Jacob Zoll - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Jacob Sylvester Zoll, born in Hancock County on February 19, 1841, spent the majority of his life there until moving to Defiance in about 1898.

Born to John Zoll and Susan Cogley, he was their oldest son, born soon after their December, 1840, marriage. 

On June 6, 1863, he enlisted in Company L of the 1st Ohio Volunteers, Heavy Artillery, as a Private for three years of service. Jacob was an artificer, which was a necessity in every regiment. He was likely a blacksmith or had some skills that allowed him to repair the wagons and artillery carriages. The artificer traveled behind their troops and stayed behind to make repairs on whatever needed to be fixed. A wagon with boxes of extra parts, tools, and other supplies was always at the rear with these men. 

One source said this was a very desirable job because it paid $25 a month, whereas a private earned $13 a month. Jacob enlisted in Hancock County, the source of men for Company L, and soon found himself in Kentucky and then Tennessee. In January, 1864, the entire regiment was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee, arriving in March. The regiment was largely on guard duty, especially of the railroads, and they also prepared fortifications and protected various garrisons from guerrilla forces. In August, 1864, the regiment successfully protected the Chattanooga, Knoxville and Virginia Railroad, nearly 150 miles of track.

  Photo of an artificer, always behind the regiment to keep them going with repairs as needed..

Captain Joshua S. Prebel of Company L wrote this letter back to headquarters telling about one of Company L's skirmishes with the Confederates near Murphy, North Carolina.

"Sir:

I have the honor to report that on the 1st day of August, in accordance with instructions from Lieut-Col. Patterson, commanding post of Loudon, Tenn.  I repaired with Capt. Bivens, commanding a squad of eighty men detailed from companies M, L, C. and H, First Ohio Volunteer Heavy Infantry, for the purpose of driving a band of guerrillas to Athens, Tenn.

We arrived at the latter place at 12 m. of said day to find the rebels gone. In accordance with my instructions, I then took command of the detachment. I pressed all the horses and mules I could find and mounted sixty of my men, and with them and five citizens, at 1:30 p.m. started in pursuit.  We pushed on some thirty miles until it became dark, following the trail of the scoundrels, which was a wide one, they having plundered everything indiscriminately which came in their way.

At 3 o'clock next morning, we again started in pursuit, but owing to the fact that most of my men were poorly mounted, it was impossible for them to keep up.  At. 11 a.m. I came up with the enemy near the village of Murphy, North Carolina, sixty-five miles from Athens. With fifteen of my men, all who had come up, I charged on the enemy. We killed 10 and wounded a number more. We captured 18 horses, 6 mules, 20 guns, 4 revolvers, and 2 small pistols, and a number of other articles.  We took no prisoners.

It is needless to add that the enemy was completely demoralized and fled in every direction. Our loss was 1 citizen-soldier killed. My men, being very much fatigued and our horses completely done up, without rations or forage.  I did not deem it advisable to pursue farther, and commenced our return, reaching Athens next day at 2 p.m. and reaching Loudon on the 4th instant.

It is with extreme pleasure I give my testimony to the good conduct of the brave men under my command. For three days, over a rough and mountainous country, with but one meal, did these brave men toil on, yet not one word of murmuring was heard, but all anxious for the fray. I have only to regret that my men were not better mounted, so that they could have been in at the death,' for in that event I think I could have rid the earth of all the cursed gang.

The enemy's force consisted of part of the outlaw and murderer Vaughn's force and numbered sixty-three men, all well mounted, but under whose immediate command I could not learn.

All of which is respectfully submitted, J. S. Prebel, Capt. Co. L, First Ohio Vol. Heavy Arty..."

In October, 1864, the entire first regiment was sent to Chattanooga, foraging along the way, and engaging the enemy at Saltville. In the spring, they were combined with other state regiments into the Army of the Cumberland and advanced toward North Carolina until their discharge at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati in August, 1865. Jacob's Civil War records name him as a wagoner, and his tombstone indicates Artificer.

                            Pension record. H.A. = Heavy Artillery

Once home, Jacob married Martha Cosner, also of Hancock County, on June 20, 1867, and the couple settled there. In the 1880 Federal Census, the couple lived near McComb.  Jacob worked on a farm and they had two sons, Burley C. and Harry D. 

By the time they moved to Defiance in about 1898, according to one obituary, the children were grown. No occupation was given for Jacob in the 1900 census, but in 1910, he was working as a laborer for Riverside Cemetery.

Jacob S. Zoll died on July 1, 1914, in Defiance of a kidney infection;  he was about 73 years old. His residence at the time was 920 Downs Street, and his widow, Martha, survived. His obituary was in the local papers:

"JACOB ZOLL

Jacob Zoll was born in Findlay, O. Feb.19, 1841, and died in Defiance, July 1, 1914, aged 73 years, 4 months and 12 days. For the past 21 years, his home has been in or about the city of Defiance. For 12 years, he has (line missing) Riverside Cemetery and was active about his work until one week before his death.

Mr. Zoll was a member of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, enlisting in 1863, and serving until the close of the Civil War, and at the time of his death, was a member of Bishop Post G.A.R.

In 1847, he was married to Miss Martha Cosner who survives him.  He also leaves two sons, Messrs. Burley and Harry Zoll of Adison, Mich., a daughter, Mrs. Euretha Karr, who resides four miles south of Defiance, and eight grandchildren.

He was a professing Christian before his marriage, and with his wife, was uniited with the Presbyterian church of Defiance in 1904, in which church he has ever since been a consistent and respected member.  He was a kind husband and father, who aimed to make his religious profession the guide of his daily life and conduct."

             Riverside Cemetery  His tombstone gives the title Artificer.

Martha Zoll died on July 9, 1925 and was buried with her husband in Riverside Cemetery.

Her obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on July 10:

"MRS. ZOLL DIES FROM PARALYSIS

Defiance Woman, 82, Had Been Ill For Past Thirteen Weeks

Mrs. Martha A. Zoll, widow of Jacob Zoll, died Thursday afternoon at 2:25 at her home, 923 Downs Street, following an illness of thirteen weeks. Mrs. Zoll suffered an attack of neuritis, which brought on partial paralysis, resulting in her death. She was 82 years of age.

She is survived by two sons,  B.C. and Harry Zoll, who reside at the home in Downs street. Mr. Zoll passed away about 11 years ago.

Mrs. Zoll was born in Fredericktown in 1843, and resided there until moving to Defiance twenty-seven years ago.  She has been an active member of the Women's Relief Corps for many years.

Funeral services will be held from the late home Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock and at 2:30 from the First Presbyterian Church, Washington avenue, Rev. W. A. Rex, the pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery."

Their daughter, Euretha was also quite active in the Women's Relief Corps and became an honorary member of the Bishop Post, maybe the only woman to do so. The Crescent-News reported on March 5, 1928:

"Woman in G.A.R. Post

At a meeting of Bishop Post, Mrs. Euretha Karr, a member of the Women's Relief Corps, was appointed adjutant of the post to fill the office made vacant by the death of A.W. King.  She will be an honorary member of the post."

Euretha died the next year in November of 1929. The wife of Roy Karr, she was also buried in Riverside Cemetery.

It's interesting to note that Henry and Burley, Jacob's sons, followed somewhat in his trade. Censuses reported Henry as a blacksmith and Burley as a mechanic.

(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!)