Norman Gasbarro | March 16, 2019
Louis A. Gratz is often associated with the Gratz family of Philadelphia and its connections to the Lykens Valley. However, no evidence has been seen that he was descended from or closely related to that family. Louis, an immigrant, first appears in the area around Pottsville as a peddler just prior to the Civil War. […]
Norman Gasbarro | March 14, 2019
Per the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives, on 16 June 1863 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, a 19-year-old Henry Graver enrolled in the militia regiment 27th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company I, as a Private, and three days later he was mustered into service at Harrisburg. Other resources indicate that […]
Norman Gasbarro | March 12, 2019
Previously on this blog, Mary Kilraine of Williamstown – Civil War Laundress was presented. Mary was first married to Patrick Craven of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. After his death, she married Patrick Comuskey. The following story about Mary Comuskey was printed in the Williamstown Sesquicentennial Book in 1976. Mrs. Comuskey, “Woman with war history,” was […]
Norman Gasbarro | March 6, 2019
On 19 August 1911, the obituary of Levi S. Adams appeared in the West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald: Levi Adams, an old and highly respected citizen of Spring Street, died suddenly of heart trouble at 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, aged 72 years. Mr. Adams was a veteran of the Civil War and […]
Norman Gasbarro | March 1, 2019
A sad story of an immigrant, wounded veteran who served honorably throughout the Civil War and who died alone at the county poorhouse, is told through newspaper stories, available military records, and other genealogical resources. From the Pottsville Republican, 5 November 1902: Poor Old Soldier Communicated Died at the Schuylkill County Almshouse, November 4, 1902, […]
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