Monday, October 29, 2007

Andrew Jackson Bloomer

Andrew Jackson Bloomer was born February 2, 1839, in Chateaugay (or perhaps Chautauqua) County, New York, probably the son of William (b. 1812) and Mary (b. 1814).

William and Mary were both born in New York and were possibly married there sometime before 1835 when their first child, Benjamin was born. In 1850 Andrew was attending school and living with his family in Sherman, Chautauqua County, New York, where his father worked as a miller. His parents were still living in Sherman, New York, in 1860.

Sometime before 1864 Andrew left New York and moved westward, eventually settling in Michigan.

He stood 5’10” with blue eyes, auburn hair and a light complexion, and was a 24-year-old farmer possibly living in Allendale, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company I on January 30, 1864, for 3 years at Grand Rapids, and was mustered the same day. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.)

Andrew joined the Regiment on February 17, 1864, at Camp Bullock, Virginia, and was reportedly admitted to the regimental hospital two days later suffering form influenza. He returned to duty on February 20, although he had not fully recovered from his “inflammation of the lungs” and was treated for said disease through mid-March. He was present for duty, however, when he was wounded in the arm, probably in early May during the Wilderness campaign. He was admitted to Judiciary Square hospital in Washington, DC, on May 11, 1864, transferred to a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 16, and was still absent sick in the hospital when he was transferred to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864.

Andrew eventually recovered from his wounds and joined the Fifth Michigan in the field.

He was taken prisoner on October 27, 1864, while the Regiment was engaged at the Boydton Plank road. He was confined in Richmond, Virginia, on October 28 and remained in Richmond until November 4 when he was sent to Salisbury, North Carolina. He was listed as suffering from tuberculosis, and in February of 1865, he was sent to the prison hospital. On February 23 he was transferred to Richmond and on the 25th was admitted to the prison hospital, suffering from diarrhea.

He was paroled at Cox’s Wharf, on March 10, 1865, and that same day reported to College Green Barracks, Maryland. On March 11, Andrew was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and subsequently furloughed. He returned from furlough on April 22, and on April 25 was sent to Columbus, Ohio. He was discharged on May 31, 1865, from Tripler hospital in Columbus.

After his release from the army Andrew returned to Allendale where he was living when he married new York native Ellen M. Parmeter (or Pelmiter, b. 1851), in Blendon, Ottawa County, on April 19, 1866. They had at least five children: Henry H. (b. c. 1868), Ellen E. (b. c. 1870), Emma H. (1871-1877), Ethel and Nora E. (1877-1942).

Emma apparently died of “intermittent fever” when she was about 6 years old. At the time of Emma’s death, it was reported that A. J. was “unfortunate in losing his children”. Although we know that Ethel and Nora survived to adulthood, one wonders how many other children survived childhood.

Andrew eventually left Michigan and moved to Wisconsin, settling in Omro, Winnebago County, where he was living in 1880, working as a farm laborer. He probably remained in Omro the rest of his life. In 1890 he was reportedly suffering from “hemorrhages of the lungs” -- possibly a consequence of tuberculosis which, his widow claimed, he contracted while in the army.

He received pension no. 419,495, drawing $8.00 per month by mid-1897.

Andrew died in Omro on September 14, 1897, and was buried in Omro cemtery, Olin’s addition, section A, plot no. 33 (see photo G-577).

Ellen was living with her daughter (?) Ethel at 518 Delphi road in Omro in 1905. She applied for and received a pension (no. 464918), drawing $12.00 per month by the spring of 1908.

She was apparently never buried with Andrew, and reportedly remarried sometime around 1908.

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