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The Charter of the Kilpatrick G.A.R. Post of Millersburg
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 2, 2014
The original charter of the Kilpatrick Post No. 212, G.A.R., is on display of the Historical Society of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township at its museum in Millersburg, Pennsylvania (upper right).
The above-shown display case contains many original Civil War related-items as well as reproductions including photographs of Civil War veterans. The photographs at center-left were contributed by the Civil War Research Project and are of veterans whose names appear on the Millersburg Soldier Monument as members of the Kilpatrick G.A.R. Post 212 of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township. On Memorial Day 2014, Millersburg will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the monument, and it is hoped that by that time additional research on each of the soldiers named on that monument can be completed. Of particular interest are pictures of each of the veterans and life stories. All of these materials will be available at the Historical Society of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township in digital form.
Click on picture to enlarge.
The Charter states:
To all whom these Presents come greeting: Know ye that reposing full trust and confidence in the fidelity and patriotism of Comrades —
Click on picture to enlarge.
The 26 charter members are named:
James L. Seebold ——- William H. Lauer [probably William H. Lower] ——- T. S. Freeland ——- William B. Meetch ——- G. W. P. Freeland ——- J. P. Koppenheffer ——- William D. Hays ——- Joseph Alleman ——- Jacob Beller ——- H. O. Baum ——– Joseph Miller ——- Joseph Keene ——- W. H. Sites ——- William C. Wingart ——– William H. DeHaven ——- David Y. Lenker ——- C. T. Dechant ——-Jonathan Whitman ——- Jonathan W. Collins [probably J. W. Collier] ——- A. J. Pontius ——- David Fox ——- Patrick Fay ——- Henry Cordes ——- Daniel Toy ——- Nelson Meck ——- Jonathan W. Sneeder
The the text of the Charter states the following:
I do hereby in Conformity with the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Army of the Republic and by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, constitute them and their associates a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic to be known as _________________ Post No. 212 of Millersburg, Department of Pennsylvania.
And I authorize and empower them to perform all acts necessary to conduct said organization in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dated at the Head Quarters of the Department of Pennsylvania of the Grand Army of the Republic at Philadelphia on 29th day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Eighty one and of our Independence the One hundred and fifth.
(signed) Department Commander. (signed) Assistant Adjutant General.
It must be noted that at the time the Charter was granted, 29 June 1881, no name had been designated for the post other than the numeral “212” – indicating that this was the 212th post granted a Charter by the Department of Pennsylvania. At this time, it is not known when the designation “Kilpatrick Post” was made.
It also should be noted that not all the names that appear on the Charter also appear on the Millersburg Soldier Monument. Three names that are new to the Civil War Research Project are William D. Hays, H. O. Baum, and Patrick Fay.
Future blog entries will examine further the military records and genealogies of all the veterans who were charter members of the Kilpatrick Post. Readers who have information to contribute can add comments to this post, can send an e-mail to the Project, or can mail copies to Norman Gasbarro, Civil War Research Project, 1900 John F. Kennedy Blvd., #1403, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Of particular interest are pictures of the veterans, genealogies, military/pension records, and stories.
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