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Civil War Patriotism of Girardville, Schuylkill County
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 28, 2018
Girardville is a small community in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on Route 54, just east of Ashland. While it is not within the area specifically covered by the Civil War Research Project, the efforts of Schuylkill County researchers and historians to compile a list of those who served in the Civil War who had some connection to Girardville should be mentioned here because some of the same problems occur regardless of the community being researched. Coming up with a comprehensive list of all participants has been one of the most difficult tasks.
In his compilation of articles on the History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County, Joseph H. Zerbey provided the following about the Girardville volunteers:
TOWN’S PATRIOTISM
Records of a complete story pf Girardville’s part in the Civil War are not available. The contacts with the War Department, Washington, D.C., the Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and The History of Patriotism in Schuylkill County, contributed little.
From the lips of an old resident, however, a few facts were gathered. The town’s population at this time was approximately 100 people. Accordingly a large supply of soldiers was not obtainable. Yet approximately eight persons (actual residents) volunteered for service.
The first contingent from Girardville included: David Levan; Charles Hower (a young boy of 17 years); Bill Klingerman; and Thomas Williams, a mulatto.
They were accepted as members of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under the command of Major Thompson. They were driven to Pottsville to enlist by John Hower.
The Civil War history must be grouped into two divisions, “Pre-Residential” and “Post-Residential.” A survey shows that the following person fought in the Civil War and migrated to Girardville upon their return. Their names are submitted because the town makes claim upon them.
The following list of names are those of men who volunteered their services:
John Barron; Alex Bennie; James Bennie; Albert Bordy; Thomas Burns; James Brazil; John Butler; John Burke; Martin Brennan; W. J. Carrol; John Maley; James McGuire; John Malloy; Dennie Murphy; Patrick Murphy; James McGrew; Col P. H. Monaghan; Frank McColough; Thomas Purcell; Mark Purcell; Michael Roach; James Sweeney; Elias Wagner; Fred Witmayer; Patrick Whalen; Michael Thompson; William Timmins; Crawford Bennie; Private in Company H, 48th Pennsylvania Infantry; Franklin Bensinger, Sixth Corporal in Company G, 129th Pennsylvania Infantry; Andrew Arnold, Second Corporal, Company E, 6th Pennsylvania Infantry; John P. Brennan, Private, Company E, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry; John A. Brennan, Private, 6th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Joshua Caul; John Duffy, Private, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company L; Patrick Dolan; Michael Delaney, Private, Company K, 48th Pennsylvania Infantry; James Durren; James Edwards; A. Dennery; Adam Gilbert; Robert Green; Joseph Glick; Thomas Gwyther, Private, 6th Pennsylvania Infantry; James Gorman; Malachi Gorman; David Hopkins; Patrick Haley; John Holzer; William Hartnett; Thomas Joyce; Patrick Horan; Daniel Kohler; Walter Kinney; Harvey Kohler; James Kelly; Thomas Kelly; Thomas Lafferty; Adam Metz; HIram Michael; Marry Miller.
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