Daniel Chase was born around 1840 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Margaret Chase. His father was a farmer who owned $2,000 of real estate and $600 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in South Creek, Pennsylvania, and by 1860, he was working as a farm laborer.
He enlisted in the Union army on May 16, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company F of the 23rd New York Infantry later that day. According to his service records, he was 6 feet tall, with brown hair and grey eyes. The regiment took part in the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and the Battle of Chancellorsville. He mustered out on May 22, 1863.
He returned to the Union army soon afterward, mustering in as a private in the 1st New York Veteran Cavalry on July 17, 1863. The regiment took part in the Shenandoah Valley campaign. He was wounded near Upperville, Virginia, on February 20, 1864, and Confederates captured him later that day. He rejoined the regiment on March 20, 1864, and he was promoted to sergeant on May 24, 1864. He mustered out on July 20, 1865.
Chase returned to his parents’ household in South Creek after leaving the army. He married Phoebe Williams in the 1870s, and their son John was born around 1883. His wife died in the late 1800s, and he lived with his sister Nancy Chase until at least 1920. By 1930, he was living in his son John’s household in South Creek. He died in Troy, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1934.
Image: Daniel Chase (Star-Gazette, 3 August 1933)