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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

The Gratztown Militia and the Home Guards

Early in the nineteenth century, perhaps at the very beginning of the settlement of Gratz, a militia was formed to protect the area from intruders and from hostile Indians, of which there were some.  At the beginning of settlement, Gratz was on the frontier and had a “well regulated militia.”  The early settlers of the […]

William H. Meck – White Supremacist, 1866

The name W. H. Meck appears on a 1866 petition supporting the white supremacist views of Heister Clymer in his bid to become Governor of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War, William H. Meck served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private, from 21 March 1865 to 24 August 1865, when he received […]

Solomon Coleman – Militia Man From Lykens Township

In the Miners Journal of 13 December 1906, the following funeral report was given: BURIAL OF SOLOMON COLEMAN The funeral of Solomon Coleman, of Kaska, who died last Sunday, was held yesterday afternoon, the cortege proceeding to Middleport by trolley where services were conducted at the Lutheran Reformed Church by Rev. C. W. Eberwine, of […]

John S. Bottomstone – White Supremacist, 1866

During the Civil War, John S. Bottomstone served as a Private in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company C, and as a Private in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H. In Emergency of 1863, when Lee’s Army was approaching Pennsylvania and the Battle of Gettysburg took place, John S. Bottomstone answered the call […]

Widow of Philip W. Keiter Dies in Harrisburg, 1914

Philip W. Keiter was born on 22 June 1833 in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, and died on 6 June 1883.  During the Civil War, he served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia, Company C, as a Sergeant, a company that was formed from what was pre-war known as the “Home Guards” or the Gratztown Militia. […]