Gad Merrill Dwelle Was born on March 13, 1835, at Onondaga County, New York. His parents were Abner and Electa Dwelle. Gad's younger brother, Thomas, enlisted in the First Minnesota Infantry. Dwelle enlisted as a private in the Second Company of Minnesota Sharpshooters on Dec. 17, 1861. He was 26 years old. At times during his service his company of the the 2nd U. S. Sharpshooters was attached to the First Minnesota and thus the two brothers were able to serve together. He fought in the following battles: Hanover Court House (May 27, 1862), Fair Oaks (June 1, 1862), Siege of Richmond (June 1862), Peach Orchard and Savage Station (June 29, 1862), White Oak Swamp at Nelson's Farm (June 30, 1862), Malvern Hill (July 1862) as well as other skirmishes during the war. Dwelle was wounded in the thigh at Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862. During his service he was promoted to the rank of corporal. On Feb. 28, 1863, he received a promotion to become an officer in the Third Battery of Minnesota Artillery. On that date Gad became the junior second lieutenant in unit. It was organized in early 1863 and joined the expedition of Gen Henry Sibley against hostile Indians, pursuing them across Minnesota and the Dakota prairies. In Oct, 1863, Lt Dwelle was detailed to accompany Gov. Alexander Ramset as commissioner to negotiate peace with the Chippewa for the cession of land in northern Minnesota. He was stationed at Ft Ripley, MN in Nov 1863. In the summer of 1864, he joined Gen. Alfred Sully's expedition against the Indians, pursuing them across the Missouri River into the "bad Lands" of the Dakota Territory and Montana. Dwelle then proceeded to several stations in rapid order. He was in Ft Randall, DT, in July 1864, Ft Abercrombie, DT, Sept 1864, and back at Ft Ridgley, MN, by Nov 1864. In 1865, he was in the Devil's Lake Expedition under Gen. Minor T Thomas. Dwelle was then stationed at Lake Johnstone in Aug 1865, Ft Snelling in Oct 1865, and returned to Ft Abercrombie in Oct 1865. Arriving in Dec 1865, he spent the winter at Ft Wadsworth, DT. He was mustered out on Feb. 27, 1866, after having served for 4 years and 3 months. During the Indian campaigns he traveled over 3,000 miles. He returned to Lake City in March 1866, and clerked for awhile in a general store and later in a hardware and lumber store. On April 2, 1872, he was elected Alderman for the city and served for two years. On Oct. 24, 1872, Gad married Julia Cooper Patton at Onondaga, New York. They had three children, Glenn (1875), Florence (1876) and Grace (1878). In 1876, Dwelle went into partnership with George Stout, who owned a clothing store in town. In 1886, Gad's brother, Henry, bought out Stout and the store was renamed to The Dwelle Brothers. Henry died in 1903 and the store was closed in 1905. At that time, at the age of 70, Gad went into the telephone business with his son, Glenn. Gad was 80 years old when he died on April 9, 1915, at Melbourne Beach, Florida. Sources: Military Medical Record, G. Merrill Dwelle, National Archives, Wash. D. C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
