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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Dr. Jacob W. Shope – Physician of Halifax and Harrisburg

| February 3, 2013

Jacob W. Shope (1845-1923) was a physician in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, who served in the 201st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, as a Private, during the Civil War. The Pension Index Card shown above is from Fold3 and gives the death date of Dr. Shope as 14 June 1923.  He is buried in the Paxtang […]

Frederick W. Yingst – Carpet Dealer of Harrisburg

| February 2, 2013

Frederick W. Yingst (1843-1920) was the son of Carl Yingst and Anna [Snavely] Yingst, German immigrants who met on shipboard en-route to America.  Frederick was born and reared in Harrisburg.  According to his biographer, at 16 years old, he became an apprentice in the house and sign painting trade with John Cruikshank, a well-known mechanic. […]

Rev. Lewis D. Steckel – Reformed Minister of Lykens

| February 1, 2013

The Rev. Lewis Daniel Steckel (1839-1922) served as the pastor of the Reformed Church in Lykens Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, at the end of the 19th and early part of the 20th century.  He also had a congregation in Tower City, Schuylkill County.  During the Civil War he was the Quartermaster Sergeant in the 176th […]

Postage Stamps Honoring Abraham Lincoln – Bureau of Engraving and Printing to 1909

| January 30, 2013

Although the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had its origins during the Civil War – it was originally created to issue paper money in order to support the war effort – it was not involved in postage stamp production until July 1894.  Prior to the “Bureau Issues” of postage stamps, the U.S government had contracted […]

John P. Hocker – 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry

| January 29, 2013

“Public Notice – Notice is hereby given that letters of administration on the estate of Peter Hocker, late of Middle Township, Dauphin County, deceased, have been granted….”   Thus began a legal item that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot, 18 January 1866. The story behind the notice was found in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of […]