Zollinger, J. R.

ZOLLINGER, RANDALL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/21/2009 at 16:59:01

ZOLLINGER, J. R.

Sheriff, residence corner Farmers and Temperance streets. He was born 27 Dec 1829 in Washington Co. MD. In 1848 he went to Chambersburg, PA, and in 1855 he left for Iowa. He was detained at Mt. Morris, IL by a driving snow-storm. Through the advice of his friends he remained there two years. On 28 Mar 1857 he came to Newton, Iowa, and then commenced the carpenter and joiner business which he continued until Jan 1870 when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff. He was elected to his present position Oct 1873. he has been City Marshal and member of the Council. He enlisted 5 Aug 1862 in Co K, 28th I. V. I. He served to the end of the war and was engaged in battles of Port Gibson, Edward Station, Champion Hills, Vicksburg, Jackson, MS, Winchester, VA, Cedar Creek, VA and others. He first enlisted as a private, then promoted to 1st Sgt, then to 2nd Lieutenant, which position he held to the close of the war. He married E. M. RANDALL 10 May 1853. She was born 16 May 1830 in New York. They had three children, two living--Gulielma and Ed. M. They are Members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican. ~ "Newton Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
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Zollinger, Jeremiah R.

In a necessarily brief sketch like this if is impossible to enter fully into detail. The course of most lives is largely determined by circumstances and environment, a man, as a rule, being only able to do the best he can in the place where he finds himself.

Jeremiah Rummel Zollinger was born December 7, 1829, near Hagerstown, Maryland, from which locality he removed in his early childhood with his parents to Pennsylvania, where he grew up. He learned the carpenter's trade, becoming a contractor and builder, and in that capacity came west at the age of twenty-five. At that time he invested somewhat in Iowa farmland. He was of a genial disposition, and had many friends. He was also possessed of sound common sense and good business ability, and, being thoroughly honest, he had the confidence of those with whom he dealt.

In August 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, of the Twenty-eighth Iowa, under Captain, afterward Colonel, John Meyer. There would seem to have been a warm friendship always between these two men. From private, J. R. Zollinger rose to be second lieutenant of his company, and was known for the thoroughness with which he performed all the duties falling to him, first as orderly sergeant, and later as second lieutenant. Like all of the Company K boys, he was a good soldier, always ready to fight, and never shrinking from any danger. He was in Hovey's division, and fought in thirteen battles, besides skirmishes and other fights. In April 1863, Hovey's division started for Vicksburg. They did not reach it till the 20th of May, when the city was invested and its bombardment began. In the meanwhile were fought the battles of Port Gibson, May 1st, and Champion Hill, May 16th, in both of which J.R. Zollinger fought, as well as later in the rifle pits of Vicksburg. Immediately after the surrender of Vicksburg the Twenty-eighth Iowa was marched off to take part in the siege of Jackson. Here, on the 7th of July, Lieutenant Zollinger received a wound in the head which did not at the time seem serious, but which gave him more or less suffering all through his later life. In December 1863, he was sent home as a recruiting officer and remained until the 27th of March 1864, when he rejoined his regiment in Louisiana and saw service in that state during the spring and summer. On the 22nd of July 1864, he was embarked at Algiers, Louisiana, on the steamship "Arage" and sent north to Virginia. Here, in the valley of the Shenandoah, he saw hard service, being engaged in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, besides several skirmishes. At various times in the absence of a captain he had the command of three different companies in the regiment besides his own, and led Company D in a charge in battle. In January 1865, the Twenty-eighth was sent by sea to Savannah, Georgia. On the 12th of March they were sent to Newbern, North Carolina. Here the regiment by companies did guard duty on hospitals, prisons, and prisoners, and patrolled the town.In August, Lieutenant Zollinger, having been mustered out, returned to his home.

In January 1868, he was appointed deputy sheriff by William C. Hawk, the newly elected sheriff of Jasper County. In this position he served four years. He was then elected sheriff, and held that office for three successive terms. In 1879 he was made assignee of a bankrupt stock of goods in Colfax, and disposed of it satisfactorily to all concerned. In 1880 he opened a grocery in Newton, and remained a grocer until he died, on February 24, 1895. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 522.