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Lykens and Wiconisco Area – Decorating Graves of Soldiers, May 30, 1869
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 15, 2019
The following report was found in the Lykens Standard, 24 April 1896, describing the decorating the graves on Memorial/Decoration Day, Sunday, May 30, 1869 of area soldiers and honoring their service:
Decoration Day was observed in this place on Sunday last, under the auspices of Post 104, G.A.R. About 11 o’clock the Lykens band assembled in front of Odd Fellows’ Hall, Headquarters of the Grand Army, and played a national air, after which the procession formed under the direction of the marshals of the day – Col. E. G. Savage, J. A. Harper, C. A. Hochlander and Major Joseph Anthony of Williamstown – in the following order, preceded by the band: Post 104, G.A.R.; Wiconisco Lodge No. 533, I.O.O.F.; Wiconisco Encampment, No. 181, I.O.O.F.; Council No. 112, O.U.A.M., and the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School. The procession marched to the cemetery in Wiconisco where the band played a dirge while a formation was being effected, and John C. Miller read an appropriate piece of poetry, after which the grave of Israel Machamer, the only soldier buried in this cemetery, was profusely decorated with flowers. The column then re-formed and proceeded to the Catholic Cemetery in this place, the Lutheran Sunday School having joined the procession. The Rev. Mr. Nunan, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, made a few well-chosen and patriotic remarks, when the graves of Michael Hoffman and John Haley were decorated. The march was continued to the Union Cemetery where the graves of Dr. Henry C. Heilner, Israel Snyder, Emanuel Matter, John Matter, George Keiser and Thomas H. Mann were decorated.
The above article can be used to confirm information about several Civil War veterans from the Lykens Valley area. For example, the birth and death information about John Haley was not previously know. His name appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument. It can now be assumed that John Haley died in 1869 or before and that he is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Lykens. Still to be determined is his regiment and dates of service in the war.
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News clipping from Newspapers.com.
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