Jacob Dachrodt

Captain
Jacob Dachrodt
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 18th district
In office
1887–1891
Preceded byJeremiah S. Hess
Succeeded byEdward Henry Laubach
Member of Easton City Council
In office
1853–1856
Personal details
BornSeptember 11, 1828
Easton, Pennsylvania
DiedSeptember 11, 1909(1909-09-11) (aged 81)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseIsabelle Dachrodt
ChildrenJohn Dachrodt
OccupationButcher
Military service
Branch/service Union (American Civil War)
Years of serviceJuly 27, 1861-July 24, 1863
RankCaptain

Jacob Dachrodt (1828-1909) was an American Civil War hero who served as the captain of the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment's Company B during the Battle of Gettysburg. Following his reenlistment with the 153rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, he was subsequently commissioned as the regiment's lieutenant colonel.[1][2]

After the war, he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 18th district as a Democrat.[3]

Biography

Early life

Jacob Dachrodt was born on September 11, 1828, in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He was born to John and Julia Dachrodt and was privately tutored by Professor John Wandervere.[3] His father was a butcher and an influential local businessman.[3] He was the eldest of three daughters and six sons.[4]

Dachrodt was elected to the Easton City Council, serving from 1853 to 1856.[3][5]

Civil war service

Dachrodt as a captain in the Union Army

Eight days after the Battle of Fort Sumter Dachrodt volunteered for the Union army with three of his brothers.[4] At the age of thirty-three, using his reputation as a former borough councilor, he raised his own unit, the Easton's Citizens’ Artillery. Dachrodt was then elected by his men as their captain.[6]

Following completion of his men's three months' service, Dachrodt and his men were honorably discharged, and mustered out of service. Dachrodt then reenlisted as a private on July 27, 1861.[6] His Easton's Citizens’ Artillery was merged with the Easton National Guards, a unit that was led by fellow Easton borough councilor Samuel S. Yohe, with the Easton Jaegers led by Charles Glanz, and with another company to form the 153rd Regiment of the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.

By the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, Dachrodt had regained the rank of captain,[5] and was later commissioned as a lieutenant colonel,

Dachrodt participated in the Battle of Aldie, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and the mud march, and was recognized for his valor as a captain during the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg. During the former, he was wounded by a gunshot to the elbow and was eventually discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability on July 24, 1863.[3] His brother, Daniel, enlisted as the drummer boy for Company K of the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was awarded the rank of principal musician on September 1, 1862.[7][4]

Post war

Following his honorable discharge, Dachrodt returned home to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where he worked as a butcher from 1864 to 1899 and owned a store at 56 South 4th Street, at what is now the Parsons-Taylor House. He retired and closed his store at the age of seventy.

In 1886, he was offered the Independent nomination for state senator; even though he did not personally campaign during what turned out to be a low-key race, he was overwhelmingly elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate. Once in office, he declared himself to be a Democrat.[5]

During his time in the Pennsylvania Senate, he was a member of the Agriculture, Insurance, Canals and Inland Navigation, Legislative Apportionment, Military Affairs, Municipal Affairs, New County and County Seats, Pension and Gratuities and Railroads committees.[3]

He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic as part of the G.A.R.'s LaFayette post (number 217).[3][6]

Death and interment

Dachrodt died in Easton on June 4, 1909, at the age of eighty-one and was buried in the Easton Cemetery.[3][8][9]

References

  1. ^ Jacob Dachrodt, in "Mustered Out" (death notices). Washington, D.C.: The National Tribune, July 8, 1909, p. 6 (subscription required).
  2. ^ "Death of Colonel Dachrodt." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Star-Independent, June 4, 1909, p. 1 (subscription required).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jacob Dachrodt". Pennsylvania State Senate. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Historical Treasures: The Dachrodt brothers of Easton". The Express-Times. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "DACHRODT LED EASTON INTO CIVIL WAR". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Jacob Dachrodt". civilwardata.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ^ Snyder, Laurie. "Company K," in 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers: One Civil War Regiment's Story," November 18, 2015.
  8. ^ Jacob Dachrodt, in "Mustered Out," The National Tribune, July 8, 1909, p. 6.
  9. ^ "Death of Colonel Dachrodt," The Star-Independent, June 4, 1909, p. 1.