The Hieronymus Brothers
Private Thomas H. Hieronymus
Private Thomas Henry Hieronymus was born on December 18, 1845. He was the younger
brother of 1st Lieutenant Benjamin R. Hieronymus. His parents were James Hieronymus and Malinda
Thompson. The Hieronymus family has been tied to three brothers from Germany who immigrated
to Virginia in 1650. Thomas Hieronymus has been recorded 
to have marched 150 miles on the Tupelo Campaign barefoot. He passed away on June
19th, 1906 and was buried in the Hieronymus Cemetery in Farmington, Illinois.
1st Lieutenant Benjamin R. Hieronymus
1st Lieutenant Benjamin R. Hieronymus was born on June 27, 1841. As a soldier of the 117th, Benjamin recorded his experience in a diary from October of 1862 through August 5, 1865. Benjamin was very active in his community as a member of the First Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois, a member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic), and returned to McKendree following the Civil War in 1923, 1924, and 1925 for reunions of the 117th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Illinois National Bank in Springfield. He married Miss S.M. Mountjoy of Logan County in September of 1861. They raised a son and two daughters: R.E., Alice, and Lulu. Mountjoy passed away in 1873 and Benjamin remarried to Miss Nettie P. Clarck of Springfield. They had two children: Lora and Roy. Benjamin died on March 19, 1926 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. All banks closed in his honor on the day of his funeral.
Sources:
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sangamon County, Illinois." ILGenWeb. 200. http://sangamon.ilgenweb.net/1891/hieronymus.htm (accessed July 27, 2012).
