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GEORGE DEAL is a well-to-do farmer residing on section 1, King Township. He was born in Luzerne
County, Pa., February 25, 1842, and is a son of George Deal, who died in Pennsylvania when our subject was
a little over ten years of age. For further particulars of the life of the father, see sketch of William H. Deal,
which may be found in another part of this work. Our subject's early years were passed on the farm and he had but
little chance to obtain an education, as he only went for two terms to a subscription school. After his father's
death he was obliged to make his own living, and worked in the coal mines near Wilkes
Barre, Pa., driving a horse attached to a coal car.
In August, 1862, he enlisted in the army at Greenfield, Greene
County, Ill., whither he had gone with his mother and the family. He became a member of Company K, Ninety-first
Regiment of Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Newman and Col. Day. He was sent to Louisville. Ky., and thence dispatched
after Morgan. At Elizabethtown he was taken prisoner by Morgan's men after a hard fight and was kept under guard
in a store building. After passing forty-eight hours without anything to eat, he was paroled and sent to the parole
barracks in St. Louis, where he was finally exchanged. He then took part in the engagements at Vicksburg, Ft. Pillow
and New Orleans. At the latter place he was stationed for two months on provost-guard duty. He was afterwards for
fourteen months in Texas and was obliged to do a great deal of marching. On the march oC one hundred miles to Salt
Lake, Tex., in deep sand, he received an allowance of only one pint of water a day, as it had to be transported
and it was impossible to obtain it in the desert. He was in the fight at White's Ranch, on the Rio Grande, and
on the voyage to New Orleans was eleven days on the Gulf, when a severe storm destroyed two vessels of the fleet.
Many of the men were taken sick with scurvy, and our subject nearly died after his arrival in the Crescent City.
From New Orleans he went to Spanish Fort and took part in the siege for thirteen days, and then supported the charge
on Ft. Blakely. Returning to Spanish Fort, he participated in the battle of Whistler. From New Orleans he went
on boat to Ship Island, in charge of a detail of men, to exchange prisoners. From Mobile his company proceeded
to the Tombigbee River and captured Gen. Taylor and ten thousand men. He was within a quarter of a mile of the
magazine explosion in Mobile that destroyed four blocks of the city and killed many persons, and in the fight at
Elizabethtown the rim of his hat was shot off. In 1865, he was mustered out, having served nearly three years.
For his valiant services, privations and sufferings he is justly entitled to the pension which he now receives.
In South Fork Township, of this county, Mr. Deal married Miss Sarah, daughter of Jo Meredith, of Sangamon
County, and formerly of Ohio. Unto our subject and his wife have
been born three children, Amy, Stella O. and Nonia, who have been educated in the public schools.
On returning from the army our subject went to work on a farm, and continued for two years after his arrival in
Christian County. He bought eighty acres of land at the rate of $30 per acre, this being unimproved prairie. He
has put up good buildings, a substantial residence, and made other improvements on the farm, the boundaries of
which have been extended until they now comprise one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Deal is a Grand Army man, belonging to the Morrisonville post. For about twenty-three years, he and his wife
have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Shiloh, and he has been Trustee and Treasurer of the church.
His first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Grant in 1868, since which time he has still voted the Republican
ticket. He is a good citizen and an industrious farmer.
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