Samuel Jason

Samuel Jason was born on September 1, 1823, in Medina, Ohio, the son of John.

Samuel left Ohio and moved west, eventually settling in western Michigan where by 1860 he was working as a laborer living at the American Hotel in Lyons, Ionia County.

Samuel stood 6’1” with dark eyes, light hair and a dark complexion and was 37 years old and probably still living in Ionia County when he enlisted as a wagoner in Company E on May 13, 1861. (Company E was composed in large part by men from Clinton and Ingham counties, as well as parts of Ionia County.) And indeed, Samuel probably served as a teamster throughout the entire war. He was reported as a wagoner in August of 1862, on detached service in February of 1863 through March, and in April was working at Division headquarters. From May through July he was probably serving with the Division headquarters wagon train, and in August he was reported to be “taking care of government horses.”

Samuel reenlisted on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Gaines, Kent County, was on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864 and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February. It appears that Samuel did not return to Virginia at the end of his furlough but remained in Michigan sick from about February 10, 1864 through the end of April. He was also reported absent sick in the hospital from February 10 through May, was still absent sick when he was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and remained absent sick until he was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Following his discharge from the army Samuel settled for a time in Jackson, Jackson County.

He was probably living in Jackson County when he married Mrs. Louisa A. Sheriff, on October 15, 1865, in Jackson, and they had at least five children: William (b. 1866), Thomas (b. 1868), Frank (b. 1871), Florence (b. 1866) and Mary A. (b. 1879).

In any case, by 1870 he was working as a laborer and living with his wife and children in Riley, Clinton County. By 1880 Samuel was working as a laborer and living with his wife and children in Ronald, Ionia County. In 1888 Samuel was probably living at 203 Summit Avenue; that same year he may have moved for a short time to St. Johns, Clinton County. In any case, two years later he was reportedly back in Jackson, Seventh Ward, and in 1898 he was residing at 221 High Street in Jackson, where he lived until being admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (no. 3079) on October 27, 1898.

He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and of Grand Army of the Republic Pomeroy Post No. 48 in Jackson, and in 1888 he applied for and received pension no. 441,871.

Around 1900 he was reported to be splitting his residence between the Soldiers’ Home and St. Johns.

In any case, he was discharged from the Home at his own request on March 2, 1904, and returned to his home in Jackson where he died of senility and general debility on September 2, 1909, in Jackson and was presumably buried there.

The week after Samuel’s death Louisa, who was still living in Michigan, applied for and received a pension (no. 611753).