Jesse Merrill-- Part 6: The Signal Service Corps

Jesse Merrill enlisted in Company D, Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the spring of 1861, and received a commission as second lieutenant .  In the fall of the same year, he was detailed for duty in the Signal Service Corps.

When the Signal Corps was organized as a separate branch of the service, he was transferred to from his company with the rank of captain. In January 1862, he was appointed to organize the Signal Service in the Army of the Ohio, and he took command the following year.

By virtue of his position as signal officer, Captain Merrill was on the staff of Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas, and they in succession, commanded the Army of the Ohio, which afterwards became the Army of the Cumberland.

--Old Secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 5: A Teacher, Then Lawyer Before the War

From Civil War Signals.org.

General Jesse Merrill, was born in New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1836.  He was the son of James Merrill, a prominent lawyer of Union County, and a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1838.

Jesse Merrill attended  public school in New Berlin until age sixteen, then attended a year at the Tuscarora Academy in Juaniata County, Pennsylvania, after which he began teaching for four years.  he then began the study of law with his brother in New Berlin.

The following year he entered the law office of Lawson & brown in Milton, Pa., where he remained at his studies until 1859, when he was admitted to practice law in the courts of Northumberland County, Pa.,

He shortly afterward came to Lock Haven, where he has remained ever since.

--Old secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 4: Obituary

GENERAL JESSE MERRILL

General John Jesse Merrill died at his home in Lock Haven on Saturday night last, of paralysis.  General Merrill was born  in New Berlin and was the son of the late James Merrill and was sixty-five years old.

He studied law with with Hon. W.C. Lawson of Milton and located in Lock Haven. 

During the Civil War he enlisted as a member of Company D, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves, and was detailed for duty with the Signal Corps. In 1862, he organized the Signal Service for the Army of Ohio., of which he took command shortly after.

He also served on the staffs of Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas.

In 1871, he was appointed by Governor Geary major general of the National Guard of Pennsylvania.  While serving in the latter position he had charge of the Eleventh division, which he called out to quell the Williamsport riots in 1872.

He was married in 1866 to Miss Julia McCleerry, sister of Col. John McCleery.  Mrs. Merrill died about five years ago.

The deceased enjoyed a large practice in Clinton County., and was at one time postmaster of Lock Haven.

He was buried at Milton on Tuesday.

--Old Secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 3: Of Pennsylvania and U.S. Signal Corps

From Find A Grave.

MG JESSE MERRILL

Brother of Lewis Merrill

Birth:  28 March 1838 New Berlin, Pa.

Death:  14 January 1899  Milton, Pa.

Buried:  Milton Cemetery, Milton, Pa.

During the Civil War, he was commissioned  as First Lieutenant of Co. D, 36th Pa. on April 24, 1861.  Promoted to Captain and transferred to U.S. Signal Corps in 1863.  Mustered out in 1865.

He was a lawyer by profession.  In April 1871, he was appointed Major General of Pennsylvania National Guard.

I was wondering where they got the major general from.

--Old Secesh

Jesse Merrill-- Part 2: Service in the 36th Pennsylvania and U.S. Signal Corps

Jesse Merrill was commissioned  2nd lieutenant of Company "D", 36th Pennsylvania Infantry on April 24, 1861.  He was promoted to Captain on May 9, 1862, and was commissioned into the U.S. Signal Corps  on March 3, 1863.

Promoted to Major by brevet on March 13, 1865.  He died January 14, 1899.

During Merrill's service with the 36th Pennsylvania [7th Pa. reserves] the regiment participated in the Seven Days Battles, as well as Second Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg.

Bibles and books inscribed by Civil War Signal Corps members are extremely rare.  Super id'd  collectible.

Sold for $225.

--Old Secesh

Jesse Merrill, Brother of Lewis Merrill and Union Soldier-- Part 1: His New Testament Bible

From the Horse Soldier Fine Military Americana site.

New Testament identified to Major Jesse Merrill, 36th Pa.  Infantry [7th Pa Reserves] & U.S. Signal Corps.

Published by the American Bible Society, New York, 1857.  Tooled brown leather, measuring 9.25"  X 6", w/ raised bands, with gilt  cover stamp "J. Merrill" and gilt spine lettering.

Owner inscription, front eps "Captain Jesse Merrill/ U.S. S.C." with crossed signal flags drawn in ink.  Five stanza song "The Old, Old Home with chorus, written in the owner's hand in ink in rear eps (end pages).

In terms of condition, , the book exhibits light or medium wear in the extremities, and light foxing of text, which remains entirely legible.  Spine and text  signatures tight.    Owner eps slightly  fades, though entirely legible.  Else VG.

--Old Secesh

Lewis Merrill's Family

From Lewiss Merrill Find a Grave.

Lewis Merrill's father, James Merrill (1790-1840) is listed as a judge and is buried in New Berlin, Pennsylvania.  His mother, Sarah B. Lewis Merrill (1794-1876)  is buried at Lewisburg Cemetery  in Lewisburg, Pa.  She was the third wife of James Merrill.

His brother was Jesse Merrill (1838-1899) who served the Union in the Civil War.  I'll write about him in the next post.

A half brother, Charles Merrill was also in the Union Army and died in 1865.

One of his daughters, Mary Merrill Scott (1862-1950) married Major General Hugh Lenox Scott (1853-1934) and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Another son was Lt.Col. John Houston Merrill, also buried at Arlington.

I'll do research on these people next.

--Old Secesh