David R. Torbet was born around 1838 in Pennsylvania to James and Phebe Torbet. His father was a “locktender” and “gentleman” who owned $300 of real estate and $50 of personal property by 1860. The family lived in East Donegal, Pennsylvania, until the 1850s, when they moved to Monaghan, Pennsylvania. By the early 1860s, he was working as a blacksmith.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on July 6, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company G of the 41^st Pennsylvania Infantry on August 10. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with dark hair and dark eyes. The regiment took part in the Seven Days Battles, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg. He remained devoted to the Union, writing in May 1862 that he was “still willing to serve my time at the business that is soldering [sic] and fightting for the union to put down Rebelion for rebelion must come down.” He was wounded at Fredericksburg, and he died on December 13, 1862.

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