GEORGE COEN, Company "H"

COMPLETE SERVICE RECORD

Annapolis National Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland
Died March 14, 1865.

Mt. Wood Cemetery, Wheeling, W.Va.
(Photo by Linda Fluharty)

The gravestone at Mt. Wood Cemetery has stymied a number of researchers because besides this relatively new, non-government marker at Mt. Wood Cemetery, there is NO record of any man of that name (and variations of the spelling) being shot at Andersonville and dying in 1864.

It is the opinion of this writer that the gravestone IS for the man who died while serving in the 1st West Virginia Infantry, but it was installed by a relative at a later date, simply as a memorial, and does not reflect the facts of this man's death or his actual burial place. George Coen's parents and other family members are also interred at Mt. Wood, with similar grave markers, all in the same plot at Mt. Wood Cemetery (A-54).

In the West Virginia Adjutant General's records for the 1st W.Va. Infantry, George Cohen(s) is listed as a deserter in 1863 and again in 1864, with no mention of the fact that he was returned to his company, was captured, and was a Prisoner of War. The prison camp he was held at is not named, and it is quite possible that he was, indeed, at Andersonville. It's also possible that he was shot at Andersonville, but he didn't die there, according to records.

The Service Record from the National Archives shows that the George Coen of Company "H" 1st West Virginia Infantry was captured on August 19, 1864; he was paroled at the beginning of March 1865. He was then admitted to the hospital where he died on March 14, 1865 of Chronic Diarrhea. The Record of Death shows that he was buried in Grave #1551 Ash Grove U. S. Cemetery, originally a small, private burial place. Ash Grove is now Annapolis National Cemetery, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. George's gravestone is inscribed as "George Caen, W.Va."

George Coen was the son of George W. Coen and Nancy Bear (Bier). They were both residents of Ohio County when they married in West Alexander, Pa. on February 10, 1833. Nancy, born in 1815, died in 1851. George W. Coen, born in 1800, died in 1870. As previously stated, both are buried in the Coen plot at Mt. Wood Cemetery, Wheeling.

DEATH of George W. Coen in the Wheeling Daily Register: "Cowen, George W., of North Wheeling, 28 Oct 1870, 68y, came to Wheeling in 1803."

Also buried in the Coen plot are other sons of George W. and Nancy: William, born 1844, died 1846; Thomas, born 1846, died 1847; Sam B., born 1842, died 1927; James H., born 1839, died 1901. James' wife, Laura A. (Loveridge), born 1849, died 1918, is interred there, as well.

George Coen and Virginia Peters, both of Wheeling, were married in West Alexander, Pa. on Aug. 19, 1862. It is not known if this was the father or the son.

James H. Coen served in Company "H" of the 15th W.Va. Infantry.

1850 Census of Ohio County, (W)Va:

1539 - COEN
George, 48-M, Laborer, $400, b. Ohio
Nancy, 35-F, b. Va
Charles, 15-M, Laborer, b. Va
George, 14-M, b. Va
Mitilda, 12-F, b. Va.
James, 10-M, b. Va
Samuel, 8-M, b. Va
John R., 2-M, b. Va.