Jesse A. ARCHER ¹

  General Notes:

1840 OH CENSUS, Guernsey Co, Spencer Twp:
Name: George Archer
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 5
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 2
Free White Persons - Under 20: 8
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 10

1850 OH CENSUS, Morgan Co, Homer Twp:
"Jessee" Archer, 13, b. OH, parents b. OH.
He was living with George & Amie Archer and additional children.
(Unsure if this is the 'correct' Jesse Archer, since according to his obit, his parents had died by 1850.)

1860 OH CENSUS, Morgan Co, Homer Twp:
"Jessee" Archer, 20, farmer, b. OH.
He was living with Anthony Archer, 32, and other Archers.
(Unsure if this is the correct Jesse Archer.)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS:
Name: Jesse Archer
Enlistment Date: 2 Jun 1863
Side Served: Union
State Served: Ohio
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 2 June 1863 at the age of 24.
Enlisted in Company I, 117th Infantry Regiment Ohio on 2 Jun 1863.
Transferred out of Company I, 117th Infantry Regiment Ohio on 12 Aug 1863.
Transferred into Company I, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment Ohio on 12 Aug 1863.
Mustered Out Company I, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment Ohio on 25 Jul 1865 at Knoxville, TN.

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS:
117th Infantry Regiment Ohio
Date of Organization: 1 Sep 1862
Muster Date: 12 Aug 1863
Regiment State: Ohio
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 117th
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers

Regimental History
OHIO ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY
One Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry. - (See 1st Heavy Artillery.)

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Battles Fought by 117th OH Infantry: none listed

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS
REGIMENT: 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment Ohio
Date of Organization: 12 Aug 1863
Muster Date: 25 Jul 1865
Regiment State: Ohio
Regiment Type: Heavy Artillery
Regiment Number: 1st
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 0
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 1
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 6
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 164
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers

Regimental History
OHIO FIRST HEAVY ARTILLERY (ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY)
(Three Years)

First Heavy Artillery. - Col., Chauncey D. Hawley; Lieut. Col., Fordyce M. Keith; Majs., William G. Dickson, Robert W. Caldwell, Timothy S. Matthews, Henry L. Barnes. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service as the 117th Ohio infantry at Camp Portsmouth, in Sept., 1862, for three years, its eight companies aggregating 796 men. The following month it was ordered to Kentucky, where it remained on guard duty and expeditions against guerrillas until in May, 1863, when orders were issued by the war department changing the organization into the 1st regiment, heavy artillery, and on Aug. 12 it was so reorganized, with twelve full companies, aggregating 1,839 officers and men.

During the process of reorganization the regiment constructed the extensive fortifications around Covington and Newport, and through the fall and winter of 1863-64 the regiment, in battalion detachments, was engaged in guard duty at various points in Kentucky. On Feb. 19, 1864, it started under orders, through heavy snow and extreme cold, over the mountains to Knoxville, Tenn., arriving there on March 9. Until September it was engaged in guarding the railroads through Tennessee, and subsequently participated in Burbridge's and Stoneman's raids against Saltville.

During the winter of 1864-65 it was constantly engaged in foraging and fighting guerrillas throughout East Tennessee and North Carolina. Forming a part of the 1st brigade, 4th division, Army of the Cumberland, it was engaged in guarding mountain passes and garrisoning captured points in Virginia and North Carolina. After the surrender of Lee and Johnston it saw service in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. On July 25, 1865, it was mustered out of the service, at Knoxville, Tenn., in accordance with orders from the war department.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Battles Fought by 1st OH Heavy Artillery:
Fought on 10 Jan 1864.
Fought on 1 Jan 1865.
Fought on 23 Jan 1865 at Mosier's Mills, TN.
Fought on 31 Jan 1865.
Fought on 11 Feb 1865 at Near Williamsport, TN.
Fought on 11 Feb 1865 at Near Newport, TN.
Fought on 16 Feb 1865 at Dandridge, TN.
Fought on 23 Feb 1865.
Fought on 10 Apr 1865.

1870 OH CENSUS, Noble Co, Enoch Twp, Berne P. O.:
Jesse Archer, 24, loafer(?), $1100 personal property, b. OH, cannot write.
He was living with Jacob & Eurith Wickham and family.
(Nancy J. Wickham was listed on the same census page.)

MILITATY PENSION APPLICATIONS: Jesse Archer, Comp I, 1st OH HA
Jesse Archer applied for an invalid pension on Oct 24, 1879
Nancy J. Archer applied for a widow's pension on Aug 7, 1906

1890 VETERANS SCHEDULE, OH, Noble Co, Enoch Twp:
Jesse Archer, Private, Comp. J, 1st OH Inf., enlisted Apr 1863, discharged Jul 1865, length of service: 2 yrs.

OH, COUNTY DEATH RECORDS, 1840-2001:
Name: Jesse Archer
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 30 Mar 1906
Event Place: Enoch Township, Noble, Ohio, United States
Residence Place:Enoch Tp.
Gender:Male
Age: 68
Marital Status: Married
Race (Original): White
Occupation: Farmer
Birth Year (Estimated):1838
Birthplace: Ohio

OBIT:
JESSE ARCHER
Jesse Archer was born in Spencer Township, Guernsey County, Ohio, April 24, 1837 and died at home in Enoch Township, Noble County, Ohio, March 30, 1906, age 68 years, 11 months and 6 days. He was a son of George Archer, an old pioneer of Guernsey County and of a family of ten boys. His father and eight brothers have long ago preceded him to the great beyond. One brother, Samuel, survives him and now lives at McConnelsville, Ohio.
When Jesse was six years old, his mother died. Three years later, his father died. At the tender age of 9, Jesse Archer was left an orphan boy with no one to care for him; with no one to speak kind words to him; with no one to listen to, nor gratify his boyish wants. This was the day of subscription schools and as this poor boy had no one to pay his subscription, he was barred from the school room and, while his playmates tauntingly passed him on their way to school, he was compelled (with tears in his eyes, no doubt) to return and work for their parents in order that he might procure food and a place to sleep.
As a result, he never received an education but by industry and economy, he had provided for himself and a family a comfortable home.
In 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Wickham of Enoch Township. To this union were born three children: Annie Archer, deceased; Esther Archer Stewart, Zanesville; and Asberry G. Archer who resided with his father at the time of his (Jesse's) death. The wife, one son and one daughter survive him.
Jesse was never a professor of religion; neither did he ever belong to any church, but he had, many times, prior to and during his late illness, expressed himself as ready to die and never had any fears of death.
He did right '96 because he believed it was right to 'do right'.
No stranger ever asked this man for food or shelter, but what the same was freely given. No night was too dark or road too long that he would not accommodate his neighbor in time of need. Tis said, "A friend in need is a friend, indeed".
Although strikingly odd, in nearly all his habits and customs, yet, he was a kind hearted man, and only those that were most intimately associated with him would have surmised the intrinsic tenderness of the old man's heart. His remains were interred in the Archer's Ridge Cemetery, April 1st 1906. Obsequities conducted by Rev. S. F. Ross, pastor of the Caldwell M. E. Church.
The deceased was an old soldier and one of those soldiers that had seen service, enlisting at McConnelsville, Ohio as a private in Co. I, 1^st Ohio heavy artillery early in 1861 and served in the capacity until the surrender of Lee in 1865, when he was discharged a physical wreck.
Jesse was in the Battle of Lookout Mountain or "the battle above the clouds". We have frequently heard him tell of this day as being a cold, rainy one, and as the clouds settled on the mountainside much of the fighting was done above the clouds. He received a saber wound on the back of his neck and carried the scar of this wound to his grave.
He was with Grant in that frightful place known as "The Wilderness" in which the fighting was almost incessant. While in this place, he had his collarbone fractured by a stray bullet, and never afterward had the proper use of his right arm.
It can be truthfully said that he was an honest and upright citizen; kind and accommodating neighbor and a generous father.
As s provider for his family there could have been no better. It was his one great aim, in fact, he lavishly provided the necessities of life. This man will be sadly missed by all.
(Submitted by Rose MaryStewart Jamison - perhaps written by Jesse's son, Asberry Archer.)

ARCHER'S RIDGE CEMETERY RECORDS:
Jesse A. Archer, 1841-1906, Co. I, O.V.H.A. GAR
(listed next to stone of Nancy J., wife)

POEM ABOUT JESSE ARCHER:
"Soldier, rest thy warfare 'o'er
Dream of battlefields no more".
Yes, this soldier rests today
Beneath the clods so cold and gray.
True, his warfare days are o'er
He'll hear the battle cries no more.
As his form's lowered in the ground
With bullet marks and saber wound
Our thots revert to '61
When Civil War was then begun
When violent measures being feared
When Jesse Archer volunteered.
When Lincoln asked who'd volunteer
When this man quickly answered, "Here"
We see him at McConnelsville
Enlisting with a good free will
To give his life, if this need be
For the preservation of his country.
While peering in this earthly bed
We realize a soldier's dead
We then reflect that such as he
Are men that gave to you and me
A nation that they said must be
Forever more, the home of the free.
We think as we see the casket lowered
Of the terrible suffering he endured;
How, when a long day's march would close
In a southern swamp he sought repose.
And in mud and water, ankle deep
Fatigued and hungry, fell asleep.
Tis more easily told than understood
How he was famished for want of food.
All means of rations cut away
He gets a half pint meal per day.
This, baked round the campfire's blaze
Is the food allowed for fourteen days.
So keen does the pangs of hunger grow
That many a time he fain would go
And slip from the feedbox of the mule
(Though 'twas against the martial rule)
An ear of corn to hide away
And eat with his half pint meal that day.
Then what we do, as a nation owe
To the Union soldier that suffered so?
That suffered and died that we might say
"We've the grandest nation on earth, today.
How dare we speak of the nation's joys
Without extoling our soldier boys.
Now, we needs must turn away
Leaving in his bed of clay
This old soldier's form to rest
Where earthly powers can ne'er molest.
When keen edged sabers in bloody gore,
Will never again be forced to leap
And rush away in the midnight hour
On "double quick" midst cries of horror
As when the enemy with stealthy tread
Would seek to smite the sleeping dead.
So as we take a farewell view
And finally bid his form "adieu"
Retiring from this hero's grave
We cling to the words the poet gave:
"Soldier, rest", Thy warfare o"er
Dream of battlefields no more".
(submitted by Rose Mary Stewart Jamison - perhaps written by Jesse's son, Asberry Archer.)

Jesse married Nancy Jane WICKHAM, daughter of Jeremiah M. WICKHAM and Esther ACKLEY, on 20 Aug 1870 in Noble Co, OH.¹ (Nancy Jane WICKHAM was born on 11 Sep 1846 in Monroe Co, OH,^{5 6} died on 5 Oct 1912 in Enoch Twp, Noble Co, OH ^{5 6} and was buried on 7 Oct 1912 in Archer's Ridge Cem, Enoch Twp, Noble Co, OH ^{5 6}.)