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George H. Troutman – Another Veteran Overlooked by Millersburg?
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 13, 2017
George H. Troutman was born in 1819 and died in 1885, probably at the home of his daughter in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at St. Luke’s Parish Cemetery, Malta, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Previously on this blog a query was made about the George Troutman who served in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private from 2 November 1862 to an honorable discharge 5 August 1863:
More information is sought on George H. Troutman since no Pension Index Card has been located which indicates service in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry. No record for the Census of 1890 has been located either. There are several entries for a George H. Troutman in other Pennsylvania regiments, but none of these has been connected to the George who served in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry.
It has now been confirmed that the George H. Troutman is the same person who is buried at Malta and whose grave marker is pictured at the top of this post. The Findagrave Memorial for him names his children and spouse, Margaret [Heckert] Troutman.
The reason no Pension Index Card has been located for George H. Troutman is that both George and his wife Margaret died prior to 1890, when the requirements were relaxed so as to allow old age as a reason for receiving a pension. George died in 1885 and in 1875 his wife preceded him in death.
While most of George’s life was spent in Northumberland County, he and Margaret moved to Upper Paxton Township and are found there in the census in 1870, where George was working as a laborer. In 1870, George’s daughter Amanda Troutman, who was then recently married to Daniel D. Messner, a Civil War veteran, was living in Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Between 1871 and 1877, three children were born to Amanda and Daniel. However, Daniel Messner died in 1879. As a widow with three small children, Amanda moved in with her widowed father in Upper Paxton Township, where the family is found in the 1880 census with George H. Troutman with head of household and working as a laborer.
According to Civil War pension records, Amanda did not immediately apply for pension benefits based on Daniel D. Messner‘s service in the 208th Pennsylvania Infantry. She waited until 30 November 1920 to apply which she then did as “Amanda Kauffman” indicating that she had re-married. Records found on Ancestry.com indicate that the widow Amanda [Troutman] Messner married Levi Kauffman in Millersburg, Dauphin County, on 5 September 1881. Since she re-married, she was ineligible for benefits based on the service of Messner. Levi Kauffman died on 14 November 1914 and is buried at Pomfret Manor Cemetery in Sunbury, Northumberland County. Amanda [Troutman] Messner Kauffman died on 4 December 1931 in Sunbury.
Amanda Kauffman was not found in any 1890 Veterans’ and Widows’ census.
By examining the records of George H. Troutman and his daughter Amanda, it can be proven that the George H. Troutman who served in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry had a Upper Paxton Township connection and therefore should be included in the Millersburg area Civil War veterans list. But, he is not named on the Millersburg Soldier Monument – another veteran slighted by this more than 100 year old oversight!
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