This is the story of one family affected by war...and a community's response to their plight. Countless others faced similar hardships. Come to the Marshall House and discover the stories that shaped our community and our history.

Thomas and Emma Champion

Thomas Champion was born September 15, 1841, in Millcreek Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, to James and Mariah Champion. He worked as a lumberman, known locally as a "woodhick."

Thomas enlisted in the Union Army on August 27, 1861. He served in Company B of the 105th Regt. PA Vol. Infantry. He was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 3, 1862, suffering a gunshot wound to his left ankle. He received treatment at Lincoln Hospital in Washington, D.C., and McClellan Hospital in Philadelphia. The injury left him with partial loss of use in his left foot. He also developed a chronic cough attributed to the hardships of the "Mud March."



Emma Slagle was born June 11, 1843, in Chester City, Millstone Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania, to John and Margaret Slagle. We have not uncovered much about her early life. She and Thomas were married on June 30, 1864, in the German Reformed Church in Porter Township, Clarion County.

In June 1864, Thomas was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps (formerly the Invalid Corps), a Union Army organization that assigned partially disabled soldiers to light duty so healthier troops could remain on the front lines. Thomas was discharged on August 14, 1865, by Surgeon's Certificate of Disability. He received a partial disability pension and remained in poor health for the rest of his life.


Emily and Thomas had five children:

Ida Annette   12/22/1866 - 12/22/1941

Margaret "Maggie" Maria (Ma-rye-ah)   2/11/1869 - 2/7/1964

Kathryn "Katie" May   6/4/1871 - 11/3/1938

Mary "Lizzie" Elizabeth   12/3/1873 - 3/30/1961

James Samuel   1878 - 5/8/1878

Left to right: Ida, Kathryn, Lizzie, Maggie

Left to right: Maggie, Ida, Kathryn, Lizzie

Thomas died June 23, 1878 and is buried in Salem Cemetery, Frogtown, Clarion County, PA.

Emma died the following year, on August 23, 1879, of heart disease; tuberculosis is also a possibility based on family accounts. Emma is buried in the same cemetery as Thomas.

Following Emma's death, their four daughters were admitted to the Dayton Soldiers' Orphans School.

You can click on each child's name to learn more about them.