Samuel Octavius Bull

Son of wealthy Episcopal minister Levi Bull (1780-1859), in 1860 he was a 25 year old "gentleman" living with older brother Thomas and his family at Warwick in Chester County, PA. He enlisted with Captain John R Brooke at Pottstown, PA on20 April 1861 and mustered as a Private in Company C of the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry for 90 days' service. He mustered out with them on 27 July in Harrisburg. On 18 September he was commissioned Captain of Company A of the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry.

He was with his regiment in Maryland and led them as acting Major at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was promoted to Major to date from 2 June 1862 and to Lieutenant Colonel on 17 May 1864. He was promoted to Colonel on 18 September 1864, but was not mustered at that rank, and mustered out with the regiment on 1 November 1864.

In 1870 he was in the brick making business in Philadelphia and by 1880 was a brick merchant living with his prosperous parents-in-law in Philadelphia. At the US Veterans' Census of 1890 he was living in Albany in Shackelford County, TX, and was a farmer and US Marshal there. He was granted an invalid veteran's pension in January 1895. He returned to Chester County, PA near the end of his life.

His service from Bates1 and the Card File.2 His role at Antietam from LtCol. McMichael's Report. Personal details from family genealogists, notably James Henry Bull in Record of the Descendants of John and Elizabeth Bull, Early Settlers in Pennsylvania (1919), and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His name is most often seen as S. Octavius Bull.

He married Hannanetta S. Nichols (1859-1933) in November 1878 and they had 5 children.

12/27/1834; Elverson, PA

01/26/1904; Marshallton, PA; burial in Saint Mary's Episcopal Church Cemetery , Warwick, PA