Henry Rubelman

Henry or Heinrich Rubelman was born in 1830 in Württemberg, Germany.

Henry immigrated to America and eventually settled in Michigan. By 1860 Henry was working as a brewer for one John Gute in Owosso’s Third Ward, Shiawassee County.

In any case, he stood 5’4” with black eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was a 31-year-old brewer probably working and living in Owosso’s Third Ward, Shiawassee County when he enlisted in Company C on May 13, 1861. He was a provost guard at First Division headquarters from September 22, 1863, through November, and reenlisted on December 21, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Ada, Kent County.

He was probably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864 and it may have been at this time that he married New York native Helen (b. 1843); they had at least two children: Henry (b. 1867), Louise (b. 1868) and Albert (b. 1870).

In any event Henry returned to duty on or about the first of February. He was reported on detached service at Division headquarters from February through May and was quite possibly still on detached service when he was transferred as “Heinrich Roubelmann” or “Henry Rubelman” to Company I, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864.

Henry became sick on June 25, 1864, and was admitted from the field hospital on July 16 to Finley general hospital in Washington, DC, for “debility.” He was subsequently reported as a nurse at City Point hospital, Virginia, in November of 1864, and in the medical department from December of 1864 through January of 1865. He was absent sick in February, a provost guard at Third Division headquarters in March through May and was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Henry probably returned to Owosso following his discharge (his wife had been residing there in 1864). By 1870 he was working as a saloonkeeper and living with his wife and two children In Owosso’s Third Ward. By 1880 Henry was working in a tannery and living with his wife and children in Owosso’s First Ward. He was living in Owosso, Fourth Ward in 1890.

He may have been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post in Owosso.

In 1881 he applied for and received a pension (no. 360142).

Henry was living in Owosso when he died on October 12, 1892, at his home on Ament (?) Street and was buried in Oakhill cemetery, Owosso.

His widow applied for and received a pension (no. 379380).