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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Some Brief Obituaries of Lykens Valley Area Civil War Veterans

| August 12, 2015

The following are some brief obituaries of three Lykens Valley area Civil War veterans as they appeared in local newspapers: —————————– From Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 December 1899: JOSEPH RITZMAN Funeral services were held this afternoon over the body of Joseph Ritzman, who died at his home in Wiconisco, Wednesday morning, after eight years of suffering […]

Jacob Matter – War Veteran and General Laborer

| May 15, 2014

Jacob Matter was born 13 June 1845 in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph Joel Matter (1811-1857) and Anna Mary [Yerges] Matter (1815-1893).  His mother’s parents were Michael Yerges (1793-1866) and Hannah [Coleman] Yerges and his mother’s sister was Elizabeth Yerges (1813-1877) who married Martin Rickert (1804-1871) of Specktown, Lykens Township.  Jacob […]

Death and Funeral of George Washington Bitterman

| September 27, 2011

DEATH OF G. W. BITTERMAN LYKENS — G. W. Bitterman of South Second street, who on the evening of 29 March suffered an attack of apoplexy, died from its effects Wednesday morning about 5 o’clock , aged 56 years.  Although rational at certain moments, when he would recognize those about him, his memory would again […]

Midwives and the Civil War – Specktown’s Becky Rickert

| March 10, 2011

On the third day of the Battle of Gettsyburg, 3 July 1863, Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade was killed inside a home by a stray bullet while she was baking bread for hungry Union troops and thus became the only civilian casualty of the battle.  Prior to this domestic exercise, she had faithful done her morning […]

The Unknown Military Musician

| December 22, 2010

In a box of pictures kept by Hannah [Rickert] Riegle of Specktown Road in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was the above picture of an unknown person, possibly a member of a military band, holding an instrument that is not often seen today.  Hannah was the wife of Harrison Riegle (1840-1899) who served in the […]