Schweers John M Co H, E, K Wi 3rd Inft Mayville Dodge Co by ClaireAKeller ancestry. M.I. 11 Mar 1864 lst Lieut to Capt M.O. 18 July 1865

John Martin Schweers

John M. Schweers, Shawano, Wis., member of the G.A.R. Post no. 81, was born in Germany, Dec. 13, 1835, and is the son of Christian and Anna (Krueger) Schweers, who removed with their family to America in 1860, and made a location at Shawano, where they lived until their respective deaths. Mr. Schweers was 19 years old when he came to America, and had received a good education in his native country. Four of his brothers are living. Fred S. was a soldier in the 32nd Wisconsin, and his sketch appears on another page. August was a sailor on transport connected with the command of Butler and is a resident of Shawano. Peter is engaged in the real estate business at the same place. William Schweers was a lieutenant of the light artillery in Charleston and fought in the Confederate army. He died in Charleston, August 16, 1865, of Cholera. The sister of Mr. Schweers married H. Naber, of Shawano.

When Mr. Schweers came to America in 1855, he located in Wisconsin and was in Dodge County when the war came on. He was among the first to enlist and enrolled April 22, 1861, under the first call for three months volunteers, the company expecting to be enrolled in the first regiment that left the State, but companies reported so fast that the Dodge county organization was enrolled for the 3rd regiment as Company H, and before the command left the State it was mustered into the three year service. Mr, Schweers went to the was as a private, and was made 2nd Sergeant soon after; after the battle of Cedar Mountain he was made a Orderly Sergeant. After that the battle of Chancellorsville, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and in 1863 he was made 1st Lieutenant. After the battle of Atlanta he was promoted to Captain of his company, of which he had been in command for sometime. His promotions were for bravery, on the field, and he was with the regiment from the time it left the State in June 1861, to his discharge, July 25, 1865, and was in the hard fought battles in which it was engaged without exception, and was never sick a day or had a days leave of absence during the whole period. He was with his company when on an expedition to Bolivar, near Harper's Ferry, to take possession of a quality of grain, and was in the actions during the progress of the regiment to Western Virginia, in the fight at Cedar Mountain, at Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland and went to Tennessee, where he veteranized. He was in the battle of Resaca, and in the actions which followed the rebel retreat, fighting at Peach Tree Creek. After the capture of Atlanta, he went to the sea with Sherman, having fought at Lookout Mountain. While in the front of Atlanta, he was sitting in his tent writing, when a shell fell in their midst and killed Captain Orton. Mr. Schweers was in all varied service in the march to the sea, and fought near Bluff Church, N. C., and afterwards at Averysboro and Bentonville. He was in the closing marches and in the Grand Review before he returned to Louisville, to be mustered out as stated. After the war he returned to Shawano and engaged in the hardware business, which he has perused with success. He is a man of prominent ability and has won his position in civil life, as in military life, by his own efforts. He was one of the first to move in the establishment of a local post, and was the first commander of "81". He has been on the staff of the State Commander. He has been prominent the progress and prosperity of Shawano, served six years as County Clerk, has officiated as Sheriff and Treasurer and is Supervisor of Shawano. (1888)

He was married Jan. 10, 1864, to Theresa Koger, while at home on veteran furlough. Three children are living named John F., Frank S. and Mary.