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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

John H. Hoffman – Williamstown Merchant and Manufacturer

| September 4, 2012

John H. Hoffman, a descendant of Johann Peter Hoffman (1709-1798), pioneer settler of the Lykens Valley was a prosperous merchant and manufacturer of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  His biography was prominently featured in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. L. Runk Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. John H.  Hoffman… was born […]

Mathias Wilson McAlarney – Provost Marshal, Journalist & Postmaster

| September 2, 2012

Adaline “Ada’ Hoffman (1845-1915) was born in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and was only one generation removed from the Lykens Valley.  Her father, Jacob David Hoffman (1812-1887) had been born in Lykens Township, and was the great-grandson of Johann Peter Hoffman (1709-1797), pioneer settler of the Lykens Valley.  Ada’s mother was a Romberger, also from […]

John W. Simonton – President Judge, 12th Judicial District of Pennsylvania

| August 30, 2012

John W. Simonton, the presiding judge at the trial of Keiper and Rowe, the two Halifax National Bank robbers and murderers of bank cashier and Civil War veteran Charles W. Ryan, was himself a Civil War veteran, having served as a Private in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry (Militia of 1862), Company K.  The biography and […]

Fred R. Gilbert, Merchant Tailor of Millersburg

| August 29, 2012

The following sketch of the life of Frederick R. Gilbert is from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. L. Runk and Company of Chambersburg: Frederick R. Gilbert, merchant tailor, was born at Loyalton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 16 November 1825, the son of John Gilbert, and Elizabeth [Rathron] Gilbert.  His great-grandfather, […]

Isaac Lyter, Bank Teller – Another Look

| August 28, 2012

Isaac Lyter (1844-1912) was previously featured here as part of a series of posts on the Halifax Bank robbery.  The following biographical sketch is from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg.  While it sheds little light on his military service, additional interesting information is […]