Oberly, Aaron S., 1837-1918

A Medical Inspector in the United States Navy, Aaron S. Oberly was born April 7, 1837, in Pennsylvania. Little is written of his early life. On July 1, 1861, he was appointed an Assistant Surgeon, from Connecticut, and commissioned on July 30th, 1861. He was attached to the receiving-ship USS Ohio, the USS Boston, and to the frigate USS Sabine in 1861. From 1862 to 1863, he was assigned to the gunboat USS Kineo, stationed with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Oberly was present during the bombardment and passage of Forts Jackson and St. Phillip (1862), the passage of the batteries at Port Hudson by Farragut's fleet (1863), and the engagement with batteries at Grand Gulf.

From the description of Aaron S. Oberly letters, 1861, 1864-1865. (The Mariners' Museum Library). WorldCat record id: 760313026

Aaron S. Oberly was born in April 1837 in Pennsylvania and died in 1918 in Avon, CT. In 1860, he was a medical student at what is now the Yale School of Medicine and lived in New Haven with the Woodford family. In July 1861, he entered the U.S. Navy as an assistant surgeon. From 1861 to 1863 he served on the Kineo, a navy gunboat that fought Confederate forces along the Mississippi River. In August 1863 the Kineo sailed from New Orleans to Baltimore with two other Union gunboats, the Itasca and the Winona . In 1865, Oberly served on the Santiago de Cuba, a side-wheel steamer that stopped in Norfolk, VA and later Baltimore.

In 1866, Oberly married Anna Maria (Maria A.) Woodford (1844-1941) of New Haven, CT. They had two daughters.

Oberly served as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, primarily at the naval academy located at Newport, Rhode Island. In addition, he served aboard various vessels including the U.S.S. Sabine, U.S.S. Kineo, U.S.S. Santee, U.S.S. Macedonia, and the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba.

From the guide to the Aaron S. Oberly Letter Describing Havana, Cuba, 1865, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)

Aaron Shimer Oberly served as a naval surgeon during the American Civil War, mostly at or near Newport, Rhode Island. Oberly provided medical services for the staff and midshipman at the naval academy located at Newport. He also served on the U.S.S. Sabine (January, 1862), U.S.S. Kineo (February - March, 1862), a gunboat that patrolled between Key West and mouth of the Mississippi River, as well as the U.S.S. Santee (October, 1862), the U.S.S. Macedonia (June - August, 1864) and the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba (June, 1865).

From the description of Aaron Shimer Oberly papers, 1861-1865. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 731042258

Oberly served as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, primarily at the naval academy located at Newport, Rhode Island. In addition, he served aboard various vessels including the U.S.S. Sabine, U.S.S. Kineo, U.S.S. Santee, U.S.S. Macedonia, and the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba.

From the description of Letter describing Havana, Cuba, 1865. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 55617572