| William Harrison Schrock | 95th Ohio Voluntary Infantry |
| by Andria Keller |
William H. Schrock was born on February 3, 1841 and lived in Blendon Township in his younger years. He was born to parents William Schrock III and Elizabeth Gulic Schrock who produced fourteen children including 7th child, William H. Schrock. The names of his siblings are as follows; Nancy, Mary, Ephram, Joseph, Martha, Matilda, Henry, Homer, Elizabeth, Rosetta, Walter, Ida, and Zelpha. William’s uncle, George Schrock, was a well-known farmer for whom Schrock Rd. in Westerville, Ohio is named.
William took scientific courses at the Martin Boehm Academy where he graduated in 1862. Shortly after his graduation William decided to enlist in the military on August 6, 1862 but officially mustered into the 95th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company H on August 19th at Camp Chase, Ohio. William was 21 when he entered the military as a private but was promoted on December 13, 1862 to first sergeant and remained in the service for a total of three years.
Several other Schrocks enlisted in the military at this time also. William’s brother Henry T. Schrock and cousin George W. Schrock both enlisted in the 95th OVI although they were in Company A. Also, William’s brothers, Joseph and Homer, enlisted in the 133rd OVI along with William’s cousin Vause Schrock.
The 95th OVI traveled through Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama participating in battles. William and his brother Henry were taken prisoner at the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads, Mississippi on June 10, 1864. They were taken to Andersonville Prison where they remained for six to eight months, but survived and were eventually exchanged and returned to their regiment to finish serving the rest of their three-year term of service. The 95th OVI mustered out of service on August 19, 1865.
Information on William’s whereabouts after the war is scarce, but I was able to locate him in Decatur, Indiana. Decatur is in Adams County where William was a physician at the local G.A.R (Grand Army of the Republic) post. He married probably around 1870 and had three children thereafter, two daughters and one son. I was unable to find a death date for William, but I know he was alive and practicing medicine in 1890.
Bibliography (Print/Interview)
10th United States Census 1880, Ohio Vol. 21, Franklin part 1. Courtright Memorial Library, Otterbein College, p.331-387.
“Andersonville: Official Map and Guide.” National Park Service Brochure. US Dept. of the Interior, Vertical File at Otterbein College.
Catalogue of Otterbein University 1852-1870. Courtright Memorial Library, History Archives Room. p.10.
Gelbert, Doug. Civil War Sites, Memorials, Museums and Library Collections. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. Inc., 1997. p. 31.
Hancock, Harold, ed. Our Ancestors of the Area: A Genealogical History. Westerville Historical Society: Otterbein College Print Shop, 1981. p. 48, pp. 76-82, 87-89.
Harper, Robert S. Ohio Handbook of the Civil War. Columbus: Ohio Historical Society, 1961. pp.9-13, p.65.
History of William Schrock and Jane Means. Schrock Vertical File, #S17011. Local History Center, Westerville Public Library. pp. 3-4
Huebner, Joseph A. “Checklist of Battles, Skirmishes and Encounters of the Civil War, arranged alphabetically.” part 1, Civil War Monographs, Vol.1, No. 1. Chicago: 1959.
Kellogg, Robert H. Life and Death in Rebel Prisons. Hartford: Wiley, Waterman, & Eaton, 1865. p. 19, p. 56, p.62.
Kohler, Sharon Ballard. Interview by Kari Parker, 25 January 2005.
Military History of Ohio. Schrock Vertical File. Local History Center, Westerville Public Library, 1887.
“Obituary for Vause Schrock.” The Columbus Dispatch, August 27, 1932. Schrock Vertical File, #S17033. Local History Center, Westerville Public Library.
Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Vol. VII, 87th-108th Regiments – Infantry, Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Press, 1888. p. 245, pp. 249-250, p. 271.
Otterbein College Bulletin: Alumni Register Issue 1847-1961, Vol. LVII, No.2. Boston: Spaulding-Moss Co., 1961. p.169.
Reid, Whitelaw. Ohio in the War: Her Statesmen, Generals, and Soldiers. Vol. II, The History of Her Regiments and Other Military. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, & Baldwin, 1868. p.9, pp. 526-530.
Roster of Students of Otterbein University who served in the Union Army during the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865. Courtright Memorial Library, History Archives Room, 1908. p.93.
“Schrock Road named for a pioneer from Virginia.” This Week, November 4, 1998. Schrock Vertical File, #S17032. Local History Center, Westerville Public Library.
Bibliography (Internet) Links Updated 2017
After the Civil War ended W.H. Schrock enrolled in Rush Medical College in 1866 and graduated with an MD on February 3rd, 1869. He practiced medicine in Decatur, Indiana but became ill with what he thought was malaria. He chronicled his illness with a medical school professor of his. After a year of convalescence he returned to practice medicine in Delaware, Ohio. Dr. Schrock had six children and died on October 24th, 1886 in Decatur, Indiana.
This information and picture provided by Dr. Robert D. Schrock, grandson of Dr. W.H. Schrock.