The Life of Henry Charles Ulrich

Henry Charles ULRICH was born in Germany in 1846. The records state that he was born in Darmstadt. He came to the USA in the early 1850s. It isn't currently clear whether he came with his father (who probably came earlier than the rest of the family) or with his mother and brothers. The first information that shows he was in the USA was when he is counted in the 1860 US Census as residing in Newark, New Jersey. He is listed as living with his father (Ludwig) and mother (Magdalena) and his 3 brothers (Peter (1844), Jacob (1845), and Ludwig (1849)) all listed as being born in Darmstadt, Germany. The rest of the brothers and sisters John (1854), William (1855), Magdalena (1856), Charles H. (1858), Magdalena (1860) and Catherine (1864) are listed as being born in Newark, New Jersey after 1853.. It seems that the first listed Magdalena died prior to 1860 when the second Magdalena was born.

The next information I have on my grandfather (Henry Charles) is that he was in the U.S. Army. He enlisted in the 14th Infantry on the 10th of July 1865 as a laborer. He stated he was 19 and is listed as being 5 foot 6 inches and had grey eyes and brown hair. He was in Company H at Camp Mc Pherson, AT (which was the Arizona Territory at that time). His Army discharge papers (which I have the original papers) state he was discharged due to "expiration of his term of enlistment" on 10 July 1868. The papers are signed by George W. Davis, Captain 14th Infantry Commanding Post.

The following is based upon Muster-Roll records found at the U.S. National Archives for Company H, Battalions of the 14th Regiment of the U.S. Infantry.. Henry Ulrich is listed as number 84 (alphabetical ordered list) and states he was a private and enlisted on 10 July 1865 from Newark, New Jersey by Captain Benedict for a period of 3 years. It further states he was due pay from his enlistment and that he was assigned by Battalion Order number 31, dated 11 September 1865. In the Muster Roll record section for events that may be necessary or useful for future reference the following is written, "The company remains at Hart Island, New York Harbor until 16 October 1865. On 16 October, the Company was ordered to embark for California. They left Hart Island at 9 o'clock a.m. for New York City where the Company embarked aboard the steamer 'Ocean Queen'. It sailed to Aspinwall, New Granada on the afternoon of that day. On the 27th they arrived at Aspinwall and crossed the Isthmus of Panama on the 28th and embarked on board the steamer 'Constitution' en route for California." They arrived in San Francisco, at the Presidio, in early November. The records also tell of the order to move the Troop to Camp Mc Pherson, Arizona Territory from San Francisco. They went by boat to San Pedro and then by land to the Colorado River and then by boat to Camp Mc Pherson.

Between the time of 10 July 1868 until 7 June 1883, I currently have no information on Henry C. Ulrich's whereabouts.

On 7 June 1883, he again enlisted in the U. S. Army (I also have the original discharge papers from this enlistment). He enlisted in New York and said his occupation was carpenter. He enlisted in the First U.S. Regiment of the Cavalry in William R. Parnell's Troop F (ultimately) at Fort Assinniboine, MT (the Montana Territory at that time). He is listed as being 5 foot 8.25 inches. His discharge paper states that he was discharged on 21 January 1887 due to a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability. On the date of discharge, he is listed as being 37 years and 7 months.

The next is a creation of mine based upon record found at the U.S. National Archive. I searched through Muster-Roll records for William R. Parnell's Troop at Fort Spokane, Washington Territory for 30th of June 1883 through 31 August 1883 and found two Henry Ulrich's listed. One was spelled ULLRICH and was enlisted 11 Jan. 1883 and the other, my grandfather was listed as enlisting on 7 June 1883. This matches the data on his discharge papers. Reviewing the set of muster records through 28 February 1887, the following story can be put together. Henry C. ULRICH is listed as person number 41 and is due pay of $15.52 for his enlistment. He was assigned to the Troop as carpenter (per SO #104 Hdqtrs Mtd R.S. Jefferson Barracks, Missouri dated 14 June 1883. He joined the Troop at Fort Spokane, W.T. on 6 August 1883 and paid a trader at Jefferson Barracks $3.00 and also owed the laundry man William Sigismend 90 cents. Sometime during the period of 31 August 1883 through 31 October 1883, Henry C. ULRICH was "Sick in post hospital. Disease: Sprain of the back contracted in the line of duty." In the 31 October through 31 December 1883 records it notes that he had a clothing draw of $9.64. From 21 October 1883 until 15 November 1883, the Post was building roads in Spokane (per order #189). Nothing significant happened during the period of 31 December 1883 until 30 June 1884, Henry was listed as being present. On 11 June 1884 (per Post Order #104) that the Troop was to be assigned to Fort Maginnis, Montana Territory. The Troop left on 15 June 1884 and marched 107 miles and arrived at Rathdrum (via Coeur d' Alene) on 18 June 1884. From there the Troop was transported by rail (Northern Pacific Rail Road) to Missoula, M.T. arriving on 20 June 1884. They left on 23 June and marched 127 miles arriving in Helena, M. T. on the 29th of June 1884. The total miles marched during the month was 234 and the total transported by rail was 230 miles. The Troop left Helena on the 1st of July 1884 and marched 190 miles arriving at Fort Maginnis, M. T. on the 11th of July. Then regular garrison duty began after that date. During the period of 28 February 1885 through 30 April 1885, Henry C. ULRICH, was "sick in the Post Hospital with a disease noted to be Contusion of the right knee. It was contacted in the line of duty." During the period of 30 April 1885 through 31 October 1886, Henry is recorded as being "on E. D. in Post Hospital as Cook." (I assume E. D. means Extra Duty and he got extra pay of 35 cents per day for the job as Cook.) Some other interesting things in the Muster Roll records note that per Order #144, 4 September 1885, the Troop left for the purpose of scouting for Indians. They note that they captured 13 Indians and 38 horses. Order #148 notes the capture of 10 Indians and 64 horses. On the 20th of January 1886, the record notes that "Two (2) Troop horses, while on DS, perished in a fire at Fort Custer, M. T. On the 1st of March 1886 it notes that "One (1) cavalry horse died from injuries received in a fall." On the 9th of August 1886, Paragraph 1 of Station Order #76, Dept of Dakota, changes the Station of the Troop from Fort Maginnis M. T. to Fort Assinniboine, M. T. The Troop was relieved of duty on 24 August 1886 by Station Order #142 and left the Post on 25 August 1886. Their travels were: 25 miles to Warm Stering Creek, M.T. (Brooks's Ranch) where they camped. Then 28 miles to Wolf's Creek where they camped. The next day, 27 August, they marched 20 miles to Steel's Ranch where they camped. On the 28th, they marched 23 miles to Sakes, M. T. where they camped. On the 29th they made 14 miles to Benton and the next day they only made 12 miles to Marias River. On the 31st of August, they marched 18 miles to Coal Banks. September 1st, they marched 22 miles and camped at Box Creek. On the 2nd of September, they marched 18 miles and arrived at Fort Assinniboine, M. T. at noon. They then performed regular garrison duty until 26 September 1886. Post Order #199, dated 26 September 1886, directed the Troop to proceed at once to the mouth of the Marias River for the purpose of intercepting and capturing raiders on the Piegan Indian reservation. The Troop left the post at 5 PM and were to march to Coal Bank, M. T. On the 27th they marched 15 miles and camped at the Missouri River (near 3 islands) and went 15 miles on the 28th and camped at Coal Bank. Form the 27th of September until the 1st of October, parties scouted the left bank of the Missouri River from the Marias River to Eagle Creek. On the 2nd of October 1886, they left camp at Coal Banks to return to Fort Assinniboine. Also during the same period, Henry C. ULRICH was noted as being sick in the Hospital with a "Disease (Awaiting diagnosis), contacted in line of duty." The record of 31 October 1886 through 31 December 1886 notes that he was diagnosed as having "Chronic Myositis of the lumbar museles (sic). That was contacted in the line of duty." In the Muster Roll records for 31 December 1886 through 28 February 1887, it notes that Henry C. ULRICH was discharged at Fort Assinniboine, M. T. on 22 January 1887 on a surgeons certificate of disability. The "disease" noted was "Chronic Myositis of lumbar." Discharge and final statement is given. Character is listed as "Good". It notes that the soldier was due for clothing not drawn, $112.25, for retained pay, $27.00 and that he was due extra duty pay for being cook at 35 cents per day.

Between this period of discharge, January 1887, and until he met and married my grandmother in 1896, I don't have any current information.

He married Alice Mae TURNER on 26 August 1896 in Washington, DC. They had 7 children: Gerald Arthur (1895), Julia Etta (1897), Katherine (1899), William Henry (1900), John Edward (1902), Marion Frances (1904) and Carl Frederick (1907). He was the toll taker for the Coleville Toll Gate in Sligo, Maryland. A copy of Montgomery County Sentinel dated 4 March 1910 lists the suicide of the Coleville Toll Gate, keeper..Henry Ulrich. It seems that he swallowed a glass of Carbolic Acid. His death certificate states that his death was due to ingestion of Carbolic Acid. (The residence is now Mrs. K's Toll House Restaurant) After his death the children were place in the Washington DC (?)Episcopal Orphanage. (At present, there is hearsay that states he was apparently married to a German woman who was coming to the USA to sue him for bigomy. His brother, Peter, visited him to inform him of this. Shortly after that he committed suicide.) He is buried in grave #7462 at the Soldiers' Home National Cemetery in Washington, DC.