Eli Holman Coller M. D.

  General Notes:

Eli Coller and his parents moved from New York to Michigan in 1836 when he was two years old.

Eli Holman Coller was among the first members of the Wakeshma Masonic Lodge, No. 284. Its charter was granted in 1869 and Eli held the position of Secretary. This information came from the "History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan" by Samuel W. Durant.

Eli Holman Coller was listed as widower in the 1880 United States census. This information must have been gathered just after Miranda Smith died and he married Hettie Foote. Both happened in 1880.

According to the 1880 U.S. census, the household consisted of Eli H. Coller, Frank S. Coller, Estus H. Coller and Ethie Sager. Ethie Sager was a female domestic who was 18 years old. She was single, born in Michigan, her father was both in Michigan and her mother was born in Indiana.

Eli served as surgeon in the First Michigan Cavalry during the Civil war, being promoted to that position from that of assistant surgeon of the Twelfth Michigan Cavalry, enlisting in I863 and serving three years, participating in all the engagements of his command during the period of the war in his term. He moved to Wakeshma township, Lenawee County, in I859 and settled on a farm which he worked in connection with his practice. His earlier fees for professional service were paid in maple sugar which he exchanged at Kalamazoo for supplies, one pound of quinine costing thirty pounds of sugar. In 1872 he moved to Climax, where he lived until 1874, when he went to California in company with Dr. Sealey, remaining until I877. He then returned to this state and located at Athens, removing later to Battle Creek, where he died on December 13, I903. His wife died in 1879. They had four sons and one daughter.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military Service. Eli Holman Coller of Wakeshma, Michigan was an assistant surgeon in the Michigan 12th infantry. He was mustered out on Febuary 15, 1866 with an honorable discharge.

Eli H. Coller is listed on www.itd.nps.gov (National Park Service) as a Civil War soldier who served in the 12th Regiment, Michigan Infantry.

12th Regiment Infantry

Organized at Niles, Dowagiac and Buchanan, Mich., December 9, 1861, to March 1, 1862. Mustered in March 5, 1862. Left State for St. Louis, Mo., March 5, thence moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. Attached to 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Tennessee, April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. Unattached, District of Jackson, 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Post of Bolivar, District of Jackson, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 1st Brigade, Kimball's Provisional Division, 13th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, Kimball's Provisional Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Arkansas Expedition, to November, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Arkansas, to January, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to May, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, to July, 1865. Dept. of Arkansas to February, 1866.

SERVICE.--Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville June 1-6. Moved to Bethel June 5, thence to Jackson, Tenn., June 13, and duty there until August. At Bolivar until November. Guard duty along Mississippi Central Railroad from Hickory Valley to near Bolivar with Headquarters at Middleburg, Tenn., until May, 1863. Action at Middleburg December 24, 1862. Regiment complimented by General Grant in General Order No. 3 for gallant and efficient services on successfully defending their post against a force of 3,000 Confederates under Van Dorn. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence to Vicksburg, Miss., May 31-June 3, 1863. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 4-July 4. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Moved to Helena, Ark., July 25-27, thence to Clarendon August 13, and to Duvall's Bluff August 22. Steele's Expedition to Little Rock September 1-10. Engagement at Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Duty at Little Rock until January 14, 1864. Veterans on furlough until February 21. March to Pine Bluff April 26-28. Train guard to Steele's army until April 30. Duty at Little Rock until June 22. Operations against Shelby north of the Arkansas River May 13-31. Expedition to Clarendon June 25-29. Clarendon June 25-26. Duty at Duvall's Bluff until August 30. Expedition in pursuit of Shelby August 27-September 6. Gregory's Landing, White River, September 4. Duty at Duvall's Bluff, guarding railroad, provost and fatigue duty until June 6, 1865. Hazen's Farm near Duvall's Bluff November 2, 1864 (Detachment). Moved to Little Rock June 6, thence march to Washington June 13-22, Guard public property at several points by detachments, with Headquarters at Camden until January 28, 1866. Companies "A," "B," "C" and "F" march from Washington to Camden July 8-22, 1865. Company "E" to Arkadelphia July 19-22, 1865. Companies "H" and "K" to Camden September 26, 1865, and Companies "D," "G" and "I" to Camden November 1, 1865. Company "F" assigned to duty at Paraclifta September 30. Regiment assembled at Camden and mustered out February 15, 1866.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 52 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 372 Enlisted men by disease. Total 428.

2. Occupation: Physician, 1880, Athens, Calhoun County, Michigan. ⁶⁴

3. Residence: 208 Fountain St., Battle Creek, Michigan, 1898. ⁶⁵ This was his residence when his son, Donald Coller, died.

Eli married Miranda R. Smith on 20 Mar 1855 in Washtenaw County, Michigan. (Miranda R. Smith was born on 11 Jan 1837 in New York and died on 13 Apr 1880.)

Eli next married Hettie A. Foote on 25 Dec 1880 in Athens, Michigan.⁴² (Hettie A. Foote was born on 19 May 1859 in Waukeshma, Michigan and died on 24 Aug 1948.)