Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 22, 2016

On the 9 March 1919, the Leavenworth Post of Leavenworth, Kansas, reported on a new admission to the National Soldiers’ Home there – that of John J. Swab, indicating that he was transferred from Battle Mountain Sanitarium and stating that he had been in “nearly every other National Military Home in the United States, but this is the first time he has been here.”

A question has now come up as to whether this is the same John Swab who was born about 1848, the son of Daniel F. Swab (1813-1871) and Sally [Heller] Swab (1817-1901).  John appears in the 1850 Census for Washington Township, Dauphin County (2 years old), and in the 1860 Census (12 years old) of the same place – living with his family.

Also, if the John J. Swab who was an inmate in the soldier homes was a member of the Swab family of Elizabethville and Washington Township, Dauphin County, then he needs to be added to the list of Elizabethville area Civil War veterans that is being compiled for the Elizabethville Bicentennial which will take place in 2017.

A summary military record for the John J. Swab who arrived at the Leavenworth Home in 1919, can be found in the home records, in the Military Index Card available on Fold3, and on the Pension Index Card also from Fold3.  First, the latter two records are presented below:

Military Index Card

Pension Index Card

Summarizing the information in the two cards, John J. Swab served in the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company D, and the 2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Cavalry, Company H.  The Pension Index Card also gives the date of death as 10 July 1923, and the place of death as National Military Home, Ohio.

The dates of service are not found on the above two records, but can be found in the National Soldier Home records, six pages of which pictured below.  In those home records, available through Ancestry.com, two pages of a ledger book are pictured, but only one page contains John J. Swab‘s records.  Click on any thumbnail to enlarge.

Record #1

Record #2

Record #3

Record #4

Record #5

Record #6

In addition to the military information which confirms the service of John J. Swab in the aforementioned cavalry regiments, the home record sheets give the veteran’s age, his physical description, ailments, next of kin, residence and occupation prior to admission and a history of known transfers from one home to another.  Rather than writing out the full name of the home, the branch name was given in initials.

On several of the home sheets, Miss Carrie Dockey (later as Mrs. Carrie Bair) is given as next of kin (a niece) living in Millersburg.  This niece connects John J. Swab, to the Lykens Valley area – but it is not known at this time how Carrie Dockey is his niece.  A brother, Samuel D. Swab is also named in the home records.  The brother’s address appears as Oklahoma and as California.  It is also not known at this time how Samuel D. Swab is connected to John J. Swab.  If John J. Swab was the son of Daniel Swab and Sally [Heller] Swab, there was no sibling named Samuel who has been found, nor is there a descendant of a sibling of Daniel and Sally named Carrie Dockey who has been located who could qualify as a niece.  Help is therefore requested from blog readers in determining the exact genealogical relationship of John J. Swab to these two individuals – Carrie Dockie and Samuel D. Swab.

Another curious fact found in the home records is that this John J. Swab lived in Pittsburgh prior to his admission to the soldiers’ home system – and that he was a widower.  This would indicate a marriage and a spousal death prior to his first home admission – and a re-location to Pittsburgh.  No record has yet been located of the marriage or the name of a possible wife.

More clues as to whether John J. Swab is an Elizabethville area veterans can be found on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives.  His enrollment on 25 March 1864, at Eldred Township, Schuylkill County, where he was a resident, places him in proximity to Elizabethville – and certainly within the geographical area of the Civil War Research Project – but not exactly in the area covered by the Elizabethville Bicentennial.   His age at enrollment, 15 years, is approximately correct for the John Swab who was the son of Daniel Swab and Sally [Heller] Swab.

Much still needs to be discovered about this John J. Swab and more evidence needs to be located before he is definitely placed in the Elizabethville Bicentennial list.  However, his confirmed residence in Eldred Township definitely allows him to be added to the Civil War Research Project.

A pension application was first made in March of 1908.  Most of the answers to the above questions will most likely be found in that application file which is available from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  However, the cost of obtaining those application files is too prohibitive for this Project, and, as in the past, the Project has to rely on the generosity of those who have already obtained the records to share them.  Therefore, the plea goes out to anyone who has obtained the pension file – please share it with readers here!

Another question that needs to be resolved about this John J. Swab is why so many transfers?  Typically, a veteran moved about from one home to another only a few time, but John J. Swab transferred more times than any other inmate thus far encountered by this Project.  Was he an unmanageable person who was transferred because of some unwillingness or inability to conform to home rules?  Or, was he just trying to see the country at the expense of the government?  From the prior research done on these soldiers’ homes, a veteran voluntarily went in and could leave (go to another facility or go home) at any time on his own say so – or, as in the case where the home could no longer manage a individual, the home management could transfer the individual.

There could be an interesting story here for anyone willing to research it further.

John J. Swab is buried at Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.  His Findagrave Memorial gives little additional information about him.

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The new clipping is from Newspaper.com.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on John J. Swab – A Record for the Soldier Homes?
Tags: Eldred Township, Elizabethville, Millersburg, Washington Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 20, 2016

At the death of Captain William J. George on 24 September 1911 in Harrisburg, the following obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph:

CAPT. GEORGE, WAR VETERAN, IS DEAD

Was Secretary of Soldier’ Orphans’ School Commission

CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. GEORGE

After a long illness Captain William J. George, aged 64 years, chief clerk to the Soldiers’ Orphan’ Schools Commission, died last night at his residence, 1001 North Second Street.

Captain George was born and educated in Albany, New York, and at the outbreak of the Civil War enlisted and served as correspondent for several newspapers, afterward taking a conspicuous part in the Lincoln-McClellan campaign.

Locating in Richmond after the war, Captain George became active in politics and served as chairman of the Republican city committee.  Removing to Harrisburg in 1877, he became affiliated with the silk industry of New London and later was one of the firm of George and Farnum, proprietors of the News, a defunct newspaper of this city.

Thomas G. George, former Chief of Police and at present a candidate for Recorder, is a son.

The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon.  Arrangements have not been completed.

Two days later, a report on the funeral appeared in the same newspaper:

Funeral Services for Capt. Wm. J. George

The funeral services of Captain William J. George, aged 64, who died Sunday night, were held this afternoon at the home of his son, Thomas G. George, 1001 North Second Street.  The services were in the charge of the Rev. John D. Fox, pastor of Grace Methodist Church.  The funeral was attended by officers of the Soldiers’ Orphan School Commission, of which he was chief clerk.  [From:  Harrisburg Telegraph, 27 February 1911].

William J. George was profiled in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, which was published in 1896:

William J. George, of the firm of George & Farnum, sole proprietors and publishers of The News, was born in Albany, New York, 6 August 1847.  He was educated in the public schools and private academies of that city.  At the age of sixteen years he entered the Union Army and served until the close of the Civil War, being finally mustered out in July 1865.

During the war, Captain George was correspondent in the field for several newspapers, among them being the well-known Albany Journal.  He took an active part in the campaign of the Army of the Potomac, although not a voter, in the memorable Lincoln-McClellan presidential contest in 1864.  He distributed thousands of pamphlets and circulars on which were printed the platforms of the parties.  These circulars had as much as any one other agency to do with the large Lincoln vote, owing to the stand taken by the Republicans on the war, and the neglect of the Democrats to uphold the Union, and their declaration that “the war was a failure.”

At the close of hostilities the Captain settled in the South and for many years was located in Virginia, where he took an active part in politics, being chairman of the Republican City Committee of Richmond when he left there in 1877 for Harrisburg.  In Richmond he was connected with various newspapers, and also acted as special correspondent for a number of northern newspapers during reconstruction days.  His letters at that period were very interesting, owing to the great efforts to make the South solid for Democracy – no matter what the means used.

Since Captain George resided in this city — up to 1 July of this year — he was connected with the Brainerd & Armstrong Company, the celebrated manufacturers of New London, Connecticut.  His son, Thomas G. George, took his place with the above company on that date in order to allow Captain George to give his undivided time and attention to The News.

The Captain served the city as councilman in both branches and is one of its most active and progressive citizens.  He has been and is connected with a number of leading enterprises and is an up-to-date business man.  He is a member of a number of organizations and a leader in the Republican politics of the State capital.

He was married at Albany, New York 20 January 1867, to Miss Annie Henley, daughter of Robert Henley and Jennie Henley, of Albany, where Mrs. George was born.  To their union have been born two children, Thomas G. George and Jennie B. George, both residing in Harrisburg.  He also has two grandchildren residing with him, Annie M. Goodwin and Gertrude Goodwin.  The father of Mr. George is deceased; his mother still survives and resides in Binghampton.

The term “carpetbagger,” although considered pejorative, referred to northerners who went South during the reconstruction period, mostly with a desire for personal gain and/or for the purpose of assisting in bringing democracy to the region.  In the case of William J. George, his biographical sketch suggests that his motives were the latter rather than the former – although his departure from the South in 1877 did coincide with the end of the reconstruction period – perhaps indicating that his safety may have been in danger when the Federal troops were withdrawn because of actions he took against local populations.  His letters, referred to in the biographical sketch, may give some indication as to some of the  “means” used to make the South comply and the extent to which he took part in them.  Those letters were not consulted in writing this blog post.

It is not known why he chose to settle in Harrisburg.

Neither the obituary nor the biographical sketch give a description of the actual military service of William J. George – except to say that he served from the time he was sixteen until the close of the war.  The “New York Military Abstract Card” (shown above from Ancestry.com), notes that on 10 February 1864, he was mustered into service as a Private in Company M, 50th New York Engineers, and served until his discharge on 13 June 1865 at Port Berry, Virginia.  At the time of his enrollment, he was working as a gardener, was 5 foot, 4 inches tall, had brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.  At the time of the writing of this blog post, it was not known how and why William J. George obtained the rank of “Captain.”

That the 50th New York Engineers was the only Civil War service located for William J. George, is confirmed by the Pension Index Card (shown above from Fold3).  On 29 July 1904, he applied for pension benefits, which he received and collected until his death.  On 29 September 1911, his widow applied and received benefits which she collected until her death.

William J. George is buried at the Paxtang Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin County.  His Findagrave Memorial, as of this blog post writing, needs to be updated to include information on his Civil War service.

For more information on the 50th New York Engineers, see the post entitled The 50th New York Engineers at Gettysburg, although the dates of service for William J. George do not include the Gettysburg Campaign.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on William J. George – New York War Veteran, Carpetbagger & Harrisburg Publisher
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 18, 2016

On Line No. 4 of the 1890 Veterans’ Census for Hebe, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (above, from Ancestry.com, click on document to enlarge), there appears the name of Henry Garmer (or Henry Germer) who claimed service as an “Unassigned” soldier, a recruit, in the 3rd Pennsylvania Infantry, from 17 September 1864 through 1 November 1865.  No Civil War related disabilities were reported by him.

However, in researching the records of that regiment, no such person was found.

The Pension Index Cards, however, do show a person named Henry Garmer, who served in the 3rd United States Infantry, who applied for an Invalid Pension on 22 June 1882, from Pennsylvania.  The card, shown below, is from Ancestry.com.

A corresponding card has not yet been located from Fold3.

Are these the same person?  If the two are the same person, then there should be additional information in the pension application file, available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  Note:  Because of the cost of obtaining these files, copies are not available to the Civil War Project unless they are supplied by individuals who have already obtained them.

More information is sought on Henry Garmer.  Please send information to the Civil War Project via e-mail, or attach a comment to this post.  Thank you.

Category: Queries | Comments Off on Who Was Henry Garmer of Hebe?
Tags: Hebe

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 15, 2016

From the Harrisburg Telegraph of 20 May 1905, came a story of the heroic efforts of “Dutch Charlie” to save the life of an eight year old girl whose clothes were on fire:

CHILD DIED OF BURNS

Ruth Ellen Harvey’s Clothes Caught Fire from Flaming Refuse

Ruth Ellen Harvey, aged 8, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Harvey, 1930 Kensington Street, died in the Harrisburg Hospital last evening at 6 o’clock from the effects of burns received in the morning, when her clothes caught fire from the remains of a bonfire which she was moving from the yard of her home.

“Dutch Charlie,” a rag man, labored heroically to save the child and was badly burned about the hands by so doing.

The fire was started by the mother to rid the yard of paper and refuse and the child attempted to carry out some of the flaming fragments, when her clothes caught fire.

And, two days later, the Harrisburg Daily Independent identified “Dutch Charley.”

Charles J. Hartleaf the Hero’s Name

The man who heroically tried to help 8-year-old Ruth Ellen Harvey, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Harvey, of 1930 Kensington Street, Friday morning when she was fatally burned while playing about a bonfire, was Charles J. Hartleaf, of Rudy Street, near Nineteenth Street.  He objects to the soubriquet [sic] of “Dutch Charley,” and says he has been in this country since 1864.  He was sorting out seeds for the Spring planting when he heard her cries and hurriedly went to her aid cutting the burning portions of her dress off with his penknife.

Charles J. Hartleaf was born about December 1846 in Germany and came to the United States in 1864, during the Civil War.  According to information in Civil War soldier databases, he enlisted in a New Jersey regiment on 18 February 1865, and according to information from the Pension Index Cards, he served in Company of of the 7th New Jersey Infantry.  On 17 February 1887 he applied for a pension, which according to the records at the National Archives, he was not awarded.  One of the Civil War soldier databases states that he was reported as “deserted” on 1 July 1865 at Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia.  No record of a discharge has been seen.

In 1890, when he was living in Millersburg, Dauphin County, he gave his service information as the 7th New Jersey Infantry, Company I, Private, with dates of 2 February 1864 through 9 August 1865, a term of 1 year, 4 months [sic], and 7 days.  There is a conflict in the length of time he served as well as the starting date, which according to other sources, was in 1865, not 1864.  He also reported in 1890 that he had a Civil War-related disability:  “Lost index finger on right hand.”

In the Harrisburg Telegraph of 24 October 1890 [see above], a brief mention appeared of an accident in which he was involved while living in Millersburg:  He “fell through a hay home in the barn… and fractured a rib.”

Not much more is known about him until reports of his death were published in 1907:

From: Harrisburg Telegraph, 21 January 1907:

AGED TOYMAKER DEAD

Funeral services will be held at the chapel at the East Harrisburg Cemetery to-morrow afternoon, by Rev. R. L. Meisenhelder, over the remains of Charles Hartleaf, and aged toymaker, who lived in a small shanty near the Children’s Industrial Home, on Nineteenth Street, and who died on Friday morning from a stroke of apoplexy.  Mr. Hartleaf lived all alone and for some time had not been feeling well.  Dr. Austin Best was looking after him and on Friday morning when he called he found the old man lying on the floor overcome by a stroke.  Dr. Best carried the patient to a sofa, but he died without regaining consciousness.  The remains were removed to the undertaking establishment of E. J. Miller, 524 Race Street, and prepared for burial, while a number of Mr. Hartleaf’s friends raised a fund for his burial.

From:  Harrisburg Daily Independent, 21 January 1907:

Aged Toy Maker Dead.

Charles Hartleaf, an aged maker of toys, died Friday morning at his home, a small shanty near the Children’s Industrial Home, Nineteenth Street, of apoplexy.  The body was taken to the funeral parlors of E. J. Miller, undertaker, and a number of friends of Mr. Hartleaf raised a fund for the funeral expenses.  The services will be held at the chapel of East Harrisburg Cemetery tomorrow.  Rev. R. L. Meisenhelder will officiate.

It is not clear why Charles J. Hartleaf did not receive a pension, especially if he lost his right index finger as a result of his war service.  It is also not clear why his Civil War service was not mentioned in his obituaries.  Finally, if he lived for a time in Millersburg – and it clearly documented that he was there at least in 1890 – why he is not recognized on the Millersburg Soldier Monument.

Additional information is sought about Charles J. Hartleaf.  Was he married and did he have children?  What was his military record?  And, why is he not recognized in Millersburg?  Anyone with the answers can add a comment to this post or send the information via e-mail.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Category: Queries | Comments Off on Charles J. Hartleaf – “Dutch Charlie”
Tags: Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 13, 2016

The three men whose obituaries appear below all served in the 2nd Company G of the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry as Privates.:

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Adam Flinchbaugh Geesey (1841-1921):

Adam F. Geesey, a former treasurer of York County, Civil War veteran and bank directory, died on Saturday at his home in York from paralysis, aged 79 years. Mr. Geesey had an active career until his retirement from business in 1895.  At an early early age he served several terms as York County Chairman of the Democratic Party.  He served two terms as county treasurer.  Mr. Geesey was at one time proprietor of the York Gazette.  He was a Director of the Security, Title and Trust Company.  He leaves besides his wife two sons, Arthur H. Geesey and Clarence A. Geesey, both of York, the latter having been private secretary of Hon. A. R. Brodbeck for years.  [From: Gettysburg Compiler, 5 March 1921].

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Edwin Daniel Geesey (1836-1900):

THE WORK OF DEATH

EDWIN D. GEESEY.

Mr. Edwin D. Geesey, a native of Pennsylvania, but who for the past 32 years had been a resident of this county, died Wednesday evening, 21 February 1900,at his home in Woodsboro, of cancer, aged 63 years, 6 months and 15 days. He was a well known and esteemed gentleman, and is survived by 6 children:  Mrs. F. P. Ledwidge, Edwin F. Geesey, Bertha V. Geesey, and George E. Geesey, of Woodsboro; Mrs. C. E. Dinterman, of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania; and Alice S. Geesey, of Hanover, Pennsylvania.  The funeral took place on Friday morning from the Methodist Protestant Church, Rev. W. J. Floyd officiating.  Interment was made at Mt. Hope Cemetery.  [From:  The News (Frederick, Maryland), 26 February 1900].

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Benjamin Franklin Geesey (1825-1905):

DALLASTOWN

Dallastown, 3 January 1905 — Franklin Geesey, the aged veteran who died on Sunday, was buried this afternoon, and was lowered to the grave in Union Cemetery by six of his comrades, who were also lifelong companions, namely, George Reed, Z. S. Shaw, Jacob Minnich, Michael Fix, Henry Shermerier, and Jacob Grim.  Prior to burial, the body was taken from the house to the Lutheran Church, of which he had been a member, services held by the Rev. S. F. Greenhoe, pastor.  His text was from Matthew XXIV, 4: “Be ye ready.”  During the service three of Mr. Geesey’s favorite hymns were sung by the choir.  The funeral was largely attended, as Mr. Geesey was one of the oldest citizens, having been born and raised in the neighborhood.  [From: York Daily, 4 Jan 1906].

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on Obituaries of the Three Geesey Men in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry
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