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Josiah A. Heckert – Cavalryman Was Founder of Dalmatia G.A.R. Post
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on April 22, 2019
At Georgetown, later called Dalmatia, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, a G.A.R. Post was organized in 1882. As reported by the Sunbury Weekly, 24 March 1882:
GEORGETOWN, this county, has organized a Post G.A.R., with I. H. Ressler as Post Commander; George H. Yeager, S. V. Commander; and Josiah Heckert, Chaplain. The Post numbers about twenty members. It is named after the old Sunbury Post, “Colonel James Cameron.”
According to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives (via Ancestry.com), Josiah A. Heckert served with the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company H, during the Civil War. He was mustered into service on 29 October 1862 and served through his honorable discharge on 11 August 1865. He died on 16 December 1902 and is buried at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Some additional information is found about him on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives. He enrolled at 6 October 1862 at Northumberland County. At the time he claimed to be 21 years old, was a laborer who was born in Northumberland County, stood about 5 foot 8 inches tall, had black hair, a fair complexion, and brown eyes. In the “Remarks” section, it is noted that on 24 August 1865, he transferred from Company L of the same regiment.
According to information on Findagrave, Josiah Heckert was the son of John Jacob “Hans” Heckert (1810-1881) and Sarah [Shaffer] Heckert (1808-1958), and was one of at least eight known children of that couple. Josiah married Lydia Roschow (or Roshon) some time before he enrolled in the cavalry.
Other information on Findagrave indicates that the couple had a daughter, Sarah E. Heckert, born 11 March 1862, also born before the cavalry enrollment. That daughter died on 5 February 1863 – while Josiah was in the service! Sarah is buried at the Stone Valley Cemetery, Hickory Corners, Northumberland County, but as of this writing, a grave marker has not been seen. No other known children were born to Josiah and Lydia.
A few months later, Josiah was at Gettysburg. His name appears on the Pennsylvania Monument tablet for the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry:
A Pension Index Card was located on Ancestry.com:
On 16 May 1890, from Pennsylvania, Josiah Heckert applied for an invalid pension, which he received and collected to his death. Lydia A. Heckert, the widow, applied for benefits in early 1903, which she received and collected to her death, which according to other sources, occurred in 1925.
Research is on-going and additional information is sought about this veteran. Readers are invited to comment.
Thank you for your commitment to the PA Civil War Veterns’ history.