A Journey Through Family History and Love at Gettysburg

Susan Alexander, a 76-year-old retiree now living in Vermont, embarked on a mission to uncover her family’s past. Her research took her back to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, intertwining her family history with the historic Battle of Gettysburg and a romantic tale. Although she resides in Vermont, Alexander grew up on Philadelphia’s Main Line, always feeling a deep connection to Gettysburg.

A Personal Connection to Gettysburg

“My maternal grandfather, Grover Cleveland Thompson, was born and raised in Hunterstown, just five miles northeast of Gettysburg in Adams County. We visited Gettysburg whenever possible,” Alexander shared with Newsweek. She described Gettysburg as having a unique atmosphere, something palpable and enveloping, far beyond the battle itself.

The Beginning of Her Genealogical Search

Alexander’s interest in family history sparked in the 1970s after she moved to Los Angeles. There, she played drums in local bands, attended college, and worked as a journalist. She explained, “A good friend was tracing her family tree, which ignited my interest in genealogy.” The Family History Center in West Los Angeles offered extensive records. Armed with her grandparents’ names and birthplaces, Alexander found census records, launching her into extensive family research.

During visits to her parents, she continued her research at the Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg and the Pennsylvania State Library. However, it was only after technology improved and the internet provided broader access to records that her research deepened further with MyHeritage. “I’ve met new relatives through the site and uncovered numerous records,” she noted, discovering archives of publications like The Gettysburg Times and The Gettysburg Compiler.

Union Soldier and Nurse: A Love Story

Through years of digging through family documents, historical archives, and civil records, Alexander unearthed a touching story about her ancestor Bill Thompson. An English-born Union soldier, Thompson served with the Third New York Independent Battery. He was wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg and treated in makeshift hospitals when he met Margaret Slonaker. She lived nearby and volunteered as a nurse amidst the flood of injured soldiers.

Alexander explained, “Amidst the chaos and destruction, they fell in love.” After his recovery, Thompson joined the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, fighting until the war concluded at Appomattox Court House.

The Reunion After the War

Post-war records, obituaries, and a photograph revealed that Thompson returned to Gettysburg to propose to Slonaker. “He held onto her memory throughout the war,” Alexander shared. Thompson married Slonaker in 1866, adopting her son and building a family in Pennsylvania. Thompson became celebrated as one of Carlisle’s oldest residents.

Though Alexander’s mother has passed, her genealogical journey continues. She’s uncovered relatives involved in significant early American history events.

Revolutionary War Ties

Alexander found ancestors from the American Revolution, including her fifth-great-grandfather, James Alexander, who worked in Washington’s army’s Commissary Department at Valley Forge. His brother Hugh received a plea for food from his son John, who fought at Trenton with Washington.

Yet, the story of Thompson and Slonaker deeply impacts her experiences when visiting Gettysburg and Hunterstown. “My heart swells when I think of them,” she said. Visiting their gravesites allows her to pay respects and express gratitude.

Alexander’s explorations underline two vital lessons: family history holds endless intrigue, and love, even amidst adversity, prevails.