BIO:  Emanuel G. TROSTLE, Highland Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 454

EMANUEL G. TROSTLE, farmer, P. O. Gettysburg, was born in Adams County, Penn., 
December 1, 1839, son of Henry and Jane (Pitzer) Trostle, natives of 
Pennsylvania.  His father was a miller and blacksmith, but followed farming 
during the latter part of his life.  Emanuel G. was reared on the farm until 
seventeen years of age, when he hired out on a farm for two years; then learned 
the shoe-maker’s trade, which he followed until 1866.  In 1868 he went to Lee 
County, Ill., and there remained six months; then returned to Pennsylvania, 
locating at Gettysburg, where he farmed and followed his trade for two years.  
He then abandoned his trade and devoted his time exclusively to agriculture.  In 
1880 he bought fifty-two acres of land, where he has since resided.  In October, 
1859, he married Mary Plank, a daughter of John and Hester (Mickley) Plank, and 
three children have blessed their union:  Harry M., Ida M. and Minnie; they also 
have an adopted child Oscar Mundorff.  Mr. and Mrs. Trostle are members of the 
German Reformed Church of Gettysburg.  He has held the offices of township 
judge, assessor and collector.  During the war, while Mr. Trostle, his wife and 
child were residing on the Emmittsburg road, about three miles from Gettysburg, 
a rebel colonel rode up to him one evening, and advised him to leave the place 
as his life was in danger.  Mr. Trostle, who was crippled at the time, and 
walked with the aid of a staff and crutch, told the colonel that he could not 
pass through his pickets.  The colonel told him that he would take him through, 
and accordingly did so.  The next morning, however, becoming uneasy about his 
household goods, he started back, accompanied by a friend, and got as far as the 
pickets when he was captured.  He was taken to the battle-field, expecting to be 
paroled, but the firing opened before the parole could be made out.  He was 
taken to Staunton, Va., walking the entire distance of 175 miles; was on the 
road six days, and for three days had not a mouthful to eat.  He was detained in 
Richmond prison, Libby, Castle Thunder, Hell’s Delight, and Salisbury, N. C.; in 
all twenty-two months.  He had been reported killed but his wife always held 
hopes of seeing him again.  After his release he returned home, feeling better 
than he had ever been before.