Biography of Solomon D. Pryfogle

Solomon D. Pryfogle
Company H
1810-Early 1880's

Solomon D. Pryfogle was born circa 1810 in Pennsylvania or Maryland. He likely is the son of Peter Pryfogle and Philipena (Phoebe) Gaul, who moved their young family to Franklin County, Indiana by 1820. Solomon married Catherine Coulter, daughter of Alexander and Hesther A. (Hetty) Coulter, sometime before 1840. A marriage record for Solomon and Catherine has not been found, but Solomon and Catherine are listed on a land deed, selling Alexander Coulter’s land together with Alexander’s known children. Solomon had at least three children: Alexander (born 1841), Richard (circa 1844) and Peter (circa 1847). The 1840 census suggests there might have been other children, but if they were Solomon’s progeny they died before 1850.

In 1850, Solomon was in Hancock County, Indiana. His exact whereabouts are unknown until February 1862, when he joined the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Fayette County, Ohio at age 45. In April, he was listed as being in the hospital at Gallipolis, and in November was discharged in Columbus. Solomon does not have a pension file, but he does have a Civil War service file, which hasn’t been researched.

In 1870, Solomon is listed on the census as living in Preble County, Ohio with Catherine and two of his sons. In 1880, he is a widower, boarding with a widow, in Franklin County, Indiana, near where descendants of Peter and Phoebe Pryfogle lived. The widow remarried in 1882, so it is believed Solomon died between 1880 and 1882 in Franklin County, Indiana. It is not known when or where Catherine died, or where either is buried.

A special thanks to Kathy Lupton for contributing this information. Solomon Pryfogle was her 4th-great uncle.