Another source about James.
James Hervey Vassar was the third and youngest son of William and Mary (Hageman) Vassar, and was born at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., October 20, 1839. He was named for his great-uncle, James, the father of the founder of Vassar College, so widely known. The great-uncle died while his namesake was still a babe. Thomas and James Vassar were the first of the line to cross the Atlantic, and the names of both brothers were perpetuated by boys in William Vassar's home.
Another son of William was called after his maternal grandfather, Adrian Hageman (sometimes written "Hegeman"), an uncle of the man who established the now widely known drug business of Hegeman, Clark & Co., of New York City. This brother too was a soldier of the Civil War, and an officer on the staff of General N. P. Banks. He died in the service at Point Isabel, Texas. The eldest son, Thomas, first Chaplain of our regiment, is mentioned elsewhere in this history.
James H., like his brothers, was educated in the public schools of Poughkeepsie, and began working for himself in the manufacturing establishment of Hotchkiss & Sons at Sharon, Conn., when about nineteen years of age. While there employed he heard the call to arms that so stirred many youth, and enlisted in Company A of the Dutchess County Regiment.
He was somewhat proficient in music, and that fact led to his being detailed to serve as leader of the regimental band, and in this capacity he continued until his regiment was mustered out at the close of the war. In the old Army of the Potomac, and later in all of Sherman's famous campaigns, from Chattanooga to the sea, and northward to Washington, he shared in all the toils and triumphs.
On returning home and falling into the pursuits of peace he was offered a position in the United States Treasury at Boston, and here, in different capacities, he has held a place for more than forty years. For two decades or more his office has been that of specie clerk, and on the coin question he is now an expert, and conceded to be one of the best authorities of the land.
In 1870 he married Etta, daughter of Hon. George M. Rice, of Worcester, Mass., one of the leading business men of that city, and a prominent member of the upper house of the Massachusetts Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Vassar have one daughter, Mary W., a graduate of Boston University. Their summer home is at Lynn, but commonly their winters are spent in Boston.
Mr. Vassar is still hale and hearty, and bids fair to round out a half century of civil service, beside the military service rendered to his land. Practically about all his days have been given to the public interests of the country that he calls his own.
"The "Dutchess County Regiment" (150th Regiment of New York State Volunteer Infantry) in the Civil War," 19007, Page 279
https://archive.org/details/dutchesscountyre00cook