Today, David Troxell is known mostly for having a house that still stands and for the shell that still sticks out of it, but he was far more than his brief involvement in the battle. David was born on September 4, 1809, to John Troxell (1781–1855) and Catherine “Kitty” Ackerman Troxell (1786–1870). The Troxell family had deep roots in the Gettysburg area. David’s father, John, was part of one of Gettysburg’s early settler families – in fact, John Troxell Sr. (David’s grandfather) is credited with building one of the first houses in the town of Gettysburg in the late 1780s. David was one of several children in the family. His known siblings included Jacob Troxell (1812–1880), Catherine Troxell Tate (1816–1883), Margaret Troxell Stallsmith (1819–1887), and Joshua Ackerman Troxell (1828–1911). The Troxells were a large family, and many of David’s siblings married into other local families. David himself was buried in Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery.

Residence at 221 Chambersburg Street

David Troxell spent most of his life in Gettysburg, residing in a modest brick home at 221 Chambersburg Street. This house, located on the north side of Chambersburg Street (now part of the historic U.S. Route 30 through town), was the Troxell family home and doubled as David’s place of work and refuge. David continued to live there into adulthood, caring for his aging mother Catherine.

By 1860, the Troxell house was listed as a single household in census records, with David as the head. The 1860 U.S. Census confirms the residents as David Troxell (age 50, harness maker), his mother Catherine Troxell (age 74), and Rebecca Keefer (age 57).

The Relationship Between David Troxell and Rebecca Keefer

In the 1860 U.S. Census, Rebecca Keefer (born ca. 1803 in Maryland) appears living in the same household as David Troxell and his widowed mother Catherine Ackerman Troxell at 221 Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg. The census lists all three under one roof, but does not specify their relationship beyond cohabitation.

Earlier speculation suggested that Rebecca might have been Catherine’s sister—possibly named Ackerman herself—but genealogical evidence makes clear that this was incorrect. Rebecca’s maiden name was Rosenberger (alternatively spelled Rosenberry), and her parents were Abraham Rosenberger and Catherine Keefer, both of Maryland origin. She had previously married John Isaac Keefer, who died in 1830 from gangrene after a self-inflicted foot wound, and later John Markey.

By 1860, Rebecca was a twice-widowed woman in her late fifties. Her children were grown and living in other households. It’s possible she found herself in reduced circumstances, and the Troxell home—occupied by an aging widow and her unmarried son—may have offered stability. Whether she boarded there, worked as a housekeeper, or was simply taken in as a friend or member of the Gettysburg social network, her presence seems to reflect the common practice of extended or informal households in mid-19th century towns.

There is no known familial relationship between Rebecca Keefer and the Troxell family. Instead, their co-residence reflects Gettysburg’s dense and interwoven civilian life, in which aging or widowed individuals often lived communally for economic or emotional support—especially as war loomed on the horizon.

Profession as a Harness Maker

David Troxell was known as a harness maker – a craftsman who produced and repaired the leather harnesses and tack for horses. This was a valuable trade in the 19th century, when horses were essential for transportation, farming, and hauling goods. The 1860 census lists David’s occupation as “Harness Maker.”

It’s quite possible that David’s harness shop was on or near his property at 221 Chambersburg Street. Harness makers typically crafted items like bridles, reins, saddles, and leather straps – all in demand by local farmers and townspeople. Surviving Gettysburg business directories and tax records from the mid-1800s mention harness and saddle makers in town, and David Troxell’s name appears among them in local sources. One local reference from 1863 described him as a “carriage and harness maker” in Gettysburg. His skills would have made him a familiar figure to Gettysburg’s many wagoners, carriage drivers, and farmers.

David Troxell continued his harness-making profession up until the war years and likely into the 1870s. He never amassed great wealth from his trade, but he provided a necessary service to the community. In formal contexts he was referred to with the honorific “Esq.” (Esquire), suggesting he had standing in the community beyond just his occupation. In small-town Gettysburg, a tradesman like Troxell would often be involved in civic matters; indeed, David served as a vice president of a town meeting in March 1856.

Wartime Events and the Artillery Shell Incident

When the Battle of Gettysburg erupted in July 1863, David Troxell was in his mid-50s and still living in the Chambersburg Street house with his family. Their home found itself in a vulnerable location during the fighting. On July 1, 1863 (the first day of battle), Confederate forces approached town from the west, and Union troops retreated through Gettysburg. Chambersburg Street was a key route in this action.

By the afternoon of July 2, heavy artillery shelling swept over Gettysburg. At that time, several neighboring families who lived in the adjoining Warren Block (a set of row homes next door) decided to flee their own basements and crowd into the Troxell house. In total, 22 people – the Troxells and their neighbors – huddled in David Troxell’s cellar seeking shelter from the barrage. Among them was Sarah Broadhead, a neighbor from 217 Chambersburg Street, who kept a detailed diary of her Gettysburg experiences. Broadhead wrote: “About 4 o’clock P.M. the storm burst again with terrific violence. It seemed as though heaven and earth were being rolled together. For better security we went to the house of a neighbor and occupied the cellar, by far the most comfortable part of the house.”

While the civilians sheltered in the basement, a Confederate Schenkl shell, likely fired from a 3-inch ordnance rifle, slammed into the house. As Sarah Broadhead recorded, “Whilst there a shell struck the house, but mercifully did not burst but remained embedded in the wall, one half protruding.” The shell lodged in the second-story brick wall on the south side of Troxell’s home, its iron tail still visible from the street. Incredibly, no one in the cellar was injured.

The artillery shell remains stuck in the wall of 221 Chambersburg Street, making David Troxell’s former home one of Gettysburg’s most tangible civilian battle sites. The location of the shell today is near the top right of the house’s facade. The Troxell house shell is often pointed out on guided tours.

Aside from the famous shell incident, not much is recorded about David Troxell’s specific actions during the battle. As a middle-aged man he was not a combatant, but he certainly experienced the invasion of his hometown. Confederate soldiers likely passed by his property during the occupation of Gettysburg on July 1st and 2nd. After the battle, David would have assisted with relief efforts. The Troxell family likely stayed in town during the brief Confederate occupation and witnessed the aftermath when the battle moved on.

Personal Life and Unmarried Status

David Troxell never married and had no children. All available records and accounts describe him as a bachelor. In census after census, he is listed either with his parents or as a single head of household with other relatives, but never with a wife. Remaining unmarried in that era was somewhat uncommon but not unheard of, and it seems David devoted himself to family and work instead.

David’s role as an unmarried son in a 19th-century family often entailed responsibilities such as managing the household and finances for his mother. It appears he fulfilled this role dutifully. There is no evidence of any courtship or engagement in his younger years. It’s possible he simply never found a match or was so occupied by work and family obligations that he remained a bachelor.

In the community, David was known respectfully as “Mr. David Troxell” or “David Troxell, Esq.” in some documents, indicating he was held in good regard. Being unmarried did not prevent him from being involved in local civic matters. David would have been “Uncle David” to many local descendants through his siblings.

David Troxell was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg, not far from his parents John and Catherine. His grave, marked with a simple stone, gives little hint of his life story. Yet David’s legacy lives on through the lore of his battle-scarred house and his family’s long presence in Gettysburg. Modern historians and guides ensure that the story of David Troxell – the harness maker whose home became a shelter in the storm of battle – is not forgotten. His life illustrates the experience of a regular Gettysburg citizen: devoted to trade and family, swept up by war, and remembered locally for the dramatic wartime anecdote that literally left its mark on his house.