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Civil War Veteran Burials at St. Paul’s Cemetery, Tower City (Part 6 of 6)
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 15, 2013
(Part 6 of 6). St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery is located in Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, at the corner of East Grand Avenue (U.S. Route 209) and North 4th Street. At the front of the cemetery, along East Grand Avenue, is the Tower City, Porter Township and Rush Township Veterans Memorial, which was previously featured here in a series of posts with each of the name plates of the Civil War veterans from the area. This is the last of the four major cemeteries in the Tower City area that will be examined for Civil War burials. No doubt there are other cemeteries and family cemeteries in the area where Civil War veterans were buried – some still undiscovered – but for now, the presentation of the St. Paul’s Cemetery will complete the photographic tour and brief description of each of the Tower City area veterans’ war service that began months ago and included the area memorial, Greenwood Cemetery in Tower City (5 parts), St. Peter’s U.C.C. Cemetery in Reinerton (3 parts), and the Grace United Evangelical Cemetery in Muir (2 parts).
Research continues on each of the Tower City area veterans and as a result of the analysis of the tombstone inscriptions at St. Paul’s Cemetery, some new information about them has been added to the Civil War Research Project. But, much remains to be discovered. Especially needed are pictures of the veterans and their families, stories, and any other information that would help in an understanding of this generation of Americans who fought to preserve the Union more than 150 years ago. As always, the Project relies on local researchers and family members who are willing to come forward and share information about these men and their families. By sharing the information, we increase our knowledge.
Some of the now-known information about the veterans buried at St. Paul’s Cemetery is presented with the grave marker pictures. Links are provided to where the veteran previously was mentioned in blog post articles, and some of the past-known information is repeated. In addition, new Project file numbers are added – each identified veteran now has a unique file number. When corresponding by e-mail regarding information available on a specific veteran, it is helpful to use the file number (if known), especially in the many cases where there is more than one veteran with the same name.
Two more veterans’ graves are presented today, followed by the graves of five additional, possible veterans. These additional graves have been identified because they either have a G.A.R.-star and flag holder at graveside, or they might be the graves of soldiers who have similar names. None of the five has yet been confirmed as a veteran by the Project.
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JOHN WOLF (1831-1902)
With the discovery of the grave stone for John Wolf (1831-1902), with the regiment and company of service noted, 39th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, it is now possible to combine two entries in the Civil War Research Project into one. The first entry [File: CW#W189] was discovered as a result of the 1890 census for Williams Township, Dauphin County, which named John Wolf as a Civil War veteran, but did not indicate his rank, regiment, company or time of service. The second entry [File: CW#W188] was created as a result of information in the Tower City Centennial Book which identified a John Wolf as a Civil War veteran.
John Wolf, born 8 July 1831 and died 30 May 1902, was mustered into service in the 39th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company H, on 1 July 1863 and discharged on 2 August 1863. His service was not long enough to qualify for a pension.
In 1870, he is found in the census for Williams Township, Dauphin County, where he is working as a coal miner. Also in 1880, he is still in Williams Township, and working as a coal miner. A son, William Wolf, age 12, is working as a laborer in the coal mines. In 1900, John is no longer working, but his son John Wolf, living in the household, is working as a coal miner.
More information is sought on this family. Pictured above is the name plate for John Wolf on the Tower City Veterans’ Memorial, located in the St. Paul’s Church Cemetery in Tower City.
See also: Tower City – Porter Township Centennial – Civil War Veterans List and Tower City, Porter and Rush Township Civil War Veterans – Part 13.
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BENJAMIN WORKMAN (c. 1836-1878)
BENJAMIN WORKMAN (c. 1836-1878) served in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a Private from 1 November 1862 through 16 August 1863. He is buried in Tower City at St. Paul’s Church Cemetery.
Benjamin Workman was born about 1836, if the age of 36 that he gave when he was drafted was correct. His death occurred on 10 April 1878 and is recorded on the application for his government-issue grave marker (shown above, from Ancestry.com).
In 1870, he was living in Williams Township, Dauphin County, and was working as a farmer. It does not appear from the census record that he was married. No pension record has been located for him.
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The following are buried in the St. Paul’s Church Cemetery in Tower City. Additional information is sought to determine if there is a Civil War veteran connection:
WILLIAM FRANTZ (1841-1900)
William Frantz was born 31 December 1841 and died 18 February 1900.
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SAMUEL GAMBER (1831-1904)
Samuel Gamber was born 16 March 1831 and died 19 January 1904. There is a G.A.R. star-flag-holder at his grave site.
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JOHN B. MATTIS (1824-1895)
John B. Mattis was born 30 November 1824 and died 3 February 1895.
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ADAM MILLER
The stone for Adam Miller is in German. It is worn and difficult to read. There is a G.A.R. star-flag-holder at graveside.
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EMANUEL SCHOFFSTALL (1839-1886)
Emanuel Schoffstall was born 19 Apr 1839 and died 1 September 1886.
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This concludes the series of posts on St. Paul’s Cemetery, Tower City.
To access other parts of this series on St. Paul’s Cemetery, click here.
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