Gen 4: Crail - O'Neil

Aaron Crail [1839-1868]: Aaron was born in Marion Co., OH, but raised in Indiana. Aaron and his two elder brothers married in Marion Co., IN during the 1850s. Aaron and Catherine O'Neil married on 8 June 1857. The couple had a son and twin daughters before the outbreak of the Civil War. Two more sons were born before Aaron and elder brother John enlisted with the 124th Indiana Infantry Regiment. The 124th saw action at Kennesaw Mountain.. Aaron fell ill during torrential rains that fell during that action and contracted  "lung fever." After a few days in a field hospital, Aaron rejoined his unit near Decatur, GA, but was found unfit for duty. He spent the next several months in military hospitals between Georgia and Ohio and was discharged at Camp Dennison, OH. Aaron returned to Indiana and farmed in southern Hamilton Co. Another son joined the family in 1866. Aaron's illness worsened and he died from consumption on 28 March 1868. He was buried in Eller Cemetery.

Catherine O'Neil [1833/4-1934]: Catherine was the last of the family to arrive in America. She was born in County Cork, Ireland in December of 1833 or 34. According to the family, British soldiers foraging for food and conscripting young men for the army, confronted and killed her father and Catherine's brothers were conscripted into the army. Her sister had died a short time earlier and her mother died shortly after the incident. Catherine left Ireland to seek employment in England, where she worked as a domestic servant. At the age of 18, Catherine sailed from Liverpool for New York. She made her way to Indianapolis, where she taught local farmers to read, including future husband, Aaron Crail. After Aaron died in 1868, Catherine was left with six young children. The family would move to the towns of Noblesville and Peru, where son James found work as a blacksmith. Catherine would spend her years living with son James, daughter Martha and brother-in-law, John. Grandchildren recall her as a tiny woman with the personality of actress Maureen O'Hara. She wore a black cotton dress with a white lace apron and white dust cap. Her grandchildren also recall celebrating her 100th birthday in 1933. She died the following summer. Catherine's death certificate adds to the mystery. 15 December 1833 is given as her date of birth, but she is listed as having died at 99 years 7 months and 14 days on 29 July 1934. That would have made her 100 plus. Catherine was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. She outlived 4 of her 6 children.