DOB:  December 6, 1835 DOD:  August 2, 1903 Age at Enlistment: 25 Date of Enlistment:  May 9, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Franklin, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Private Rank at Discharge:  Private Casualty:  None with the 1st TN Comments:  Name is spelled various ways: Kreidler, Kridler, Cridler.  Kridler is how he spelled it later in life.  Jacob was born in St. Thomas, PA and he had a twin brother named Daniel.  Jacob's father died when he was 12 and he became an apprentice as a saddler in Chambersburg, PA at age 14.  By the time of the 1860 Census Jacob had moved to Franklin, TN.  Despite his northern roots he volunteered for the Southern Army.  He was apparently disowned by his family and his mother did not mention him in her will.  Jacob was appointed to Color Guard on April 3, 1862.  He transferred to Scott’s Battery in September of the same year and was detailed as an Artificer for the month of October.  At the Battle of Missionary Ridge, Scott's Battery was overrun with very few of it's men avoiding being captured or shot.  The Battery was consolidated with another unit but on December 1, 1863 Kridler joined the 18th Tennessee Cavalry Company D (Newsom's).  He is listed as a causality for the Battle of Harrisburg, MS between July 13-15, 1864.  Was surrendered on May 9, 1865 at Citronelle, AL with Forrest's Cavalry.  Jacob came back to Franklin after the war and went back into the saddle business again with Andrew C. Vaughan.  Their business was called Vaughan & Kridler Saddle & Harness Shop located at the Corner of Indigo (Now 4th Ave) and Main Street.  Jacob married Andrew's sister Amanda on June 7, 1866 and the couple had five children.  He took over the saddle shop from Andrew in about 1870 and moved it's location across the street next to the Presbyterian Church.  He built a house on Murfreesboro Road (now Hwy 96) across from Andrew.  The house is still standing as of 2017.  He sold his house to former Williamson Gray, William Moody, and moved to Texas in 1870's and died in Gonzales County, Texas in 1903.  He is buried in Stonewall Cemetery in Gonzales.  A special thanks to Phyllis Stice for the information and photograph

Left:  Portrait of Jacob in later life Right:  Jacob’s house in Franklin, TN on Hwy96

Left:  Ad for Vaughan and Kridler Right:  Ad for Kridler after taking over from Vaughan.