Austin Engle (1837 - 1867)

Born 10 Nov 1837 in Moscow, Hillsdale, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Died 18 Feb 1867 at age 29 in Tyrone, Kent, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bonnie Nilsen [send private message]

Biography

Austin Engle, son of Robert and Lucinda Engle, was born in Moscow, Mich., November 10, 1837. His boyhood was spent in his father's home. He then went away to work. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Loomis Battery, Michigan Artillery. While marching over the Cumberland mountains, they came to a place in the road where a narrow path had been blasted out along the mountainside. When they reached this point their horses balked. The battery, horses and all was in imminent danger of going over the declivity when Austin and two or three comrades caught hold of the gun carriage and held it with all their strength. When help came the boys who had lifted so beyond their strength were unable to move. That night they had to lie on the bare ground. It rained hard and the water ran under them. In the morning Austin and his helpless comrades were taken to the hospital. He remained there some time and in 1864 was discharged as incurable.

Austin lived until 1867 but was a great sufferer until death came to release him. Pieces of bone came from his hip and he wasted away to a mere skeleton. So died one of the noble martyrs to the cause of liberty.

Military Department of Michigan, Adjutant General's Office, Lansing, September 9, 1910.

I certify that it appears from the official records of this office that Austin Engle enlisted as a private in Battery G First Regiment, Michigan Artillery on the 1st day of December, 1861, at Mosherville, and was duly mustered into the service of the United States for the term of 3 years, January 17, 1862.

SERVICE

Age 20 years. Discharged at Keokuk, Iowa, for disability, March 4, 1864.

Wm. S. McGwrin The Adjutant General

Sources

History and Genealogy of the John Shepherd Family compiled by R.N. Hodgman, Cleveland Ohio 1913. The book is in the possession of Bonnie Nilsen who has constructed a website about it at (http://www.johnshepherdfamily.com).

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF86-Y4X : 4 April 2020), Austin Engle in household of Robert Engle, Scipio, Hillsdale, Michigan, United States; citing family 94, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHQT-X4D : 16 January 2020), Austin Engle, 1867.