Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He came to the United States at age three with his family and graduating from Oberlin College, Ohio in 1859. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted and was Captain of Company C, 7th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Kesler's Cross Lanes, Virginia, in August 1861, and was exchanged in August 1862. He was then assigned to the staff of General O. B. Wilcox of the 9th Army Corps and served at Fredericksburg. In July 1863, he was promoted Colonel and recruited the first black troops of Ohio, designated the 5th U.S. Colored Troops. He led the 5th at Petersburg, Virginia, June-August 1864, was wounded at Fort Harrison, Richmond on September 29, 1864 and was in the North Carolina campaign 1865. For gallant and meritorious services, he was brevetted Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers on March 13, 1865. After the war he was a Professor at Oberlin College 1866-87, college financial secretary 1873-74, secretary - treasurer 1887-93 and member of the Board of Trustees 1894-1904. He also served as Mayor of Oberlin, the village council, on the executive committee of the Temperance Alliance, President of the Board of Commerce and the Village Improvement Society. In 1911, he was honored when the community erected a statue of him on South Professor St. Oberlin, Ohio.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He came to the United States at age three with his family and graduating from Oberlin College, Ohio in 1859. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted and was Captain of Company C, 7th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Kesler's Cross Lanes, Virginia, in August 1861, and was exchanged in August 1862. He was then assigned to the staff of General O. B. Wilcox of the 9th Army Corps and served at Fredericksburg. In July 1863, he was promoted Colonel and recruited the first black troops of Ohio, designated the 5th U.S. Colored Troops. He led the 5th at Petersburg, Virginia, June-August 1864, was wounded at Fort Harrison, Richmond on September 29, 1864 and was in the North Carolina campaign 1865. For gallant and meritorious services, he was brevetted Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers on March 13, 1865. After the war he was a Professor at Oberlin College 1866-87, college financial secretary 1873-74, secretary - treasurer 1887-93 and member of the Board of Trustees 1894-1904. He also served as Mayor of Oberlin, the village council, on the executive committee of the Temperance Alliance, President of the Board of Commerce and the Village Improvement Society. In 1911, he was honored when the community erected a statue of him on South Professor St. Oberlin, Ohio.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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