Leo Julg

Leo Julg, son of Andrew and Rosanna Julg, both natives of Baden, Germany, was born there March 30, 1835. In 1852 he came to the United States, landed at New Orleans, proceeded to Peoria, Ill., and there learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1856 he moved to Woodford county, farmed there one season, resumed his trade at Penola, in that county, where he resided until 1859, when he returned to Peoria, worked there a few months, when he moved to Minonk, Ill., and establishing a shop remained there until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He with seven others were captured at Mansfield, La., and shared the terrible ordeal of life in rebel prisons for thirteen months and nineteen days, being exchanged May 29, 1865. There is one bright memory connected with his imprisonment. It was the celebration of July 4,1864, by 3,500 Union men in prison. One of them read the Declaration, while another brought forth a Union flag, fastened it to a pole, and raised it over the brush wakiup, which they built for shade. The prisoners cheered lustily, while the guards looked sullenly at the old flag as it floated above a rebel stronghold. In June, 1865, he was mustered out, hurried to Minonk to meet his wife — Miss Ernestina Happert, a native of Oldenburg, Germany, to whom he was married in 1861 — and resided there until 1874, when he came to Castleton, where he has since followed His trade. In society matters he is a member of James Jackson Post, G. A. K., and of the Odd Fellows' society. To Mr. and Mrs. Julg two children were born, both of whom are numbered among the dead.