Jeremiah Getchel Claflin was born at Thompsonville, Connecticut, August 3, 1831. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Worcester, Massachusetts', where he was educated in the common schools of that city.

At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion he was living in Cleveland, Ohio. After the firing on Fort Sumter he enlisted April 17, 1861, in the Cleveland Light Guard Zouaves for three months. This company became Company A, Seventh Regiment O. V. I., after being mustered into the service of the United States.

He reenlisted June 19, 1861, for a period of three years and was appointed fourth sergeant on account of good soldierly conduct; afterward appointed first sergeant on account of bravery in action.

He participated in the following battles with his regiment: Cross Lanes, West Virginia, August 26, 1861; Winchester, Virginia, March 23, 1862; Port Republic, Virginia, June 9, 1862; Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862; Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862—severely wounded in the shin in the latter named battle; Dumfries, Virginia, December 27, 1862; Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 1, 2, and 3, 1863; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 2, and 3, 1863 (wounded); Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, November 24, 1863; Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863; Ringgold, Georgia, November 27, 1863; Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, May 5 to 9, 1864; Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864; Dallas, Georgia, May 25 to 29, 1864.

Mustered out with his regiment on account of expiration of term of service July 6, 1864. Reenlisted August, 1864, in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment O. V. I., as a private, and was rapidly promoted to the position of second lieutenant. He participated with this regiment in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; joined the Twenty-third Army Corps at Clifton, Tennessee, and moved with it to North Carolina, arriving at Fort Fisher, February 7, 1865, participating in the taking of Fort Anderson, N. C., and battle of Town Creek; from thence moving to Wilmington, N. C., where his corps was joined by the army of Gen. W. T. Sherman. Then the united armies moved on Raleigh, North Carolina, forcing Gen. Jos. E. Johnston to surrender.

Mustered out with his regiment at Greensboro, North Carolina, June 24, 1865.

He married Mary Frances Pierce, October 3, 1864, and two children were born to them, of whom George O. Claflin is the sole survivor.

Since the war he has been employed as a machinist until the year 1894, when he was appointed custodian of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Cleveland, Ohio, and is employed in that capacity at the present time. When working at his trade he was employed by the following leading firms of this city: Lord, Bowler & Co., Cleveland Ship Building Company, and Cummer Engine Company, all of Cleveland, Ohio, and was considered by them a first-class mechanic.

Jere G Claflin