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Lykens G.A.R. Monument Update of 1925
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 4, 2012
The post today looks at additional information discovered from research about the Lykens G.A.R. Monument. The criteria for inclusion of names on the monument is presented as well as some discussion of the work of Henry Keiser in finalizing plans for the monument’s erection. The last post describing the monument was presented as part of the “Best of 2011” series which appeared during the last week of 2011. That “Best of” post included an updated and corrected lists of names on the monument.
The following article appeared in the Lykens Standard, Friday, 13 March 1925.
AFFAIRS FOR MEMORIAL SHAPING NICELY
Since the publication of the list etc., concerning the bronze memorial Tablet to be erected by the Women’s Relief Corps for the “Boys in Blue” the Standard is in receipt of the following information from authoritative source, which we are asked to publish:
Names to be Added to Published List:
Corporal
George W. SHEESLEY
Private
John BIRD
Henry BORDNER
Steve CRUMY
Frank DUNANE * *
Jacob FERREE
Albert L. GRACE
John HALEY
David ISRAEL
Fred L. KNILEY (Died in Rebel Prison)
Peter LEHMAN
Elias MINNICK * *
Harry MATTER
Edward MYERS
John POWELL (Died in Rebel Prison)
Simon ROMBERGER
Jonas P. REIGLE
John SHOMPER (Died in Rebel Prison)
Names to be Struck Off List Published:
Adam C. LONG, reason: no enlistment
David HAWK, reason: no enlistment
Henry HEILNER, reason: no enlistment, contract Government surgeon.
Credit Marks for Wounds:
The following should have been given marks for “Wounded”:
Moses NUTT *
William MARKS *
Beneville HOYER *
Jerry McCOY *
Correction of Names Listed:
Jacob McCOY instead of Jacob M. McCoy
William H. MORGAN instead of William D. Morgan
Henry KEISER instead of Henry W. Keiser
John H. PRIMM instead of Jerry H. Primm
How Former Residents Feel About It:
The following letters turned in to the STANDARD gives the sentiment of two former residents who contributed to the fund and shows that Lykens is still the heart home of those who once resided here. The contributions totaling $11.00 were turned over to Mrs. Daisy Long , Lykens, Pa., and added to the Memorial Fund. The letters:
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Philadelphia, Mar. 10, 1925
Dear Mr. Coles:
I see in the “Standard” they are going to commemorate the old soldiers of Lykens and vicinity with a bronze tablet. I will consider it a privilege if you will accept the enclosed check for that purpose. ($10.00)
Reading down the list I find many, many names of men – real men – who were my sincere friends. I shall not attempt to name them, with the exception of Dr. Henry K. Myers, Captain of Company E. N. O. P., of which I was, at his appointment, made Company’s clerk, and Captain J. B. McCoy, who continued me in that position; scarcely inferior to that of the commissioner officers. It was Captain Myers who took me from the mines and made me Assistant Postmaster in Lykens, from which position I secured my real start in life. Surely, the ground around the old armory, while not holy, is, at least, sacred to their memory and the other splendid men on the Honor Roll.
Believe me.
Yours sincerely,
John W. Schell
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Harrisburg, March 8, 1925
Mrs. Daisy Long, Lykens, Pa.
Enclosed please find a dollar which I would like to add as my mite to the fund which the ladies’ Auxiliary are raising for the Bronze Tablet to be erected in honor of the soldiers of Lykens and vicinity who served during the Civil War. This is a commendable move indeed. When I read the list in the Standard of those from Lykens and vicinity who served so gallantly and unselfishly in that time of the Nation’s greatest need, it made me feel proud of my native town once more.
Very truly yours,
J. W. BITTERMAN
***********
Mr. Henry Keiser who is in general charge of collection of names, etc., for information concerning the tablet gave the STANDARD the following information when asked about the tablet this week:
“A general misunderstanding seems to prevail concerning the names that are to be placed on this tablet. I have received letters from every section of the county and some from the west end of Schuylkill County asking that lists they furnished be included on the tablet. The tablet is not being erected to publish the names to the memory of Civil War veterans from all these sections, but is being placed for the memory of those men who were members of the local G.A.R. and those from Lykens, Wiconisco and immediate vicinity who enlisted at Lykens in the crisis, and only these according to the plans and regulations are entitled to have their names on the tablet being erected by the Women’s Relief Corps.
What is interesting to note from this article is that Dr. Henry Heilner, for whom the Heilner Post G.A.R. of Lykens and Wiconisco was named, would not be included on the monument as a “veteran” of the war. Dr. Heilner did not “enlist” and was not “drafted”, but was a “contracted government surgeon” therefore not considered a “veteran” worthy of inclusion on the monument erected by the G.A.R. post that bears his name.
Information for this post was transcribed by Sally Reiner of the Lykens-Wiconisco Historical Society from news articles in her collection. The new historical society in the Lykens Valley area is finalizing plans to move into the old G.A.R. building in Lykens where it will have its headquarters for meetings, house its collections and exhibits, and have a research library. Anyone interested in participating in the activities of the Lykens-Wiconisco Historical Society can contact Sally via her e-mail.
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