Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 8, 2016

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.

Proof that he was living in Gratz in 1860 is his application to join the Gratz I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows).  At the time, he was a cabinetmaker, and was 26 years.  When Philip W. Keiter registered for the draft in 1863, he was living in Lykens Township, was married, and was still working as a cabinet maker.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives, is proof that he served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia.  His dates of service were from 4 July 1863 to 11 August 1863.  Previously, a detailed description of service in this regiment and company was presented on this blog in a post entitled, Edward Crabb – Victim of Bigotry in Gratz.  That post indicated that this militia regiment had two African American brothers were were natives of Gratz.

Following the Civil War, Philip W. Keiter is found as a farmer in Mifflin Township in 1870 and as a carpenter in Williamstown in 1880.  When he died, he was buried at Seybert’s Cemetery in Williamstown.  His grave marker is pictured at the top of this post.  At the time the marker was photographed two years ago, there was nothing at graveside to indicate that he was Civil War veteran.

Prior to the Civil War, Philip W. Keiter married Florence A. “Flora” Sausser.  After his death, she remained in Williamstown for a while where she is listed as a widow in the 1890 Veterans’ Census, but then she moved to Harrisburg, where she died in 1914.  Her obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot on 10 December 1914:

TO HOLD FUNERAL OF MRS. KEISTER [sic] TOMORROW

The funeral of Mrs. Florence Keiter, 81 years old, mother-in-law of George W. McIlhenny, Treasurer of the Harrisburg School Board, will be held Friday afternoon at the home of Mr. McIlhenny, 25 North Thirteenth Street, at 4:15 o’clock.  Burial will be held at Williamstown, Saturday afternoon at 1 o’clock, where the body will be taken Saturday.

Mrs. Keiter was the widow of the late P. W. Keiter, of Williamstown.  She is survived by the following children:  Dr. I. A. Keiter, Wiconisco; Dr. C. F. Keiter, Philadelphia; Charles O. Keiter, Liverpool, this state; Mrs. Ellie Tomson, Williamstown; Mrs. George W. McIlhenny, Annie R. Keiter and Jennie M. Keiter of this city.  The following sisters also survive:  Mrs. James Messersmith, of Harrisburg; Mrs. Emma Messner, Williamstown; Mrs. H. Roush, Middleburg; also seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The news clipping is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.  The I.O.O.F. application is from the Project files.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Widow of Philip W. Keiter Dies in Harrisburg, 1914
Tags: Gratz Borough, Halifax Township, Lykens Township, Mifflin Township, Wiconisco

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 5, 2016

A listing of the July 2016 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

Edward Crabb – Victim of Bigotry in Gratz

Adam Jury – Born Millersburg, Died Salisbury Prison

June 2016 Posts

“It would have been better if Mr. Ryan had not seized the pistol….”

Isaac Koppenhaver – Hotel Proprietor of Millersburg

Jacob Keener Jr. – Lykens Resident, Moved to Kansas

Joseph Jeneskey – Another Lykens Soldier Not Regognized on G.A.R. Monument

Who Was John Z. Kebler who Lived in Tower City in 1890?

John Henry Jury – 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry – Some Additional Information

Anton Haake – 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry – Not Recognized on Lykens Monument

Philip Koch, Buried at Erdman – Was He A Civil War Veteran?

Franklin B. Rumbarger – 105th Pennsylvania Infantry & 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters

Millersburg Area African Americans During Civil War Times

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on July 2016 Posts
Tags: Table of Contents

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 3, 2016

Samuel Keiter was born 8 November 1819, and married Susannah Shutt, who was born 4 October 1922.

His Civil War service was chronicled in Captain Enders Legion, pages 109-110:

Samuel enlisted 2 November 1862 at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the 172nd Pennsylvania Regiment [172nd Pennsylvania Infantry], Company A for nine months. On 2 December 1862, the regiment proceeded to Washington and after a halt of two days moved by transports to Newport News, Virginia. It remained for a week, busily engaged in drill, at the end of which, they marched to Yorktown and relieved the 52nd Pennsylvania [52nd Pennsylvania Infantry] at the fort. Here the 172nd was soon settled in quarters where it spent the greater part of its term of service. The troops were kept employed in garrison duty and drill in infantry, light and heavy artillery practice. Early in July 1863, it was ordered where it was attached to the Eleventh Corps. It joined in the escape of the enemy across the Potomac, marched with the Eleventh Corps to Warrenton Junction. Its term of service then expired and the regiment returned to Harrisburg where it was mustered out on 1 August 1863. Samuel served as a Private during his enlistment.

A biographical sketch of him was also found in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, page 746:

SAMUEL KEITER was born in Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 8 November 1819. He is a son of Gerhert Keiter, a Pennsylvanian, of German ancestry, and a farmer and stock raiser of Jackson Township. He married Barbara Lentz. They had ten children: John Keiter, Joseph Keiter, Michael Keiter, Gerhert Keiter, Peter Keiter, Samuel Keiter, Catherine Keiter, Sarah Keiter, Ann Keiter, and Barbara Keiter, all of whom are deceased except Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter were Lutherans. They died in Jackson Township. Mr. Gerhart Keiter was a Republican.

Samuel Keiter attended the subscription schools, and worked with his father at farming until he was of age. He then learned shoe making, and worked at that trade for eight years. He then bought eighty acres of land on which he now resides, built a louse and barn, and otherwise extensively improved the land, which he continued for some time to cultivate. In 1862, at the age of forty-three, Mr. Keiter was drafted into the army, and assigned to company A, One Hundred and Seventy-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Capt. Solomon Bowerman and Colonel Cleckner. He served nine months and was then discharged, and returned home. He resumed farming; also, for twelve years, in connection with his brother Michael Keiter, was a manufacturer of lumber. In this business they met with fair success. Mr. Keiter was married, in Jackson Jownship, in 1842, to Miss Susanna Shott, born in Lykens Valley. They had twelve children: Susan Keiter, wife of Henry Hoffman; Jonas Keiter, deceased; Catherine Keiter, deceased; Philip Keiter, farmer; Leah Keiter, wife of Solomon Matter; Ellen Keiter, wife of William Shertzer; Sarah Keiter, wife of Isaac Henninger; Elizabeth Keiter, deceased, wife of James Miller; Amanda Keiter, wife of Isaac A. Enders; Isaac Keiter, farmer, South Bend, Indiana; Charles Keiter, and Hiram Keiter. Mr. Keiter is a Republican, but no office seeker. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter have passed fifty-four years of wedded life, have reared a family of twelve children, have been industrious and frugal, and are now quietly enjoying the fruits of their well spent life. They are surrounded by three generations of descendants, but are not chilled by the frosts of age. They are cheerful and genial, and by old and young are considered pleasant company. They present an attractive example of the happiness resulting from right living. In their own cheerful old age, in the society of their children and grandchildren, in the enjoyment of home and friends, they proclaim that the marriage relation is no failure, but the largest success of which human nature is capable.

According to information found in Captain Enders Legion, Samuel Keiter’s connection with the Enders family was through his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Keiter, who was born in Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on 24 August 1857. She married James David Miller on 6 January 1876. He was the son of Catherine Enders and Daniel Miller and was born 11 April 1855 in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Mary Elizabeth [Keiter] Miller and James David Miller had three children, Kate Minerva Miller, born 23 September 1877 and died 23 September 1878; Charles T. Miller, born 8 March 1879; and Robert F. Miller, born November 27, 1880 in Dietrich, Pennsylvania. Mary Elizabeth died on June 30, 1883 at age 25 years, 10 months and 6 days and is buried in the Fetterhoff Church Cemetery near Fisherville, Pennsylvania in Section A, Row 1.  As can be seen from the above biographical sketch, another daughter of Samuel Keiter, Amanda Keiter, also married an Enders descendant, Isaac A. Enders.

Samuel Keiter died 2 September 1898 and Susannah [Shutt] Keiter passed away on 18 March 1904. They are buried next to each other in the Fetterhoff Church Cemetery, Halifax Township, in Section A, Row 3.  Samuel Keiter‘s grave marker is pictured above.

Captain Enders Legion was reviewed here on 19 November 2010.  Copies of this book are still available from the Enders Family Association.  The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County is available as a free download from the Internet Archive.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Dietrich, Fisherville, Halifax Township, Jackson Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 1, 2016

Robert B. Kepner was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, about 1825, the son of Benjamin Kepner (1800-1846) and Margaret [Bowes] Kepner (1803-1836).  He died in Washington, D.C., on 17 February 1879.  He is buried at the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery in Halifax, Dauphin County.  Above is shown the index card from the data base, “Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans,” which notes the date of death, and the regiment and company of service, namely, the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A.

The name R. B. Kepner was found in the Halifax Bicentennial Book, with burial information given as the Halifax Cemetery.  No regiment or company was given in that list.  When Civil War burials at that same cemetery were posted on this blog, the Kepner stone was not pictured, because when the cemetery was photographed, it was not seen.  In Findagrave, an entry was found for a “P. B. Kepner,” who served in the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, but the stone was not pictured.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives, shows that Robert B. Kepner enrolled in the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, on 28 August 1861, at Philadelphia.  He was mustered into service at the same place and the same date.  The only personal information on the card was his age of 35.  No rank is stated on the card nor is a discharge date. In the remarks section, are the words “Deserted 17 May 1862.”

On 30 June 1879, as shown on the above Pension Index Card, the widow Elizabeth Kepner, applied for pension benefits based on her husband’s service.  Lacking any mention that Robert B. Kepner had himself applied, it can be assumed that this was first application based on the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A, service of Robert B. Kepner.  However, the fact that Mrs. Kepner actually received a pension conflicts with the comment on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card that he was a deserter, as well as the fact that he was “awarded” a government issue gravestone, which could have only been done if he had an honorable discharge.

The answer is probably found on the General Index Card, shown above from Fold3.  Robert B. Kepner started his service at the rank of Corporal and concluded it at the rank of Private.  Furthermore, he also had service in the Veteran Reserve Corps, something that was not noted on either the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Card File, or on the Pension Index Card.  The transfer was probably not properly recorded in the records of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and he was reported a “not accounted for” at muster out.

One of three General Index Cards for Kepner’s service in the Veteran Reserve Corps is shown above.  This card gives the specific regiment and company in the V.R.C., and also gives the rank of bugler.  Why this service was not reported in at least the pension application is not known.

In 1860, Robert B. Kepner was living in Philadelphia, and was working as a bookkeeper.  In his household were his wife and his three month old son Robert B. Kepner Jr.

In 1870, Robert B. Kepner was living in Washington, D.C., and was working as a clerk to the Postmaster General of the United States.  In addition to his wife Elizabeth, the family also consisted of 3 children.

Robert B. Kepner died in Washington, D.C., as per information found on the Pension Index Card from Fold3 (not pictured here).  His remains were returned to his hometown of Halifax for burial.

Eliza [Waller] Kepner remained in Washington, D.C., collecting a widow’s  pension until her death on 18 December 1903 as reported in the Washington Evening Star:

KEPNER.  On Friday, 18 December 1903,at 8:45 o’clock a.m., at her residence, 16 S Street Northwest, ELIZABETH, wife of the late Robert B. Kepner Sr.  Funeral from late residence Monday, 21 December at 2 o’clock p.m.  Interment private.  Philadelphia papers please copy.

This blog post does not answer all the possible questions about this veteran.  It is a beginning of research on Robert B. Kepner who served in the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and who is buried at the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery.  Additional information can be found in his military record and widow’s pension application, both of which are available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Please add comments to this post or send by e-mail.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Halifax Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 29, 2016

Three African American males of Civil War service age were located in 1860s censuses or draft records of the Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township area.  These men are presented here in the hope that a reader can add additional information about them.  Did they serve in the military during the Civil War?  What happened to them after the war?

Levi Hudson

Levi Hudson, age 22, a Black male living alone, was found in the 1860 Census for Millersburg, Dauphin County.  He claimed to be born in New York and at the time of the census was working as a barber.  He owned no real property and his net worth was about $50.

His white neighbors were George Knoll, a 23 year old student druggist and Mathew Freck, a 64-year old gentleman who was born in Baden (Germany), with real property valued at $1600 and personal property valued at $200.

At the date of this writing, Levi Hudson has not been located in any prior or subsequent censuses nor has be been located in any military records including draft records.

John Jenkins

John Jenkins (or John Jenkens), age 27, a Black male living with his family, wife Catherine Jenkins, a Black female, age 28, and son William Jenkins, age 4, was found in the 1860 Census for Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  He and the other members of family were born in Pennsylvania, and at the time of the census, he was working as a farm hand.  He owned no real property and his net worth was given as $100.

His white neighbors were Lewis Rutter, a 25 year old farm hand, married with children, whose net worth was $150, and Joseph Kreamer, a 30 year old ferry man, also married with children, with real property worth $1800 and personal property worth about $1000.

At the date of this writing, John Jenkins has not been located in any prior or subsequent censuses nor has be been located in any military records including draft records.

Henry Thomas

Henry Thomas, age 30 in 1863, was found in the U.S. Civil War Draft as a resident of Millersburg, Dauphin County.  He was working as a laborer at the time and was single.

He was identified as a possible veteran in an e-mail sent to the Project by Kathy Krotser Mumma on 6 July 2016.  She was trying to identify Civil War soldiers who were not recognized on the Millersburg Soldier Monument, but was unable to locate any additional information on him other than the draft registration.  It is currently believed that the names on the plaque on that monument represent less than one-third of the men who served in the Civil War from the Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township area, but it is not known why so many men were not identified or ignored on that memorial.  Surprisingly, several charter members of the Kilpatrick G.A.R. Post are also not named on the plaque.

At the date of this writing, Henry Thomas has not been located in any prior or subsequent censuses nor has be been located in any military records other than the draft registration.

Readers are invited to add information in the comments section of this blog post or send the information via e-mail.

Censuses and the draft record are from Ancestry.com.

Category: Queries, Research | Comments Off on Millersburg Area African Americans During Civil War Times
Tags: African American, G.A.R., Millersburg, Upper Paxton Township