Prince/Printz Family History

With roots in Virginia and then migration west, many Prince / Printz men found themselves in military service on both sides of the US Civil War.  Here are some highlights of those that we know the most about: 

David Norman Prince Fought Under James A. Garfield
David Norman Prince, born near Westville, OH on July 25, 1831; died Dec. 5, 1919 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, St. Paris, OH. He married on May 5, 1859 in Champaign Co., OH to Mary Jones, born Jan. 23, 1839; died Mar. 21, 1900. David was a school teacher until the beginning of the Civil War. He enlisted on Sept. 15, 1861 for three years in Co. I, 42 Ohio Infantry, commanded by Col. James A. Garfield.  (Garfield would later become President of the United States.)  He was promoted to sergeant and on Oct. 6, 1862 to 1st Lieutenant of Co. B, 42nd OH Inf. He became Captain of Co. I, on Jan. I, 1864 and was mustered out with his company at Columbus, OH on Dec. 2, 1864. After his discharge, he moved to Shelby Co., OH and on Mar. 13, 1865 settled on a farm near Ballou, Shelby Co., OH and began farming. He was a very civic minded individual and served for more than 25 years on the Board of Education, served as Justice of the Peace, Town Treasurer, President of the Shelby Co. Farmers Alliance and for six years was the president of the Ballou Hall Co. and later was one of its trustees.

(Source: Into the Valley - A History of the Printz / Prince Family of the Shenandoah)

Philip Monroe Printz

Philip enlisted in the
Confederate Army at the beginning of the Civil ar and remained throughout the war, serving in
Co. K, 10th Virginia Infantry, Stonewall Jackson's Corps. He fought at Winchester, VA, both Battles of Manasses, Chancellorsville, Cedar Mountain, Fredericksburg, Wilderness,
Gettysburg, and many other minor battles. He was wounded in the ankle at Winchester and in the shoulder at Manassas. 

(Source: Into the Valley - A History of the Printz / Prince Family of the Shenandoah)

RECORD OF SERVICE: Enlisted as a private 02 Jun 1861 at Luray in Company K ("Page Volunteers"), 10th Virginia Infantry. Wounded in the arm on 25 May 1862 at the Battle of Winchester. Wounded again at the Battle of Second Manassas 28 Aug 1862. Returned to duty about Jan 1863. POW 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania C.H. Sent to Pt. Lookout, Md. 18 May 1864; Elmira, N.Y., Aug 1864. Released under Oath of Allegiance, 19 Jun 1865

It has been a tradition that Mr. Printz while acting as sentry at one time during the civil war, stopped Barksdale's entire Mississippi brigade because the general at their head could not give the password. Whether this is true or not, it was characteristic of the discipline & determination of Philip Printz to have done such a thing. He born honorable wounds on his body. When Co. K. was captured in 1864 he was taken to Elmira, NY. with his comrades & there held prisoner till the peace.

The picture on the right is a 1925 reunion of Confederate soldiers from Page County, VA.  Philip is in the middle of the front row. 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1850/philipmonroeprintz.html

Peter Printz

Peter Printz, born June 14, 1791 at Printz Town, VA; died May 12, 1866 there.  Peter was an active businessman of that day, having built and operated a sawmill and a grist mill and supplying much of the grain he ground from his own farm. He was also a cooper, making his own barrels and shipping his products to Fredericksburg and Baltimore by his own wagons. During the Civil War, he was an Union Army sympathizer, but did not dare to openly espouse his views. Many times, he was forced to contribute military supplies to both armies-as a result, he suffered financial reverses as a result of these contributions to the war effort. In the 1860 census, he is listed as having real estate worth $5500 and personal estate $780. Peter's brick house still stands at the foot of the mountain near Stoney Man. Above and to the left of the house is the grave of his father, Gottlieb.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1850/philipmonroeprintz.html

Thomas Godfrey Prince 

Thomas Godfrey Prince, born Jan. 13, 1817 in
Salem, Washington Co., IN; died Sept. 8, 1890 in Jackson Co., IN.  Thomas served in
the Civil War in Co. K, 67 IN Inf, enlisting on Aug. 8, 1862 in Jackson Co., IN; was discharged at St. Louis, MO. on June 16, 1863. At enlistment, he was discribed as being 5"9" in height, had light complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair. Buried in Russell Chapel
Cemetery, Jackson Co., IN.

(Source: Into the Valley - A History of the Printz / Prince Family of the Shenandoah)

Jacob Isabius Printz

Jacob Isabius Printz, born Apr. 2, 1839; died during the Civil War. He was enlisted on July 22, 1861 by Benjamin F. Shenk in the 33rd  VA Inf. He also served under Col. John Mosby and was taken prisoner. He developed smallpox from which he died at Ft. Delaware.

(Source: Into the Valley - A History of the Printz / Prince Family of the Shenandoah)

List of Printz Descendants In Civil War

Charles Printz gave me this handwritten list of Printz descendants that were in the Civil War.