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Surnames: WALL, KALLAGHER, KELLEHER, DORAN, DOWD, DOUD, SMITH, REIDY
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3h.2ADE/2010
Message Board Post:
I recently got on USGENWEB and went to the Floyd County, Indiana site. There I found my
great- grandfather Thomas Wall listed in a biographical article! What a wonderful find!!!
I am writing to provide what I consider to be significant corrective information about
him and to provide additional anecdotes about him and his family. For your convenience in
considering my remarks, I am attaching the text
from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen, Vol. II, H. H. Hardesty, Publisher, N. Y., Toledo,
Chicago, 1893, Pg. 1222. (I suspect that this was a subscription type of biographical
book. JTW)
The information seems to match what I have found before with one significant exception: in
the extract Thomas Wall's father's name is shown as James Wall-- however, in the
records of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Albany, when he married in 1869,
Thomas' name was shown as "Thomas Wall Kallagher)" (underscoring added) and
his parents were stated as James Kallagher and Catherine Doran. My Dad's half-brother
Kenny Wall told me after Dad's death that we really aren't WALLs but KELLEHERs.
Thomas' wife, Anna Dowd Wall, my great-grandmother, was born in Evansville, Indiana
per the 1880 Federal Census of New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. Thomas'
parents-in-law Thomas Dowd and Rose Smith (Rosa, Rozini) Dowd supposedly donated a stained
glass window to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Albany. I am told that the window was
destroyed when the church burned. One of the children of Thomas and Anna Wall was James
T. [Thomas Wall], my grandfather. My father bore the same name. Frank B. Wall was
apparently named for his uncle, Francis B. Dowd, a Catholic priest, who was elevated to
monsignor in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have heard a story that he offered to send my Dad,
who was raised in a Protestant church, to Notre Dame University. In the 1930 Federal
Census he stated that his parents (Thomas and Rose) were from North Ireland.
In the article there are two more battles/ skirmishes listed than were mentioned in
Thomas Wall's pension application, Fraziers Farm and Gaines Mills. Also, I recall
Thomas Wall mentioning the Battle of the Wilderness in his pension application.
In his pension application Thomas Wall said that in one battle (I don't remember
which): The rebel cavalry attacked, and all was confusion. He said that his caisson horse
was shot dead under him, and that they lost their baggage. After the battle, they drank
water from horses' hoof marks in the mud, somebody gave him a johnnycake to eat. This
seems to relate to "...the old battery having been captured at Fair Oaks."
In his pension application there was a letter of recommendation for Thomas Wall mentioning
his commendable service as a policeman in New Albany.
The other things which are new to me are his membership in veterans' organizations,
the Sanderson Post and Encampment 101, U. V. L. (which I construe to stand for United
Veterans League). Perhaps, most interesting is the mention of a brother, Richard Wall who
served in the British Army, 76th Regiment, in India and Burma-- I never heard of him
before! Perhaps I can find records about Richard's military service and his
birthplace and parents.
Thomas Wall, in his pension application also said that he experienced terrible pain for
several years after having a tooth extracted, and eased the pain by putting Rappee's
Snuff into the hole in his jaw-- perhaps that is when he was ill in the service. When he
became a courier for the general, he said they asked him "Was you sober?,"
perhaps thinking that Irishmen tended to drink too much.
It is mentioned that his wife's father (Thomas Dowd) served in the NHG. Could this be
the National Home Guard? Would that be a military unit during the Civil War?
It was mentioned that Catherine Doran [Kallagher/ Kelleher] Wall was still living, aged 75
years, when the book was published. I checked further on
Ancestry.com and found a
Catherine Wall, 1820-1904, was buried in St. John's Catholic Church Cemetery in
Clyde, New York. In 1900 I found Catherine Wall living in Syracuse, New York with
son-in-law David Reidy and daughter Bridget. (In 1880 Catherine and Bridget had been
living in Clyde, Wayne County, New York.) It was indicated that Catherine Wall had 10
children, 6 of whom still lived in 1900 and that she was born in Ireland. In 1910
Catherine Wall's daughter Bridget Wall Reidy was a widow. Several of her daughters
were working as seamstresses (in the 1880 census Bridget was shown as a tailoress).
I had examined an old City Directory of New Albany, Indiana, I believe the 1868 directory.
Thomas who was not married then was living with Perry Wall. I recall that Thomas was
working as a blower [glassblower]. I believe that Perry was either a brother or
half-brother of Thomas Wall. I am sure that both Thomas and Perry were married at Holy
Trinity Catholic church. The WPA record of Floyd County, Indiana Marriages shows that
Thomas was married in 1869 and Perry in 1872.
The 1860 Federal Census for the Town of Galen (Clyde was a village in the town), Wayne
County, New York shows: Perry Wall, M 40 Day Laborer, born Ireland; Mary Wall(I assume
that this is my great-grandmother), F 30 house keeper, born Ireland, cannot read or write;
four children, all born in New York, 3 older children attending school Perry Wall, Jnr.
F(sic), 15; Mary, F, 13; Margaret, F, 12; and Bridget, F, 2.
Kenny Wall told me that his grandfather, while working as a glassblower, would make canes
with glass remaining at the end of a day. He would insert a rolled up flag into the stem
of the cane and seal it. According to Kenny, his grandchildren used the canes to sword
fight. As a result, the canes were broken, and none survives, Kenny said. This brings me
back to the portion of the article that Thomas was "past Color Bearer" of
Encampment 101, U. V. L. The Flag must have meant something to him!
I was delighted to get this additional information about my great-grandfather and his
family. I want to share information about Thomas Wall having two names, being both a
KELLEHER/KALLAGHER and a WALL, with Sharon Pike and other persons who might be interested.
I would appreciate additional information about the above-mentioned WALL, DOWD,
KALLAGHER/KELLEHER and SMITH families.
James T. "Jim" Wall
2511 N. Stuart St,
Arlington, VA 22207-5163
(703) 524-2198
JAMESTWALL(a)aol.com
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http://www.rootsweb.com/~infloyd/military/wallthomas.html
Thomas Wall
Thomas Wall, a native of Ireland, was born in Waterford county, Jan. 14, 1841, and took up
his residence in Floyd county, Indiana, July 2, 1867. His father, James Wall is deceased,
but his mother, whose maiden name was Catherine (Doran) is living, age 75 years. He was
wedded Sept. 28, 1869, in New Albany, Ind., to Anna Dowd who was born in Evansville, Ind.,
March 23, 1852. Her parents, both of whom are still spared, are Thomas and Rose (Smith)
Dowd. Comrade Wall and wife were reared in the One True Church and now attend Holy Trinity
Church in New Albany, Ind. They are also rearing their family, which consists of eight
children in that faith. Their children are: Kate T., James T., Annie, Maggie, Thomas F.,
Frank B., Rose dec. and John. Comrade Wall was 20 years of age at the time of his
enlistment which occurred Sept. 20, 1861, at Clyde, N.Y., as a private in Bat. A, 1st
N.Y.L.A. In 1863 he was ill a short time in Co. Qtrs., at Norfolk, Va. June, 1862, he
was transferred to!
7th N.Y. Bat., the old battery having been captured at Fair Oaks. In the spring of 1864
he was detailed in Q.M. Dept., for ten days; then as Ord. at Gen. Sheepley’s Hd. Qtrs.,
until honorably discharged Oct. 4, 1864, at Norfolk, Va. He took active part in the Siege
of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Chickahominty River, Fair Oaks, Fraziers Farm, Gaines Mills,
seven days’ fight before Richmond and Siege of Suffolk. His brother, Richard served in the
English army in 76th Regt., and was stationed at Burma, India. His wife’s father, served
in the N.H.G. Comrade Wall served as policeman for seventeen months at New Albany; he is
a member of Sanderson Post, also encampment, 101, U.V.L., being past Color Bearer of the
latter; he is a glass blower and his address is New Albany, Ind.
From the book, Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol. II
H.H. Hardesty, Publisher
N.Y., Toledo, Chicago
1893
Pg. 1222
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Copyright 2004 by Sharon Pike