Free Genealogy Biography of Alexander D. Morganthall,
Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Civil War
Alexander D. Morganthall
Alexander D. Morganthall was reared in Waynesboro, and attended the free school until he was fourteen years of age.
On Oct. 16, 1862, he enlisted, becoming a private in Company E, 158th Pennsylvania Regiment, which company was formed at Chambersburg. He served nearly ten months, paving volunteered for nine months' service, and was one of the gallant boys who helped to drive General Lee out of Pennsylvania. On Aug. 12, 1863, he was honorably discharged, but his work for the Union was riot yet finished, for he later raised sixty-eight men for Company G, 162nd Regiment, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was again mustered in, Sept. 3, 1864, and discharged the second time June 16, 1865. Had he made application, and tendered the services of the men he had raised, he would have been appointed by the governor captain of a company to be formed.
Mr. Morganthall served with Sheridan in his raid, and was with him at the time of the famous ride Oct. 19, 1864, from Winchester, Va., to the front.
He was a prisoner of war with Lee, when he surrendered at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. His brother Emory F. also in Company G, 162nd Regiment, was captured by Mosby near Mt. Jackson, Va., and was confined in Salisbury (N. C.) prison, where he was starved to death. Upon the day he was captured, Oct. 1st, the boy was only eighteen, and he lived in misery until Jan. 13, 1865.
Lewis H., another brother, served in Company B, 1st Maryland Cavalry, until the close of the war, after which he returned home; he died in 1887.
After returning from the war A. D. Morganthall worked as a painter for some time in Chambersburg, but in January, 1866, he entered upon a commercial course in a business college in Iron City, Pa., from which he was graduated May 1st of the same year.
The day thereafter he was stricken down with typhoid fever. Recovering from his illness, he resumed painting with his father in Waynesboro, and in the fall of 1867 took a position with the Geiser Mfg. Co., for thirteen years being bookkeeper for the company. After this lie traveled as salesman for a year, following which. lie was made assistant secretary for a year. His abilities by this time were so universally recognized and appreciated that he was made secretary and continued in that office for thirteen years. However, at that he again went upon the road, and is now one of the head salesmen, as well as vice-president of-the company, to which office he was elected in I899, a year after he resumed the duties of salesman. He is now located in. St. Louis as, general manager of the company's branch house in that city, and has been a director of the company since 18710, with the exception of 1896. He is very well and favorably known in Waynesboro and Franklin county.
Mr. Morganthall has also been prominent in public affairs. He was elected burgess of Waynesboro in 1872 for one year, and was appointed postmaster of Waynesboro May 6, 1894, filling that office for a full term of four years. Fraternally he is a member of the 1. O. O. F., G. A. R. (Walker Post, No. 187), Improved Order of Redmen, Knights of Malta, Royal Arcanum, Mystic Circle, Independent Order of Heptasophs and Shield of Honor.
On Feb. 7, 1871, A. D. Morganthall was married to Miss M. L. Boggs, of Concord, Franklin Co., Pa., and seven children have come to this marriage, all very bright young people, born and reared in Waynesboro
I. HARVEY S.
2. CHARLES E.
3. NORAH E.
4. CLARA B.
5. LULU M.
6. ALVIN A.
7. PAUL C.
Source: Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : containing genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers, and biographical sketches of prominent citizens; Chicago. Genealogical Pub. Co.. 1905. Notes: Prepared in part by George O. Seilhamer.
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