ZOMBRO, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. - It was during the dark days of the Civil War, those four years of awful carnage, the period that "tried men's souls," that men received training (both physical and mental) which in after life had much to do with assuring them success in whatever they undertook. The sharp discipline of army life helped them immeasurably in the years that came after; the hardships they were compelled to endure gave them training to endure the hardships of later years, and the dangers of the field of battle gave them the courage to invade other fields in after life. So it is not strange that we find the Civil War veteran, as a general rule a man who has succeeded in the battles of peace, and one who is no exception to this rule is John Quincy Adams Zombro, now holding the responsible position of State Ordnance Sergeant of Illinois, who has been successfully engaged in various business enterprises throughout a long and busy career. Mr. Zombro, who is now living at No. 904 West North Grand Avenue, Springfield, Ill., was born August 16, 1842, at Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio, a son of Isaac and Julia Ann (Kneedler) Zombro.

Isaac Zombro was a son of Abram Zombro, the latter an Indian fighter of some renown and the son of a Revolutionary soldier. Abram Zombro, who was a native of Pennsylvania, removed to West Virginia, and there Isaac Zombro was born in the town of Martinsburg, as was also Julia Kneedler. Isaac Zombro was a miller by trade and carried on this occupation at Mechanicsburg, Ohio, where he had removed, and where he remained until his death. John Quincy Adams Zombro was but two and one-half years old at the time his father died, and as his mother was an invalid he had little or no chance for securing an education. When but eleven years of age he was thrown upon the world on his own resources and went to Urbana, Ohio, where he secured employment in a wholesale confectionery store, and remained with that concern one year, at the end of which time his mother and brother brought him to Clinton, Ill., moving with two two-horse wagons and a carriage. During the summer months that followed young Zombro went into the country and followed the plow, and during the long winters he worked for his board and schooling, thus securing what educational advantages he could, until August, 1862, when he enlisted at Clinton as a private of Company D, One Hundred and Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during the war. His Captain was Samuel McGowan, and his Colonel Tom Snell, and under them he participated in the first battle fought by the Army of the Ohio. He was one of a picked detachment of 100 to accompany the Fifth Indiana State Calvary in an attack on Confederate stores at Salina, Tenn., which were successfully captured, and his first regular battle was the Siege of Knoxville. Later he served with signal bravery through the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Dallas, New Hope Church, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Altoona, Franklin (Tenn.), Nashville, Fort Anderson (N.C.), and all the skirmishes and hard marches that went with these great struggles. After completing a war record of which any soldier might well be proud, he was mustered out of the service at Salisbury, N.C., in June, 1865, and his honorable discharge took place at Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill.

After the war Mr. Zombro went to farming in Logan and DeWitt Counties, Ill., and in 1875 engaged in a mercantile, live stock and grain business at Midland City, of which town he was the first Postmaster. In 1879 he began farming in Logan County, but in 1881 started to sell farm machinery for G. A. Van Duyn, of Springfield. His next enterprise was the conducting of a ranch at Fort Worth, Texas, and after one year of this he went to Pottawatomie County, Kan., where he took charge of one of the finest cattle ranches in the State for Dr. Williams, of Chicago. On his return to Illinois Mr. Zombro located at Lincoln, where he conducted a poultry and produce house for one year, and also carried on a like business at Minier, Ill., for nineteen years, at the end of which time he was appointed to his present office, in which he has served with great credit. In political belief Mr. Zombro is an ardent Republican, and can always be found working for the interests of that party.

Mr. Zombro was married at Lincoln, Ill., October 10, 1881, to Eldora White, a daughter of William White, now deceased, who was born near Lebanon, Ohio, and came with her parents to the vicinity fo Atlanta, Ill., when sixteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Zombro have had the following children: Edna A., Mrs. George Kirkbride, of Fulton County; William F., a resident of California; John C., who lives in Peoria; Fay, Mrs. Fred Lower, of Minier, Ill.; Elmer, of Springfield, is a twin of Edgar, who died in infancy; and Grace and Keith, at home.