Obituary of Benjamin F. Eby, 1934

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 21, 2015

The name of Benjamin F. Eby appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument found on North Second Street in that Borough, Dauphin County. He was a Private in the Civil War and he joined the Heilner G.A.R. Post after its organization.

Benjamin F. Eby died on 19 June 1934 in Harrisburg and the following obituaries appeared in the local newspapers:

(1) from the Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 June 1934;

BENJAMIN F. EBY,

RETIRED REALTY AGENT, STRICKEN

Benjamin F. Eby, 87, a veteran of the Civil War, died last nigh at his home 1321 Derry Street. He was a retired real estate and insurance agent who had been in business a quarter of a century in Harrisburg.

Mr. Eby came to the city in 1890 from Lykens where he had been a school teacher and a post office and bank employee. He took an active part in the development of the eastern end of the city and was Treasurer of the Home Building and Loan Association until 1915 when he retired from business.

Survivors are a son, Arthur F. Eby; two grandchildren and a brother George Eby, Shamokin. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, 3:30, at the Fackler Parlors, 1314 Derry Street, the Rev. J. E. Rudisill, Christ Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Leroy Feagley, Hummelston United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Paxtang Cemetery. The body may be view[ed] at Fackler’s Friday evening, 6 to 8.

(2) from the Harrisburg Evening News, 20 June 1934.

B. F. EBY, CIVIL WAR VET, DIES

Funeral services for Benjamin F. Eby, 87, a Civil War veteran and retired real estate agent and insurance man, who died at this home, 1321 Derry Street, last evening, will be held Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock in the Fackler Funeral Parlors, 1312 Derry Street, with the Rev. J. E. Rudisill, pastor of the Christ Lutheran Church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Leroy Fegley, pastor of the Hummelstown United Brethren Church.

Burial will be in the Paxtang Cemetery. The body may be viewed at the Fackler Parlors Friday evening from 6 until 8 o’clock.

He is survived by a son, Arthur F. Eby; a brother, George Eby, of Shamokin, and two grandchildren.

Eby came to Harrisburg in 1890 from Lykens where he taught school and worked in the post office. He engaged in the real estate and insurance business, retiring in 1915. He was treasurer of the Home Building and Loan Association for many years.

On 27 July 1934, Arthur F. Eby, published notice in the Harrisburg newspapers indicating that he was handling his father’s estate, along with his attorney, Homer L. Kreider of Harrisburg:

Benjamin F. Eby was born 13 March 1845 and died on 19 June 1934. He is buried in the Paxtang Cemetery, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. His grave marker (shown below from Findagrave) bears the name of his Civil War regiment, company and rank: 100th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private.

Benjamin F. Eby was married to the former Mary Jane Lebo of Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Eby died on 20 December 1913 and two days later, her obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph:

Deaths and Funerals

MRS MARY J. EBY

Mrs. Mary J. Eby, aged 68, wife of Benjamin F. Eby, a real estate agent, of Allison Hill, die Saturday afternoon at her home, 1321 Derry Street. Her death was due to pneumonia. She is survived by her husband, one son, Arthur F. Eby, and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Thomas H. Reisch, Pastor of the Christ Lutheran Church, of which Mrs. Eby was a member, will officiate. Burial will be made in the Paxtang Cemetery.

Mrs. Eby’s grave marker at Paxtang Cemetery (shown below from Findagrave), gives her dates as 9 August 1845 and 20 December 1913.

As previously stated, Benjamin F. Eby served in the 100th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private. His dates of service – 6 March 1865 through 24 July 1865 – are shown on his Pension Index Card (below, from Fold3).

Also shown on the card is his original pension application date of 11 July 1890 and a certificate number which indicates that he received the pension and collected benefits to his death.

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