Fred Grossenbacher - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Frederick Grossenbacher was born in Switzerland, but came to America when a very small child. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Grossenbacher,settled in as farmers in several different Ohio locations.

Frederick recalled for the Defiance Crescent-News interview when he was 88 years old:

"Born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, on July 23, 1846, Fred Grossenbacher was about a year old when the Swiss family crossed the Atlantic and came to Upper Sandusky where the failure to close a deal on a farm caused the family to settle temporarily in Defiance before going to the Auglaize County site.

The crude cabin had neither doors or windows and at night, the howling of the wolves caused the family great uneasiness. The farm lay on the Defiance-Paulding County line with 20 acres in Defiance and 40 acres in Paulding County. The old barn on the Sam Stork farm is all that is left of this pioneer farmstead."

When Frederick, whose birth date was July 20, 1846,was barely sixteen, he enlisted in the Union Army. On August 19, 1862, he became a part of Company K of the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. What an adventure it must have been for this teenager to head out first to Covington, Kentucky, to train with his fellow soldiers! But it soon became very serious as the regiment marched east to Chancellorsville, Virginia, where they participated in a devastating battle, losing over 200 of their men.

But even worse was to come, as this company joined the second day of fighting at Gettysburg. According to this same article, 

"Grossenbacher's company started in this battle in an oats field, whirled their flank to Cemetery Hill near Culp's Hill and Spangler Springs, and in a finish to their part in the entire battle swung back into Virginia after General Robert E. Lee, following his stand at Heckersford, Md.

It was during the Battle of Gettysburg that Christ Behnfeldt of the North Ridge fell mortally wounded against Mr. Grossenbacher on the field of action. After the great battle, the company went to Folly's Island where they could hear a four pound shell fired at Fort Sumter every thirty minutes. So accurately were these shells timed that, at every fourth shot, the pickets were relieved.

After leaving Folly's Island, the company was constantly being moved to and fro across the Carolinas, fighting many sanguinary battles and skirmishes, the worst being in the vicinity of DeVoe's Neck where the volunteers were under steady gunfire for six weeks. It was at this place that one of the camp cooks, while carrying coffee to the men in line of battle, was struck by a solid shot which Mr. Grossenbacher says took off the cook's head, leaving but a wisp of his chin whiskers.

On another occasion, Mr. Grossenbacher relates that he and a partner were celebrating the advent of a much-needed supply of coffee by cooking it under fire. They held the pail on a long stick until the coffee was cooked. Just as Grossenbacher reached out for the container, along came a solid shot and the coffee was no more! Mr. Grossenbacher came very near to being court martialed as the company went back to Virginia by train and some happy chaps shot down one of the military telegraph wires. His captain saved the day for him by stating that he was in his company in a box car all night.

Many more months of campaigning through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and down on the St. John's River in Florida were in store for the young soldier before, at the age of 19, he could lay down his arms as an orderly made his way on horseback to another 'Lost' Battalion that had been without news of the outside world for sixty days. The war was over.

Finally on July 29, 1865, the youthful veteran was mustered out and came to his folks in northwestern Ohio where his first act was to purchase for his mother two pounds of green coffee.  He helped about the farm in the forest that seemed strangely silent after his years of battle and purchased the 80-acre homestead in Section 22 one year before he was married to Rose Ann Fridley of Defiance. This farm has been Mr. Grossenbacher's home for 58 years. It saw the birth of nine children, all of whom are deceased except for son Edward, with whom the pioneer resides."  Defiance Crescent-News, November 15, 1932

Fred Grossenbacher, Section 22, 80 acres

When Fred was discharged from the army, after two years, one month and twenty-one days of service, he was probably a very changed person when his parents next saw him. War had shown him many unpleasant things. He had voted for the first time as a Union soldier for Abraham Lincoln. After his marriage with Rose and the births of nine children, hardship came again when they lost five of their children in the space of five years. Rose, herself, died in 1903 at the age of 45, with two daughters, Emma and Estella, passing before her in 1902 and 1903. 

"Mrs. RoseAnn Grosenbacher was born August 30, 1857, departed this life January 25, 1903, aged 45 years 4 months and 25 days.  She leaves a husband and seven children living, two having preceded her to the spirit world.

Funeral services were held Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. at Oakland M.E. church of which she was a consistent member, conducted by Rev. Culp. The remains were laid to rest in the Taylor Cemetery."

CARD OF THANKS - We also desire to thank the friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of our dear wife and mother and the beautiful singing rendered by the choir and also the kind words spoken by the minister. F. GROSSENBACHER and children"

Left alone to raise seven children, Fred lost William in 1908 and Matilda in 1909. In the 1910 census, Fred, age 63, had at home Florence 20, Myrtle, 18 and Laura, 14. Myrtle and Laura died in 1912. Florence died in 1927, and by the time Fred, himself, died in 1938 at the age of 92, he only had son, Edward, left.

"FREDERICK GROSSENBACHER, GETTYSBURG VETERAN DIES

Fredrick Grossenbacher, who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg and was next to the last surviving member of Bishop Post, G.A.R. died today at 6:30 a.m. at the home of a son, Edward Grossenbacher, Auglaize township, Paulding County. He was 92 years old.

Mr. Grossenbacher, well known here because of his Civil War record and participation in many patriotic celebrations, had been bedfast since suffering a stroke of paralysis five weeks ago.

His death leaves John Myers, Davidson Street, as the last survivor of Bishop Post.

ATTENDED REUNION    

Mr. Grossenbacher attended the reunion last summer on the historic battlefield at Gettysburg.  He served in the war with the Army of the Potomac. His unit was Co. K, 107th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted when he was 16 years old.

The body will be taken from the Morris Brothers funeral home here to the son's home Thursday afternoon. Services will be conducted there Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and in the Bethel Christian Church, Arthur, at 2 p.m. Rev. Fremont McCague will officiate. The Taylor Cemetery south of here along state route 66 in Defiance County will be the place of burial.

BORN IN SWITZERLAND        

Mr. Grossenbacher was born in Canterbury, Switzerland, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth House-Grossenbacher.  He came to America when just a youth and settled in this section of the country. During his active years, he was a farmer.

Besides the son, Edward, he leaves a sister, Mrs. Mary Knoop, Arthur; eight grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Six daughters and a son preceded him in death."

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)