This post is the first of two Civil War Veteran ancestors of my daughter in law.
Biography of Private Henry Paul Moschell (1845-1919)
Civil
War Veteran
Henry Paul Moschell was born on Feb 4, 1845 in Mittelbach, Bayern, Germany
to Johann Paul Moschel and Elisabetha Rupp.
Henry Paul Moschell's German baptismal record
According to the
1900 Census, Paul arrived in America in 1850.
Then he became a citizen of the USA on Oct 4, 1855 in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. This certificate would
likely have been his father’s as Paul was only 10 years old at the time and
should have automatically become a citizen along with his father.
Naturalization record
1860 census --
Paul was age 15 and living in the Birmingham section of Pittsburgh with
his widowed mother and 3 brothers and 3 sisters. No occupations listed for any of the family
members who ranged in age from 17 down to 2 with his mother age 42. His father must have passed away prior to
this census, but I have no record yet of his death. I wonder if his was a very recent death and
what form of income the family had after his death.
Civil War Service –
Paul is shown as a member of 2 units – Co H 3rd Regiment Heavy
Artillery & 3rd Regiment Light Battery Pennsylvania Artillery(
Feb 29, 1864-Jul 25, 1865). Only two listings naming him were found and no
Pension record found, so he may never have been injured to apply for a pension
or the dates for the Light Artillery unit gives him only 5 months service at
the very end of the war. His gravestone
also lists only these dates for service.
Further research on the 3rd Regiment shows that
it was organized in Philadelphia in 1861. Battery or Company “H” was added in
the winter of 1862 as a Light Artillery battery that originated as part of
Segebarth’s Battalion Marine Artillery. The
entire Regiment was sent to Fort Monroe, Virginia except Co H. Company H was ordered to duty in Baltimore
where it remained for it’s entire length of service. It was tasked with the defense of
Baltimore. The only action that just a
52 man detachment of Company H saw, was
to be called to Gettysburg in July 1863. This was before Paul Moschel enlisted. An interesting side story to the 3rd
Regiment - After the capture of
Richmond, the 3rd Regiment’s
Co I was sent to Fort Monroe where it provided the guard duties for Jefferson
Davis’ imprisonment there. Since Paul, who was just one month past his 19th
birthday, did not enlist until Feb 29, 1864, his service with Company H was all
spent in Baltimore and he likely saw no action. Company H was mustered out at
Baltimore on July 25, 1865. Paul’s
enlistment papers describe him as 5’ 8” tall with grey eyes, light hair and a
light complexion. He was from Lower St Clair Township in Allegheny Co PA and
his prewar occupation was as a glassblower.
Henry Paul Moschell's Enlistment papers
On Christmas Eve 1867, Paul married Elizabeth
Schwarm. They would have 11 children,
all but one would survive to adulthood
and all born in Pittsburgh. Their
children are:
1.
Mary born Aug 14, 1868 ; she married David
Forssen in 1889 but died young at age 22 in 1891. She lived on the South Side of Pittsburgh
2.
Paul Henry George born Aug 17, 1870 – Paul married
Mary Effie____ in 1894 and became a City Fireman in Ellwood, Indiana
3.
Henry “Harry” John born Apr 21, 1871 – He
married Flora Alice Abbott – they are my daughter in law's ancestors back to Paul. Their
daughter Flora Alice Moschell would marry John George Schiller. Harry was also
a glass worker, at the Macbeth-Evans Glass Co in Ellwood , Indiana
4.
George born Jun 24, 1876 – George married Grace
Reeder in 1897 and worked in the Glass industry in Indiana
5.
John born Dec 28, 1877 – John married Louvisa
Knotts was also a glassworker like his father.
6.
Louis Edward born Mar 22, 1880 – Louis
married Lula Moon-Pollard and worked for the Corning Glass works box factory in
Indiana beginning at age 11.
7.
William A born Apr 26, 1882 and died Mar 24,
1888 in Indianapolis, Indiana just shortly before his 6th birthday.
8.
Lillian Elizabeth born May 4, 1884 – Lillian
married William Fisher and lived in Allentown, Pa
9.
Kathryn E born Aug 30, 1886 -Katie married Raymond Abbott and lived in Indianapolis
10.
Emma Hazel born Jun 7, 1888 – Emma married Richaard
McKillop and moved back the South Side of Pittsburgh
11.
Edna P born Sep 2, 1890 – Edna married Joseph Miller in Michigan and lived in Indianapolis
1870 census—Paul is living in Birmingham age 25 with his
wife Elizabeth. His occupation is that of a glass blower and his personal
estate is worth $500. They also have a
one year old daughter, Mary.
1880 census—Paul is living at 1116 Washington St in
Pittsburgh and working as a glass blower.
He and his wife have 6 children, Mary, Harry, Paul George, John &
Louis a two month old infant.
1888—city directory shows Paul and family living at 1725 Wharton St in Pittsburgh and working as a glass blower.
1890 veterans census – Paul is living at 1725 Wharton St in Pittsburgh and no disability
notes
1890 - In July,
Paul applies for a military pension (awaiting file)
1894 - - Paul’s wife dies on Oct 27, 1894 in Pittsburgh at age 44, leaving Paul to care for all of their children including their youngest age 4. It does not seem that Paul remarried, so it is assumed that the older siblings helped take care of the youngest.
1896 – Paul marries for a second time to Kate Moran on
July 13th in Allegheny county.
She does not show up in the 1900 census with him and no further
information is found on her.
1900 census – By the time of the 1900 census, Paul had
moved to Pipe Creek Township in Madison Co, Indiana with 5 of his children,
John, Louis, Lilley, Katie and Edna, living there with him at this time. He is now a retired glass blower. Address 115
North 4th St.
1910 census—Living at 207 North 13th St in
Elwood, Indiana with 6 of his children, all over 19 years old. They were John, Louis, Lilley, Katie, Emma
and Edna.
The youngest 4 daughters of Paul & Elizabeth Moschell
would go on to form the Moschell Orchestra in the 1910’s which played in and
around the Ellwood, Indiana area as well as in surrounding states.
The Alexandria Times Tribune, 29 July 1915
1916 – same address in city directory, also his son John is working as a glassworker and son Paul is a city fireman.
Paul Moschell died on Jan 28, 1919 in Pipe Creek
Township, Madison County, Indiana near Elwood where he lived, a widower age 73. The cause of death was Emphysema following a
bout of the Grippe, an older name for the Flu, and Pneumonia. I wonder if the
Flu he had was the Spanish Flu of 1918? He was returned to Pittsburgh for burial in
South Side Cemetery.
Sources:
1.
https://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/artillery/3dartillery/3dartorg.html
2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Pennsylvania_Heavy_Artillery_Regiment
3.
https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm#sort=score+desc&q=moschel
4.
https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/pennsylvania/3rd-pennsylvania-heavy-artillery/
6.
https://glassian.org/Making/Pittsburgh/page63.html - glass worker photos
7.
https://www.utoledo.edu/library/canaday/exhibits/oi/OIExhibit/Batch%2CBlow.htm
8.
Ancestry.com – member trees, census records, city directories, Civil
War records, naturalization records, death certificate, burial record
9.
Newspapers.com – news articles and obituary
10.
https://www.findagrave.com/
- burial details
11.
http://wikimapia.org/36942715/MacBeth-Evans-Glass-Company#/photo/6218931
- Macbeth and Evans Glass co photo & information in Elwood
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