Jacob F. Minnick

Pvt. Jacob F. Minnick (1832-1924)

Pvt. Jacob F. Minnick, brother Louis Mosier's 2nd great-grandfather, was a 30 year old carpenter when he enlisted in Company A, 142nd New York Infantry Regiment in August 1862. His father John was a member of the New York Militia during the War of 1812 and his grandfather Bernhardt, who came to America from Germany in about 1776 at the age of 26, fought at the battles of Oriskany and German Flats, among others, while serving in the Tryon County, New York Militia and the 3rd Regiment, New York Line in the Revolutionary War. 

When Jacob enlisted on Aug 6, 1862 at Pitcairn, New York, he was 30 yrs old, 5ft 6 in tall, with dark hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion. On Sep 29, 1862 he married Hannah Elizabeth Sawyer and then, on that same day, mustered into his infantry regiment.

In Oct 1862, Private Jacob Minnick's unit was ordered to serve in the defenses of Washington DC. In Apr 1863, his unit was sent into Tidewater Virginia where it participated in the Siege of Suffolk and in June was involved in Dix's Peninsula Campaign. After being sent North in pursuit of Robert E. Lee after Gettysburg, his unit was sent South in Aug 1863 to serve in the Siege of Charleston (and attacks on Forts Wagner, Gregg and Sumter) and remained in Sout Carolina until Apr 1864.

In Apr 1864, the 142nd NY Infantry was sent to Virginia to serve in Gen Butler's Army of the James in the Bermuda Hundred campaign, taking part in the battles of Swift Creek, Ft Darling, Drewry's Bluff and Bermuda Hundred. Pvt. Minnick then went with his regiment as part of the XVIII Corps contingent to Cold Harbor. It missed the main assaults in the Battle of Cold Harbor, being kept back to guard the landing and supply depot at White House, but his unit apparently replaced another regiment in the line after the battle and sustained 10 casualties. The 142nd New York Infantry then participated in the Siege of Petersburg, fighting at the Battle of the Crater, Chaffin's Farm, and Fair Oaks.

In Dec 1864, Pvt. Minnick was sent with his unit to North Carolina, where it played a major role in the capture of Ft Fisher near Wilmington. Being an experienced carpenter/builder, Jacob Minnick was then detailed to the Pioneer Corps of the 2nd Div, XXIV Army Corps, in which he helped build roads, bridges and defenses during the Campaign of the Carolinas. After Gen Joe Johnston, CSA, surrendered his army at Raleigh, North Carolina in April 1865 and the war came to an end, Pvt. Minnick mustered out of his regiment in June and returned to Pitcairn, NY.

During the war, Jacob's brothers-Alexander, Charles and Simeon-and his wife's brother-Peter Sawyer-also served in the Union Army. Simeon and Peter, who served in the same artillery unit, both died of disease in 1862.

Sometime before 1880, Jacob moved his family to Pensaukee, Oconto, WI, where he took up farming. At some time during his life in Oconto County, Jacob joined the D.D. Barker Post #29 of the Grand Army of the Republic (Dept of Wisconsin), the organization composed of Union veterans of the Civil War.

On July 29, 1890, Jacob married as his second wife Julia. Jacob continued farming and apparently earned his neighbors' respect, for in April 1903 he was elected as Pensaukee Town Justice of the Peace. Jacob's second wife, Julia, died on Dec 12, 1914. Jacob lived until age 91, dying in Abrams, WI, on Mar 22, 1924.