This exquisite 10-caret gold 5^th Corps badge meas. approx. 1.25 inches square. The border of the face is chased with an intricate geometric design. This design encloses a line of delicate engraving across the center of the piece that reads “107 PA. VOL.” Above this line of engraving is “Co.” while below it is “B.” The reverse is void of design but does have a presentation engraved at the center. It reads “PRESENTED TO J. SOFFEL BY POST 155 JAN.1/85.” This presentation is done in six lines in block letters except for Mr. Soffel’s name, which is done in script. Engraving is surrounded by the usual linear design. Attached to the badge is a small delicate chain approx. 1.50 inches long on each side. Badge is in excellent condition with just a tiny bit of tarnish or dirt on the lower and outside edges of the left and bottom arm of the cross.

Jacob Soffel (also spelled in records as Sophrell) was born in Adenbach, Rhenish Bavaria on June 1, 1843. In 1858 he came to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh with his older brother. The young Soffel worked in a shoe store till he enlisted in Company B of the 107^th Pennsylvania Volunteers on September 13, 1864. He saw action at City Point, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Hatcher’s Run, Weldon Railroad, Dabney’s Mill, Boydton Plank Road, Five Forks, Gordonsville, Amelia Courthouse and Appomattox. During his service Private Soffel was wounded twice. One of his wounds happened at Hatcher’s Run where his regiment went in to the fight 600 strong and came out with 113 men. The place and date of his second wounding is not given. Jacob Soffel was discharged June 6, 1865.

After the war he returned to Pittsburgh and was in the grocery business from 1867-1875. He went west and bought a farm in Kansas but could not make a go of it and returned to Pittsburgh in 1880. He worked in the court system and for years was a prominent politician in Pittsburgh being elected Alderman of the 32^nd Ward three times. (This badge was presented to him by his GAR Post upon his first being elected to that office in 1885.) He was an active member of Colonel William H. Moody Post 155 of the GAR, a member of the Knights of Pythias, an ardent Republican and a member of the German Protestant church. He died on October 28, 1931 and is buried in West Liberty Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Soffel Street in the city is named after him and his daughter, Judge Sara Soffel.

With the items is a copy of Internet research that contains a post-war picture of Soffel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!