Henry Rowan Brinkerhoff

A minister's son, in 1860 he was a 23 year old medical student living with his parents and brother William in Union County, OH. He enrolled as First Lieutenant of Company E, 30th Ohio Infantry on 19 August 1861.

He was with his Company in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was appointed Adjutant on 20 September 1862 and transferred to Company I on 29 March 1863. He was discharged from the 30th Ohio on 27 July 1863 to take an appointment as Lieutenant Colonel of the 52nd United States Colored Troops. He resigned on 20 June 1865, but was reinstated on 16 September and he mustered out with his regiment on 5 May 1866.

He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 15th United States Infantry on 3 June 1867, promoted to First Lieutenant on 7 November 1867, and to Captain on 18 September 1878. He was appointed Major of the 3rd US Infantry on 26 April 1898 and Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th US Infantry on 8 September 1899. He transferred to the 6th US Infantry on 20 September 1900 and retired on 9 October of that year.

By 1910 and to at least 1920 he was in Oak Park, IL living with his wife (to 1917) and daughter.

His service from the Ohio Roster,1 Heitman,2 and Henry.3 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860, 1910-1920. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a CDV sold by Cowan's in November 2015 from an album of officers of the 52nd USCT.

He wrote the History of the Thirtieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry: from its Organization, to the Fall of Vicksburg, Miss in 1863. In 1886 he wrote Nah-Nee-Ta: A Tale of the Navajos based on his experiences while posted to New Mexico [online from the Hathi Trust].

He married Elizabeth Almeda Temple (1840-1917) in October 1860 and they had 2 daughters, Clara Maria (1861-64) and Carrie Alice (1867-1933).

10/09/1836; South Bend, Seneca County, OH

08/03/1921; Oak Park, IL; burial in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, IL