Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on June 14, 2016

In the 1890 Veterans’ Census of Reed Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, there appears a Daniel Jenne, with no information given as to his Civil War regiment, company, rank or dates of service.

A Civil War soldier named Daniel Jenney has been located in the Veterans’ Card File at the Pennsylvania Archives.  The back of the card notes that the “rolls also show the last name as Jenne.”  Since this is the only person located in military records with this first name and a similar surname, it can be assumed at the start of the research that the Daniel Jenne of Reed Township is the veteran who served in the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private, mustered into service on 16 September 1862 and mustered out with his company on 5 July 1865.

In checking the data base, U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, several other variations of the name are found on the Military Index Cards, including:  Daniel Jenny, Daniel Jennie, Daniel Jene, Daniel Genny, and Daniel Genney.  However, all this soldiers military records are filed under Daniel Jenny as shown below on the General Index Reference Card from the National Archives (available on Fold3).

Referring back to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card near the top of this post, two other helpful pieces of information are seen:

1. Daniel Jenne was about 33 years old when he enrolled in the regiment at Philadelphia in 1862;  thus his calculated birth year was about 1829.
2. He was “absent sick” on 16 March 1864 at Danisville, Kentucky.

The 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry also served at Gettysburg.  The plaque for Company B on the Pennsylvania Memorial does recognize a “Daniel Genney.”

Click on photo to enlarge.

No Pension Index Card has been located for the Daniel Jenne who served in the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry, either on Ancestry.com or on Fold3.  If the 1890 Census record is correct, he was alive and he would have been eligible for a pension by “old age.”

There are several family trees on Ancestry.com which have a Daniel Jenne, including one born in Vermont about 1820, but there is no indication of Civil War service, nor is there any apparent connection to Pennsylvania.

So, the question remains:  “Who was Daniel Jenne of Reed Township?”  Is this individual associated with the 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry as shown above?  Why didn’t he apply for a pension in 1890? Why was he in Reed Township in 1890?  Answers to these and other questions are sought by the Project and can either be attached to this blog post as a comment or sent by e-mail.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on June 13, 2016

On 11 November 2015, a post entitled Obituary and Memorial to George W. Ely, provided information about his Civil War service in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, his obituary, his family including widow Rebecca [Rudisill] Ely, and photographs of his grave marker and the plaque bearing his name in Lykens.  A request for additional information about him resulted in the following e-mail from a family member:

I read your Civil War blog post about George Ely.  I have some information about him not contained within that post.  During the war, George and the rest of the 13th spent some time in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  While there, he married Jane Wright, daughter of Hiram Wright and Sarah Bowden, 27 June 1865.  Another soldier of the 13th, David Fields, acted as security for the bond.  David was my 2nd great-grandfather.  George then acted as security when David purchased a bond to marry Jane’s sister, Sarah, 5 July 1865.

After George’s death, Rebecca Ely needed to prove the death of Jane [Wright] Ely in order to receive her widow’s pension.  These notices were run in the Fayetteville Weekly Observer:

This ran 10 May 1915, page 5:

INFORMATION WANTED BY A SOLDIER’S WIDOW.

R. Renshaw of Lykens, Pennsylvania., has written here, asking for information as to Jane Wright, daughter of Hiram Wright, who married George Ely about 1865.  Ely is now dead, and the second wife wants to get a pension, but must prove the death of the first wife.
If any can give the information it will be very gratefully received by an old widow, and the information sent to Messrs. Cook & Cook, this city, will be transmitted to her.

And this 10 June 1914, page 3:

Mayor McNeill gave us the following letter this morning, and it may be that some of the older residents can furnish the information desired:

Lykens, Pennsylvania, 30 May 1914.
Chief of Police, Fayetteville, N. C.

Dear Sir:–Would it be possible for you to furnish me with any information that will lead me to get the records of the death and burial of a certain lady who is supposed to have died and was interred in or near you city in the Fall of 1865 or Spring of 1866.

Her maiden name was Jane Wright, was married to one George Ely, who brought her to this place in the Summer of 1865, she however, did not remain here more than a few weeks and returned home again; shortly after she left here a letter was received by a relative of George Ely, stating that she had died, since which nothing has been heard about her.

The people who knew here here at the time have passed away as also has her husband and no information further than the above is known.  It is very necessary that we should have some proofs of her death or whereabouts, if living.

Hoping you can be able to put me on the track of getting the information and that I can reciprocate later on.

I remain
Yours truly,
W. S. Young.

I hope this helps you in your research.

As a result of the e-mail, the following documents were located on Ancestry.com:

Marriage Bond:

Marriage Register:

Click on document to enlarge.

Marriage Certification:

Click on document to enlarge.

Continuing the research, reference is made to the Pension Index Card for George W. Ely, which notes his death date and fact that his widow applied for an received a pension based on his service.  From the fact that she received the pension it can be concluded that her attempts to prove that George’s first wife was dead were successful.  However, without consulting the pension application files, available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., it cannot be determined what proof was provided.

Pension Index Card from Fold3.

In searching the records of David Fields, nothing has been found to place him in the Lykens Valley area.  His Pension Index Card, shown below from Fold3 indicates that he served in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company C, from 2 September 1863 to 14 July 1865.  According to the pension information, he died on 21 April 1917 at Pembroke, North Carolina, but state death records and cemetery records indicate he died on 14 April 1917.

David Fields is buried at McNeill Cemetery, Pembroke, Robeson County, North Carolina.  His Findagrave Memorial does not indicate that he served in the Civil War as a Union soldier.

The news clipping at the top of this post is from Newspapers.com.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on June 10, 2016

According to his death certificate, Jonathan Hoober died in Shamokin on 1 October 1929, and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.  His place of birth, was given as Lykens, Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Hoober is believed to be the Jonathan Hoover who is named on the Lykens G.A.R.Monument. as a Private who was not a member of the Heilner Post.

The Pension Index Card (above, from Fold3) confirms that Jonathan Hoover was a Civil War veteran who served in Company G, 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, from 6 April 1865 to 25 June 1865.  During these dates of service, about 4 months total, Jonathan served in the 2nd Company G, a replacement company in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, that saw light, end of the war duty in North Carolina.

Previously on this blog, a brief history of this replacement regiment was told.  See:  The 2nd Company G of the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  Suffice it to say that the most hazardous experience faced by the men in this company was the threat of disease.  The company saw no battle action.

No other Civil War service was included on the pension application, so, it has to be assumed that Jonathan Hoober was not in any other military unit during the war.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives gives the same military information.  Personal information about Jonathan Hoober includes his age of 18, his height of 5 foot 6 inches, and his occupation (laborer).  He had a fair complexion, dark eyes and dark hair.  He claimed that he was born in Dauphin County and was residing in Dover, Pennsylvania, at the time of his recruitment.

Jonathan Hoober‘s obituary tells another story about his Civil War experience:

TAPS IS SOUNDED FOR ANOTHER CIVIL WAR VET

Comrade Jonathan Hoober Who Fought With Gallantry in a Number of Notable Battles of the War of the Rebellion, Passed Away at Early Hour Today

Another of the gallant defenders of the cause of the union in the great Civil War answered taps at 6 o’clock this morning when Comrade Jonathan Hoober, following an illness of six months, during most of which time he was bedfast, passed into rest at the family residence, 514 bear Valley Avenue, where he had been living retired for a number of years.  Comrade Hoober was born at Lykens, Dauphin County, 19 January 1847, where he was reared to young manhood.  As a youth he secure employment….   answered… President…..

Company C, 103rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.  With this famous military unit he saw service in the greatest battles and maneuvers of the civil conflict, continuing in service thru-out the period of the war and meriting an honorable discharge with special credit from General Schofield, his commanding superior, on 25 June 1865.  At the close of the war, Mr. Hoober came to this locality, taking up … residence at Bear Valley where he was employed at the Reading Coal and Iron Company’s colliery as a contract miner, until the weight of years necessitated his retirement.  He was looked upon by officials of the company as one of its most expert miners and had charge of contracts involving many of the major openings at that operation.  Some years ago the family removed to this city, where Comrade Hoober was a familiar figure until complications attendant upon old age forced him to remain at home and subsequently to become bedfast.  The departed was a most devoted and thoughtful husband and father and was held in highest regard by his every acquaintance thru-out the entire community.

Surviving the veteran are his widow and the following children:  Mrs. Harry Kerstetter, Mrs. J. Melvin Heim, Miss Gladys Hoober and J. Alfred Hoober of this city; Mrs. Harry Werntz, of Lewsitown;  Charles Hoober and John Hoober, of Detroit, Michigan, and a step-son, William Muir of Lykens; one sister, Mrs. Agnes Wallace, of Everett, Washington; and seventeen grand-children also survive.

The funeral will be held from the late home at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, with the Rev. Dr. Charles B. Schneder officiating.  Burial is to be made in the family plot in the Odd Fellows’ Cemetery.

There is no doubt that the obituary and military/pension records are for the same person.  The difference is the exaggerated war record which was told in the obituary.  When Hoober died in 1929 there were few members of his regiment and company who could dispute what was released to the newspaper and this is probably the reason that the information in it has not been questioned until now.

The news clipping is from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Lykens Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on June 9, 2016

The following story appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot, 15 April 1915:

WOUND REOPENS AFTER 52 YEARS, CAUSING DEATH

Reedsville Man Dies From Sabre Cut Received During the Civil War

WAS PLANTING GARDEN

Leaned Over Too Far, Lost His Balance and Caused the Wound To Tear Apart

Special Dispatch to the Patriot

Lewistown, 14 April 1915 — Reopening of a wound received fifty-two years ago caused the death of John Bumgardner, 74 years old, this afternoon.  Bumgardner, whose home is at Reedsville, near here, fought throughout the Civil War.  He was a member of Company M, Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry [16th Pennsylvania Cavalry] and received honorable mention for special bravery in several battles.

Fifty-two years ago today he received a sabre cut in the left side during a skirmish between two detached parties.  Loss of blood at this time nearly proved fatal but after months of nursing he was again able to join his company where he served until President Lincoln mustered the men out of service.  After his return to his home he was incapacitated for a time but later recovered from the effects of the wound.

He had been setting out a garden for several days at his home and today was planting onions when he leaned over too far and fell on his side.  The fall opened the old wound, nearly forgotten, and his death occurred a few minutes later.  He died near the place where he fell among the newly planted vegetables.

Despite the interesting story, the official Pennsylvania Death Certificate  for John Bumgardner gives the cause of death as “chronic nephritis”.  The certificate was signed by Dr. Charles J. Stambaugh who claimed he had been treating Mr. Bumgardner for a week for that same disease.  The doctor also did not indicate that there were any contributing factors.

If John Bumgardner was wounded 52 years earlier while on detachment, the incident would have occurred in April of 1863 while the regiment was located in Virginia.  By July 1863, the regiment was participating in the Battle of Gettysburg.  But John Bumgardner does not appear on the Pennsylvania Memorial tablet for Company M of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry (shown below), perhaps because he missed the battle due to  his hospital recovery?

According to Civil War records, John Bumgardner was mustered into service as a Private in Company M of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry on 23 September 1862 and was discharged by General Order on 31 May 1865.  Unless President Lincoln issued the order prior to his death in April 1863, the presidential order would have been issued by his successor, Andrew Johnson.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card, shown above form the Pennsylvania Archives notes that John Bumgardner was wounded in action on 19 June 1863 at Middleburg, Virginia.  This could be the wound mentioned in the obituary, although not quite 52 years prior.  A transfer to Company G is also noted, but his records have been kept with Company M, because he was eventually transferred back to Company M, dates unknown.

The final document examined for John Bumgardner is the Pension Index Card, shown above from Ancestry.com.  It shows that he applied for a disability pension on 8 August 1876 for a disability incurred as a result of his service in the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company M.  However, he did not receive benefits!  Whatever problem occurred which prevented him from receiving a pension would be documented in his application papers, which are available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  If he received several “honorable mentions for special bravery in several battles,” why didn’t he qualify for a pension?

While there are some elements of truth in the report of the death of John Bumgardner, the fact that he did not qualify for a pension and the fact that the death certificate did not cite an open wound as either the cause or the contributing factor to his demise, there are too many unanswered questions about this Civil War story for it to be believable.

For those wishing to research this story further, the military records may give some indication of John Bumgardner‘s actual service and include any time he spent in a hospital recovering – and the pension application file will surely give the reason for the denial of benefits.  Both the military record cards and the pages of the pension application file are available from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on June 8, 2016

The Williamsport Sun Gazette reported the death of Cornelius Hoke in its 8 January 1913 edition:

RENOVO VETERAN ON DEATH’S ROLE [sic]

Cornelius Hoke Dies After Long Sickness Aged 71 Years

Cornelius Hoke, an aged and respected citizen of this place, died last evening at 6:40 o’clock at his residence on Eleventh Street after a two years’ illness, two months of which he passed in bed.  The deceased was born 1 April 1842, at Halifax, Dauphin County.  He was married at Lock Haven, 6 August 1867, to Miss Susan McElhaney, of Hynor [?], who with the following children survive him:  Arthur T. Hoke, of Altoona; Mrs. David McLatchie, of Reading; Mrs. Vinton Markley, of Mad–, Clearfield County; Mrs. John Hand, of Youngstown, Ohio; Amy Hoke and Mrs. Jacob Huff, of Renovo.

He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a Private in Company D, Forty-sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers [46th Pennsylvania Infantry], from 2 September 1861 to 18 September 1864. He enlisted at Harrisburg and was honorably discharged at Chattanooga.  The funeral will take place on Friday afternoon at the residence.  Services will be in charge of Rev. James E. Skillington, of the Methodist Church.  Interment will be made in Fairview Cemetery.  The funeral will be in charge of Bucktail Post, No. 142, G.A.R., of Renovo, of which the deceased was a member.

 

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives, confirms that at the time of his enrollment in his Civil War regiment, that he was a resident of Halifax, Dauphin County, that he was about 20 years old, his height was 5 foot – 7.5 inches, that he had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  His occupation was given as wagonmaker.

After the war, on 1 November 1884, Cornelius applied for a pension, which he received and collected until his death, which occurred on 7 January 1913 at Renova, Pennsylvania.  After his death, his widow, Susan E. [McElheny] Hoke, applied for benefits, which she received and collected until her death, 30 May 1921.

Additional information about Cornelius Hoke can be found on his Findagrave Memorial.

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