, where Gen. McClellan's army was resting after his brilliant victories which had made him famous, remaining there until about the 1st of August, then returned to Grafton and back to Wheeling Island and there discharged August 28, 1861. Enlisting again October 29, 1861, in Co. I, 40th Regiment O. V. Infantry, serving as Sergeant. Left Camp Chase, Ohio, December 11, 1862; went to Cincinnati, crossing to Covington, thence to Paris, Ky. From there we marched over the mountains to Paintville, on the Big Sandy River; this was a fearful march, in the dead of winter; fifteen days of this march was one continual Scotch mist, without one sight of the sun; the hardships of this march, on new men, were almost beyond endurance, and the exposure was telling fearfully on the boys; weary, worn-out and footsore, we were pitched into the Battle of Middle Creek, with Garfield's 42nd O. V. I. on January 10, 1862, giving Mr. General Humphrey Marshall C. S. A. a sound thrashing and with all possible speed he got out of that place, leaving his dead and wounded on the field, and here about four hundred of us were sent in advance to feel for the enemy and his position. The hill upon which they were was in the shape of a half circle with a buck-bone running into this circle and at its foot was Middle Creek, bank full from the late rains, and the water thick with sand. No other way to go, we must go through the water. We loosed our cartridge boxes, held them high, and on the 10th of January we waded through the stream and buckling on our boxes we marched up the hill and into the semi-circle. We halted to rest a little, while our leader said he believed he would try his carbine on that bunch of bushes on yonder hill to the right of the semi-circle and feel for the enemy a little. He lowered his rifle and sent a ball flying toward the bushes, and we felt them very suddenly, for we had been sitting and standing within four hundred feet of nearly two thousand Johnny Rebs, and then the fun commenced, as the boys would say; but it was no fun for us, for suddenly the mountain field-piece spoke in tones not to be mistaken by us for some sound of far-distant thunder, a furious cannonade and roar of musketry told us they meant business from the opening gun. They came out upon us, thinking, no doubt, to drive us from the hill, but nobly the four hundred held their ground and drove them back behind the rocks, and there we held them while the other boys flanked them, or as the Georgia woman said, "they jist took'em endways", and after a sharp conflict we won that day, and as the shades of evening were falling, the enemy retreated, leaving a portion of their wounded and all their dead. We rested on the battle-field all night. The sand in the creek lodged in our shoes and ground our feet until they were raw and bleeding, and many of us, without waiting to eat, made our scanty bed on the cold, damp ground. Tired and worn out with the burden of the day, we lay down to sleep over the victory won. The next day we returned to Prestonburg. Out-post duty and occasional excursions to some rebel camp were our assigned duty while in Kentucky. On the 9th of August 1862, was sent to Ohio to recruit men for the regiment. After forty days, returned to the regiment with sixteen men, whose love for the flag was shown in their brilliant conduct on the fields of battle and wherever duty called them. Six of these men gave life itself in defense of liberty's flag.

"How sleep the brave, who sink to rest
By all their country's wishes blest
When spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
Than fancy's feet have ever trod."

In the spring of 1863 we were sent to Nashville, Tennessee, thence to Franklin in time for the rebel General Earl Van Dorn to invite us to a little scrimmage, and the result was to him food for serious reflection. At this point was transferred from Co. I, 40th O. V. I. to Co. A., 4th Battallion Pioneer Corps, and appointed Quartermaster Sergeant for the Battallion. Our business was building store-houses, bridges, stockades, block-houses and pontoons. Was in this command until January 1864, when he requested to be sent back to his regiment at Cleveland, Tennessee, in order that he might re-enlist. Request was granted, and on February 28, 1864, he re-enlisted for three years more and on receipt of the veteran's furlough came to the State of Ohio where he again enlisted for life in the standing army of the State of Matrimony, and in April 1864, returned to the regiment and went on the Atlanta Campaign, May 3, 1864, participating in the following battles and engagements: Tunnel Hill, May 7; Buzzards Roost, Rocky Face, Dalton, Resacca, May 13 to 16; Kingston, May 18 to 24; from here was sent to Bragg's Hospitals, thence to Chattanooga to General Field Hospital being almost helpless with rheumatism. After getting able to walk was detailed to Chief Clerk's office, General Field Hospital, remaining here some weeks; was then transferred to Company G, 1st Regiment, U. S. Veteran Vol. Engineers and was here made Orderly Sergeant of same Company. Shortly afterward was called by Order No. 47 to appear before the Military Commission for examination for promotion in Engineer regiment; passing satisfactorily, was commissioned by the President, a few days before he was killed. Five more comrade sergeants were commissioned at the same time, and before they got the order to be mustered, an order came discharging the 1862 men, their term having expired, and to muster in no more officers in consequence of the reduced commands, and hence he continued in this original office until discharged., September 26, 1865, after wll nigh four and one-half years service, during which service orders and duty were paramount objects. This soldier was never arrested or reprimanded, having a clean record from beginning to end.