Eclectic Ann: Henry Paul Moschell

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 3^rd Regiment Heavy Artillery & 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 3^rd Regiment - After the capture of Richmond, the 3^rd 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 19^th 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

In 1886, The PA 3rd Artillery and the 188th PA Infantry held a reunion in Sunbury, PA. I wonder if Paul attended,

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 6^th 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

Typical glass blowing scenes

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 13^th 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 4^th St.

1910 census—Living at 207 North 13^th 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

Henry Paul Moschell and his daughters

1916 – same address in city directory, also his son John is working as a glassworker and son Paul is a city fireman.

1916 Elwood, Indiana City Directory

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.