August Kehnast - G.A.R., Bishop Post

August Kehnast left Mohrenbach, Thuringen, Germany in 1854, to travel to the United States, leaving his parents and siblings behind. His ship, the Hudson, left Bremen and landed in New York City on December 29, 1854.

From there, August traveled to Tonawanda, Erie County, New York, where he took up farming.  When his brother, William, immigrated, he joined August there in 1860.
August was married by that time.


In 1861, William and August's families traveled to Florida, Henry County, Ohio, where August continued to farm and William worked in a grocery.

Passenger List for the Hudson

Kuhnast is the 9th name from the top, servant, age 18

On October 10, 1861, August enlisted in Company F, 68th Ohio Infantry.  (This was probably the occasion when his younger brother, William, also tried to enlist, but was rejected.)  August served until July 25, 1862, according to his report on the 1890 veterans census - 9 months and 15 days.  After a time, he reenlisted on January 5, 1864, back into the same company where he had served, and he stayed until the end of the war. In 1890, he noted his disabilities as chronic rheumatism, rheumatism of the heart and lung trouble.  

 By 1870, he was in Richland Township with his wife, Mary, and sons, William - 8 and John - 5.  He farmed and had real estate valued at $1800.  The final stop for the family was in Noble Township in 1880; sons, William and John, were still at home.

As did his brother, August Kehnast also traveled back to Germany in August 1890.  It was reported that he accompanied some German children back to the U.S.  One wonders if they were placed into families for their education and rearing, and did August help support them?  The United States had been good to the Kehnast brothers and they were willing to help others succeed here.

Defiance Daily Crescent - August 21, 1890

 In August, 1906, Mary Kehnast passed away at about 75 years. 

By the 1910 census, August, 73, had moved in with his son John, 45, a farmer, and his wife, Eva. 48.  On October 3, 1914, at age 77, August Kehnast died and was buried in the Brunersburg Cemetery.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)