Doug Deuel  

 William Henry Deuel   (Great Grandfather)

    Our veteran of the Civil War was born in 1833 in Schohaire County , N.Y. He was the son of Elizah Deuel and the Grand son of Abnor Deuel. Abnor was born in Tivorton, Rhode Island on January 23, 1758, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and died at the age of one hundred and one years ( October 31^st, 1858 ) in Schohaire County, New York.

     When the Secretary of State, Galusia Gow, introduced an opening of free lands in Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania, Henry left the farm with his wife Elizabeth Zhe for a new adventure. They set up a small farm which they leased through Henry Devine in what is now Lawton, Pennsylvania.

     After loosing one of their twins to illness, the farm wasn’t a great investment but according to the news, all this was about to change. One summer day two of his neighbors, Charlie White and Sam Gary, talked him into enlisting. The pay was fair and the time away wouldn’t be long. William and his two friends enlisted at Friendsville for bounty money and eight dollars a month.

     William and his friends were put into Company B of the 143^rd PA. Vol. Inf. The Major threat was this unit, as many in the area would be formed to protect Harrisburg. This is where he met his First Lieutenant Rhinvault who would become his son-in-law following the war.                                                                                                                          The 143^rd fought well in many battles but when the Battle of Gettysburg occurred, the results were different. Their well liked General Reynolds was killed on July 1^st with Ewell’s charge. The lines broke and many retreated, many stayed at their posts and were taken captive by confederates. William was now headed for P.O.W. camp in Virginia.

     As in most cases, William couldn’t stand for morning muster so he was marked as

A  deserter. This was prevalent in most units and  was rectified when he was released during a prisoner exchange. The problem had already started. While in the prisoner of war camp, he contacted an intestinal condition which he had the rest of his life.

     He was  put in the Second Reserve where he spent the rest of the war in Carlisle  Hospital  working as a nurse/care giver. This lasted until he was discharged August 8^th, 1865. The real funny thing throughout the war was, he and Elizabeth were having childred  just about every nine months. As a matter of fact, they had a total of eighteen children. Reason was very easy. Carlisle  was on a rail line and every time old William Henry  a leave, he was headed north to home and Elizabeth.

     One of our members, Jim was born and lived on the homestead that William built for Elizabeth. According to another recently departed relative, it was common place to see many pregnant women and half naked children playing in the front yard or making rugs in the back. Elizabeth raised turkeys and help support the family while William tried to work as a cattle drover for major plant.