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Solomon Moyer – Killed in Railroad Accident, 1890
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on April 8, 2019
Solomon Moyer, Civil War veteran, was tragically killed in 1890 while working on the railroad.
Solomon Moyer enrolled at Pine Grove Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, on 2 September 1961. On 23 September 1861, he was mustered into service as a Private in Company B at Pottsville. There is some handwritten information on the card which gives his age at 36, born about 1825, and Schuylkill County residence. On 21 October 1864, Solomon Moyer was discharged at the end of his term of service. Unlike many other members of the regiment, he chose not to re-enlist
Death occurred for Solomon Moyer in August 1890.
From the Pine Grove Press Herald, 8 August 1890:
Killed on the Railroad
Solomon Moyer Sr., of North Pine Grove, was killed below the Philadelphia and Reading scales on Saturday morning. Mr. Moyer was a car inspector, a position which he held for many years, and that morning was making his usual rounds. He discovered a defective brake near the rear end of a train and sending Sherman Stine to place a flag on the front end of the train he crept under the car to fix the brake. Before Mr. Stine could reach the place to give the warning a car that was being shifted ran against the train with such force as to set the whole train in motion. Mr. Moyer was under the car and the axle caught him, doubling him up and breaking his vertebra. He was taken from under the cars by several of the railroaders and Dr. Seyfert, the company’s physician, summoned. He showed no signs of life and death must have been instantaneous. The shocking accident soon spread over town and everybody wore a sad face.
J. P. Martin, deputy coroner, was notified and requested to hold an inquest and empaneled the following jury: S. R. Miller; John Shaffner; Harry Eiler; Dr. A. L. Boughner; Mr. Reichelderfer and P. S. Shollenberger, who after hearing the evidence, rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
Mr. Solomon Moyer was in his 66th year and a life-long resident of this place. An industrious man, who reared a large family – now all grown up an married, except Solomon Moyer Jr., who remains at home. At the breaking out of the rebellion, he was one of the first to leave the fire-side and defend his country. He enlisted in Major Filbert’s Company, 96th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers [96th Pennsylvania Infantry] and served three years. He was one of the bravest men in Maj. Filbert’s Company and was engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg, a place he frequently visited, and took pleasure in pointing out the place the regiment occupied in that great struggle.
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, from his late residence, in North Pine Grove. Interment was made in the Lutheran Cemetery. Wolf Post, No. 203, G.A.R., of which deceased was an active member, Independent Cornet Band, Woman’s Relied Corps, and Company G, 4th Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania attended in a body and performed the last sad rites at the grave. The funeral was largely attended.
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Solomon Moyer never applied for a pension based on his Civil War service. However, after his death, on 1 September 1890, his widow, Elizabeth A. [Getz] Moyer applied for benefits, which she received until her death in 1893. The pension information is from the Pension Index Card, shown above from Ancestry.com.
As stated in the obituary, Solomon Moyer is buried in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County. His grave marker mentions his Civil War service. Additional information can be found at his Findagrave Memorial. where the above-pictured grave marker, as well as the portrait of him, can be seen.
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