Processed by
Chris Harter
15 January 1998
Revised 24 April 2002
Updated 9 March 2004
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
3 folders |
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COLLECTION |
1864 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Jack K. Overmyer, 2524 Country Club Drive South, Rochester, IN 46975, 17 October 1997 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
None |
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RELATED |
A Stupendous Effort: The 87th Indiana in the War of the Rebellion (E 506.5 87th .O96 1997); Indiana's Indomitable 87th Infantry Regiment…(pam E 506.5 87th .O95 1994); SC 1922, James A. Crawley Papers; F 79, Benjamin F. Hooten Letters |
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ACCESSION |
1998.0026 |
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NOTES: |
The materials in this collection were donated by Jack K. Overmyer on behalf of the grandchildren of Jonas Myers. |
Jonas Myers (b. 1829) was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Miami County, Indiana, in 1839 and to Rochester (Fulton Co.) in 1848. Myers worked as a carpenter in Rochester until he enlisted in the 87th Indiana Regiment, Co. F, in August 1862. He was mustered out in June 1865 as first sergeant. He returned to Rochester and operated a series of mills. Myers became prominent in the city's civic, political and fraternal affairs. He served as postmaster from 1890 to 1894.
Myers was married three times. His wives were: Marion Clayton (m. 1851); Annie E. Stradley (m. 1855, they had at least one daughter); and Elizabeth H. Clayton (m. 1867), the sister of Marion Clayton. Myers and Elizabeth had two children, Indianola F. and Stella P.
The 87th Indiana Regiment (1862–65) was organized at South Bend on August 28, 1862. It served throughout Kentucky and fought at the Battle of Perryville. In June 1863, the regiment moved with the Army of the Cumberland in the campaigns against Tullahoma and Chattanooga. It was involved in the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19 and 20. Afterwards, it joined the Atlanta campaign, taking part in all of the principal battles along the way, including Resaca, Cassville, Peach Tree Creek and Jonesboro. The87th Indiana was part of Sherman's "March to the Sea" and continued through the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington, D.C. The regiment was mustered out in June 1865.
Sources:
Material in the collection.
Kingman, A.L. Combination Atlas Map of Fulton County, Indiana. [S.1]: A.L. Kingman, 1883. G1403.F8 K5 1883. p. 100–101,113–114.
Peattie, Elia Wilkinson. The Pictorial Story of America: Containing the Romantic Incidents of History, from the Discovery of America to the Present Time. Chicago: National Publishing Co., 1896. F532.F9 P3 1896. Part 3: Fulton County, p. 15, 23–24, 59–60.
Terrell, W. H. H. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana. Indianapolis: A. H. Connor, State Printer, 1865–69. E506.2.I39 T4 1865. Vol. 3, p. 84–85.
This collection consists of correspondence and a diary relating to soldiers of the 87th Indiana Infantry Regiment. Present are a diary (1864) kept by Jonas Myers and two letters (1864) from Myers to his family. The diary was begun on 1 January 1864, following the Battle of Chickamauga. Myers notes the siege of Chattanooga, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea. His writing ends at Savannah, Georgia. Diary entries are appended to his letter dated 7 August 1864.
The collection also contains typescript copies of Myers' letters and diary.
The information contained in these letters and diary was used by Jack Overmyer in writing his book, A Stupendous Effort: The 87th Indiana in the War of the Rebellion.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Jonas Myers' Civil War Diary, 1864 |
Folder 1 |
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Jonas Myers' Correspondence, 1864 |
Folder 2 |
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Jonas Myers' Diary and Correspondence (Typescripts) |
Folder 3 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://157.91.92.2/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, SC 2641).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.