Krunkleton, Wesley

Wesley Krunkleton was born around 1839 in Welsh Run, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania and worked as a farmer prior to his involvement in the Civil War. He went on to become a member of Company K of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry when he enlisted on May 6, 1863 at twenty-four years old for a three year term in Readville, Massachusetts. The enlistment records describe him as being about 6 feet and six inches tall with brown eyes and complexion. His three brothers, Cyrus, James, and William also enlisted as members of Company K of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded on July 16, 1863 at James Island, South Carolina when he suffered a gunshot wound above his right knee. Krunkleton was discharged from the army on August 20, 1865 and received a pension for his disabilities. Along with the loss of usage in his right knee, Krunkleton also had rheumatism and an enlarged heart. He married after the war, but his first wife died around September 8, 1870 and he remarried a widow named Mary Jane Christy. Wesley Krunkleton died on October 31, 1902 and was buried in Zion Union Cemetery in Pennsylvania. (By Brenna McKelvey)