His birth location varies. His compiled military service records multiple times claim Alexandria, Virginia, the censuses say Pennsylvania, and various online family trees assert both Westmoreland and Perry County, Pennsylvania. Wherever he was born, he was the son of New Jersey-born Jacob & Pennsylvania-born Mary "Polly" (Keck) Blain. In 1860, he was a laborer and subsequently a teamster living with his family in Madison Township, Perry County. By 1865, he stood 5' 4" tall and had brown hair and gray eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the overstated age of twenty in Alexandria, Virginia, February 11, 1865, mustered into federal service there at Camp Casey February 13 as a private with Co. K, 2nd DC Infantry, and honorably discharged with his company September 12, 1865. He was on detached duty much of his service time as the 2nd DC never went into the field subsequent to his enlistment. Camp Casey was a camp for black soldiers, but although he is described as having a "dark" complexion, there is no reason to believe John Blain was black, and the 2nd DC Infantry was a white regiment. Why he enlisted in Virginia is as yet unknown, but his overstated age, distant enlistment point, and claim of being born in Alexandria smack of him attempting to escape his parents' knowledge.
He married Sarah Emiline [sic] Fuller and fathered: Ida J. (b. @1869), Laura Elizabeth (b. 02/09/78 - married Henry Ward Beecher Peck), Carrie Florence (b. 03/26/79 - married George Washington Stone), and Bessie Rebecca (b. 11/01/80). He is in the 1850 census with a birth year of ca. 1847, the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses born ca. 1848, but in the 1910 census as born ca. 1846. All census were taken subsequent to his birthday. Faded as the tombstone is, it does appear to say "1848."
Contributor: Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the overstated age of twenty in Alexandria, Virginia, February 11, 1865, mustered into federal service there at Camp Casey February 13 as a private with Co. K, 2nd DC Infantry, and honorably discharged with his company September 12, 1865. He was on detached duty much of his service time as the 2nd DC never went into the field subsequent to his enlistment. Camp Casey was a camp for black soldiers, but although he is described as having a "dark" complexion, there is no reason to believe John Blain was black, and the 2nd DC Infantry was a white regiment. Why he enlisted in Virginia is as yet unknown, but his overstated age, distant enlistment point, and claim of being born in Alexandria smack of him attempting to escape his parents' knowledge.
He married Sarah Emiline [sic] Fuller and fathered: Ida J. (b. @1869), Laura Elizabeth (b. 02/09/78 - married Henry Ward Beecher Peck), Carrie Florence (b. 03/26/79 - married George Washington Stone), and Bessie Rebecca (b. 11/01/80). He is in the 1850 census with a birth year of ca. 1847, the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses born ca. 1848, but in the 1910 census as born ca. 1846. All census were taken subsequent to his birthday. Faded as the tombstone is, it does appear to say "1848."
Contributor: Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
His birth location varies. His compiled military service records multiple times claim Alexandria, Virginia, the censuses say Pennsylvania, and various online family trees assert both Westmoreland and Perry County, Pennsylvania. Wherever he was born, he was the son of New Jersey-born Jacob & Pennsylvania-born Mary "Polly" (Keck) Blain. In 1860, he was a laborer and subsequently a teamster living with his family in Madison Township, Perry County. By 1865, he stood 5' 4" tall and had brown hair and gray eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the overstated age of twenty in Alexandria, Virginia, February 11, 1865, mustered into federal service there at Camp Casey February 13 as a private with Co. K, 2nd DC Infantry, and honorably discharged with his company September 12, 1865. He was on detached duty much of his service time as the 2nd DC never went into the field subsequent to his enlistment. Camp Casey was a camp for black soldiers, but although he is described as having a "dark" complexion, there is no reason to believe John Blain was black, and the 2nd DC Infantry was a white regiment. Why he enlisted in Virginia is as yet unknown, but his overstated age, distant enlistment point, and claim of being born in Alexandria smack of him attempting to escape his parents' knowledge.
He married Sarah Emiline [sic] Fuller and fathered: Ida J. (b. @1869), Laura Elizabeth (b. 02/09/78 - married Henry Ward Beecher Peck), Carrie Florence (b. 03/26/79 - married George Washington Stone), and Bessie Rebecca (b. 11/01/80). He is in the 1850 census with a birth year of ca. 1847, the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses born ca. 1848, but in the 1910 census as born ca. 1846. All census were taken subsequent to his birthday. Faded as the tombstone is, it does appear to say "1848."
Contributor: Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the overstated age of twenty in Alexandria, Virginia, February 11, 1865, mustered into federal service there at Camp Casey February 13 as a private with Co. K, 2nd DC Infantry, and honorably discharged with his company September 12, 1865. He was on detached duty much of his service time as the 2nd DC never went into the field subsequent to his enlistment. Camp Casey was a camp for black soldiers, but although he is described as having a "dark" complexion, there is no reason to believe John Blain was black, and the 2nd DC Infantry was a white regiment. Why he enlisted in Virginia is as yet unknown, but his overstated age, distant enlistment point, and claim of being born in Alexandria smack of him attempting to escape his parents' knowledge.
He married Sarah Emiline [sic] Fuller and fathered: Ida J. (b. @1869), Laura Elizabeth (b. 02/09/78 - married Henry Ward Beecher Peck), Carrie Florence (b. 03/26/79 - married George Washington Stone), and Bessie Rebecca (b. 11/01/80). He is in the 1850 census with a birth year of ca. 1847, the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses born ca. 1848, but in the 1910 census as born ca. 1846. All census were taken subsequent to his birthday. Faded as the tombstone is, it does appear to say "1848."
Contributor: Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
Inscription
USGENWEB Cemeteries: Duncannon Union Cemetery, United Brethern section - Part 3: Duncannon, Perry County, PA.
FATHER; JOHN H. BLAIN; DIED MAY 26, 1913; AGED 67 YRS.; & 2 MOS.; Co. K. 2nd Regt. D.C. Vol.
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