This week we highlight another article from our Family Histories Collection from RICIGS member, Lorraine Hathaway. Read about the information Lorraine found in her research on her great-grandfather, Thomas C. Hall, who was born in Louisa County, IA and his service for the Union Army in the Civil War!
My Civil War Soldier, Thomas C. Hall
By RICIGS member, Lorraine Hathaway
My great-grandfather, Thomas Campbell Hall, was born 11 November 1839 in Columbus City, Louisa County, Iowa to Isaac Griffin Hall and Elizabeth House Hall.
Thomas enlisted in the Union Army on 16 July 1861 as a Private in Company C of the Fifth Iowa Regiment Infantry. Three of his brothers also enlisted in the Union Army: John E. Hall served in Company F of the Thirteenth Iowa Regiment; James Hall served in Company K of the Eighth Iowa Regiment; and Henry C. Hall served in Company A of the Ninth Iowa Regiment.
His family attended the Christian (Campbellite) Church in Columbus City, Louisa County, Iowa while he was growing up. However as an adult he became a member of the Society of Friends known as the Quakers. The Friends were divided between their total distaste for war, and their hatred of slavery. So when Thomas joined the Union Army he served as a nurse in regimental hospitals. His service included the battles of Corinth, Mississippi; Iuka, Mississippi; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Jonesborough, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Nashville, Tennessee as well as many others.
He re-enlisted as a veteran in Huntsville, Alabama on 1 January 1864, and on 1 September 1864 he transferred to Company G Fifth Iowa Regiment Cavalry. He was mustered out of the Union Army on 10 August 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Thomas married Indiana Carolina Ford on 26 August 1865 in Winfield, Henry County, Iowa. She was born 27 February 1845 in Brighton, Washington County, Iowa. They were the parents of eight children: Carrie B. Hall born in 1866; Edward C. Hall born in 1868; Leora M. Hall born in 1870; Fredrick J. Hall born in 1873; Alonzo T. Hall born in 1876; Bertha R. Hall born in 1879; Iva N. Hall born in 1882; and M. Edith Hall born in 1887.
They lived in Columbus City, Louisa County Iowa until the spring of 1871. They lived in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa until the spring of 1875, and then moved on to Jewell County, Kansas where they lived until 1879.
They were moving west in a covered wagon through Kansas when their horses were drowned while crossing a river. They lost all of their possessions in the swift river current. After that they lived in a sod house in Rooks County, Kansas until they were able to afford another wagon and horses. Family tradition has passed down that Indiana Hall had baked two pumpkin pies which were cooling in the window. A group of Indians on horseback rode by, and wanted the pies. She said to take them. So the Indians dumped the pies in a bag, grabbed two of their chickens which they killed, then dumped the chickens in the bag on top of the pies, and rode off.
In the Fall of 1881 they moved back to Louisa County, Iowa. In 1887 they bought a 40 acre farm in Salem, Henry County, Iowa where they raised their children. In the fall of 1910 they sold the farm in Salem, Iowa, and retired to Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa.
Among the Quaker meetings they attended were: the Jewell County, Kansas Monthly Meeting; the Chalk Mound Monthly Meeting in Rooks County, Kansas; and the Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting in Salem, Henry County, Iowa. After they moved to Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa in 1910 they were received at the Albia Monthly Meeting at Albia, Monroe County, Iowa.
Thomas applied for a Civil War pension in 1887, and was awarded $30 a month. He died on 2 April 1917 in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa. His widow, Indiana Ford Hall, applied for a widow’s pension , and also received $30 a month. She died on 15 February 1924 in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa. They are both buried in the Shaul Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Standing is Bertha Hall, Alonzo “Lon” Hall (my grandfather), May Hall, and Iva Hall. Seated are: Indiana Ford Hall, Edith Hall, and Thomas Hall. This photo is circa 1895.
