Jacob M. Porter was born around 1840 in Ohio to John and Susan Porter. His father was a farmer who owned $29,700 of real estate and $400 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Greenville, Ohio.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on April 24, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company K of the 11^th Ohio Infantry two days later. The regiment spent the next two months at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio. He eventually earned a promotion to corporal, and he mustered out on August 17, 1861.

 

He returned to the Union army on January 14, 1862, mustering in as a private in the 8^th Ohio Light Artillery. The regiment took part in the Battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and the Vicksburg campaign. He described Shiloh as “one of the bloodiest and most hard fought battles that was ever fought in America,” observing that “many thousands a round me fell…Never did I witness such a scene nor do I ever agan wish to while I live.” He eventually earned a promotion to sergeant and then to 2^nd lieutenant. In September 1863, he was promoted to captain of Company I of the 3^rd USCT Heavy Artillery. Union officials suspended him from command in December 1864, and he was “discharged for incompetency” in January 1865.

 

He returned to Greenville after leaving the army, and he earned a living as a farmer. By 1870, he owned $5,000 of personal property. He applied for a federal pension in February 1895 and eventually secured one. In August 1895, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio, suffering from heart disease and “defective hearing.” According to his admission records, he was 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with gray hair and gray eyes.

 

He married Anna Isabelle Coles on July 8, 1896, and the couple had no children. They lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and he worked in the furniture industry. He died of “cerebral softening” in Dayton on July 15, 1909.

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