Salmon Clothier was born March 23, 1841 near Brockville, Canada West. He enlisted with the battery on September 1, 1861 at Rockford. At the time of his enlistment, Salmon gave his occupation as a farmer, and was described as being 5’8” with blue eyes, auburn hair, and light complexion. His residence at enlistment was Kishwaukee, Winnebago County, Illinois.

Like most soldiers, he had bouts of illness. From September to November 1863, he was absent on sick furlough to Rockford, Illinois, where he was diagnosed with intermittent fever and jaundice. Back with his unit, he reenlisted on December 4, 1863 at Vicksburg, and on December 13, 1863 he was promoted directly from private to sergeant, bypassing the rank of corporal completely. He was mustered out with the rest of the battery on September 4, 1865.

After the war, Salmon continued to be plagued with health problems. Fellow battery member Jacob W.B. Fort stated after the war that he treated Clothier at Vicksburg for “disease of lungs, stomach and kidnies.” Clothier complained that he was “troubled with occasional attacks of bleeding from the lungs,” which he claimed began at Vicksburg. Battery member Guy T. Gould “was in the same Co. & mess & Tent with him for 3 years” and testified to Clothier’s illness during the war.

Salmon never married. After the war, from 1866 to 1887, he lived in Chicago, where he was neighbors with fellow battery member Hananiah Hemingway. Salmon then moved to Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska in 1887, where he resided until his death. He may have lived for a short time in 1890-91 at Champion, Chase County, Nebraska, and may have gone to California briefly around or before 1912. He was a member of G.A.R. Post #301 in Nebraska. He died on February 26, 1916 at Imperial, Nebraska, and is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery at Imperial.

SOURCES: Salmon Clothier military service and pension record files, National Archives; correspondence to and reply from Chase Co. Historical Society regarding burial site of Clothier; “Obituary Report,” Journal of the Forty-First Annual Encampment of the Department of Nebraska Grand Army of the Republic, Held at Columbus, Nebraska, May 16, 17, 18, 1917. Made up by A.M. Trimble, Asst. Adjt. Gen’l. State House, Lincoln, Nebraska.