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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Philip Hoffman – Killed in Mines, 1878

| October 2, 2015

On 21 November 1878, Philip Hoffman of Lykens Borough, Dauphin County, was killed in a mine accident at Short Mountain Colliery.  The notice of his accidental death appeared in the Lykens Register and was reprinted in the Harrisburg Telegraph of 25 November 1878: Killed in the Mines. The Lykens Register of Friday says:  “Mr. Philip […]

Edward Thomas – 50th Pennsylvania Infantry

| December 2, 2014

On 1 April 1872, Edward Thomas of Gratz, was killed at the colliery at Short Mountain, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, by a “fall of rock.”  His body was recovered and he was buried at Gratz Union Cemetery (then called Simeon’s Cemetery).  He was exactly 32 years old at the time of his death.  A G.A.R. star-flag […]

Death of Isaac P. Messner – Kicked Overboard by a Horse

| November 17, 2014

An entry in a 9th Pennsylvania Cavalryman’s diary read as follows: Saturday 30th [November 1861] – In the morning about 4 A.M. another excitement On board the Arago owing to a report that Isaac Messner was kicked over board by one of the Horses on board the Anglo Saxon… one of Co. B…. Both sides […]

Obituary of Thomas W. Hoffman – Medal of Honor Recipient

| August 11, 2014

Thomas William Hoffman was born in Berrysburg, Dauphin County, on 21 July 1839, the son of Amos A. Hoffman (1809-1897) and Amanda [Harper] Hoffman (1815-1897).  Through the paternal line, he was a direct descendant of Johann Peter Hoffman (1709-1797) and his son, John Nicholas Hoffman (1749-1814), pioneer settlers of the Lykens Valley.  Thomas served two […]

Capt. Jacob F. Hoffman – Merchant

| November 26, 2013

Capt. Jacob F. Hoffman was the brother of Medal of Honor recipient Thomas W. Hoffman.  He was born in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania on 25 December 1841, and was one of six Hoffman brothers who served in the Civil War.  For a time, he was a merchant in Pillow and Berrysburg in Dauphin County.  […]