Jonathan Tarbell was born in Moriah, N. Y., in 1820, and died in Washington, D. C., March 14,1888.
He prepared for college in the schools of his town, and entered the University in 1836, graduating A. B. in 1839. He studied law in Port Henry, N. Y., during 1839-42, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in the latter year; but instead of practicing his profession, he entered upon an editorial career. He published the Northern Standard, in Keeseville, N. Y., 1842-57, and the Oswego Times, at Oswego, Orange County N. Y., 1857-1861.
He was much interested in military affairs; was adjutant of the 9th Regiment New York Militia, Ticonderoga, 1839-40; colonel, 1840-42; was assistant adjutant general of the states of New York under Governor Myron H. Clark. On the breaking out of the Civil War, he offered his services to the State and performed valuable work in drilling and instructing the volunteers. He was commissioned major of the 24th New York Volunteers, May 17, 1861; was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 91st New York Volunteers, December 26, 1861; colonel, February 11, 1865, and brigadier-general, March 13, the same year; was mustered out of service, July 3, 1865. He was a brave and efficient officer, and was only absent from his command once, when he was detached as a witness before a court-martial in New Orleans. He took an active part in the following battles: Port Hudson, La., Bailey's Cross Roads, Va., Ball's Cross Roads, Va., Falls Church, Va., Key West, Fla., Pensacola, Fla., Cox Plantation, La., Brashear City, La., Fort Jackson, La., Fort McHenry, Md., Fort Federal Hill, Md., Petersburg, Va., Gravelly Run, Va., Five Forks, Va., Jetersville Station, Va., Appomattox Court House, Va., Lee's Surrender (April 9, 1865.)
In 1865, he purchased a plantation in Mississippi which he conducted until 1880, when he removed to Washington, D. C., where he made his home until his death. He was a Republican in politics; served on the commission to ascertain the boundary line between New York and Canada, 1856-57; served on reconstruction duty in Mississippi; was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, 1865-80; deputy first comptroller of the United States Treasury, 1880-85. He practiced law before the Departments, 1885-88 making a specialty of patent and pension claims. He was survived by a widow.
SOURCE: William Arba Ellis, Editor, Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll Of Honor, p. 303-4
