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| Private Jacob Harker, Company C, 120th Ohio Volunteer Infantry |
Born April 29, 1835 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Harker was the first of thirteen children of David Beaver Harker and Jane Norris Harker. When he was a boy, the family moved to St. Joseph township, Williams County, Ohio. Living with his parents and six siblings, the 1850 U.S. Federal Census lists his occupation as "Farmer." Jacob was 15 years old at the time.
In August of 1861, at the age of 26, Jacob married Sarah Huff of Ashland, Ohio. It's unclear by the digitized record of his marriage certificate whether or not Jacob could read or write. While the signature of Jacob Harker appears to differ from the handwriting on the rest of document, between the words, "Jacob" and "Harker" there appears to be a sort of "X" mark: a common practice used for acknowledgement on legal documents when the subject cannot write their name.
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| Marriage certificate of Jacob Harker and Sarah Huff |
The couple would only have one year living together as husband and wife. Jacob enlisted in Company C, 120th Ohio Infantry on his first wedding anniversary: August 22nd, 1862.
Jacob's brothers also enlisted for service. His brother Amos joined Company A, 28th Ohio Infantry; brother John joined Company K, 68th Ohio Infantry; brother William joined Company A, 30th Ohio Infantry, and brother Daniel joined Company E, 86th Ohio Infantry. Two of the five brothers would not survive the war.
Jacob's regiment mustered into service on October 14, 1862 under Captain John F McKinley. The term of service was three years. On October 25th of that year the regiment moved to Covington, Kentucky until November 24th when they then moved to Memphis, Tennessee. From December 20th until the 3rd of January, 1863 the regiment participated in General W. T. Sherman's Yazoo River Expedition. This was a failed rear assault attempt to quash the Confederate stronghold in Vicksburg, Mississippi. During this expedition, the regiment took part in the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.
From the 3rd of January to the 10th of January, 1863 the regiment marched to Arkansas Post, Arkansas. On the 10th and 11th of January, they assaulted and captured Fort Hindman. The regiment was on the move until March 8th when they arrived at Millikin's Bend, Madison Parrish, Louisiana where they participated in a series of small engagements. It is unknown if Jacob Harker participated in the turning of Grand Gulf (April 25-30, 1863) or the Battle of Port Gibson (May 1, 1863).*
As described in the following letter to his wife, Sarah, Jacob Harker arrived at the Depot Hospital, James Plantation on the evening of May 7th near death from dysentery. He passed away the following morning.
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| Letter to Sarah Huff Harker informing her of her husband Jacob's death |
(Transcribed)
Depot Hospital
James Plantation
May 8, 1863
Mrs. Harker,
It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the decease of your husband who departed this life about 10 o'clock to day.
He arrived here last night almost exhausted. The vital spark almost extinguished - too late to receive any benefit from medical aid - he died the death of a Christian as far as I was able to judge
- His disease was chronic diarrhea - I examined his knapsack(*) and find the contents of not much value and shall consign them to the grave with his body - enclosed you will find all the money he had on his person -
A good coffin shall be made and he shall be decently interred.
May the god of mercy sustain you in your troubles in the prayer of the undersigned
R. Carley
Actg. Asst. Surg.
General Hospital
Army of Tennessee
His letters I have personally examined and find nothing of any value so I will keep into all together.
RC
Jacob Harker's body was brought home for burial. He is buried in McZena/Pioneer/Old Cemetery No. 16, County Road, Lake Township, Ashland, Ohio.
Jacob's wife, Sarah Huff Harker remained childless and a widow for the rest of her life. In the 1900 US Census, she is found living with her brother, William H Huff in Loudenville, Ashland, Ohio. According to her pension file, William H Huff became her legal guardian on April 15, 1902. In 1910, Sarah is found living at the Massillion State Hospital for the Insane where she remained until her death on February 5th, 1918. At the time of her death, she had been an inmate for 16 years. Sarah Huff Harker is buried next to her husband Jacob in McZena/Pioneer/Old Cemetery No. 16, County Road, Lake Township, Ashland, Ohio. You can view their headstone here:
Find A Grave (Jacob Harker)
Amos Harker survived the war. He married Mary Matilda Mowry in 1868 and was the father of at least one child. Amos is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Edgerton, Williams County, Ohio. You can view his headstone here:
Find A Grave (Amos Harker)
John Harker survived the war. He married Mary Jane Cummins in 1864 and was the father of six children. His eldest child, a son, was named Jacob - most likely after his brother. John Harker is buried at Maplewood Cemetery, Barnes, Washington County, Kansas. (Section 2, Row 9). You can view his headstone here:
Find A Grave (John Harker)
Daniel P Harker survived the war. He was a member of two regiments: Company E, 86th Regiment from June 18, 1863 until February 10, 1864. He then joined the Company D, 51st Regiment from October 16, 1864 and was discharged October 3rd, 1865. Daniel was married twice; first to Louise Hollinger and then to Mary Alfretta Cronk. Daniel was the father of at least three children. He died on October 12, 1907 at the age of 59. Daniel Harker is buried at Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Story County, Iowa (Row 13, Space 1). You can view his headstone here:
Find a Grave (Daniel Harker)
William B Harker, soldier of Company A, 38th Regiment Ohio did not survive the war. He was listed as MIA on August 5, 1864, Utoy Creek Georgia. While we have found mention of William B Harker being a prisoner of Andersonville, we found nothing (as yet) to confirm this. He is not listed in the National Roll of Honor nor is he listed as having died at Andersonville in the Ohio Adjutant General's final report. It is likely that his body was never recovered at the Battle of Utoy Creek. The final resting place of William B Harker is currently unknown.
* Though it is unknown whether or not Jacob Harker participated in the turning of Grand Gulf and the Battle of Port Gibson, we find it interesting that he arrived, near death, at the hospital with his knapsack. This could indicate that he chose to stay with his regiment during these campaigns rather than seeking medical treatment.
*****
Photograph of Jacob Harker courtesy of the Library of Congress; The Liljenquist Collection.
Photograph of the marriage certificate of Jacob Harker and Sarah Huff courtesy of familysearch.com
Photograph of the death notification of Jacob Harker courtesy of fold3.com
Researched and written by Bruce D Frail and Laurie L Pratt.
(Sources used: Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865 (Vol 1-12) (1886-1895); original death records found at familysearch.com; United States Federal Census Records (1850, 1860, 1900, 1910) at Ancestry.com. Burial information for Sarah Huff Harker, at findagrave.com. Burial information for Jacob Harker, Amos Harker, John Harker, and William B Harker courtesy of Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) Grave Registration Database www.suvcwdb.org )
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