Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 3, 2016

Philip C. Swab is buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  During the Civil War, he served in the 208th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private.  He was mustered into service on 30 August 1864 and honorably discharged on 1 June 1865.  In 1870, Swab was a retail dry goods merchant in Williamstown, Dauphin County, and in 1880 continued in that occupation in Williamstown adding groceries to his goods for sale.  Beginning in 1885, he served as the elected Recorder of Deeds for the County, a position he held for two terms.  But after leaving that position, he re-located to the Tennessee-Kentucky area where he became President of a mining company.  It was in Tennessee that he died suddenly on 10 January 1900.  Since his roots were in Dauphin County, and in particular Elizabethville and Washington Township, the family made arrangements to bring his remains back for burial.  Thus resulted in one of the most elaborate funerals ever conducted in the Lykens Valley.

The Harrisburg-based news articles describing the life, death and funeral of Philip C. Swab are presented below.  Note the genealogical information tracing the Swab family back several generation, the rail arrangements made to move his body from Tennessee to Elizabethville, and the description of the huge floral pieces present at the funeral.  While one of the articles indicates that the burial took place at the St. John’s Church “graveyard,” located in Mifflin Township, near Berrysburg, interment actually took place at the Maple Grove Cemetery where Philip’s wife, the former Catherine Koppenheffer, had been laid to rest when she passed away in 1894.

Surprisingly, no picture has been located of Philip C. Swab, especially considering that he held an elective office in Harrisburg and that much has been written about the coal company of which he was president.  His brother George Swab, who was also involved with the coal company, lived until 1929, and his son Daniel Swab, when he registered for the draft in 1917, was living in Hartranft, Tennessee, and working for the same coal company.  Someone along the way must have preserved a photograph of Philip.

Additional information is sought on Philip C. Swab, including of his actual military service.  No pension application has been located for him.  Philip C. Swab is one of the Elizabethville area Civil War veterans who will be recognized as part of the Bicentennial of the town which will take place in 2017.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 11 January 1900:

Philip C. Swab

Unexpected was the death of Philip C. Swab, from 1885 until 1894, Recorder of Dauphin County, at his home in Hartranft, Tennessee, yesterday afternoon.  His son, Daniel C. Swab, who is reading law at the office of District Attorney  Millar, received the sad news late yesterday afternoon and the further information that the body would be brought to the old Swab homestead near Elizabethville, this county, Saturday, for interment at St. John’s Church, near Berrysburg, Sunday morning at 10.

Philip C. Swab was born 10 September 1847, in Washington Township, and was the son of the late Eli Swab, who died in January 1899.  His great-great grandfather, John Schwab, was a native of Germany, and came to this country about 1735, first settling in Philadelphia, and later removing to Berks County.  John Jacob Schwab, grandfather of Eli Schwab, removed to Washington Township, where he died in 1819.  Jacob Swab, grandfather of the deceased, served in the War of 1812 and died on the Swab homestead in 1866.

The deceased wedded Catharine Koppenheffer, of Washington Township, about thirty years ago, and before coming to this city was a merchant at Williamstown.  He established a comfortable home at Thirteenth and Market Streets, and shortly after retiring from office as Recorder, removed to Hartranft, Tennessee, to assume the presidency of the Reliance Coal and Coke Company, formed by Dauphin County capitalists.  His brother, George Swab, formerly a clerk in the Recorder’s Officer, later a Common Councilman from the Ninth Ward, is now connected with the Tennessee Company in an official capacity.

The deceased is survived by three children:  Mrs. G. Walter Whiteman, of Philadelphia; Daniel C. Swab, of this city, and Miss Fannie Swab, of Hartranft, Tennessee.  Mrs. Swab died in this city in July 1894.

Mr. Swab served in the Civil War and was a Mason and member of the G.A.R.  He was a man of kindly and generous disposition and strong character.  He inherited the energy, industry and probity of his forefathers to a marked degree and always had a good word for his fellow man.  Mr. Swab made a popular official and many friends in Harrisburg will regret his sudden demise.

Mr. Swab stated this afternoon that he had not learned any particulars regarding the nature of his father’s illness.  He received a letter this morning from his father, mailed yesterday, in which the writer stated that he was enjoying his usual good health.

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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 11 January 1900.   Note:  According to her grave marker, Philip’s wife Catherine died on 24 July 1894, so the information in this obituary that “he leaves a wife…” is incorrect.

DEATH OF PHILIP C. SWAB

Ex-Recorder of Deeds of Dauphin County Dies in Tennessee

The announcement last evening in this city of the sudden death of Philip C. Swab, yesterday afternoon at his home in Hartranft, Tennessee, was received with profound regret by his large circle of friends.

Mr. Swab was born in Washington Township, this county, fifty-two years ago.  He leaves a wife and three children:  Mr. Daniel C. Swab, of the District Attorney’s Office, Harrisburg; Mrs. G. W. Whiteman, of Philadelphia; and Miss Fannie Swab, of Hartranft, Tennessee.

The funeral will take place from the Swab homestead, near Elizabethville, on Sunday, and interment will be made at St. John’s Cemetery, bear Berrysburg.

Philip C. Swab served two terms as Recorder of Deeds in Dauphin County, during which time he won the respect and confidence of many people in the city and county for his courteous and fair treatment for all.  Shortly after leaving the Recorder’s Office, he became interested in the Middleborough Coal Company, of Hartranft, Tennessee, and removed his family to that place, where he has since resided.  At the time of death, he was President of the coal company and had filled the position for several years.

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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 13 January 1900:

FUNERAL AT ELIZABETHVILLE

Remains of Ex-Recorder Swab Pass Through the City This Morning

The remains of ex-Recorder Philip C. Swab, who died suddenly at his home at Hartranft, Tennessee, this week, reached the city [Harrisburg] this morning at 1:55 o’clock and were taken to Elizabethville, where the funeral will take place to-morrow morning.  A number of friends of the deceased at Hartranft accompanied the body.

For the accommodation of the deceased’s many friends in this city, who wish to attend the funeral, a special car will be attached to News Express, leaving the city at 7:55 o’clock to-morrow morning.  The car will be detached at Millersburg and taken to Elizabethville by a special engine.  The car will leave Elizabethville in time to connect with the train at Millersburg due here [Harrisburg] at 6:55 o’clock in the evening.  A number of county and ex-county officials will attend the funeral.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 13 January 1900:

MR. SWAB’S BODY HERE

Funeral Services Will be Held To-Morrow Morning

Accompanied by members of his family and close friends and business associates, the body of the late Philip C. Swab, former Recorder of Dauphin County, reached the city from his late home in Hartranft, Tennessee, at 1:55 this morning, coming by way of Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.  Later in the morning a number of friends of the Mingo Coal and Coke Company, Fork Ridge Coal and Coke Company, and Middleborough Coal Company, of which latter Mr. Swab was President at the time of his sudden death, arrived in Harrisburg to attend the funeral at St. John’s Lutheran Church, near Berrysburg, tomorrow morning.  Two of the children of the deceased, Daniel C. Swab, of this city, and Mrs. G. Walter Whiteman of Philadelphia, met the body at this point.  Mr. Whiteman, who is a former Harrisburger, is also here.  Those accompanying the body were Mr. and Mrs. George Swab, the former brother of the deceased; Miss Fannie Swab, a daughter; Mrs. Hannah [Swab] Brubaker, a sister; and General Manager Q. A. Tipten Jr., of the Reliance Coal and Coke Company.  The floral designs ordered in this city by the officials of the above-mentioned corporation are the handsomest seen in Harrisburg for a long while.  At 7:55 this morning, the body and friends departed for Elizabethville.

For the convenience of the many friends of Mr. Swab in this city and vicinity who have expressed their intention of attending the funeral, arrangements have been made whereby a special coach will be attached to the train leaving Union Station at 7:55 tomorrow morning.  The car will be detached at Millersburg and taken to Elizabethville by special engine.  The Harrisburgers will be able to return on Philadelphia Accommodation, reaching here [Harrisburg] at 6:55 tomorrow evening.  Funeral services will be held at the Swab homestead near Elizabethville at 10 o’clock and the body will be taken to St. John’s Church, where there will be further services.  Mr. Swab was an old member of the church.  He was also a member of Tremont Lodge of Masons and the G.A.R. Post of Williamstown, both of which will have representatives at the funeral.

Particulars of Mr. Swab’s death were received in the city yesterday.  He had returned from the company’s store about 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon and was informed by his brother George that the stock of feed in the stables was getting low.  He went to [the] stables, and shortly thereafter was found dead in the storage room by Stable Boss St. Clair.  The physicians pronounced the cause of death to be heart disease.

Through the Melrose Floral Company was ordered the following magnificent floral tributes, representing the outlay of hundreds of dollars:  a harp seven feet high, surmounted by three doves, and with golden strings, the sides and base of American beauty roses, and the balance of white roses and ferns, from the Mingo Coal and Coke Company; a standing anchor, four feet high, surrounded by a dove, formed of white and pink roses, lilies, hyacinths, and ferns, the base of galax leaves, white roses and asparagus, from the miners, drivers, and laborers of the Reliance Coal and Coke Company; a crescent and star, four feet high, the star formed of violets, white hyacinths, and yellow roses, the crescent of yellow roses and hyacinths, and the base of yellow roses and asparagus, from D. T. Hodges of Taswell, Tennessee.

In addition to those mentioned above as coming from Tennessee to attend the funeral are the following:  Dr. D. W. C. Senter, nephew of ex-Governor Senter, of Tennessee, and the Swab family physician; Judge G. W. Sansberry, Middleboro, Kentucky, former Vice President of the Middleborough Coal Company, and John Gent, Superintendent of the Reliance Coal and Coke Company; C. M. Woodbury, President of the Mingo Coal and Coke Company, and W. B. Lockett, of W. B. Lockett and Company, Knoxville, Tennessee, were also expected, but have not yet arrived.

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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 15 January 1900:

SWAB OBSEQUIES

Funeral of the Ex-Recorder Takes Place Yesterday in Washington Township

The funeral of ex-Recorder Philip C. Swab in Washington Township yesterday was one of the largest held in that section of Dauphin County for years.  The services were held at St. John’s Church, near Berrysburg, and Rev. Mr. Renninger conducted the services.  Members of Swatara Lodge of Masons of Tremont, attended the funeral and furnished the following pall bearers:  Sheriff John S. Reiff; Charles Stine; Deputy Sheriff George W. Melhenny; John Kauffman; Daniel Feagley; J. J. Nutt; Forest Swartz; and John Eby.  There was also a large delegation of the G.A.R. Post of Williamstown in attendance.  Deceased was a member of both organizations and the rites and ceremonies of the orders were appropriately observed at St. John’s Church Graveyard, where interment took place.  A number of floral designs were furnished by friends of the deceased.  The following Harrisburg people attended the funeral:  District Attorney Albert Millar; former member of the legislature, George Kunkel; Deputy Sheriff George W. McIlhenny; Robert Stucker and mother; Reuben Althouse; Arthur Eby; David R. Cadwallader; Simon Duey; Wellington Swab; and J. H. McIlhenny.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Berrysburg, Elizabethville, G.A.R., Mifflin Township, Millersburg, Tremont, Washington Township, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 1, 2016

On 13 November 2015, Who was Inglis V. Fairbain of Tower City? was presented in a blog post here.  Within a few days, a comprehensive summary was received from Debby Rudy, a regular research contributor who lives in the Lykens Valley area.  Her response answers many of the questions asked in the first blog post, but, as with all research, presents additional unanswered questions.  The e-mail she sent is presented here.

Comments are invited.

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Norm,

What fun! Here’s what I found. With all the misspellings of his first and last name it’s no wonder his info is buried. Spelled as Inglis, Teiglie, Englis, Engits, etc. Misspellings on every census.

His wife lists herself as a widow in the directories in Illinois during the years he is in Tower City. It appears that he returns after she dies in 1901 and is living with his daughter, Agnes before and after she married B.F. Lumley (who had been married to a sister of Agnes).

See my timeline below from Ancestry census, Newspapers.com, FamilySearch etc.  I’ve also corrected info on Findagrave for him and sent links to the memorial owners for his family. This should fill in some of the blanks on his whereabouts, though not what made him leave Illinois for Central Pennsylvania. Did he go to Pennsylvania to find work as a carpenter building houses or to escape a disagreeable wife or was he just a scoundrel who deserted his family and then returned after 20 years away?

Hmm…

Cheers,

Debby

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My Timeline: Inglis Fairbairn

1843:  Born in Edinborough, Scotland 1843

1850 Census:  Inglis is living in Salisbury, LaSalle County, Illinois with parents,  John Fairbairn (a baker) and Agnes Valentine Fairbairn [Note:  Ancestry spells his name as: Inghs Fiubrum].

1860 Census:  Inglis is 17 and living with father John Fairbairn (now a farmer) in Wheatland, Illinois and grandmother Jeanette Valentine (the source for his middle name of V.)

His mother Agnes Valentine Fairbairn and grandfather Valentine are not on the census and are presumed dead.

The next door farm is owned by Thomas Varley & Martha Varley (spelled incorrectly in census as Barley) whose daughter Margaret Varley, 17, later becomes Inglis’ bride.

1865 Discharge:  Discharged for Disability, 22 May 1865 at Newton (?) U.S ._____ Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.  Source:  U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 for Teiglie W. Fairbairn [Ancestry transcribers are horrid!].  Englis V. Fairburn in the U.S. Returns from Regular Army Infantry Regiments, 1821-1916.

1865:  Marriage to Margaret Varney.  Name: Maggie Varley.   Gender: Female Marriage Date: 15 August 1865 Marriage Place: Will County, Illinois, Spouse Name: Inglis V. Fairbairn.

1870 Census:  Inglis is living in Plainfield, Will County, Illinois, with wife and 3 children: Inglis Fairbairn, 27, Farmer, born in Scotland; wife Margaret Fairbairn, 27, born in England.  Children-Thomas Fairbairn, 4; Agnes Fairbairn, 3; Anna Fairbairn, 2.

1880 Census – Inglis is living in Porter Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, as a boarder, working as a house carpenter, listed as married.  Margaret Varney Fairbairn is living in Wheatland, Illinois, is listed as married, keeping house, living with her sister Martha and the children Margaret had with Inglis:

Margaret Fairbairn, 34; Thomas Fairbairn, 13; Agness F. Fairbairn, 12; Hannah L. Fairbairn, 11; John A. Fairbairn, 9; Martha E. Fairbairn, 5; Martha E. Varley, 16 (Margaret’s sister)

1890 Census:  Inglis in on the Veterans’ schedule living in Tower City, Porter Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

1891 Directory:  Margaret Varney Fairbairn is listed in Joliet, Illinois, directory as “widow Ingalls”

1895 Directory:  Margaret Fairbairn is listed in Joliet, Illinois, directory as “widow Ingalls”

Name: Margaret Fairbairn. Gender: Female. Residence Year: 1895. Street address: 105 Dickens. Residence Place: Joliet, Illinois, USA. Spouse: Ingalls Fairbairn.  Publication Title: Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1895

1899 Directory:  Name:  Margaret Fairbairn.  Gender:  female.  Residence Year:  1899.  Street Address:  601 N. Chicago. Residence Place:  Joliet, Illinois, USA.  Spouse:  Ingalls V. Fairbairn.

1901 Directory:  Margaret Fairbairn is listed at same address, 601 Chicago Ave, Joliet as “widow Eugene”

1901:  Wife Margaret dies, is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Joliet, Illinois.

1899:  Inglis collected a $6.00 pension in June 1899 in Tower City, Pennsylvania, according to the Harrisburg Star Independent (Newspapers.com)

1900 Census:  Tower City, Schuylkill County, Inglis is living alone, married 35 years, working as a carpenter, renting a residence. He is living next door to Ann Wilson from Wales and her 2 children who were born in Scotland.

1910 Census:  Inglis is not found in a census for Pennsylvania or Illinois as yet, but may turn up under yet another misspelling.  He is not living with daughter Agnes yet;  she is found in 1910 living with her sister Anna and Anna’s husband B.F. Lumley and working in his grocery store. When Anna dies, Agnes marries her sister’s husband..

1912 Directory:  Inglis is back in Illinois working at B.F. Lumley with his, as yet, unmarried daughter Agnes Fairbairn – who marries her deceased sister’s husband B.F. Lumley before next census.

Name: Inglis V. Fairbairn.   Residence Year: 1912. Street Address: 608 Stirling Av.  Residence Place: Joliet, Illinois, USA.  Occupation: Works Publication. Title: Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1912.

1920 Directory: In Illinois, working as a clerk in Joliet.  His name misspelled yet another new way:  Engits V. Fairburn.

1920 Directory: Name:  Ingles V. Fairbairn.  Street address: 303 Hebberd.  Residence Place: Joliet, Illinois, USA.  Occupation: Clerk.  Publication Title: Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1920

1920 Census: Living with now married daughter Agnes Fairbairn Lumley‘s family in Joliet, Illinois, 77 years old.

1921 – Illinois Death Index:

Name: Ingles Fairbairn.  Birth Date: 10 July 1842.  Birth Place: Scotland.   Death Date: 2 July 1921. Death Place: Joliet, Will County, Illinois.   Burial Date: 5 July 1921.  Burial Place: Joliet.  Death Age: 78.  Occupation: Carpenter. Race: White.  Marital Status: Widowed.  Gender: Male. Father Name: John T. Fairbairn. Father Birth Place: Scotland. Spouse Name: Margaret Fairbairn.

and finally, FROM:  http://www.colfab.org

National Park Service:  Detailed Soldier Record. www.civilwar.nps.gov

Inglie V. Fairbairn – Company F – 18 United States Infantry
Film Number M233, Roll 27

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War:      www.suvcwdb.org
Grave Registration: Fairbairn, Ingles
18 US Federal Infantry. Died:  2 July 1821; Buried:  Oakwood [Joliet] Will County, Illinois

1890 Veterans’ Schedules:  www.ancestry.com

(Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania):
Inglis V. Fairbairn – Pvt – Co F – 18 US Inf
Enlistment – 28 March 1862; Discharge:  23Aug1865; Length of service:  3 years, 6 months, 5 days.
Disability incurred:  Andersonville 10 months, “Wounded in foot shot”

Andersonville Prisoners of War:   www.ancestry.com
Inglis V. Fairbairn

Private – Company F – 18th United States Infantry.  Location of Capture:  Resaca, Georgia; Date
of Capture:  14 May 1864; Code – 49527  Paroled, 24 February 1865, Northeast Ferry, North Carolina;
Died, 2 July 1921.

Published Obituaries:

Joliet Sunday Herald-News – Sunday, 3 July 1921, Front Page

Almost on the eve of Independence Day, Ingalls V. Fairbairn, veteran of the Civil War and a resident of Will County for nearly 75 years, died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Lumley, 303 Hebbard Street. Mr. Fairbairn would have celebrated his seventy-ninth birthday, July 10.  He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and came to America as a boy, removing to Plainfield where resided until 11 years ago.  He was a prominent farmer of Plainfield and has taken an active part in G.A.R. work.  During the Civil War he served with Company F. 18th United States Infantry, and was a member of Bartleson  Post. G.A.R. who will attend the funeral.  Surviving him are two sons, Thomas Fairbairn and John Fairbairn of Joliet and two daughters, Mrs. Lumley and Mrs. Elvis Johnson of Joliet.  Mr. Fairbairn has been ill about six weeks.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at the Lumley home, the Rev. J. B.Brown, pastor of the Ridgewood Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery with G.A.R. rites.

Joliet Sunday Herald – 3 July 1921 – Page 14

Fairbairn Ingalls V., Company F. 18th United States Infantry, died at 11:30 a.m., July 2, 1921, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Lumley, 303 Hebbard St.  Survived by two sons, Thomas Fairbairn and John Fairbairn, and two daughters, Mrs. B. Lumley and Mrs. Elvis Johnston of Joliet.  Funeral from the home of his daughter, Tuesday, 10 a.m.  Burial in Oakwood.  Comrades of the G.A.R. are requested to attend.  By request of E. W. Willard, Commander of Post 6.

Category: Overviews | 1 Comment »
Tags: G.A.R., Porter Township, Tower City

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 29, 2016

During the Civil War, Joseph W. Knouff served in Company H of the 130th Pennsylvania Infantry, for nine months.  He died on 10 April 1902 and is buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Enders, Dauphin County.

On 21 July 1890, Joseph W. Knouff applied for a disability pension, which, according to the Pension Index Card (shown below from Ancestry.com), he did not receive.  His widow, Isabella [Enders] Knouff, applied for widow’s benefits in 1902, which she received and collected until her death on 22 November 1939.

Isabella Knouff‘s obituary appeared in a local newspaper at the time of her death:

MRS. JOSEPH W. ENDERS

Mrs. Isabella E. Knouff, age 84 years, widow of Joseph W. Knouff, died at the home of her son, J. Byron Knoff, in Harrisburg, last Wednesday evening. She had been a resident of the Enders community most of her life and was a member of the Enders United Brethren Church.

In addition to her son, she is survived by two grandsons, Robert P. Knouff of Harrisburg and Joseph W. Knouff, Camden, New Jersey, and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held from the C. C. Baker Funeral Home, Harrisburg, Monday morning with further services in the Enders United Brethren Church, with the pastor, Rev. W. E. Sheriff, officiating.  Interment was made in Fairview Cemetery, Enders.

Previously on this blog, Joseph W. Knouff was featured in a post on the Knouff Family Civil War veterans of Enders and Millersburg and in a later post entitled Obituary of Joseph W. Knouff.

This obituary of Mrs. Knouff was also previously featured on this blog.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Obituary of a Civil War Widow, Mrs. Joseph W. Knouff
Tags: Enders, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 27, 2016

Today’s post will begin to document numerous instances of hate and violence in Dauphin County which occurred before, during, and after the Civil War.  This includes actions by individuals, by political parties, by social groups, and by terror groups.  A new blog topic, “Hate,” is being introduced with this post and other posts on this topic can be found by clicking on the word “Hate” in the “topics” category in the 2nd column of any page of the blog.

The presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Pennsylvania in the 1920s and 1930s has been briefly discussed here in past blog posts.  What has not been mentioned before is that there were almost as many members of the Klan in Pennsylvania during that period than there were men from Pennsylvania who served in the Civil War during the early 1860s.  The Klan had as members both men and women.

Jennie Kissinger was a member of the women’s auxiliary of one of the many the Ku Klux Klan groups in Dauphin County in the 1920s.  When she died in 1925, her request that she be buried in her full Klan robe was honored by her husband Irvin Kissinger and by other members of her Klan group.  Her funeral at the East Harrisburg Cemetery was attended by 250 Klan members, 50 of whom were in full regalia.  As noted in one of the articles, the Harrisburg Mayor refused to grant permission for the Klan to hold the public ceremony, but no city officials interfered with the Klan ceremonies at the cemetery.

The Death and Funeral of Jennie Kissinger

The following article was from The Evening News (Harrisburg), 31 March 1925:

Woman Buried Here in Klan Regalia With Fifty Others in White Robes at Grave

The dying request of Mrs. Jennie Kissinger, of 623 North Eighteenth Street, 55, that she be buried in the full regalia of the women’s order of the Ku Klux Klan, of which she was a member, and that the complete ritual ceremonial of the order be observed at her funeral, was carried out when she was buried here yesterday afternoon.

Fifty women of the women’s branch of the Klan made their appearance in the East Harrisburg Cemetery, where the burial took place, dressed in the long white robes and hoods of the order.  Each flowing robe contained, at the breast, a red cross, — the order’s emblem.  Long red tassels waved from the tops of the hoods.  The faces of the women were not covered.

Several hundred spectators, besides 200 members of the Klan, men and women, witnessed the ceremony.

The uniformed women, with their State official, carrying a large American flag at their head, formed an avenue through which the funeral procession passed to the grave.  They then arranged themselves in the form of a cross and advanced to the grave.

Body in White Robe

A beautiful floral cross, made of red and white roses, bearing the inscription, “The Women of the Ku Klux Klan,” was placed at the head of the grave by one of the white-robed figures.  The American flag was placed at the foot of the grave.

The body was dressed in the white robe of the order with the design of the red cross over the heart.  The hood was placed on her head with the face uncovered just before the coffin was closed.

Following funeral services conducted by the Rev. H. F. Rhoad, Pastor of the United Brethren Church, Eighteenth and State Streets, Klan officials read from the Scriptures.  The organization then sand in unison, “The Tie That Binds.”

The men’s branch of the Klan placed a large basket of white carnations, formed in a cross, on the grave.

Mrs. Kissinger died at her home Thursday morning.  It was to her husband, Irvin Kissinger, at the final moment, that she made the request that the members of her order take charge of the funeral.

Her Dying Request

Kissinger said he first notified the order of his wife’s request and that members of the organization went to Mayor Hoverter to ask permission to hold the funeral.  It was explained to the Mayor, he said, that it was not the intention of the Klan to parade through the streets in their robes but only to place them on at the cemetery.

“The Mayor refused to grant permission,” Kissinger continues, “but no efforts were made to interfere with the ceremony.”

Besides her husband, Mrs. Kissinger is survived by one son, Lawrence M. Kissinger.

Mrs. Kissinger died on 26 March 1925 and one of her obituaries referred to her Klan membership euphemistically as “connected with the Fraternal Organization” and did not mention the Klan ceremony that would be conducted at the cemetery.  From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 27 March 1925:

MRS. JENNIE C. KISSINGER

Mrs. Jennie C. Kissinger, wife of Irvin M. Kissinger, died yesterday at her home, 623 North Eighteenth Street.  She is survived by her husband.  Death was caused by complications, following a brief illness.  The funeral service will be private and will be held Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock in the chapel of Hoover and Son funeral parlors, 1413 North Second Street.  The Rev. H. F. Rhoad, of the State Street United Brethren United Brethren Church, will officiate.  Mrs. Kissinger was a member of the State Street, United Brethren Church, and was also connected with the Fraternal Organization.  The body may be viewed Sunday night from 7 to 9 o’clock in the Hoover and Son Parlors.  Burial will be in the East Harrisburg Cemetery.

Shortly after the death of his wife, Irvin Kissinger moved to Michigan and re-married.  It is not known whether he moved there voluntarily or because he was ostracized for his and his wife’s support of the Ku Klux Klan in Dauphin County.  Irvin Kissinger’s obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 March 1948:

IRVIN KISSINGER

Irvin Kissinger, 77, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a former resident of Harrisburg, died 25 February in Grand Rapids.  He left Harrisburg about 20 Years ago.  He was the son of the late Emanuel Kissinger, Harrisburg, and is survived by a grandson, Lawrence Kissinger, Harrisburg; a granddaughter, Mrs. Catherine Harley, Illinois, and two nieces, both of Harrisburg.  He was buried in Grand Rapids.

Attempts at this juncture to connect either Jennie Kissinger or her husband Irvin to any Civil War soldiers in their ancestry have not been successful.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Jennie Kissinger – Buried in Her Ku Klux Klan Robes
Tags: Hate

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 25, 2016

When John Gemmell died, his obituary that appeared in the 3 March 1903, his obituary that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot did not mention his Civil War service.

John Gemmill

After an illness of only a few days John Gemmill of 323 South Fifteenth Street, died yesterday morning at 3 o’clock.  He was sixty-three years of age and was a former resident of the Ninth Ward.  For eleven years he had been a resident of Harrisburg.  The funeral will take place to-morrow, the interment being made at Interline [Enterline], six miles east of Halifax.

However, on 7 March 1903, the Patriot did note that Gemmill was a war veteran:

The body of John Gemmill was brought to this place Thursday and taken to Bowerman’s Church for interment.  Mr. Gemmill was a veteran of the Civil War and a resident of Harrisburg for many years.

In the 1890 Veterans’ Census for Wiconisco, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, the name David W. Gimmell appears as shown below, with service noted in the 8th Maryland Infantry.  On the line above, the name John Price appears, with service in the 203rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  Note:  click on documents to enlarge.

In the corresponding boxes on the bottom half of the census sheet, there is an explanation that John Gemmill served as substitute for his brother.

To show that “Price” was an alias used by John Gemmell, a Pension Index Card is presented below from Fold3:

The card, which shows both the Pennsylvania and Maryland regiments, also has the three “aliases” at the top.  This indicates that the person who applied for the pension on 21 August 1889 was John Gemmill.

During 1892 and 1893, John Gemmell spent some time living at the Soldiers’ Home in Dayton, Ohio.  The home record page, shown below from Ancestry.com, also notes his alias, but credits John Gemmell for service in both state regiments.

Click on document to enlarge

John’s closest relative was his son, Harry E. Gemmill, of Enterline, Dauphin County, and according to the home record, John was released in April 1893, whereupon he returned to Harrisburg.

After the Civil War, John Gemmell worked as a peddler.  An example of the type of work that he did was found in the Harrisburg Telegraph advertisement placed by John C. Graham, 25 July 1878, owner of the Harrisburg Grocer (see above).  That ad states that “by close attention to business, and the assistance of Mr. John Gemmill, the affable and accommodating gentleman, I hope the old, as well as many new customers, will call and see what we can do for them.”

How John Gemmill got his “alias” of Price is unknown.  But it is clear that he was well-known by that name as well as his own, for not only does it appear in the military records, but also in the records of the courts of Harrisburg:

John Gemmill, alias Price, was drunk on Sunday, paid his fine on Monday morning, became drunk, and disorderly on Monday evening, and this morning, in default of fine, returned to his quarters in the lock-up.

More information is sought on this Civil War soldier who apparently served his country well and should be recognized in the communities where he lived.  Comments may be added to this post or sent via e-mail.

Note:  His name is omitted from the Lykens G.A.R. Monument which includes men from Lykens and Wiconisco and the surrounding area.  It’s clear from the 1890 Census that, at least for a time, he lived in Wiconisco.

Note:  His name is not omitted from the list of Civil War veterans produced for the Halifax area, including Enterline, where he is buried, but at the time of this writing, his Findagrave Memorial neglects to mention that he was a Civil War veteran.

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News clippings are from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia and from Newspapers.com.

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