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Cornelius D. Waldron – White Supremacist, 1866
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 8, 2018
During the Civil War, Cornelius D. Waldron served as a Corporal in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company K. He enrolled at Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on 9 September 1861, and was mustered into service at Harrisburg on 29 October 1861. At the time he was 26 years old, stood 5 foot 8 inches tall, had light hair, a light complexion, and light eyes. He claimed to be born in Dauphin County and gave his occupation as postmaster. On 24 December 1864, upon completion of his term of service, he was discharged, as he chose not to re-enlist.
Cornelius D. Waldron was born on 27 May 1834, the son of William Waldron and his wife Debroah Waldron of Dauphin County. Around 1865, he married Margaret Agnes “Mary” Lodge, the daughter of John Lodge and his wife Elizabeth Lodge. It is not known whether Cornelius and Mary had any children of their marriage.
In addition to being postmaster of Halifax, Cornelius D. Waldron was also a store keeper for many years, and later in life served as Constable of the borough.
The Waldron’s lived near the railroad, and on 31 March 1904, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported on fire that destroyed upper part of the Waldron home:
FIRE AT HALIFAX
Roof and Upper Story of a Home are Destroyed
Special to the Telegraph
Halifax, Pennsylvania, 31 March 1904 — The need of an organized fire company in Halifax was plainly demonstrated yesterday afternoon when fire broke through the roof of Cornelius Waldren‘s residence on the corner of Market and Water Streets. While willing hands directed two streams of water on the house and had the fire under control in twenty minutes after the arrival of the hose cart, yet they lacked a leader and much unnecessary damage was done by water.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought a spark from a passing train lit on the roof which was of shingles, and the fire spread quickly to the side occupied by Mrs. Helen Bressler. Mr. and Mrs. Waldren were away from home at the time. All the furniture on the lower floors was removed safely. The fire destroyed the entire roof and upper story of Mr. Waldren’s side. All their smoked meat was kept in the garret and was lost. There was no insurance on property or contents. The shoe factory’s hands turned out in force and did valiant work.
On 23 July 1890, Cornelius D. Waldron applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service. He received the pension and collected benefits until his death. He died on 7 July 1923 at the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ Home in Erie, Pennsylvania and is buried at Halifax.
Previously, Cornelius D. Waldron was mentioned on this blog in a post entitled Halifax Area Civil War Veterans. and in a post entitled Civil War Burials in the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery (Part 3 of 5).
After the war, Cornelius D. Waldron openly supported the white supremacist views of Heister Clymer by signing a call for denial of equal rights to African Americans, both those who were previously slaves and those who were previously freemen. The statement was published in the Harrisburg Patriot of 24 July 1866 and included his name, regiment, company and rank.
Heister Clymer was a white supremacist candidate for Pennsylvania Governor on the Democratic Party ticket in 1866, and was previously profiled here on 26 April 2016.
The call for a meeting of Union Soldiers was printed in the Harrisburg Patriot, 24 July 1866, along with an up-to-date list of Clymer supporters who openly supported Heister Clymer‘s white supremacist views and wanted to deny “negro equality and suffrage” even to those who had been free men before the war.
The undersigned honorably discharged Union soldiers, believing that we battled in the late war for the Union of these States, and had successfully maintained it, view with alarm the persistent efforts of radical men who seem determine, practically to destroy the Union we went forth to save. They would have the community believe that Union soldiers are willing to give up in the hour of victory the great object to which their sacrifices and toll and blood were given….
Therefore we unite in requesting all the honorably discharged officer, soldiers and seamen of Dauphin County who favor the wise and constitutional policy of President Johnson, who oppose the doctrine of negro equality and suffrage, and desire the election of the Hon. Hiester Clymer, to meet in Mass Convention at the Democratic Club Room, Walnut Street, below Third, Harrisburg, at 7 1/2 o’clock, on the evening of the 25 July 1866, for the purpose of electing fourteen delegates to the Convention of Union Soldiers, which is to assemble in this city [Harrisburg] on Wednesday, 1 August 1866.
The Dauphin County veterans who signed the racist petition calling for the meeting were from a variety of regiments and social levels. Included in the list were some residents of Upper Dauphin County, the area north of Peter’s Mountain – all of which is included in the geographic area of the Civil War Research Project.
Cornelius D. Waldron was only one of many honorably discharged Union soldiers who openly supported the white supremacist gubernatorial campaign of Heister Clymer in 1866. The full list of those with a connection to Upper Dauphin County will be presented over time.
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