Work Update

So I'm going to be spending some time today going through records of the 104th PA, and specifically the time they spent on the South Carolina coast.  I think the first part of the larger work I'm handling may be able to be written/published as a smaller work in advance of the larger one.  Looking forward to this research!

Abraham F. Kile and Samuel D. Kile

Abraham F. Kile and Samuel D. Kile

---Soldier Biographies---

So, in the course of my research I have come across a good deal of information on two soldiers, Abraham F. Kile and Samuel D. Kile, who both enlisted to fight in the Civil War in Doylestown, PA.  Both were also born in Bucks County, PA.  That being said, I have been unable to determine as yet if the two individuals were related, as neither soldier's parents were siblings.  But due to the shared last name, I am presenting both of their stories here as both have unique stories.

Abraham F. Kile was born on 10 July 1844 in Dublin, PA, and resided in Hilltown prior to the war.  On his Pennsylvania soldier identification card available from the state archives, he enlisted at the age of 19 for a three year term of service in the 51st PA Volunteer Infantry, Company C.  But based on the information from his death certificate and his headstone, he must have been younger when he enlisted, because he was born in 1844 and his enlistment in Harrisburg was on 13 September 1861.  The card then only notes regarding his service record that he was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability on an unknown date.  What is interesting is that his Veterans Burial Card notes that he served in the 21st PA Veteran Reserve Corps Regiment, Company A, and a history of the regiment reveals that he was transferred to the invalid corps.  It also seems that family members have posted not only photos of this individual online, but a photo of a veterans reunion at the Burnside Bridge at Antietam.  From this it could be deduced that he at least was actively serving with his regiment through the Battle of Antietam.  

Abraham's pre-war occupation was that of a farmer, though after the war the census records show that he was a farmer and a person who handled oddjobs, and his death certificate notes that he was a blacksmith.  According to other information online, he had twelve children after the war, and married Mary B. Funk.  As he was buried in the Deep Run Mennonite Church Cemetery in Bedminster Township, PA, he was likely a Mennonite himself.

Samuel D. Kile was born on 8 December 1844 in Rockhill Township, PA and per census records lived in Bedminster Township prior to the war.  On his Pennslvania soldier identification card available from the state archives, he enlisted at the age of 18 for a three year term of service in the 104th PA Infantry, Company A, but he was detailed to the 8th NY Battery on 1 July 1862.  He must have rejoined the 104th PA at some point after this, because he reenlisted at Morris Island, SC, and was mustered out after the end of the war on 25 August 1865.  That being said, Samuel's story becomes more interesting after the war.  Samuel joined the regualr amy for a three year term of service after the war ended, and decided to settle in Memphis, TN.  However, multiple newspaper articles regarding him note that his family in Bucks County did not know he was there after the war and were unable to locate him until he surprised his family by returning home 45-50 years later (albeit, just for a visit).  Those same newspaper articles note that he amassed a fortune in Memphis, TN.  In an article titled "Returns Home Rich" from The Allentown Leader on 23 August 1909, Samuel "like[d] the South so Well" and in an article titled "Old Veteran Returns Home" from the Harrisburg Daily Independent on 21 August 1909, after the war, Samuel had "[taken] part in a number of Indian fights... [in Memphis] he is called the "Rebel Yank," and on frequent public occasions has played the fife for the members of he Confederate Veteran post."  One can only view this action as that of years of reconciliation with his former Southern foes, and his love of his post-war home in Tennessee.  Samuel was buried in the Memphis National Cemetery.

Information has not been located yet in Davis' writings regarding Samuel D. Kile, but then again, Davis wrote his main works of Bucks County history after the war, and Samuel D. was unable to be located by his Bucks County family, so it is unsurprising that he is not mentioned by Davis.  

I hope that you have enjoyed!

Introduction

Hey everyone!  This new blog is to put in the public light stories of the Civil War as they relate to individuals from Bucks County, PA (either by birth, residence, or enlistment).  Eventually, these stories are to be a part of a larger work.  But in order to tell some of these stories now since that work will be years in the making and receive some feedback (including constructive criticism), I will be updating this blog with some of them.  I hope you enjoy!