Robert Mitchell Pickel, named for his maternal grandfather, was the youngest son of Lewis Pickel and Mary Mitchell. He, along with his brother Henry, used the last names of Bickel at different times in his life, and many of Robert’s records are found under that name.
Robert Pickel served beside his father Lewis and older brother Henry during the Civil War in Co. A & C, 84th PA Reg’t. It is not clear why his tombstone lists another unit as all of his service was verified to be in the 84th based on his service records. He was enrolled on 21 Oct 1861 and mustered out 23 Oct 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia, having fought through numerous engagements including Chancellorsville and The Wilderness.
His first known marriage (as Bickel) was to Clara C. Dittsworth on 24 Aug 1874 in Williamsburg, Blair County. He states this in his (as Pickel) 1898 Civil War Pension Application. On this application, he also states he was only married once and has three living children: William b. 15 Jul 1875, Joseph b. 4 Jan 1877, and James b. 4 Dec 1879. His 1880 Census is under the name Bickel and his children used the name Bickel/Bickell throughout their lives. In sworn testimony to a Special Examiner of Pensions, he stated Clara died in 1881 or 1882 in Blair County. No known death record or burial location has been found.
His second marriage (as Bickel) was to Phoebe J. (Croft) McCauley on 18 Jun 1887 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Phoebe (1843-1914) was the daughter of George and Susan Croft and the widow of George Thomas McCauley. Robert and Phoebe’s marriage was short-lived as she stated in her testimony that they separated in less than a month, and that she returned immediately to her McCauley name. They had no children together. Apparently, he disregarded this marriage as he didn't account for it on his 1898 pension application. However, there was no record of a divorce found by the Special Examiner of Pensions in 1913, and the Law Office of the Bureau of Pensions determined that this was his last legal marriage as Phoebe survived him.
His third marriage (as Bickel) was to Lucinda “Lucy” (Sheesley) Ellis on 22 Oct 1900 in Indiana County. She was the daughter of Canada and Cinderalla (Bowers) Sheeley and the widow of Orlando Sedwich “Sage” Ellis (1851-1895). Her 14 May 1902 death was registered in Indiana County under the name of Lucanda Ellis, with her status as “married.” Her obituary was found under Bickel.
Robert’s fourth marriage (as Pickel at age 54) was to 20 year-old Elsie Leamer on 16 Jun 1904 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Elsie was actually the step-daughter of Robert’s older brother Henry. They had one child together: Gilbert “George” William Pickel (1906-1970).
Robert died of Tuberculosis of the Lungs on 3 Jun 1906. It wasn’t until 1913 when the Special Examiner of Pensions finished his investigation that Elsie learned Robert hadn’t divorced Phoebe. Elsie’s marriage was invalidated and their son were declared illegitimate and therefore he was not entitled to any consideration for a pension based on his father’s service.
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Robert Pickel served beside his father Lewis and older brother Henry during the Civil War in Co. A & C, 84th PA Reg’t. It is not clear why his tombstone lists another unit as all of his service was verified to be in the 84th based on his service records. He was enrolled on 21 Oct 1861 and mustered out 23 Oct 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia, having fought through numerous engagements including Chancellorsville and The Wilderness.
His first known marriage (as Bickel) was to Clara C. Dittsworth on 24 Aug 1874 in Williamsburg, Blair County. He states this in his (as Pickel) 1898 Civil War Pension Application. On this application, he also states he was only married once and has three living children: William b. 15 Jul 1875, Joseph b. 4 Jan 1877, and James b. 4 Dec 1879. His 1880 Census is under the name Bickel and his children used the name Bickel/Bickell throughout their lives. In sworn testimony to a Special Examiner of Pensions, he stated Clara died in 1881 or 1882 in Blair County. No known death record or burial location has been found.
His second marriage (as Bickel) was to Phoebe J. (Croft) McCauley on 18 Jun 1887 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Phoebe (1843-1914) was the daughter of George and Susan Croft and the widow of George Thomas McCauley. Robert and Phoebe’s marriage was short-lived as she stated in her testimony that they separated in less than a month, and that she returned immediately to her McCauley name. They had no children together. Apparently, he disregarded this marriage as he didn't account for it on his 1898 pension application. However, there was no record of a divorce found by the Special Examiner of Pensions in 1913, and the Law Office of the Bureau of Pensions determined that this was his last legal marriage as Phoebe survived him.
His third marriage (as Bickel) was to Lucinda “Lucy” (Sheesley) Ellis on 22 Oct 1900 in Indiana County. She was the daughter of Canada and Cinderalla (Bowers) Sheeley and the widow of Orlando Sedwich “Sage” Ellis (1851-1895). Her 14 May 1902 death was registered in Indiana County under the name of Lucanda Ellis, with her status as “married.” Her obituary was found under Bickel.
Robert’s fourth marriage (as Pickel at age 54) was to 20 year-old Elsie Leamer on 16 Jun 1904 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Elsie was actually the step-daughter of Robert’s older brother Henry. They had one child together: Gilbert “George” William Pickel (1906-1970).
Robert died of Tuberculosis of the Lungs on 3 Jun 1906. It wasn’t until 1913 when the Special Examiner of Pensions finished his investigation that Elsie learned Robert hadn’t divorced Phoebe. Elsie’s marriage was invalidated and their son were declared illegitimate and therefore he was not entitled to any consideration for a pension based on his father’s service.
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Robert Mitchell Pickel, named for his maternal grandfather, was the youngest son of Lewis Pickel and Mary Mitchell. He, along with his brother Henry, used the last names of Bickel at different times in his life, and many of Robert’s records are found under that name.
Robert Pickel served beside his father Lewis and older brother Henry during the Civil War in Co. A & C, 84th PA Reg’t. It is not clear why his tombstone lists another unit as all of his service was verified to be in the 84th based on his service records. He was enrolled on 21 Oct 1861 and mustered out 23 Oct 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia, having fought through numerous engagements including Chancellorsville and The Wilderness.
His first known marriage (as Bickel) was to Clara C. Dittsworth on 24 Aug 1874 in Williamsburg, Blair County. He states this in his (as Pickel) 1898 Civil War Pension Application. On this application, he also states he was only married once and has three living children: William b. 15 Jul 1875, Joseph b. 4 Jan 1877, and James b. 4 Dec 1879. His 1880 Census is under the name Bickel and his children used the name Bickel/Bickell throughout their lives. In sworn testimony to a Special Examiner of Pensions, he stated Clara died in 1881 or 1882 in Blair County. No known death record or burial location has been found.
His second marriage (as Bickel) was to Phoebe J. (Croft) McCauley on 18 Jun 1887 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Phoebe (1843-1914) was the daughter of George and Susan Croft and the widow of George Thomas McCauley. Robert and Phoebe’s marriage was short-lived as she stated in her testimony that they separated in less than a month, and that she returned immediately to her McCauley name. They had no children together. Apparently, he disregarded this marriage as he didn't account for it on his 1898 pension application. However, there was no record of a divorce found by the Special Examiner of Pensions in 1913, and the Law Office of the Bureau of Pensions determined that this was his last legal marriage as Phoebe survived him.
His third marriage (as Bickel) was to Lucinda “Lucy” (Sheesley) Ellis on 22 Oct 1900 in Indiana County. She was the daughter of Canada and Cinderalla (Bowers) Sheeley and the widow of Orlando Sedwich “Sage” Ellis (1851-1895). Her 14 May 1902 death was registered in Indiana County under the name of Lucanda Ellis, with her status as “married.” Her obituary was found under Bickel.
Robert’s fourth marriage (as Pickel at age 54) was to 20 year-old Elsie Leamer on 16 Jun 1904 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Elsie was actually the step-daughter of Robert’s older brother Henry. They had one child together: Gilbert “George” William Pickel (1906-1970).
Robert died of Tuberculosis of the Lungs on 3 Jun 1906. It wasn’t until 1913 when the Special Examiner of Pensions finished his investigation that Elsie learned Robert hadn’t divorced Phoebe. Elsie’s marriage was invalidated and their son were declared illegitimate and therefore he was not entitled to any consideration for a pension based on his father’s service.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Pickel served beside his father Lewis and older brother Henry during the Civil War in Co. A & C, 84th PA Reg’t. It is not clear why his tombstone lists another unit as all of his service was verified to be in the 84th based on his service records. He was enrolled on 21 Oct 1861 and mustered out 23 Oct 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia, having fought through numerous engagements including Chancellorsville and The Wilderness.
His first known marriage (as Bickel) was to Clara C. Dittsworth on 24 Aug 1874 in Williamsburg, Blair County. He states this in his (as Pickel) 1898 Civil War Pension Application. On this application, he also states he was only married once and has three living children: William b. 15 Jul 1875, Joseph b. 4 Jan 1877, and James b. 4 Dec 1879. His 1880 Census is under the name Bickel and his children used the name Bickel/Bickell throughout their lives. In sworn testimony to a Special Examiner of Pensions, he stated Clara died in 1881 or 1882 in Blair County. No known death record or burial location has been found.
His second marriage (as Bickel) was to Phoebe J. (Croft) McCauley on 18 Jun 1887 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Phoebe (1843-1914) was the daughter of George and Susan Croft and the widow of George Thomas McCauley. Robert and Phoebe’s marriage was short-lived as she stated in her testimony that they separated in less than a month, and that she returned immediately to her McCauley name. They had no children together. Apparently, he disregarded this marriage as he didn't account for it on his 1898 pension application. However, there was no record of a divorce found by the Special Examiner of Pensions in 1913, and the Law Office of the Bureau of Pensions determined that this was his last legal marriage as Phoebe survived him.
His third marriage (as Bickel) was to Lucinda “Lucy” (Sheesley) Ellis on 22 Oct 1900 in Indiana County. She was the daughter of Canada and Cinderalla (Bowers) Sheeley and the widow of Orlando Sedwich “Sage” Ellis (1851-1895). Her 14 May 1902 death was registered in Indiana County under the name of Lucanda Ellis, with her status as “married.” Her obituary was found under Bickel.
Robert’s fourth marriage (as Pickel at age 54) was to 20 year-old Elsie Leamer on 16 Jun 1904 in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Elsie was actually the step-daughter of Robert’s older brother Henry. They had one child together: Gilbert “George” William Pickel (1906-1970).
Robert died of Tuberculosis of the Lungs on 3 Jun 1906. It wasn’t until 1913 when the Special Examiner of Pensions finished his investigation that Elsie learned Robert hadn’t divorced Phoebe. Elsie’s marriage was invalidated and their son were declared illegitimate and therefore he was not entitled to any consideration for a pension based on his father’s service.
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