Joseph Sailor, a tanner from DeGraff, Ohio, was born on April 25, 1824 in Clark County, Ohio. He soon moved with his family to Logan County where his father engaged in tanning. On February 22, 1848, Sailor married Elizabeth (Eliza) Leach with whom he had two children. On August 10, 1862 Sailor enlisted in the Union Army and was assigned to company E of the 45th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The O.V.I. was stationed in west central Kentucky between 1862 and 1863; during part of this time Sailor found himself performing garrison in rebel prisons in Lexington. His company engaged in two skirmishes during this period: one in Somerset, Kentucky and the other at Monticello, Kentucky. It was at Monticello, on June 9, 1863, that Sailor received the wound that resulted in his death on October 1, 1863.
From the guide to the Joseph Sailor Letters, 1858-1894, 1858-1894, (Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron)
