John,
Regarding Jacob Beisser's Civil War service, the following is extracted from info available on
www.ancestry.com:
American Civil War Soldiers has 1 match for:
Jacob Beisser
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Name: Jacob Beisser ,
Enlistment Date: 23 March 1865
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Union
State Served: Ohio
Unit Numbers: 1867 1867
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 23 March 1865 at the age of 23
Drafted in Company E, 39th Infantry Regiment Ohio on 23 March 1865.
Mustered out Company E, 39th Infantry Regiment Ohio on 09 July 1865 in Louisville, KY
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This would appear to confirm the family story you shared.
Fred Beisser
Parker, CO