Trussell, Jacob C.
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 29, credited to Peacham, VT Unit(s): 1st VT CAV Service: enl 9/21/61, m/i 11/19/61, 1SGT, Co. D, 1st VT CAV, comn 2LT, 10/30/62 (11/8/62), pr 1LT, 6/1/63 (9/17/63), wdd, Nottoway Court House, 6/23/64, m/o 11/18/64 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 09/20/1832, Sutton, VT Death: 11/28/1910 Burial: Peacham Corner Cemetery, Peacham, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Francis Guber Findagrave Memorial #: 76097384 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 5/21/1880 Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice  Peacham Corner Cemetery, Peacham, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
Biography
Trussell, Jacob, of East Peacham, son of Joshua and Electa (Curtis) Trussell, was born in Sutton, Sept. 20, 1833.
His education was obtained in the schools of Danville, supplemented by instruction at Phillips and Caledonia County academies. After some experience in the profession of teaching, he studied law with Mordecai Hale and Edward Harvey of McIndoes, and for a short time was under the care of Judge Jonathan Ross. In 1860 he was admitted to the Vermont bar and immediately began to practice at Peacham.
When the civil war commenced Mr. Trussell patriotically enlisted in Co. D, 1st Vt. Cavalry and served mostly with the Army of the Potomac, participating in many battles, raids and skirmishes. He was severely wounded in Wilson's raids, June 23, 1864, and was soon after discharged as 1st lieutenant. When the 1st Regt. was completely routed at Broad Run, Mosby, the guerrilla, pursued Trussell eight miles to the picket lines and nearly succeeded in capturing him, being very desirous to obtain possession of the particularly fine horse which Mr. Trussell bestrode. After the close of the war he made an expedition to Virginia City, Mont., driving fifteen hundred miles across the plains. He then turned his steps to Sioux City, Iowa, taking charge of a gang of men who were completing the railroad to Omaha; he then engaged as contractor on the Union Pacific R. R. till it was completed to Ogden, Utah, when he returned to Peacham and bought a large farm on which he remained fourteen years. In 1882 he returned to the practice of law at Danville and ten years later became engaged in trade at South Peacham.
A Democrat until the breaking out of the war he is now a strong Republican. Represented his town in the Legislature of 1884 where he served on the military committee.
He attends and supports the Congregational church, and is a member of Passumpsic Lodge, F. & A.M., of St. Johnsbury, and Stevens Post, G.A.R.
Mr. Trussell was united in wedlock Oct. 4, 1871, to Flora M. Blanchard of Peacham, who died August 16, 1886, leaving two sons: Nathaniel B., and William. He married for his second wife, Nov. 9, 1888, Mrs. Marietta C. Walbridge, widow of Augustus J. Walbridge.
Source: Jacob G. Ullery, compiler, Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, (Transcript Publishing Company, Brattleboro, VT, 1894), Part II, pp. 403.
Obituary
PEACHAM
Death of Lieutenant Trussell of the First Vermont Cavalry.
Distinguished Soldier and Well-Known Lawyer Passes Away November 28.Died in East Peacham Monday, November 28, of general debility, Jacob C. Trussell, aged 78 years. Mr. Trussell was born in Sutton but early in life came to town to fit for college in the Academy, which at that time was a noted school in the county. At the breaking out of the Civil War, when the 1st Vermont cavalry was formed, Mt. Trussell, with six others from town, enlisted. He went out as orderly sergeant in Co. D, and came back 1st lieutenant. It is remarkable that the seven who went in the cavalry from town at the same time, all came back. They were M. M. Wheeler, J. F Morse, Loring Chase, Harvey Marcus, J. C. Gracey, George Blair and Jacob Trussell. The have only been two deaths, that of Mr. Blair three years ago and now Mr. Trussell. Four of the seven still live in town, and two were bearers at their comrade's funeral, one of the four being sick and the other one feeble.
Lieutenant Trussell was a brave and gallant soldier, daring, and one who knew no fear. According to history "Of the 48 Confederate guns captured by Sheridan in the battle of Cedar Creek, 45 were taken by the 1st Vermont and the 5th New York Cavalry, and of these, 23 being being more than one half, were taken by the Vt. Regiment." There were also some notable personal incidents in one of which Lieutenant Trussell played a prominent part, and alone, captured a battery. It reads as follows: "Soon after the regiment struck the pike, Lieutenant Trussell, commanding Co. D, riding in advance of his command, saw in front a battery whose commander was urging it along. Riding up to him, Trussell ordered him to halt the battery, and placing a revolver to the temple of the battery commander said "I am a Yankee, and you are my prisoner, turn the head of this battery to the left." The commander obeyed, and Co. D coming up, took it in charge."
Lieutenant Trussell was mustered out November 18, 1864. He rode home on the horse he rode away on in 1861, a powerful mahogany bay, a Morgan, which the rebels envied and when Moody chased Lieutenant Trussell for ten miles along the pike one day he remarked he did not care for the man, he wanted the horse, but the Yankee and the Morgan were too many for him and Moody got neither.
Mr. Trussell was admitted to the bar in 1860; represented the town in 1884-5, also held the minor offices of justice of the peace, lister and town agent; attorney and counselor at law.
In 1871 he married Miss Flora Blanchard of town, and to them were born two sons, Nathaniel and Will, the former of whom is living in St. Johnsbury, and the latter in Montpelier, but who tenderly cared for his father during his long weeks of feebleness, until at last he was "mustered out."
The death of Mrs. Trussell occurred August 14, 11886. In November, 1888, Mr. Trussell married Mrs. Marietta Walbridge of town, who died February 14, 1906.
The funeral of Mr. Trussell was held last Wednesday at the hoe in East Peacham at 2 o'clock, Rev. T. A. Carlson officiating. Beautiful flowers were given by the G. A. R., and the family. Selections were rendered by Messrs. Fred and Dwight Stoddard, H. A. Renfrew and Hiram Rowe. The bearers were comrades M. M. Wheeler, J. F. Morse, W. S. Darling and James Needham and the G. A. R. burial service was performed. Those from out of town to attend were: Mr. and Mrs. Nat Trussell, St. Johnsbury; Will Trussell, Montpelier; Mrs. Charles Cambridge, Swanton; Harvey Brown, Danville. The sons have the sympathy of all in the loss of a father and the breaking up of the home.
Source: St. Johnsbury Republican, December 7, 1910.
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.