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Thomas A. Carnahan
Thomas A. Carnahan was the son of Thomas M. Carnahan and Mary Polly Kenly (Kenly) - who are buried at Poke Run Presbyterian Church - 7 miles South of Apollo, Pa. Thomas was born in Perrysville, Pa. in 1819 in Westmoreland County as well as his dad and mother; he lived a long life of 81 years and died 06/14/1900 in Pittsburgh, Pa. and is buried at McKeesport-Versailles cemetery in Mckeesport, Pa. - a military marker present - after the war he was in the grocery business and later dug water wells for the city of McKeesport, Pa. and also in Woodville, Pa. for a few years - Thomas and Margaret were members of the Coursin Methodist Espicopal church in McKeesport.
He had five brothers and one sister. They were David Richard, Hezikiah, Samuel, Israel, James Wilson and Elizabeth. His parents moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. and Thomas A. became a Coal merchant when he grew up - he married Margaret Buchanan Young around 1846 and they had six children - Harriet, Anna M., Josephine, Wilhemina, Thomas Fleming and Maggie. Maggie was born in 1861 and died 01/27/1861 - and Thomas joined the service in 4/1861 right after Maggie's death. Thomas had two other daughters who also died young - Josephine at age 21 and Wilhemina at age 17.
Thomas was recruited by Captain James Mckinley Snodgrass in Allegheny County and enlisted in the Mckeesport Union Guards on April 23, 1861. He was mustered in as a Private in May, 1861. The unit marched to Camp Wilkins in May, 1861 and he was promoted to Fourth Corporal in June, 1861. He was mustered into State Service as part of the 38th Regiment 9th Reserve Corps Penna Volunteers - Company i on June 23, 1861 at Camp Wright by Lt. Chandler Hall. He was promoted to Third Corporal on June 28, 1861 and was mustered into Federal service at Camp Jackson, Washington, D.C. on July 28, 1861 by Lt. John Elwood, 5th U.S. Infantry.
He was wounded in battle at Charles City Crossroads on June 30, 1862 which resulted in the amputation of his leg - his right arm was also injured. He had treatment at Bellvue Hospital in New York in August, 1862 and was discharged from the service by order of Brigadier General Brown at New York City on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability on September 1, 1862.
During his service he participated in the following campaigns: Dranesville, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mills, and Charles City Crossroads in Richmond, Virginia. According to Samuel W. Black, Post 59 - McKeesport, Pa. of the Grand Army of the Republic'c medical descriptive books - said he was promoted to Sergeant at discharge - but no record of this in records.
Thomas was buried on June 16, 1900 and the Union Veterans Assoc. handle the funeral arrangements. We, the other Carnahan relatives, are proud of his service to the Grand Army of the Republic during the Civil War.
The Carnahan family is one of the early settlers of Westmoreland County coming over from Legoniel - County Antrim - suburb of Belfast, Ireland in the early 1700's. His great grandfather was John Carnahan was the Second Sheriff of Westmoreland County and served as Colonel in the Westmoreland Associates during the Revolutionary War. John Carnahan was killed by Indians at the Carnahan Blockhouse near Salina, Pa. while trying to protect his family and others. His brother David C. Carnahan killed the indian that killed his brother at the blockhouse.
Copyrighted 1999 by Rod W. Carnahan .
Note: Harriet Carnahan married Elmer M Soles in 1867 and had the following children as per the 1880 federal census: Clarence E, Elizabeth, Margaret, Wilhelmina, Thomas, and David. Elmer was postmaster of Mckeesport, Pa in 1890-94 period. William F. Young was police chief of McKeesport, Pa. during the 1890 period - his sister was Margaret B Young Carnahan - wife of Thomas A. Carnahan. Clarence E. Soles was city controller of Mckeesport, Pa.