Monks, Zerah Coston, b. 1841.

Zerah Coston Monks, educator, carpenter, soldier, and oil field worker, was born 18 July 1841, in Curlsville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He married a teacher, Hannah Rohrer (1865), who was born in 1842, at Stewart's Run, Venango County, Pennsylvania. Monks taught school in Churchville, Pennsylvania (1860), then worked in the oil fields. In 1862, he enlisted with the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteers for three years, then with the 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers (Zouaves) as sergeant. He was involved in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where he was captured (1863), and was imprisoned in Richmond, Virginia, and Camp Parole, Maryland. He was wounded (1865) and hospitalized in Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until the war ended. After his marriage he lived in the oil boom town of Pithole City, Pennsylvania, where he ran a hotel and a photograph gallery with a brother-in-law. He and Hannah later moved to Vineland, New Jersey.

From the description of Zerah Coston Monks papers, 1859-1867. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83278110