Untitled From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 623-624

RHEINHARD EVERSOLL. Among the honored pioneers of Grant county must be numbered Rheinhard EVERSOLL, a well-known farmer of Waterloo township, and one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the Civil war. He was born May 7, 1827, a son of Christopher and Elizabeth EVERSOLL, both natives of Switzerland, where they were reared and married. On their emigration to America they proceeded to Lord Selkirk's settlement in British America, and from there went to St. Louis. In the latter part of the year 1826, the family came to Grant county, and located at what is now Hazel Green, but was then known as Hard Scrabble. There the father engaged in mining for a time, and then removed with his family to Beetown, where the mother died. Subsequently he returned to Hazel Green, where he passed the last years of his life at the home of a daughter. During the greater part of his business career he followed the occupation of mining, and was always esteemed as a good citizen. His death occurred May 18, 1872, a few days after having celebrated the seventy-eighth anniversary of his birth. He and his wife became the parents of eight children, but only two, Rheinhard and Mrs. Elizabeth DUDLY, of Lancaster, are now living, in 1900. All but three reached adult age. One son died on the ocean when the family were coming to the New World. The youngest son, Ferdinand, was a member of the 6th Wis. V.I., during the Civil war, which was a part of the Iron Brigade, and was killed in the battle of Gettysburg.

Rheinhard EVERSOLL has made his home in Grant county, of which his parents were early settlers. He was reared to the occupation of mining, but since the war of the Rebellion has engaged in farming. On Aug. 6, 1862, he donned the blue, becoming a member of Company , 33d Wis. V.I., which was a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in many important engagements, including the battle of Coldwater, Miss., April 19, 1863; the siege of Vicksburg; and Banks' Red river expedition. He was also in the battles of Yellow Bayou, May 18, 1864; Tupelo, July 14, 1864; and Old Town Creek, the following day. He was at Nashville under the command of General Thomas, and then went to Mobile, taking part in the siege of Spanish Fort. The war having ended, and his services being no longer needed, Mr. EVERSOLL was honorably discharged at Vicksburg, Aug. 9, 1865, and reached home just three years from the time he entered the service.

In 1848 Mr. EVERSOLL married Miss Sarah BRYANT, and nine children were born of this union, but only three are now living, namely: Thomas, Adeline and Lincoln. The others had nearly all attained to mature years when they passed away. The eldest daughter, Martha Jane, was her father's housekeeper for a number of years. For a short time Mr. EVERSOLL lived in Cassville township, but has made his home in Waterloo township for many years. He has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this region, and has been actively interested in its progress. In his political relations he is a Republican, having supported every presidential candidate of that party since voting for Fremont in 1856. Religiously he is an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As has been seen from the above record, Mr. EVERSOLL was actively engaged during the whole of his military service, and took part in many of the most important engagements of the war. Considering the weary marches, the arduous campaigns and severe battles in which he participated he is still well preserved, though as he grows older he feels the effects of his army service more. As an honored veteran of the rebellion, a prominent pioneer of the county, and a representative man of his community, he is worthy of the high regard in which he is uniformly held.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck