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Otterbein Civil War Soldiers Biography

This guide details the lives of Otterbein Civil War Soldiers.

Homer Schrock | 133rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry

Homer Schrock | 133rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry
by Sarah Scarbro

 Homer Schrock was born in 1844 and lived in Blendon Township in his earlier life.  He had thirteen brothers and sisters, three of which were also Otterbein students who fought in the Civil War.  His parents’ names were William Schrock III and Elizabeth Gulic Schrock, both from Virginia.  Homer attended Otterbein for two years, these being the years from 1863-1864, and 1864-1865.  He was a preparatory student taking scientific courses.

 Homer Schrock fought in the 133d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, along with his brother, Joseph Schrock, and Vause Schrock, of which the relation is not known.  Of Companies A through K, these men fought in Company C.  The Ohio 133d was only put together for a service period of one hundred days.  They mustered in on May 6, 1864, and were sent immediately to Parkersburg, West Virginia.  They spent about a month practicing drills and getting ready for field service, and June 7, they proceeded to Bermuda Hundred, where they arrived on June 12.  They then had a small battle and destroyed the Richmond and Petersburg railroad, and during this time, two men of the 133d were wounded.

 Then on July 17, the regiment proceeded to Fort Powhatan, and here they stayed working on fortifications and in repairing a telegraph line until their service was over.  Many of the men grew very sick at Fort Powhatan – over three hundred of the 133d were on the sick list at one time.  The regiment was mustered out on August 20, 1864.

 So, Homer Schrock had his short service in the Civil War; he was nineteen during the time of it.  As noted earlier, he mustered in on May 6, but the term at Otterbein was not over until June 15.  So, it is assumed that Homer left school early to serve in the war.  Then, after his service, he went back to school for his second and final year at Otterbein.  Homer’s two brothers, besides Joseph that served in the war were William Harrison (Harry) Schrock, and Henry Thomas Schrock.  These two brothers served in the 95th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after fighting for two years in the regiment, were captured at Gemtown, and experienced the Andersonville Prison in Georgia.  All of the Schrock brothers survived the Civil War.

 After attending Otterbein, Homer lived in Delaware, and at some point in time worked in a chair factory.  He married twice in his life, and although his wives’ names are never listed with him in any record, he is buried beside two women who are assumed to be his wives.  Homer is buried in Oak Grove Cemetary in Delaware, Ohio, in the Myrtle Square section, and next to his grave is the grave of Mabel, and next to Mabel’s grave is Mary B.  I assume that Mabel, who lived from 1882 to 1902, was Homer’s first wife, and Mary B., who lived from 1847 to 1922, was his second wife.  No children are ever listed in Homer’s records, and he is buried with no other Schrocks who could have been the ages of his children, so whether or not he had children is not known.

 Homer died on March 8, 1924 from a cerebral hemorrhage.  But he had a long life; he was eighty years old when he died. 

 

Bibliography

Catalogue of Otterbein University 1852-1870.  (For the Academical Year Ending June 15th, 1864, and For the Academical Year Ending June 14th, 1865).  Dayton, Ohio: United Brethren Printing Establishment, 1864, 1865. Otterbein Archives.

Foraker, Joseph B. and James S. Robinson.  Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of  Ohio in the War of the Rebellion 1861-1866. Vol. 8.  Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Press, 1888. 591.

Grave of Homer Schrock.  Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Ohio: Myrtle Square, Grave 14.

Graves Registration microfilm 3220, Homer Schrock.  Ohio Historical Society: Adjutant General.

Reid, Whitelaw.  Ohio in the War: Her Statesmen, Generals, and Soldiers.  Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Robert Clarke Company, 1895.  526-530, 662.

Roster of Students of Otterbein University who served in the Union Army during the War  of the Rebellion 1861-1865. Otterbein College Archives, Courtright Memorial Library, 1908.

Yantis, Richard P. and Jane M.  Blendon Township, Ohio 1880 Census and Genealogical Data including Westerville and Central College (Amalthea).  Columbus, OH: Franklin County Genealogical Society, 1987.