The son of Lewis & Elizabeth (Gerberich) McDonnel (to list but one spelling found), in 1860 he was a farmer living with his family in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the stated age of twenty-two in Harrisburg June 15, 1861, and mustered into federal service there August 8 as a private with Battery D, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery (43rd Pennsylvania). His compiled military service records claim both events took place on August 8, a date not otherwise supported. Along the way, the army docked him $4.60 pay for a lost bridle and another $.85 for a lost whip, and he honorably discharged at term's end August 9, 1864, owing the regimental sutler $14.00. His pension index claims he also served with Battery C, and his obituary in the Harrisburg Daily Independent repeats that. He is found in the Pennsylvania Archives' ARIAS file as "McDonnell" and with the incorrect discharge date of June 21, 1865, applicable only to those in the regiment who had re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteers, which Thomas had not.
He married Barbara E. Best August 11, 1864, in Frederick, Maryland, and fathered Mary C. (b. 01/29/63 - married Jacob Danner), John Henry (b. @1867) and Charles Lewis (b. 12/05/69). After Barbara's death, he married Elizabeth H. Wagner ca. 1873 and fathered the one ill-fated son you see linked below with no other children appearing in any census for the couple. On August 19, 1890, he applied for a disability pension and received it. He and Elizabeth are in the 1900 census as "McDonald." He died at the reported age of 76-8-13 from "gastric cancer" leading to a "hemorrhage." He had been a member of Simmons Post No. 116, G.A.R.
bio info courtesy of Dennis Brandt
The son of Lewis & Elizabeth (Gerberich) McDonnel (to list but one spelling found), in 1860 he was a farmer living with his family in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the stated age of twenty-two in Harrisburg June 15, 1861, and mustered into federal service there August 8 as a private with Battery D, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery (43rd Pennsylvania). His compiled military service records claim both events took place on August 8, a date not otherwise supported. Along the way, the army docked him $4.60 pay for a lost bridle and another $.85 for a lost whip, and he honorably discharged at term's end August 9, 1864, owing the regimental sutler $14.00. His pension index claims he also served with Battery C, and his obituary in the Harrisburg Daily Independent repeats that. He is found in the Pennsylvania Archives' ARIAS file as "McDonnell" and with the incorrect discharge date of June 21, 1865, applicable only to those in the regiment who had re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteers, which Thomas had not.
He married Barbara E. Best August 11, 1864, in Frederick, Maryland, and fathered Mary C. (b. 01/29/63 - married Jacob Danner), John Henry (b. @1867) and Charles Lewis (b. 12/05/69). After Barbara's death, he married Elizabeth H. Wagner ca. 1873 and fathered the one ill-fated son you see linked below with no other children appearing in any census for the couple. On August 19, 1890, he applied for a disability pension and received it. He and Elizabeth are in the 1900 census as "McDonald." He died at the reported age of 76-8-13 from "gastric cancer" leading to a "hemorrhage." He had been a member of Simmons Post No. 116, G.A.R.
bio info courtesy of Dennis Brandt
Inscription
Prv. Co D 1 Reg Pa Light Artillery
Gravesite Details
Civil War Co. D Reg. Light Artillery, Pvt.
Family Members
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