William H Horsfall
William H Horsefall was born 3 March 1847 in Newport Ky. the
son of Jonathan Thomas Horsfall and Elizabeth Ann McDowell.
Medal of Honor presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress 12 August 1895.
Kentucky Post, Monday, 12 August 1895, page 7
An Old Veteran Honored
William Horsfall was on Saturday awarded a gold metal by the Federal Government for bravery on the field of battle. The act which gained for Mr. Horsfall the proud distinction, which he enjoys was that of rushing out onto the field between the fire of both lines and dragging his wounded Captain to a place of safety. He was a boy of 15 at the time.
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Kentucky Post, 22 August 1895, page 7
William H Horsfall, the gallant old veteran who enlisted as a drummer boy in the First Kentucky Volunteer Regiment in 1861, and who fought in every battle in which the command participated by dropping his drum and grasping a gun when the musicians were ordered to the rear, was today proudly displaying his medal, which Congress awarded him for bravery in the field of battle, to his friends about the Newport Courthouse. Only two medals of the kind are held by Kentuckians.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 7 September 1895, page 7
A special train will leave Cincinnati for Louisville Monday morning to transport a number of Newport people to the National GAR Encampment of that place. Among the gentlemen is William Horsfall.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 28 October 1896, page 3
A special meeting of the Union Veteran Patriotic League will be held at headquarters, Fourth and York streets, Newport, Wednesday evening. The call is issued by Commander William Horsfall.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 25 November 1904, page 5
Nine hundred school children carrying flags and singing patriotic airs, marked the presentation of six flags to the Bellevue schools Thursday. Presentation of flag, Garfield Council No 34 Jr. OUAM, William H Horsfall.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 26 June 1905, page 5
The following officers of Garfield Council No 34, Junior Order of American Mechanics, Bellevue, have been elected for the following year; Chaplain William Horsfall.
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Kentucky Post, 4 January 1906, page 5
The election of officers for Garfield Council Jr. OUAM for the ensuring year are: Chaplain William Horsfall. The officers will be installed Saturday night.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 28 October 1908, page 8
William Horsfall and wife realty deal to Henry and Anna Meier, two lots in Taylor’s subdivision, Latonia, $1 &c.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 3 March 1909, page 4
The undersigned Trustee in Bankruptcy of the estate of William Horsfall, will on Thursday, March 4, 1909, at 10 am on the premises, Visalia Ky. Sell at public auction the stock in trade of the above named bankrupt, consisting of an elegant line of groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, fixtures, hardware, scales & c. Same will be made for cash to the highest bidder. A C Scheper, Trustee.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 21 May 1909, page 7
J M Temple yesterday filed suit in the Kenton Circuit Court against William and Almedia Horsfall, Dr. J A Francis, administration of the estate of Addie S Francis and others for the foreclosure of a mortgage on property owned by decedent, who died intestate. (Son of William)
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 1 June 1918, page 6
Graves of Confederate soldiers in Evergreen Cemetery could be distinguished Monday by bouquets of flowers placed on the resting places of the fighters Sunday afternoon. William Nelson Post GAR conducted memorial services for Confederates buried in St Stephen cemetery. C H Thomer, commander of ceremonies; William Horsfall delivered Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 12 February 1919, page 3
William H Horsfall, an officer in William Nelson Post, GAR, Newport, has received a letter from George W Brush, commander of the Army and Navy League of Valor, informing him of changes in the constitution of the organization which provides that all Civil War Veterans who performed distinguished service may become members of the league.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 29 July 1919, page 1
A mass meeting of former soldiers, sailors and marines will be held Thursday night at the Temple Theater, Newport, for the purpose of forming a local chapter of the American Legion. William Horsfall, a Civil War veteran will give a short address.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 24 May 1922, page 1
Everyone thinks William Horsfall, 75, of 803 Saratoga st. Newport alive, but members of the GAR post at Schenectady NY. And they claim he has been dead for 50 years. President Harding, Calvin Coolidge, vice president and a score of other Washington officials know, along with all Newport citizens different; but the old veterans of the eastern city apparently refuse to believe them. So much does President Harding believe Horsfall alive he writes to him regarding compensation of Civil War veterans for the Newport “alive dead man” has been making a fight along these lines. It’s probably his last fight but he avers he’ll continue until “knocked off.”
Horsfall learned Wednesday he was dead to his comrades of the eastern city. One of the officers of the post wrote him and Horsfall discovered the post communicating with him had named it after him more than 50 years ago. “I know they think I’m dead because its against the regulations to name a post after a living veteran of the war. But they can continue to think so. I’ll not make them change the name after so many years.”
According to Horsfall who was wounded and bayoneted, he was reported dead several times during the war. He was given two Congressional medals for the service he gave. Horsfall, who is commander of the Newport GAR was a member of the First Volunteer Infantry of Kentucky, which was mustered in Ohio in 1861. Kentucky at that time being in the balance as to which side to join.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 30 May 1922, page 1
The hearts of soldiers who gave their lives to their country, whether in the Civil War, the conflict with Spain or the recent World War, would have been swelled with pride Tuesday of the celebration of Memorial Day in their honor. Services at Evergreen Cemetery included Colonel Thomas P Carothers, lawyer, master of ceremonies; William Horsfall, commander of the William Nelson Post of the GAR.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 23 October 1922, page 3
William Nelson Post, GAR, Newport, has lost its oldest member and commander with the death of William H Horsfall, 75, which occurred suddenly Sunday night at his home 218 W Third st. Horsfall served four years in the Civil War. In later years he has been a notary public. Funeral arrangements will be in charge of William Nelson Post GAR and burial will be in Nelson post lot, Evergreen Cemetery.
Time of the funeral has not been set. His widow, one son, Earl, Columbia st. Newport and three daughters, Mrs. George Bogart, Mrs. Charles Schweikart, both of Newport and Mrs. Oliver Guy of Washington survive.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 24 October 1922, page 1
William H Horsfall, 75, veteran of the Civil War and said to be the first private in the Union Army to be awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor, died Monday at his home, 18 W Third st. Newport. When only 13 Horsfall entered the Union army as a drummer boy and served with distinction throughout the conflict. Horsfall was the author of a number of poems and songs. He was commander of William Nelson Post GAR of Newport. He is survived by a widow and several adult sons and daughters.
Page 2-HORSFALL, William H, beloved husband of Lucretia Horsfall (nee Davis) died Sunday Oct 22, 1922 at his residence, 218 W Third st. Newport, aged 75 years
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Buried at
Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate.