Philip Sonner and his descendants in the American Wars

The Revolutionary War came not long after Philip Sonner established his residence and family in the Shenandoah Valley. During this War of Indenpendence, Philip was a soldier in the Militia under Capt. Alexander Machier. Two of his sons also participated in the colonial quest for separation from the political and military ties to Great Britain. It is also documented that he provided substance for the cause. Records indicate that Philip Sonner of Shenandoah County furnished for the Army provisions that included 139 pounds of beef given on January 16, 1781. A public service claim was issued in the name of Philip Sonner of Shenandoah County, January 16, 1781.

Two of Philips sons moved West about 1817. This migration and division of Philip Sonner's family caused some later unseen adversities. About forty to fifty years later emerged a division in his new found land that precipitated the Civil War. Now that his posterity lived on both sides of the lines formed by this division, his grandsons found themselves not only opposing each others views but the possibility of opposing each other on the battlefield where one would be under orders to kill the other. While a number of Philip Sonner's grandchildren participated in the civil war only three are known to have perished in that conflict. Jacob A. Sonner was mortally wounded at the battle of Bull Run, Manassas. Two others S. Sonner and Joseph Henry Sonner were also killed.


Jacob A. Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, VA.. Member of the 10th Infantry.

Mathias Sonner was a Union soldier from Taylorsville, Ohio, with the 89th Ohio Infantry.

Levi W. Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, VA. Member Co. G, 23rd Regiment.

Isaac W. Sonner was a Union soldier from Hillsboro County, OH, served in Co. A. 2nd Reg. O.V. Heavy Artillery.

Simon P. Sonner was a Union soldier from Highland Co. Ohio

Joseph W. Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, VA.. He served under Stonewall Jackson, was wounded, captured and imprisoned. Member Co. F, 10th Regiment.

John William Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, VA.. Member Co. E, 11th Regiment.

Richard Wisdom Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, VA Member Co. K, 10th Regiment

James A. Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, Virginia

James K. P. Sonner was a Union soldier from Harrison Co. Indiana, Served with Co. F., 13 Regiment Indiana Cavalry, wounded.

Jacob W. Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, Virginia. Member Co. E, 11th Regiment.

William H. Sonner was a Confederate soldier from Shenandoah County, Virginia.

Joseph Henry Sonner conscripted into the Confederate Army 1864 at age 18. Died in that conflict Member Co.l E, 11th Regiment.

A bronze tablet attached to the Highland County Courthouse at Hillsboro, Ohio contains the names of ninety three soldiers of the War of Indenpendence who are buried in Highland County. Anthony Sonner's name is among those embosed thereon. He and his family migrated from Woodstock, Virginia to Taylorsville, south of Hillsboro 1914 and is buried in the Sonner Cemetery which is located on his old homestead. 


Calvin Sonner cal@shentel.net