I’ve been doing my family tree and I’ve come across something that I can’t figure out. I have a 3ggrandfather named Jacob E Dinterman. He was born in 1851 in Frederick, MD. He died in 1929 in Frederick. He married a Susan A Bostian.
I have found a few documents that point to a Jacob E Dinterman that served in the Maryland 7th infantry Company E. Normally I would have just thought that two people with the same name. However, I have found a Jacob Dinterman with a wife of Susan R Dinterman which is close, though not exact, in the Pension Index. I have also found that Jacob served from August 1861-May 1865, so he served for almost three years.
My 3ggrandfather’s obituary didn’t say anything about him being in the Civil War, though that may not mean much. So is it possible for a 10 year old boy to have served in the Union army for almost three years? And is there a way to find the age of Jacob Dinterman who served in the Maryland 7th? Most of the documents and books I have found so far have just listed dates of service. If there’s a place to search for ages, if it’s even possible, that would be great.
You may be able to get a copy of his Compiled Military Service Record from the National Archives, which may have his age. I was able to find the original records files of three of my ancestors who served in the Civil War there.
I’m not entirely sure it’ll give you what you want, but if you order his service record from the Archives (NATF form 86), it might have information you need.
Thanks for the information so far. It’s good to know, and I thought a 10 year old could do something like that. The good thing is that I live in Maryland so I’m near NARA, though I haven’t taken the time to go down. Maybe in a few weeks.
As an interesting aside, Union Civil War veterans were eligible to be homesteaders, so a few of those drummer boys ended up making a life for themselves on the prairie while still in their low teens.
Interesting, funny you should say that as it looks as if he might have moved to Kansas for a few years in the 1870s. Though I haven’t looked that hard for him just yet during that time.
Boy, you Dintermans didn’t ever move much, did you?
While there was your 3gggrandfather was Jacob E., born in 1851, there was another Jacob E., born in 1833. This is most likely the Civil War vet.
If you search the US Census, using either Heritagequest or Ancestry, on/both of which may be accessible at your local library, search for “Dinterman” in the 1900 Census. You’ll find both of the Jacobs listed, with pertinent info, sons/wives/daughters/year of birth, etc. Interesting that they both seemed to be married to a Susan.
No, we don’t move around much, I’m only 20-30 miles from Frederick now. However, that makes it very easy to find information on my family since no one moved. They all came here and never left. Makes going to the local historical society and library fun.
Thanks for finding that. I do use Ancestry, but not Heritagequest, as I get Ancestry at home. Strange that the other Jacob Dinterman never seemed to have shown up, but other Dintermans have. I’m guessing that the older Jacob is my Jacob’s uncle.
