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Civil War Blog

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Rev. Uriah Gambler – Served Churches in Elizabethville, Berrysburg & Tower City

Posted By on December 20, 2015

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Originally, the name of Uriah Gambler was added to the Civil War Project as a result of his name being found in the Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Veterans’ Census of 1890.  After researching him further and his grave and obituary located, it was found that he was born in Berks County, that he was a United Brethren minister, and that he spent most of his career in Lebanon where he is buried at the Covenant Grenwood Cemetery in Ebenezer.  It was through one of his obituaries (shown below), that it was discovered that he also served churches in Elizabethville, Dauphin County, and Tower City, Schuylkill County, two communities well within the geographical area of the Civil War Research Project.

Elizabethville will be celebrating its Bicentennial in 2017 and an effort is being made in advance of that celebration to identify all Civil War veterans with some connection to that community.  Pictures of these veterans are being sought for a display.  If anyone reading this post has access to a picture of the Rev. Uriah Gambler, at any stage in his life, and can share that picture, a digital copy is desired that can be printed and used for the display.  Please send as an attachment to an e-mail.  Clearly, if Rev. Gambler had some affiliation with one of the churches in the Elizabethville area, he should be recognized!

The obituary is from the Lebanon Daily News, 12 January 1920:

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REV. U. GAMBLER ANSWERED THE LAST ROLL CALL

Mustered Out of the Master’s Service on Sunday Morning

AT AGE 78 YEARS

Served His Country Well and Faithfully During ’61-‘64

Rev. Uriah Gambler, one of Lebanon’s most highly respected and esteemed retired ministers, and an exponent of the old-time practical system of religion, died on Sunday morning at 4 o’clock, at his home at 826 Church Street. In despite of the fact that he passed his 78th birthday anniversary on January 3rd of this year, he enjoyed remarkable health until Christmas week. On the day before the big celebration, he was taken ill with what appeared to be an attack of lagrippe. Although the malady did not seem serious at first, it soon developed into complications, and medical aid was unavailing in the efforts to restore him to health.

Born in Berks County

Mr. Gambler was born and raised in Berks County. He spent his early years as a stone mason. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company I, 128th Pennsylvania Volunteers [128th Pennsylvania Infantry], and upon the expiration of his first enlistment, went back into the army again as a member of Company B, 205th Infantry [205th Pennsylvania Infantry]. He had an honorable record, and besides being wounded, was imprisoned for a time. He saw many experiences quite out of the ordinary.

After the war he took up the work of a local preacher, and was later ordained into the ministry of the United Brethren Church.

Came to Lebanon 36 Years Ago

Thirty-six years ago he came to Lebanon to assume the pastorate of Salem United Brethren Church, Ninth and Church Streets.  After service of several years he was transferred to other points under the old itinerant system, and twenty-three years ago he was assigned to the pastorate of the church at West Lebanon. He was there but a short time when he was incapacitated by failing health, and has lived a retired life ever since.

Old Time Exhorter

He was one of the old time ministers of un-ostentatious manner and a direct and practical type of theology.  He was widely known, and was held in highest regard by all who knew him.  His death is deplored.  He leaves his wife, nee Susan Baum.  There are no living children, but five grandchildren mourn his loss, together with two brothers, William Gambler, of Reading, and Joseph Gambler of Lebanon, and sister Mrs. Louise Philphot, of Radnor, Pennsylvania.

G.A.R. Veteran

Mr. Gambler was a member of the McLain Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Reading.  The funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon, at 1:30 o’clock from the house, and with services in Salem United Brethren Church of which he was the pastor when he came to Lebanon.

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The information that Rev. Gambler served churches in Elizabethville and Tower City came from a brief notice of his death that appeared in the Reading Times, 15 January 1920:

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Rev. Uriah Gambler

On Sunday morning Rev. Uriah Gambler, an aged retired United Brethren minister, died at his home at Lebanon. The deceased was one of the best known ministers of that denomination in Eastern Pennsylvania, and was aged 78 years.  He had served about 40 years in the active ministry, having charges at Reading, Lebanon, Tower City, Grantville, Elizabethville, Middleburg, Port Trevorton and Tamaqua.

At this time it is not known which churches he served in those communities or if there are any surviving pictures of him from those church histories.

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The information that Uriah Gambler lived in Berrysburg comes from the 1890 Veterans’ Census of that place, which states his Civil War record.  He did not indicate at that time that he had any disabilities resulting from his service in the war.

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About three weeks after the death of Uriah Gabler, Mrs. Gambler died.  Her obituary appeared in the Lebanon Evening Report on 4 February 1920:

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DEATH AGAIN ENTERED THE GAMBLER HOME

Widow of Rev. Gambler Who Died Month Ago, Summoned

AN ESTIMABLE WOMAN

Possessed Many Noble Virtues, and Member of Salem U. B. Church

Death on Tuesday evening, at 7:25 o’clock, again entered the Gambler home, and this time claimed as a victim, Mrs. Susan Gambler, who died nearly a month ago, 11 January, at the same place.  Mrs. Gambler was afflicted with an attack of influenza or grippe, on Wednesday of last week.  The malady speedily developed into pneumonia, and medical aid was unavailing in the effort to restore her to health.

Salem U. B. Member

The deceased was a daughter of the late John D. Baum and Maria R. Baum, of Reading.  She was united in marriage with the minister over a half century ago, and their 54th marriage anniversary was celebrated last October.  She was a member of Salem United Brethren Church, of which her husband was the pastor for a term of years.  The couple lived in Lebanon thirty years, in different periods of time, as Mr. Gambler was a pastor of different churches during his career.

Those Who Survive

She leaves an adopted daughter, Mrs. Emma Palmer; five grandchildren, and the following sisters and brothers:  Charles R. Baum, of Reading; Mrs. Sarah Duffy, Allentown; Mrs. Emma Clark, Reading; John Baum and William Baum of Reading; and Lettitia, a married sister, also of Reading.

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Additional information about Rev. Uriah Gambler can be found at his Findagrave Memorial.

News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Simon Gratz and the Spy Capture Incident South of Harrisburg, July 1863

Posted By on December 18, 2015

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Three Harrisburg Men Capture Confederate Spy in the River

Col. Demming and Simon Gratz Who Caught “Rebel” Will Meet on Fiftieth Anniversary of Event

According to Samuel Bates, an incident occurred on the Susquehanna River, south of Harrisburg, on 2 July 1863, while the Battle of Gettysburg was taking place, in which three Union men captured a Confederate spy on the river.  The person who was captured was found to have in his possession a map of the river, was wearing what appeared to be a cavalry jacket decorated with orange colored material, and had a loaded revolver in his possession.  After he was turned over to the Provost Marshal of the District, he was reportedly released, but then as he allegedly tried to cross into Confederate lines, he was re-captured and sent to the Union prison at Fort Delaware.  This story needs some serious fact checking.

One of the three Union men involved in the initial capture of this “spy” was Simon Gratz (1842-1923), the son of Theodore Gratz (first mayor of Gratz, Pennsylvania), and the grandson of the Simon Gratz who is credited with laying out the town of Gratz and for whom the borough is presently named.  Although Simon Gratz was born in Harrisburg, the family moved to Gratz, where he spent part of his youth, including attending school, before the family returned to Harrisburg where his father Theodore died in 1863.

Simon Gratz has documented service in three Civil War regiments.

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According to the Pennsylvania Archives (above card), his first service occurred when he was mustered into the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, on 11 May 1861.  There is no muster out date in the records and the unusual things about the card shown above are that not only is there no muster out date given, but the entire company was mustered in on 11 April 1861 – one month prior to the date on which Simon Gratz joined the regiment.

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The second service for Simon Gratz is supposedly in the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Corporal.  In that company, he was mustered into service as “Samuel Gratz” on 26 July 1862 and mustered out of service on 8 May 1863.

His third service was as Captain in the 57th United States Colored Troops from 10 March 1864 through 13 December 1866.  The service of Simon Gratz in this regiment of African Americans is complicated as is the history of that regiment, but he can be accounted for during the time frame in which he was credited with service.

Thus, it is likely from the time frame given above that Simon Gratz could have been at home in Harrisburg during the Battle of Gettysburg, when the alleged spy incident took place.  But, was he part of an official company guarding Harrisburg and the Susquehanna River area, and did the incident actually take place?  No service record has been located for Simon Gratz in an emergency militia regiment called into service by Governor Andrew Curtin during the time of the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863.

Two slight variations of the spy-capture story have been found.  The earliest was said to have appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph on 2 June 1863.   The second, was attributed to Corporal H. C. Demming, who gave his account to Samuel Bates who printed it as part of a footnote on pages 1227-1228 of Volume 5 of History of the Civil War, the state’s officially commissioned war history.  The first version was reprinted by the Harrisburg Telegraph on 1 July 1913, the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, as part of a story about Simon Gratz and his return to Harrisburg for the 50th reunion of the spy-capture incident.

The two versions are presented below for readers to judge their veracity.

The Harrisburg Telegraph version:

The Spy Captured

About 4 o’clock this morning while a squad of F. Asbury Awl‘s company were doing duty in Harrisburg, guarding the ford and —–, a flat boat was discovered —– down stream containing what was supposed to be a man.  The guard ordered the person who was on board to stop the craft, but not being obeyed, he fired.

This had the effect of causing the occupant of the boat, which by the way, had struck a rock and stuck fast, to dodge down and secrete himself in the hold.  He was warned to get up and run his boat into shore where the guard was stationed, but not complying, a second shot was fired at the boat.

This had no effect, and the corporal of the guard, accompanied by Sergeant Gratz, of the same company, took possession of a boat lying along the shore and pulled out to the flat.  On nearing the flat, it presented a deserted appearance, but when the craft came alongside, lo and behold! a man with the uniform of a cavalry officer, and wearing captain’s straps, was discovered cramped in one corner.

He was arrested and ordered to leave the flatboat and get into the boat alongside.  This he did but not without remonstrating some time with his captors, protesting against being arrested.  When the party reached the shore the pretended officer was searched and a loaded “shooter” and a new hatchet were taken from him.  He was then escorted before Captain Awl, who ordered the corporal of the guard to take him to the Provost Marshal’s  office.

Uniform Taken Off

This was about 4:30 o’clock, but the Provost Marshal’s office being closed, the guard took him to his room in the Jones’ House.  He was kept under guard until the office opened and taken before the marshal.  A brief statement was made by one of his captors and sent to General Couch.  The General ordered his uniform to be taken off, and he is now minus his uniform.

We would suppose this man to be a spy from the conflicting statements which he made and from the map of the Susquehanna, with many of its principal fords, which was found in his possession.

Note:  The original article which supposedly appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph on 2 July 1863 has not yet been located for comparison to the re-printed version.  The gaps [“—–“] in the re-printed version (above) are due to a torn copy of the newspaper that was scanned.

The version given to Bates by Henry C. Demming:

In reply to your note of inquiry of the 8th of May, I write.  I was on duty in Harris Park, below the Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge, on the night of July 1st, 1861, as one of the Corporals of the sentry, stationed along the river bank.  At about day-break on the morning of the 2nd, Private C. DeHart, discovered floating down the river, what he at first took to be a log.  When it had floated nearly opposite to his post, he thought he could see the faint outline of a man aboard what he now discovered to be a flat-boat, although it was about two hundred feet from shore,  He cried “halt” but no movement was made by the man in the boat, and DeHart fired.  Several of the sentries now aimed at the object, and it dropped within the flat in time to escape one or two additional shots.  I immediately ran for a skiff some distance up the bank, but it was fastened to a large rock.  Sergeant Simon Gratz came to my assistance, and we succeeded in lifting the rock into the boat and pushing to the flat.  There, crouched in one corner, we discovered a man, who, on seeing us, immediately sprang to his feet.  He was armed, but found that resistance was useless, and after a short parley he surrendered.  An examination of the flat showed that he had thrown a weight over the stern, fastened in such a manner, that upon floating down the main channel of the Susquehanna, and passing over a spot where the water was not over three or four feet deep, it would drag, and the place could be noted.  He was floating over the ford below the bridge, when the sentry fired, and just as the man fell to the bottom of his boat, the weight of the stern struck a shoal place and stopped the flat.

He was taken to the shore, but protested against his summary arrest, and claimed to be a member of General Couch’s staff.  He was registered at the Jones House, Harrisburg.  When captured, he had on a cavalry jacket, trimmed with orange colored material, with a cavalry Captain’s straps.  He surrendered to me a new hatchet and revolver, the latter carefully loaded.  When searched in the office of Captain John Kay Clement, the Provost Marshal of the District, I am informed a map of the Susquehanna was found on his person, containing a number of fords of the Susquehanna, above and opposite the city,  For some reason that I never could understand, he was released on the same or the next day,  He was re-captured withing forty-eight house thereafter, in the act of crossing our lines to join the rebels.  After his re-capture, he was sent to Fort Delaware.

When captured the first time, he told me while I was taking him to the Provost Marshal’s office, that he had a horse or two on the island near the Cumberland Valley shore, nearly opposite Independence Island,  I was sent there with Sergeant Gratz, and Private J. J. Rebman, a day or two after, but the animals were gone. They had evidently been taken away hurriedly, as part of the bridle rein was still fastened to the tree, having either been cut from the bridle or broken off.  Had he succeeded in eluding capture on the morning of the 2nd, he would have returned to the enemy, with full knowledge of the fords of the Susquehanna, and the number of troops in the city and vicinity.

Respectfully submitted with accompanying papers.

The reprinting of the article that appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph on 2 July 1863, was prompted by a letter sent by Simon Gratz to the editor, 27 June 1913:

Letter from Mr. Gratz

1950 N. 23rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

27 June 1913

Dear Sir:

On 2 July 1863 you published an account of the capture of a Confederate spy on the Susquehanna River by John DeHart, Harry Demming and Simon Gratz.

As I am coming through Harrisburg 1 July, it will afford me much pleasure to see either of the above men.

An information you can give me about John DeHart and Harry Demming, where they may be found, etc., will be appreciated.

An account of the capture can be found in Bates’ History of the Civil War, Volume 5, Page 1228.

Very truly yours,

Simon Gratz

In its article of 1 July 1913, the Harrisburg Telegraph described the upcoming reunion:

Fifty years ago three Harrisburg men, members of Asbury Awl‘s company of citizen soldiers, effected the capture of a spy who was making a map of the fords in the Susquehanna River at South Harrisburg, Maclay Street and Rockville.  Tomorrow two survivors of the party will have an informal reunion of the event.  They are Simon Gratz, of Philadelphia, and Colonel Henry C. Demming , of this city.

The third member of the party, John DeHart, who formerly lived in Mulbery Street, is dead.

Recently, the Telegraph received… [a] letter from Mr. Gratz….  Colonel Demming immediately put himself in touch with his old comrade of Philadelphia.

Mr. Gratz will arrive in Harrisburg tomorrow and will call on his comrade of Civil War days to renew old acquaintanceship.

The first way to fact check this story is to determine whether any of the characters mentioned were in a militia regiment captained by Francis Asbury Awl in 1863.  The index card shown below, from Fold3, references a independent militia group in which F. Asbury Awl was the Captain:

Finding a list of the members of this company and its dates and place of service is the next step.  In checking the index cards available at the Pennsylvania Archives, no card was found for F. Asbury Awl for this independent company.  The cards at the Pennsylvania Archives are an index to Bates, and a card not found could indicate that Bates did not credit F. Asbury Awl with service in this independent company and therefore there would be no list of soldiers or dates of service in Bates.  A second place to look is Pennsylvanians in the Civil War by Steve Maczuga.  In searching for “Awl”, no independent regiment or company comes up in the results.  Private John Dehart did serve in an independent company in 1863, but his service was from 20 August to 23 February 1864, and did not cover the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Henry C. Demming is not found in any independent regiment, and neither is Simon Gratz.

A search in the Union Records, Pennsylvania Index Cards, on Fold3, using the keyword “Awl’s Co” produced 93 cards, but none with the names Demming, Gratz, DeHart, or Rebman, the surnames given in the story told above.  It would be possible for some enterprising individual to compile a list of the 93 persons supposedly members of this company (as indicated on the cards) and their ranks, but since the key names do not appear, it becomes more questionable whether the men ever served in Awl’s company.  Also, there are no dates of service on the cards, so it can’t be determined from the cards whether the company was in service at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.

A search of the Pension Index Cards on Fold3 for “Awl’s Company” produced only two cards where veterans claimed service in this regiment.  Of the two men, only one, LaRue Lemur, had dates of service on the card, and from the dates given, mustered in on 28 May 1862 to discharge on the same day, it appears that this company was only in service for one day and had no relevance to the Battle of Gettysburg.

Awl died in 1904, nearly ten years before the story re-surfaced that a Confederate spy was captured by members of his company, so he would not have been around to prove or refute it.

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The Pension Index Card for Simon Gratz (shown above in the Fold3 version), does not indicate service in any independent or emergency regiments or companies, but does include service in an Arkansas Infantry regiment, which is one of the complications in describing his service in the United States Colored Troops.  An explanation of that complication will have to be reserved for a later date, as it has nothing to do with any service on or around the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.  [Note that Simon Gratz died on 1 June 1923, in Philadelphia, as stated on the card.]

The presence of a military index card for F. Asbury Awl suggests that there is an official list of the men who were mustered into service in the Awl’s independent militia.  But that list has not yet appeared on Ancestry.com with other original muster lists that are gradually being uploaded.  The cards found on Fold3 were compiled by Federal government clerks in the 19th Century from those original muster sheets and serve as indexes to the muster sheets as well as summaries of the individual service of the veterans.  As derivative or secondary sources, there could be errors on the cards (or missing cards) so the most conclusive and reliable evidence is the original muster sheets.

The naming of Provost Marshal John Kay Clement and his participation in this event could indicate that the official records of his office could contain reference to the spy incident.  Those official records are available at the Philadelphia Branch of the National Archives.  There is a finding aid to the many boxes of un-indexed Provost Marshal records and anyone wishing to look through those records for some reference to the incident would have to make an appointment at the Philadelphia Branch and dedicate a sufficient amount of time to going though the appropriate boxes, page by page, using appropriate procedures for the handling and copying of original documents.

Another matter in fact checking this story is determining the name of the alleged spy who was captured, released, and then recaptured, and finally sent to Fort Delaware. That name has not surfaced in any of the published accounts of the incident.

A good map of the Susquehanna River area in 1862, Harrisburg and south, can be found on-line at the Pennsylvania Archives.  The area in question can be found on the black and white map tile (click on tile to open the map as a pdf).

Continued research on each of the men named in the above incident is also essential to determine their reliability as well as the possibility and probability that they were in Harrisburg at the time of the alleged incident.

Finally, it should be mentioned before closing that Simon Gratz was involved in several other questionable incidents involving his military experience, one of which occurred in 1873, when he was the only known survivor of an expedition to free the island of Cuba from Spanish rule.  In 1905, when he was a street car conductor in Philadelphia, he made a claim against Cuba asking for compensation for his 1873 efforts, for which he was eventually awarded a pension.  That story will have to wait until another day to be told.

Readers are invited to provide any thoughts and additional information by adding comments to this post or by sending information via e-mail.  A picture is needed of Simon Gratz (1842-1923) so if anyone knows where one can be obtained, please indicate.

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Note:  The Simon Gratz described in this blog post was not the same Simon Gratz who was President of the Philadelphia Board of Education and who was profiled in the post, “Was Simon Gratz a Civil War Veteran?”  Simon Gratz High School was named after the latter, who was the son of Edward Gratz, brother of Theodore Gratz, the father of the former.  The two Simon’s were first cousins, with the same paternal grandfather, Simon Gratz, who was the founder of Gratz, Pennsylvania.

Transcripts of the news articles mere made from images available on Newspapers.com.

Who Was James Gammel of Tremont Who Died in 1864?

Posted By on December 16, 2015

James Gammel was first located as a Civil War soldier in the 1890 Veterans’ Census for Tremont, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  However, the information was given by his widow Ann Gammel, who stated that he served in the 39th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company H, as a Private, from 29 June 1863 to 2 August 1863.

The service information of James Gammel has been confirmed in other records, including in the veterans’ card file at the Pennsylvania Archives.

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Ann Gammel was located in the Pension Index Cards found on Ancestry.com (shown above).  The card states that on 14 August 1914, from Pennsylvania, she applied as a widow for a pension based on her deceased husband’s Civil War service.  She was not awarded the pension, most likely due to the fact that service in Pennsylvania militia regiments/companies was not for the required three months needed for the awarding of benefits.

The 1890 Census Substitute for Tremont, Schuylkill County, available through Ancestry.com, shows an Ann Gammel/Gammell as head of household, with what appears to be a son James Gammel, a 35 year old miner, and his wife Lottie and children living in the same household.  Next door, there is a William J. Gammel, age 28, also a miner, his wife Dora, and one son, William J. Gammel.  Tracing James and William through the available resources on Ancestry.com (family trees and documentary evidence), it is readily apparent that both James and William who appear in this substitute census are the sons of Ann and James Gammel, that James (the son) was born in Scotland and William was born in Pennsylvania, that both parents (Ann and James) were born in either Scotland or Ireland, and that the family arrived in the United States prior to the Civil War.  James Gammel, the husband of Ann, was the Civil War veteran who Ann reported to the Veterans’ Census of 1890, with herself as the widow.

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When did James Gammel die?  The answer to that question is found on the Pension Index Card available from Fold3 (shown above).  According to information on the card, he died in Schuylkill County on 28 October 1864.

Information in Ancestry.com family trees suggests that Ann Gammel was born in May 1836.  If her husband was approximately the same age, then he too was born about the same time, and if one of the two sons mentioned in the 1890 census substitute was born abroad and one was born in Pennsylvania, then it is possible that the family arrived together.  However, no ship list has been located to date to confirm this.  But, a ship list has been found with a James Gammel, age 10, who arrived with his family from Liverpool at New York, on 9 June 1846.  The information on this list is inconsistent with this being the same person as the Civil War soldier – although the age is a good fit.  Is it possible that the soldier James Gammel, first arrived with his parents and siblings in 1846 (at age 10), and then returned to England where he married Ann – and then returned later to the U.S. with his family?  The date for immigration of Ann and her son James, as noted in the Census of 1900, was approximately 1854, which could fit with the theory that the father first came to the U.S. in 1846, then returned to England, married, and brought his new family back to the U.S. about 1854-1855.  A ship passenger list would be needed to confirm this, and thus far, none has been seen.

Another question goes to the cause of death of the soldier James Gammel.  Since the only Civil War service that has been located for him was a short-term militia service, he most likely did not get injured or disabled in the war, as the regiment he was in, had no reported casualties.  He would have been quite young when he died, perhaps only about 30.

James Gammel has not yet been located in the 1850 or 1860 Federal Census.

A maiden name for Ann Gammel has not been verified.

These questions are being asked to fill in some gaps in the story of this soldier who clearly belongs in the Civil War Research Project list and whose family remained in the Tremont area for years after his death.  He also should be recognized by current Tremont veterans’ organizations, if he is not already.

Anyone with information on Civil War soldier James Gammel (also spelled Gammell, Gemmel, and Gemmell), is urged to report it here by adding comments to this blog post or by sending the information via e-mail to the Project.

A Brief History of the Kissinger G.A.R. Post #376 at Gratz

Posted By on December 14, 2015

Gratz is a small community in Upper Dauphin County that in 1883 formed a local G.A.R. post.  Much of the history of that post has been lost over time and now needs to be re-created through available resources, among those resources, the Harrisburg and other archived newspapers and the national Grand Army of the Republic records.

In the beginning, it was just the veterans who participated in the Post activities, but as time went on with the loss of members due to the infirmities of age, lack of interest and death, more organizations in the community were involved, particularly for the “Decoration Day” exercises of remembrance.   Also, it was clear from the wider community involvement, that those communities that did not have their own G.A.R. post, had their community’s veteran graves decorated by the G.A.R. Post that was geographically centered in Gratz.

Here follows a series of newspaper clippings describing the founding and other activities of the Kissinger G.A.R. Post #376.  What has not been determined from these clippings is the person for whom the post was named.  If any reader has knowledge of which “Kissinger” who served in the Civil War bears the Post name, please submit it as a comment or send it via e-mail.

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Founding in 1883 and Meeting Place

From the National Tribune, 18 October 1883:

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Reports of musters of the following Posts have been received during the past week:  Kissinger Post, No. 376, located at Gratz, Dauphin County, was mustered on 29 September 1883, by Past Commander Jacob B. McCoy, Post No. 232, of Lykens.  Commander McCoy was assisted by sixty members of his own Post, including all the officers and others from Posts No. 110 and No. 174.  The comrades left Lykens in private conveyances, and when they arrived at the edge of the town of Gratz were met  by the veterans of that place and the citizens’ band.  Line was formed and a parade made through the streets of the town, after which the comrades were dismissed until the hour fixed for the muster.  Shortly afterwards a delegation from Chester Post, No. 280, of Williamstown, arrived to take part in the ceremonies.  The muster took place in Odd Fellows’ Hall, where the necessary services were successfully gone through with.  Addresses were made by Comrades Senior Vice Commander J. W. Holland and John Murphy of Post No. 232.  Commander McCoy pays a well-deserved compliment to the officers of Post 232 for their very efficient services and to all the comrades present for their cheerful obedience, uniform good conduct and assistance.  The new Post will meet at Odd Fellows’ Hall every first and third Thursday.  The following are its officers:  Commander J. D. Gise; S.V.C., Jacob Kissinger; J.V.C., B. J. Evitts; Adj’t, John W. Hoffman; Q.M., A. Dreibelbies; Surgeon, Harrison Reigle; Chaplain, E. A. Kemble; O.D., Jacob Shiro; O.G., Jonas W. Hoffman; S.M., Henry T. Ferree; Q.M.S., Josiah Umholtz.

Odd Fellows Hall, Gratz, about 1887

From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 Oct 1883:

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Kissinger Post, No. 376, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Gratz on Saturday evening last, with twenty-four charter members.

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Diverse Activities

From the Harrisburg Patriot, 17 May 1884:

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Gratz will celebrate Decoration Day with a grand parade under the auspices of Kissinger Post No. 376, and Camp No. 236, P.O.S. of A.  The Sunday Schools of the vicinity will also participate in the parade and decoration of soldiers’ graves.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph (via Lykens Register), 10 October 1884:

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The new G.A.R. Hall at Fisherville, is nearly completed and will be quite and addition to the place.  When finished B.F. Miller Post, No. 393, expect to have a gala day in dedicating their new place of meeting, and in greeting their sister posts.  It is expected that Kirkpatrick Post of Millersburg, Kissinger Post of Gratz, Chester Post of Williamstown, as well as delegations from the posts of Harrisburg, Steelton, Georgetown, Liverpool and Oriental, will be present.

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The minutes of the Kissinger Post at Gratz for the year 1886 have been located and will be posted here on this blog at a future date.  They provide a rare, revealing window into post activities and actions and include the use of the “blackball” and the discipline of post members.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 13 May 1887:

HbgTelegraph-1887-05-13-001Kissinger Post, G.A.R., at Gratz, are making arrangements to duly observe Memorial Day.  The Post numbers nearly sixty.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 26 August 1887:

HbgTelegraph-1887-08-26-001

Kissinger Post, G.A.R., of Gratz, will hold a camp-fire during fair week.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 May 1889:

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Comrade Harry A. Swartz, of Seneca G. Simmons Post 116, G.A.R., has received and accepted an invitation to deliver an oration to the G.A.R. boys at Gratz on Decoration Day.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 December 1889:

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Kissinger G.A.R. Post in Gratz, is going to hold a fair.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 10 October 1890:

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The officers of Kissinger Post, G.A.R., of Gratz, were installed last Saturday evening by Past Commander A. P. Thompson, of Heilner Post, No. 232, of Lykens.  Mr. Frank Fidler is the new commander.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 October 1894:

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William Thomas, Commander of Heiler Post, G.A.R., of Lykens, will inspect Kissinger Post at Gratz on Saturday evening.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 13 May 1898:

The military company of this place [Gratz] effected a permanent organization on Monday with the following officers:  Captain, George W. Hoffman; First Lieutenant, M.S. Kissinger; Second Lieutenant, C. E. Hoffman.

Elaborate preparations are being already made by the G.A.R. Post and P.O.S. of A., for the exercises on Decoration Day.  Professor Ira S. Wolcott and Rev. J.M. Wingert will be the orators.  A number of visiting camps will participate.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 1 June 1899:

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On Sunday, Kissinger Post, No. 376, of this place, and the Women’s Relief Corps, will decorate the graves at Klinger’s Church [Erdman, Lykens Township] and at Hebe, Northumberland County.

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Decoration Day was fittingly observed.  The decorations, although not a numerous as last year, were sufficient to make a good showing.  The committee of the G.A.R. went to Hoffman’s Church [Lykens Township] and Uniontown [Pillow], decorating the graves of their comrades.  They returned at noon and in the afternoon a parade consisting of G.A.R. Post No. 376, P.O.S. of A. of Berrysburg, P.O.S. of A., I.O.O.F. and three Sunday Schools.  Music by the Berrysburg Cornet Band.  Following the parade and exercises in the cemeteries they returned to the Lutheran and Reformed Church, where Dr. W. E. Lebo, of this place, G. M. Schminkey of Williamstownand Rev. Hawk, of Berrysburg, exhorted the audience to stand by the stars and stripes.  A picnic followed in the evening, which was well attended.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 8 Jun 1899:

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The memorial services by Kissinger Post, No. 376, and Ladies’ Relief Corps, visited Klinger’s Church [Erdman, Lykens Township] and Hebe.  Prof. W. O. Moyer and Dr. W. E. Lebo were the orators of the day.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 1 June 1900:

Elizabethville, 31 May 1900 — Decoration Day was quietly observed at this place.  A delegation of Heilner Post, No. 232, G.A.R. of Lykens, decorated the graves of their departed comrades.  Camp No. 110, P.O.S. of A., attended the parade at Gratz and during the evening a large number of young folks took in the festival at Berrysburg.

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From the Harrisburg Patriot, 30 May 1902:

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Kissinger Post, Grand Army of the Republic, will celebrate Memorial Day by visiting the Hoffman Church Cemetery [Lykens Township]  and Uniontown [Pillow] in the forenoon to decorate graves of comrades in that cemetery.  In the afternoon they have arrangements made to have a parade.  The few members of the Grand Army of the Republic will be assisted by all the Sunday Schools of town, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Patriotic Sons of America, of Gratz.  The procession will form at the hall of the Grand Army of the Republic, led by the Wiconisco Band, thence to churches, where the Sunday Schools will follow with the orders in parade.  The parade will then visit the cemeteries of Gratz.

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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 2 June 1902:

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G.A.R. Post at Gratz

Kissinger Post, G.A.R., at Gratz, yesterday decorated the graves of deceased soldiers at Killinger Cemetery, in this county, and Hebe Cemetery in Northumberland County.  The members of the post were met at the latter place by Rev. Mr. Hottestine, who, after the decorating of the graves was completed, delivered an address which was well received by the large number of people who had gathered in the cemetery to witness the exercises of the day.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 May 1904:

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Daniel Harman, a veteran of the Civil War, died at his home, about two miles west of town [Gratz], on Sunday.  The funeral was conducted at Hoffman’s Church [Lykens Township] on Wednesday and was in charge of Kissinger Post, G.A.R.  The Rev. Mr. Zimmerman officiated.  Mr. Harman was the father of C. F. Harman and J.A. Harman, of Enterline and Berrysburg respectively.

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From the Harrisburg Patriot, 19 May 1913:

 

HbgPatriot-1913-05-19-001

MEMORIAL PLANS AT GRATZ

Special Dispatch at Gratz

Gratz, 18 May 1913 — Plans are being made here for the annual Memorial Day exercise to be held under the auspices of Ksisinger Post, G.A.R., Gratztown Lodge, No. 563, I.O.O.F.; Washington Camp, P.O.S. of A; and Lykens Valley Castle, No. 493, of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.  Two bands have been engaged for the day.  Prizes will be offered for the five best floats in the parade, which will start at one o’clock.

The committee on arrangements is composed by J. J. Buffington, Chairman; Dr. W. E. Lebo, Secretary; W. O. Rogers, H. E. Fidler, F. M. Ritzman, C. E. Hoffman, W. W. Phillips, C. A. Evitts, and L. C. Hoffman.

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The Final Days of the Kissinger Post at Gratz

The new organization for the veterans of World War I and the Spanish American War, Shade Post No. 399 of the American Legion, took over the responsibility for the Memorial Day ceremonies and events in 1922, but the remaining G.A.R. veterans who had not yet been welcomed into the American Legion Post, participated in the cemetery graves decorating as joint venture.  As shown by the second article, the G.A.R. men could not muster the $28.65 needed to decorate the Civil War veteran graves and had to rely on the charity of the county.  Shortly after 1922, the G.A.R. Post in Gratz ceased to exist and the old survivors of the Civil War were mustered into the American Legion Post, which assumed the responsibility of decorating the graves of all deceased veterans of all wars.

From the Harrisburg Patriot, 22 May 1922:

HbgPatriot-1922-05-27-001

WILL DECORATE 8 CEMETERIES MAY 30

Kissinger Post, G.A.R., and Shade Post, American Legion, Plan Program

Includes Parade and Concert

Gratz – 26 May 1922 — Kissinger Post, G.A.R., and Shade Post 399, of the American Legion, have arranged to decorate the graves of soldiers on Memorial Day.  The following schedule has been adopted.

Klinger’s Church Cemetery [Erdman, Lykens Township], 7 a.m.; Cemetery at Hebe, 7:30 a.m.; Northeast Cemetery of Pillow, 8:45 a.m.; Southeast Cemetery of Pillow, 8:45 a.m.; Berrysburg, 9:45 a.m.; Southeastern Cemetery of Berrysburg, 10:15 a.m.; Western Cemetery of Berrysburg, 10:45 a.m.; Hoffman’s Church Cemetery [Lykens Township], 11:15 a.m.

Special services with addresses will be held at Southeast Cemetery of Pillow, Western Cemetery at Berrysburg, and the Cemetery at Hebe.

 

In the afternoon a parade will form at 12:45 o’clock.  The Sunday schools, fraternal organizations, and the people of the borough, will march to the various cemeteries, headed by the Valley View Band.  At each cemetery the American Legion Post will decorate the graves.  William A. Earnest, of Harrisburg, will deliver addresses at the Lutheran and Reformed Churches.

The Valley View Band will give a twilight concert, followed by an address by the Rev. George E. Duell, a former Lieutenant of the United States Army

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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 4 August 1922:

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COUNTY AIDS G.A.R. POST

The county commissioners today appropriated $28.65 to Kissinger Post No. 376, G.A.R. of Gratz for the Memorial Day expenses of the Post.  This sum represents the actual expenses of the Post for its Memorial Day exercises.

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For a list of all prior posts on The Civil War Blog which have mentioned the G.A.R. Post No. 376, click on Kissinger Post.

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

 

 

 

 

Hiram Focht of Tremont – Blind as a Result of War Injuries

Posted By on December 11, 2015

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In a brief mention in the Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania), 14 April 1913, it was stated that, “as a result of wounds in his head received in the battlefield in the Civil War, Hiram Focht, of Reading, has lost his eyesight.”  Hiram Focht is also found in the records as John Hiram Focht, Hiram J. Focht, and J. Hiram Focht.

Hiram Focht died on 21 February 1921 in Reading, Berks County, and was buried in Tremont, Schuylkill County.  The information on his funeral was reported in the Harrisburg Evening News, 24 February 1922:

Former Tremont Citizen To Be Buried Tomorrow

TREMONT, 24 February 1922 — Hiram Focht, a former citizen of this place, died at his home in Reading on Tuesday morning from the infirmities of age.  The body will be brought to Tremont tomorrow morning at 9:27 and taken to the Evangelical Church where services will be held.  Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery.  Mr. Focht is survived by his widow and six children:  Minnie Focht, at home; Mrs. Jacob Messner, Philadelphia; Mrs. Joseph Seiger, Blackwood; three sons, Herman Focht, Robert Focht, and John Focht.

During the Civil War, Hiram Focht first served in the 39th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863) from July 1863 through 2 August 1863.  On 1 March 1864, he was mustered into the service of Company A, 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, as a Private, and on 3 May 1864, he was transferred to Company I of the same regiment.  The records indicate that he was mustered out with his company on 30 July 1865. The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card (shown below) from the Pennsylvania Archives confirms his dates of service in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry.  But that record does not indicate that he was a prisoner, nor that he was wounded.

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In the 1890 Census of Tremont, Hiram Focht reported that he was wounded during the war and that he was held prisoner for eight months in Andersonville, Georgia.  in 1887, Hiram spent some time at the National Soldiers’ Home at Hampton, Virginia, and the record there indicates that during the war he received a gunshot wound to the right thigh and an unspecified injury to the head.  At the time of his admission he gave his occupation as miner and his father’s name as Michael Focht, but nothing was recorded about loss of sight.  Discharge from the home came at his own request.

Following the brief notice that informed the public of Hiram’s loss of sight (see top of post), an article appeared in the Reading Times, 17 August 1914:

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Senate Bill To Reward Hiram Focht for His Heroism

Hiram Focht, 627 Locust Street, will receive a pension from a bill passed through the Senate recently.

Mr. Focht has a remarkable record of bravery and hard service in the Civil War.  He answered President Lincoln’s first call for volunteers with an enlistment for three months in Company K, 39th Pennsylvania Regiment, Michael Moll, Captain.

The local veteran served faithfully through the first enlistment and continued on a second enlistment until the end of the war.  Mr. Focht fought in the battles of Shiloh, Weldon Road, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Richmond.  He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Spottsylvania and sent to Libby Prison.  Later Mr. Focht was transferred to Andersonville, where he was paroled after 11 months and 13 days.

In the Battle of Shiloh, a shell exploding over Mr. Focht’s head caused blindness in one eye.  Because of injuries received during the war, Mr. Focht became blind in both eyes about 16 years ago.

The information in the above records and articles appears to be inconsistent with the facts.  What is not in dispute is that Hiram Focht was blind.  What is in dispute is the sequence of events in which it was claimed that Private Focht participated.

First, the Emergency Force of 1863 in which Hiram Focht participated was not in response to President Lincoln’s call for troops at the beginning of the war.  It was in response to Governor Andrew Curtin‘s call for militia units to defend Pennsylvania against the invasion by Gen. Robert E. Lee‘s army in the Gettysburg Campaign.  That emergency service lasted only about 6 weeks in 1863, not 3 months in 1861 as is stated in the article.

Second, Hiram Focht did not begin service in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry until 1 March 1864.  Therefore, he could not have participated in the Battle of Shiloh which took place in April 1862 in Tennessee.  Besides, the 50th Pennsylvania was in South Carolina during the Battle of Shiloh.  If Hiram Focht was wounded and taken prisoner at Spottsylvania, which occurred in May 1864, and then spent either 8 or 11 months in prison camps, he would not have been available for Cold Harbor, June 1864.  The other two battles mentioned, Petersburg and the Richmond Campaign, took place over a longer period of time during his enlistment, and it is possible that he did see some action during that time – but he would have had to recover from his wounds at Spottsylvania and from any debilitation as a result of being held prisoner before returning to his regiment.  There is also a question about where he was held prisoner, if he was held prisoner, in that no Prisoner of War record has been seen for him.  Hiram’s record of service in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry includes about 17 months between 1 March 1864 and 30 July 1865, but some clarity is needed on where he was during that time and how and if he was mustered during each of the two month intervals for pay.  That information should be on the original muster sheets and should be indexed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. as part of his military records.

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One of the Pension Index Cards (from Fold3) for Hiram Focht is shown above.  The regiments and companies previously noted appear on the card.  Surprisingly, for whatever injuries Hiram received during the war, they weren’t serious enough for him to apply immediately for a pension upon discharge.  He waited until 6 April 1878 to apply, but did receive benefits based on that application.  The actual pension application papers can be obtained at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  They were not consulted in researching for this blog post.

If any reader of this blog has seen the military index cards and/or the pension application papers and is willing to give answers to some of the questions raised here, a response would be greatly appreciated!  Either comment directly to this post, or send by e-mail.

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The portrait of Hiram Focht at the top of this post is from a public family tree on Ancestry.com.