Thomas H. Wakefield

In 1860 he was a 17 year old farm worker living with his parents and 4 siblings on their substantial farm near Strode's Mills in Mifflin County, PA. He enlisted and mustered for 9-months' service as a Private in Company K, 125th Pennsylvania Infantry on 14 August 1862.

He was "disabled by a horse" at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He mustered out with his company on 18 May 1863. He enlisted again, and mustered as a Private in Company C of the 19th Pennsylvania Cavalry on 22 August 1864. He transferred to Company K of the 5th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps on 16 January 1865 and was discharged on 21 August 1865.

He was a printer, compositor on the Chicago Times, and worked on the Pike County (IL) Times. He was a resident in the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Quincy, IL from 16 August 1906 to a week or two before his death.

His service basics from Bates,1 also as Thomas Weakfield, and his pension card, online from fold3. His injury at Antietam from the History.2 Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1860 & 1900, and his obituary in the Quincy Daily Journal of 20 December 1906. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph in a family collection offered on ebay in October 2025; thanks to John Banks for finding that.

He married Belle Murphy (1859-1935) in February 1881 in Marion, MO and they had 9 children by 1898.

10/1843; Mifflin County, PA

12/15/1906; Pittsfield, IL; burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Pittsfield, IL