Frederick Hill Collier

After graduating from Columbian (now George Washington University), he studied law in Washington DC, and was admitted to the Bar there is 1850. The next year he moved to Allegheny County (PA) to practice law. He was elected District Attorney there in 1856 and served to 1859.

In the summner of 1862 he helped organize and was appointed Colonel of the 139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. They joined the Federal Army immediately following the 2nd Battle of Bull Run.

The 139th arrived at the battlefield of Antietam on the 18th as part of General Couch's Division, but saw no action there.

Apart from a period on Court Martial duty in Washington DC in 1863, he continued in command of the regiment for the duration of the War. He saw action at Gettysburg, where he was wounded, and at Spottsylvania Courthouse and on the Petersburg Campaign. He was brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers in March 1865 for gallant service at Gettysburg.

He returned to Pennsylvania and his law practice in Pittsburgh as senior partner of Collier, Miller & McBride. He was elected to the bench in 1869 as Associate Judge, Court of Common Pleas, and was reelected again in 1879 and 1889. He was appointed President of that Court in 1903, serving until his death in 1906.

Thanks to Albert P. Richardson, a longtime researcher of the 139th PVI, for a correction and pointer to the Colonel. Biographical information above is from Fleming1 and the Pennsylvania Bar2. The photograph is from a copy by Uriguen.3

02/25/1826; Lancaster County, PA

10/30/1906; Pittsburgh, PA