(Early Life) Samuel Franklin Reber was born 17 January 1843 at the “Buffalo Farm” near Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania (Civil War pension application). He was the tenth of twelve children born to Samuel Reber (born 18 October 1801, died 27 March 1853) and Mary Ritter (born 12 September 1803, Berks County, Pennsylvania, died 20 June 1881, Berks County, Pennsylvania). Samuel and Mary married in Berks County, Pennsylvania but their marriage date is unknown (Source: Jack Reber, San Diego, CA).

(Civil War service). Samuel F. Reber was one of Ohio’s first soldiers to enlist. He enlisted in a three months company on April 19, 1861, but when the Ohio Adjutant General refused that unit’s service, the unit disbanded and reorganized as Company E, 24^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment for 3 years service on 29 May 1861. He was mustered as the company first sergeant. According to the muster in descriptive roll, Samuel F. Reber is listed as having the following description at the time of his enlistment: Age 18, Height 5 feet 6.5 inches, Complexion Dark, Eye color hazel, hair color brown, Occupation book keeper, Born Union County, Pennsylvania. (original in National Archives, Washington, DC) An addenda from Reber's pension application states that he also has a wart on left jaw, and had grown to 5 feet 8.5 inches in height since his original enlistment.

Samuel Reber and Burch Foraker were the two youngest first sergeants in the 24^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He and Foraker became close friends as a result of this distinction.

While at Camp Wickliffe, Reber and Foraker were detached for service in the Signal Corps in January, 1862.

Reber received his commission as a second lieutenant on 8 February 1862 and returned to service with the 24^th Ohio Regiment.

Reber proved a capable officer and was detached as an aide to General Jacob Ammen, 10^th Brigade in May 1862. He returned to Company E and served with it from June through November 1862. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 18 July 1862.

December 1862, First Lieutenant Reber was detached to serve in Company D, 3^rd Battalion, Pioneer Brigade.

January 26, 1863, Reber was again detailed for service in the Signal Corps. He was sent to serve at Georgetown (Washington, D.C.).

At an unstated time, he returned to Tennessee. He participated in the Tullahoma, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga campaigns. On November 23, 1863, the night before General Joseph Hooker’s assault up Lookout Mountain, Lieutenants Foraker and Reber spent the entire night lying on the ground, one reading rebel signals while the other transcribed the information on paper.

On 22 January 1864, he requested and received a leave of absence so that he might dispose of property left to him in the estate of a will at Freeport, Illinois. He noted that the will’s specifications required him to be of age (21), which he had reached on January 17, 1864.

He was promoted to captain and transferred to Company A on 21 April 1864. He mustered out with Company A on 22 June 1864 at Columbus, Ohio. Official Roster of Ohio Troops, 1861-1866, vol.3.)

An addenda in Samuel Reber’s pension application states that Reber was retained in the Signal Corps after the 24^th Ohio mustered out of service in June 1864. Reber and Burch Foraker continued service in the Signal Corps until discharged October 13, 1864 at Columbus, Ohio (Civil War pension application).

According to the Index to the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Samuel Reber was detailed to the Signal Corps in 1863, and served near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Series I, vol. 30,38, and Series III, vol.4.

Cornell University has a key name searchable website for the Official Records. Several documents related to Samuel F. Reber's war service can be found at this site.

After his discharge, Reber lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, until November, 1866. There, he married, Sarah Bell(e) Kieffer with Reverend __? Laird officiating on March 2, 1865. He then lived in Columbus, Ohio, until September 1868. He then moved to Portsmouth, Ohio until April 1883. He then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota until November 1901. He then moved to California and resided at the California Soldiers Home (Civil War pension application).

(Children) The children’s names who survived to adults were: Burch Foraker Reber was born in Ohio, July 1, 1871. John Charlton Reber, born 16 (June?) July, 1873, in Ohio. John was a carpenter. Walter Williams Reber, born 15 August 1878 (1880?), in Ohio, also was a carpenter. Information conflicts from Census and pension data.

(1880) Samuel F. Reber, 37, is found living in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, according to the 1880 census, and is employed as a fire insurance agent. His wife, is listed as Sarah B., 36. Children listed in the household are Burch F., 8, born in Ohio, John C., 6, born in Ohio (listed as having the measles), and Samuel K., 4, born in Ohio.

Samuel Reber kept in touch with Captain Burch Foraker, a fellow member of the 24^th OVI and also a fellow officer detailed to the Signal Corps service. Reber also kept in close contact with the 24^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment‘s reunion association. (1891) According to the 24^th OVI’s 6^th reunion roster in 1891, Samuel “Reeber” is listed as living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (1893) According to the 24^th OVI’s 8^th reunion roster in 1893, Samuel “Reeder” is listed as living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

(1900) Samuel F. Reber is found living in the 11^th Ward, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, on the 1900 census. He was born January, 1843, in Pennsylvania, and so were each of his parents. Samuel’s trade is listed as carpenter. He and his wife were married 32 years as of the 1900 census. Samuel F. Reber is living near William A. Conover, born March, 1863, in Ohio. Conover may be the son of Private William A. Conover, a veteran in Company E from Dayton, Ohio.

His wife, Sarah Bell(e) Kieffer. Reber, was born July, 1843, in Pennsylvania, and so were both of her parents. Sarah gave birth to six children, only four of whom were living in 1900.

Samuel F. Reber’s pension file was created on June 27, 1905 in California. He died on April 19, 1911 (probably Fresno, California). His wife, Sarah B. Reber, filed a widow’s pension in California on May 29, 1911.

Return to Company A roster
. Return to Company E roster
. Return to 24th OVI Home Page.