Thomas S. Stoughton (Civil War Veteran)
This is the story of Thomas S. Stoughton, child #6, of William and Elizabeth Stoughton.
Here is written the story of Thomas S. Stoughton as related, to the author, by Lewis Stoughton, in several interviews over the time period of fall of 2006 to winter of 2007:

Thomas S. Stoughton was born in Aug. 1838, in Butler County, most likely on the Center/Clay Township farm of his Father. He lived all of his life, in Butler County and he was a Farmer.
In the year 1850 and again in 1860 we find that Thomas was living in his father's household, in Concord Township and was farming.
In 1861, during the Civil War, he enlisted in the 78th Pennsylvania Infantry.
It has been said that Thomas was the embodiment of a person who was considered a free spirited thinker and who was thought of as being independently minded and lighthearted. (Read between the lines here: that means he did things his own way and was probably as stubborn as a Mule) There are also some who would have said that Thomas S. Stoughton was a little bit on the wild side. (Actually, the words little bit and wild are most likely an understatement.) We feel that the truth, about Thomas, lies closer to the middle of these two philosophies of life and that Thomas had his moments of so-called wildness and also his moments of lighthearted humor just like every one else. One thing for sure, however, is that Thomas most assuredly did not hesitate to do things his own way and, on many occasions, he most definitely did not hesitate to solve life's difficulties with the path of least resistance. Apparently he relished living on the Frontier of Butler County and, sometimes, according to Family Lore, it did not matter weather or not his way was in conflict with the law.
Now it was observed that he distilled a little bit of moonshine and whiskey in his time and probably partook at least his share of this liquor. (Read between the lines, a little bit means a lot) now, to keep things in perspective in those days, distillation of one's own liquor was not only legal, it was very common. (See also Andrew Curtin Stoughton and Raymond Stoughton, just to point out a couple of others.) The place his Moonshine Still was located is found on the Family farm today and it was always known as Still House Hollow. In 1999, Lewis Stoughton immortalized this place by his naming a driveway, which ran parallel to the place where the old still was located, as Still House Hollow Lane. This lane can be found on maps today and it is located, on the left side, off Seven Hills Rd., 5/10 of a mile north of the intersection of Seven Hills Road and Center Drive and this is in Concord Twp., Butler County, PA.
It was also noted that one day Thomas required some money for one or more of his enterprises and did not have any. Not wanting to rob a bank or to beg for it, thereby becoming indebted to any other person, it is narrated that he simply printed (or coined) his own money, to solve this financial difficulty and he ended up being caught red handed at it. He was, subsequently sent to the Hoosegow. Now, I have not yet heard how much time he got, but it was related that Thomas never changed his freewheeling ways. I can only hope he printed enough of the fake money to make it worthwhile.
Thomas was described as being a short person of about 5 foot 6 inches and he had deep blue eyes. Now, this stature was average for that day and age and, although 5 foot 6 might be small for today it was good sized for then and this description of Short was obviously made by a more Modern Day person. It is also said that he was generally a nice guy but that he had a temper, which was not seen often, but if loosed was a fearsome thing to behold. Now, he certainly did not go looking for trouble, but, by the same token, he would not back down. There is an old family lore story about a street fight, which occurred in northern Butler County, in the place referred to as Coal Town. We have not been told of the cause or the reason that this particular fight happened but it appears that Thomas was victorious. His adversary was knocked unconscious and was motionless, in the street. As observers tried to resuscitate the man, by splashing water in his face, Thomas's Civil War personality appeared and he was heard to remark, "Just let that S.O.B. lay there and die." Now, we are not sure if he used the initials S.O.B. or if he used the epithet to which it refers; but we would not be surprised at either...Such were the wild and rancorous times of our forebears.
As another point of interest, the Coal Town site of this fight today has the remains of about 30 Coke ovens. These Coke Ovens and Coal mines provided much needed work until approximately 1900. Thomas's sister, Della Bortmas and her children lived and worked in Coal Town after the death of her husband Rudolph, who died on the Family farm.
Family Lore also says that Thomas saved the life of a Butler County Man, who later became an Attorney, in the city of Butler. It was said that every time Thomas got into trouble, he contacted this Attorney and the Attorney would appeal to the courts for leniency for this Civil War Veteran. It was also said that the Attorney was very successful in getting Thomas out of trouble, but that each time he would tell Thomas that this was the last time he would defend him. Thomas, it is said, would always point out that if it wasn't for him, the Attorney would not be around for him to pester and the Attorney would always relent and defend him again.
The fact that Thomas was a pretty good physical specimen was also related in the fact that he could throw a rock from the orchard, on the old farmstead, over the head waters of Connoquenessing Creek. This seems to be a superhuman feat as this is a great distance and indicates superior arm strength. According to Lewis Stoughton any one wishing to attempt this feat is welcome to come and try it as the old orchard and the creek are still in place, as of today. (2008)
There is another Family Anecdote that relates that Thomas helped to care for a neighbor, one Mr. Cratzer, who had Cancer. This care was done for some time, until the neighbor died and was buried. Now in that day and age, this sort of thing was not often done, by non-family members since many people thought Cancer was contagious and the caretaker would catch it from the patient. Sure enough, Thomas got sick and many thought it was from helping Mr. Cratzer. This Mr. Cratzer has a large Silent Defender statue on his grave site and it is in the same cemetery in which Thomas is buried.
By 1870, Thomas had removed to a farm in Parker Township and was married to Nancy Ann _____, who was born circa 1845, in Pennsylvania and Thomas was working as a Coal Miner. By 1900 he was living in Fairview Township, in Butler County and was now married to Margaret _____, who was, also, born in Pennsylvania, in June 1851.
To all of us, the end arrives some day and Thomas was no exception to this rule. It was said that he maintained his streak of being cantankerous to the very end. After all; I assume he had a reputation to protect. While he was on his death bed a Temperance Lady came by to see if she could save his soul at the last instance and it is said that Thomas, in a state of delirium, took a swing at her and missed and then lay down and died. This Crusty Old Veteran has come home from the final battle, which we all must face someday and he died on 29 Oct. 1903. He is buried in the St. John's Reformed Church Cemetery, in Chicora, Pa.