Henry Conrad Trone

On this day, 7 August, in the year 1924, Henry Conrad Trone, my 3rd great-grandfather, passed away.

Born on 9 March 1844, in Carroll County, Maryland, Henry Conrad Trone was the first known child of Conrad Trone and Ellen Haines.

Circa 1845, his sister Mary E. Trone was born.

Approximately three years later, circa 1848, brother Frederick Trone was born.

Soon thereafter, sister Margaret A. Trone was born on 26 April 1849, in Carroll County, Maryland.

On 28 October 1850, the Trone Family was residing in Carroll County, Maryland (specifically District 2). The household consisted of father Adam, mother Ellen, and children Henry, Mary, Frederick, and Margaret. Adam was listed as a miller. (Coincidentally, another Adam Trone, one year older, also born in Pennsylvania, who was married to Rebecca and was also a miller, resided nearby in District 1, Carroll County, Maryland in 1850. Very odd indeed!)

Circa 1851, sister Martha E. Trone was welcomed to the family.

Sister Laura Trone arrived about five years later circa 1856.

At some point between the 1850 U.S. Census and 1859, the Trone Family moved to nearby New Windsor, Carroll County, Maryland, because on 22 December 1859, Henry’s brother, John Louis Throne, was born there.

On 16 October 1859, approximately 40 miles away, John Brown and his Provisional Army of the United States took possession of the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Brown had come to arm an uprising of slaves. Instead, the raid drew militia companies and federal troops from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. On the morning of 18 October 1859, twelve Marines broke down the door of the Armory’s fire engine house, taking Brown and the remaining raiders captive.

On 30 August 1860, the Trone Family was still residing in New Windsor, Carroll County, Maryland. The household consisted of father Conrad (Adam), mother Ellen, and children Henry, Mary, Margaret, Martha, Laura, and John. Conrad was a farmer.

Tragically, sometime after the 1860 U.S. Census was enumerated and the end of that year, Henry Conrad Trone’s mother Rebecca Ellen (Erb) Trone died in New Windsor, Carroll, Maryland. She was only 35 years old.

Then, on 12 April 1861, nearly 500 miles away, a shot was fired on Fort Sumter, outside of Charleston, South Carolina. The War Between the States had begun. Western Maryland experienced great upheaval, with sympathies between neighbors and within families split between Union and Confederate causes.

The Civil War would soon arrive in and around Carroll County, Maryland. Neighboring Frederick and Washington Counties were suffered significantly. In the beginning of January 1862, the Battle of Hancock (also known as the Romney Campaign) was waged in Washington County, Maryland and across the Potomac River into West Virginia.  On 14 September 1962, the Battle of South Mountain was waged in Washington and Frederick Counties. Then, two days later, on 16 September 1862, the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, was fought in Washington County, Maryland.

On 29 June 1863, Corbit’s Charge, a small but important cavalry skirmish, took place in Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland. The clash on the edge of town between General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry and a small unit of the Delaware cavalry was a significant factor in slowing down the General’s march. Instead of proceeding into Pennsylvania to inform General Robert E. Lee about the major Union troop movements, Stuart’s cavalry was delayed, forcing them to spend the night in the Westminster area.

Following the Battle of Gettysburg, the southern forces retreated. From 6-16 July 1863, Washington County experiencing several skirmishes in an around the town of Williamsport. During this time, on 8 July 1863, the Battle of Boonsboro was waged in Frederick County, Maryland.

On 18 June 1864, hearing the call to arms, Henry Conrad Trone, age 20, joined the Union Army as a private with the 12th Regiment, Company B, Maryland.

During the time the 12th Regiment was active, the Battle of Monocacy was fought 9 July 1864 in Frederick County.

The 12th Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers served for 100 days as emergency men. The 12th Regiment, during its brief term of service, was assigned to guard duty along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between Baltimore, Maryland, and Kearneysville, Virginia. At the end of the term of service, Henry Conrad Trone mustered out on 6 November 1864.

By the time the war ended in May 1865, the counties in western Maryland were in disarray. Properties and buildings in and around the battles and skirmishes were damaged or destroyed.

On 24 December 1866, Henry Conrad Trone married Margaret Jane Taylor, daughter of George H. Taylor and Anna Margaret Poffenberger, in Downsville, Washington County, Maryland. Margaret was the widow of Christopher G. Speaker, whom she had married on 21 March 1859, when she was 16 years old. (Christopher Speaker, who was a private with the 1st Regiment, Company I, Maryland Cavalry, died on 8 April 1864.)

Circa 1868, Henry and Margaret Trone welcomed a son, Elmer E. Trone.

On 16 July 1870, the Trone Family was residing near Downsville, Washington County, Maryland (specifically District 2). The household consisted of Henry; his wife Margaret; their son Elmer E. Trone, age 2; and Margaret’s son from her first marriage, William Henry Speaker, age 10. Henry was a farm laborer, and Margaret was a housewife. Their personal property was valued at $100.

On 31 August 1870, a daughter, Martha Ellen Trone (my 2nd great-grandmother), was born in Downsville, Washington County, Maryland.

On 16 June 1880, Henry and Martha Trone were residing in Downsville, Washington County, Maryland. Henry was a laborer, and Margaret was keeping house. Living next door on one side were Martha’s parents, George H. and Margaret Taylor. Living on the other side Henry Conrad Trone was Martha’s first son, William Speaker, and his Mary.

In 1884, Henry’s father, Adam Conrad Trone, died in New Windsor, Carroll County, Maryland.

In June 1890, Henry Trone and his wife Margaret were still residing in Downsville (Election District 20), Washington County, Maryland.

On 5 June 1900, Henry Trone and his wife Margaret were still living in Downsville (Election District 20), Washington County, Maryland.

On 23 April 1910, Henry Trone and his wife Margaret were still residing in Downsville (Election District 20), Washington County, Maryland. Living on the neighboring property was Henry’s stepson, William Speaker, and his family.

Sadly, on 4 November 1918, Henry’s wife of almost 52 years, Margaret J. (Taylor) Trone died in Downsville, Washington County, Maryland. She was buried in Bakersfield Cemetery (now known as Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery), Washington County, Maryland.

Henry’s sister, Margaret A. (Trone) Fogle died a couple of months later on 3 January 1919, in Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland.

On 16 January 1920, Henry Conrad Trone was still living in Downsville (Election District 20), Washington County, Maryland. His stepson William H. Speaker and his family were living with him.

A few days later, on 24 January 1920, Henry Trone was visiting his daughter Martha E. (Trone) Taylor and her family in Beaver Creek (Election District 16), Washington County, Maryland.

Then, on 7 August 1924, Henry Conrad Trone died in Funkstown, Washington County, Maryland. He was 80 years old. Henry was buried next to his wife Margaret in Bakersfield Cemetery, Washington County, Maryland.

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