91st PA: Henry McCool

Henry McCool

Before the war

He was born on 24 January 1844, (13, 19, 20 (23 Jan 1844); 4 (19 in 1862), 14 (56 at death), 18 (14 in 1860)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4, 13, 18). He was born to Daniel McCool and Susanna Brooke (19).

In 1860, he was living in ward 23 (post office Rising Sun), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (18). He was living with his father Daniel McCool, his stepmother Sarah McCool, brother Daniel, and step-siblings Catharine, Albert, and Joseph McCool (18, 19). He was apparently not working, and had not attended school within the year (18).

On 9 August 1862, he married Rebecca Cornelia Wardell, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). They had four children (17):

Description

When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, black eyes, and light hair (4).

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service on 13 September 1862 (1, 4, 5, 7). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Gregory (4, 5). He was a private in company C (1, 21).

He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (11).

On 8 September 1863, Sinex wrote asking him to be returned from Baltimore, where he was a nurse in a hospital (2).

He was transferred to the Veterans' Reserve Corps on 15 March 1864 (1, 3, 4, 5). When transferred, he was a private, in company C (21). On 29 June 1864, the regiment reported him transferred (6).

He was discharged on 3 July 1865 by general order (1, 7).

After the war

In 1870, he was living in Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with Rebecca (presumably his wife), and Henry, Susana, and Mary (presumably his children), and his father Daniel (8). He was a blacksmith (8).

On 4 November 1871, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (10, 12).

In 1880, he seems to have been living in Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). (I am not sure I have the right person.) He was living with his wife Cornelia and child Harry (9). He was a fork finisher (9). He was deaf or dumb (9).

On 20 February 1886, Mayor Smith appointed him to the Philadelphia police force, apparently from being a "subofficer" to being a regular officer (13, 15).

In 1890, he was living at 27 Ruan Street, Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7).

On 14 January 1892, his wife, Rebecca, died (17). She was 50 years old (17). She was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17).

He retired from active service in 1898, because of heart disease (16). He drove police van Number 8 (16).

On 1 August 1899, he died (14, 16). He had a heart attack while riding the Market Street trolley, at Sixth and Market Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (16). He died at Jefferson Hospital (16). Police from the 15th District, Wingohocking Tribe No 33 Improved Order of Red Men, Spartacus Lodge No. 31 Knights of Pythias, and survivors of the 91st were invited to attend the funeral (14). He was buried on 5 August 1899, from his late residence, 4220 Salem Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). He was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his wife and their three children who died as infants (14, 17, 20).

Researcher

Contact David Neerman at [email protected] (19).

Sources

1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)

2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 8 Sep 1863

3 company C, register of men transferred (Henry McCool)

4 company C, descriptive roll, entry 112 (Henry McCool)

5 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 71 (Henry McCool)

6 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 (Henry McCool)

7 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Frankford, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 501, page 1 (Henry W McCool)

8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, district 75 (post office Frankford), microfilm series M593, film 1410, page 161 (Henry W McCool)

9 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia ('Frankford' is crossed out), supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 477, microfilm series T9, film 1182, page 228 C = 3 handwritten (Henry McCool)

10 pension index, by name (Henry M McCool)

11 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Henry McCool)

12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Henry M McCool)

13 Howard O. Sprogle. The Philadelphia police past and present. Philadelphia, 1887. Page 522 (Henry W McCool)

14 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 4 August 1899 page 11 (Henry W McCool)

15 promotion, Philadelphia Inquirer 1 March 1886, page 3 (Henry McCool)

16 'Veteran van driver dead', Philadelphia Inquirer 2 August 1899, page 3 (Henry McCool)

17 e-mail, David Neerman to Harry A Ide, 29 March 2010 (citing a document dated 4 May 1898 in his pension file for the information about McCool's wife, and the cemetery for their children's dates) (Henry M McCool)

18 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 23, post office Rising Sun, microfilm series M653, film 1174, page 539 = 101 handwritten (Henry McCool)

19 e-mail, David Neerman to Harry A Ide, 21 April 2010

20 Find a grave, memorial 61389252, created by Margaret Orthodox, added 10 November 2010, accessed 9 January 2015 (Henry W McCool)

21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Henry W McCool)

1860 census

[1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 23, post office Rising Sun, microfilm series M653, film 1174, page 539 = 101 handwritten]
line19202122232425
Dwelling number667      
Family number690      
NameDaniel McCoolSarahCatharineDanielAlbertJosephHenry
Age55452320191714
Sexmffmmmm
Color       
OccupationDealer SeamstressLab."" 
Value of real estate owned       
Value of personal estate100      
Place of birth" [sc. Penna]"""Penna.""
Married within year       
Attended school within year       
Cannot read & write       
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.       

1870 census

[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, district 75 (post office Frankford), microfilm series M593, film 1410, page 161]
line131415161718
Dwelling-house number1003     
Family number1037     
NameMcCool Henry W- Rebecca- Henry- Susana- Mary- Daniel
Age272833/123/1260
SexMFMFFM
ColorWWWWWW
OccupationBlacksmithKeeping house   Comb maker
Real estate value      
Personal estate value      
BirthplacePennaPennaPennaPennaPennaKentucky
Father foreign born      
Mother foreign born      
Birth month if born within year   AplApl 
Marriage month if married within year      
Attended school past year      
Can't read11   1
Can't write11   1
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.      
Male US citizen at least 21 years old1    1
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...      

1880 census

[1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia ('Frankford' is crossed out), supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 477, microfilm series T9, film 1182, page 228 C = 3 handwritten]
line212223
street name[illegible]  
house number62 [?]  
dwelling visit #25  
family visit #25  
nameMcCool Henry- Cornelia- Harry
colorWWW
sexMFM
age363714
month born if born in year   
relationship WifeSon
single  1
married11 
widowed/divorced   
married during year   
occupationFork finisherKeeps houseHelper
months unemployed   
currently ill?   
blind   
deaf/dumb1  
idiotic   
insane   
disabled   
school this year   
can't read   
can't write   
birthplacePennPennPenn
father's birthplacePennPennPenn
mother's birthplacePennPennPenn

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 9 January 2015, from Fold3]


McCool, Henry W.
     Henry
Co. C, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt
See also V.R.C.

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

Philadelphia police

[Howard O. Sprogle. The Philadelphia police past and present. Philadelphia, 1887. Page 522]

HENRY W. McCOOL was born in Philadelphia on January 24, 1844. He served three years in the 91st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers during the late war. He was appointed by Mayor Smith on February 20, 1886, and was detailed as special officer on April 20, 1886. He arrested Frank Hart, a horse thief.

promotion

[promotion, Philadelphia Inquirer 1 March 1886, page 3, Henry McCool]

Mayor Smith on Saturday promoted the following subofficers to be regulars: ... Fifteenth, Henry McCool; ....

death notice

[death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 4 August 1899 page 11, Henry W McCool]

McCOOL.--On August 1, 1899, Henry W. McCool, in this 56th year. The relatives and friends of the family, also police of the Fifteenth District; Wingohocking Tribe, No. 33, I.O. of R.M.; Spartacus Lodge, No. 31, K. of P., and Survivors of the Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Saturday, the 5th, at 2 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 4220 Salem street (formerly Thomas street), Frankford. Interment at Cedar Hill.

'Veteran van driver dead'

['Veteran van driver dead', Philadelphia Inquirer 2 August 1899, page 3, Henry McCool]
VETERAN VAN DRIVER DEAD
"Hen" McCool Succumbs to Attack of Heart Failure

Seized with an attack of heart failure, Henry McCool, the veteran driver of police van No. 8, sank unconscious upon the floor of a Market street trolley car at Sixth and Market streets yesterday. He was taken to the Jefferson Hospital, where he died last night.

For some time McCool had been suffering from heart disease. Because of this he was forced last year to retire from active service.

McCool resided at 4220 Salem street, Frankford, and was one of the officers of the Germantown station.


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revised 9 Jan 15
contact Harry Ide at [email protected] with comments or questions.