Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 26, 2015

Information about Civil War veteran Findlay I. Thomas of York County was first presented to the Civil War Research Project by researcher-writer Dennis Brandt.  Although Thomas spent most of his life outside the Lykens Valley area, he died in Lykens Borough, Dauphin County, in 1922.  Despite this connection with Lykens, he was previously ignored by not being included on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument and he was not included in the original list of Civil War veterans with some geographical association to the Civil War Research Project.

In an e-mail dated 18 July 2011, Dennis Brandt wrote:

This soldier may be of interest to you.  Findlay Isaac “Fin” Thomas was born 20 August 1842, in Cashtown, Adams County, the son of Phillip Thomas & Anna Thomas.  He was a student at the Pfeiffer Collegiate Institute in New Oxford when he joined with Thaddeus Stevens Pfeiffer‘s militia that headed off in York to enlist.  Thomas did so on 27 August 1861, and mustered 12 September with the Thomas A. Scott Infantry Regiment, which soon became the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry.  He was elected Sergeant and later promoted to Sergeant Major, date unknown.  Reenlisted as a Veteran Volunteer and suffered a hernia of the left testicle on a charge outside Petersburg, Virginia, on 22 June 1864, when he stumbled over a fallen tree.  Promoted to Captain of Company I on 26 January 1865.  Wounded 2 April 1865, during the final assault on Petersburg and brevetted major for “meritorious service.”

After the war, he attended Dickinson Seminary in Williamsport and later lived in Mechanicsburg.  Married Agnes Elizabeth Kirk 27 August 1872, in Harrisburg and sired Amy Blanche Thomas (born 25 May 1873) and Alfred Kirk Thomas (born 24 October 1874).  In 1890, he lived in New Cumberland.  In 1920 was vice-president of East End Trust Company in Harrisburg and was heavily involved with post-war 87th Pennsylvania reunions.  He died 18 March 1922, in Lykens, although that is the only connection to Lykens I have uncovered.  He is buried in Paxtang Cemetery.  His first name was also spelled “Finley” and “Findley.”

His brother, David Newton Thomas, was a Sergeant in Company I, 87th Pennsylvania Infantry, and is buried in Vernon Cemetery in Baltimore County, Maryland.

At the time of his death in March 1922, several obituaries of Findlay I. Thomas appeared in the Harrisburg newspapers:

Major Thomas Dies at Daughter’s Home

Major Findlay I. Thomas, 80 years old, a veteran of the Civil War, and father of Al K. Thomas, prominent banker of this city, died early this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. C. Espenshade, in Lykens.  He served in the 87th Pennsylvania Veterans Volunteers Infantry [87th Pennsylvania Infantry] during the Civil War attaining the rank of Major.  He was a member of the A.O.K.M.C., the Knights of Malta, the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Dauphin County Historical Society and the Stevens Memorial Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held from the latter’s home, 2107 Jonestown Road on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the Rev. William Moses, former pastor of the Stevens Methodist Church officiating.  The veteran had written out the complete details as to the funeral arrangements, which are to be carried out according to his desire.

FATHER OF AL K. THOMAS DIES AT HOME IN LYKENS

Funeral services for Major Findlay I. Thomas, 80 years old, veteran of te Civil War, and father of Al K. Thomas, banker of this city, who died Saturday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. C. Espenshade, in Lykens, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home of his son, Al K. Thomas, with the Rev. William Moses officiating.  Burial will be in the Paxtang Cemetery.

Major Thomas for the past forty years was a school teacher.  During the Civil War he served with the 87th Pennsylvania Veterans’ Volunteer Infantry [87th Pennsylvania Infantry].  He was a member of Post 58, Grand Army of the Republic; Ancient Order Knights of the Mystic Chain, and of the Loyal Legion of the United States.  He was also a member of the Stevens Memorial Methodist Church.

MAJOR FINDLAY I. THOMAS

Funeral services for Major Findlay I. Thomas, aged 80, a veteran of the Civil War, whose death occurred Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. C. Espenshade, Lykens, were held this afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of his son, A. K. Thomas, 2107 Walnut Street.  The services were conducted by the Rev. William Moses, pastor of St. Paul’s Methodist Church, and burial was made in the Paxtang Cemetery.

The pallbearers were J. W. Barker, Charles H. Hoffman, John P. Snyder, Jacob Morsch, A. W. Black and A. J. Pugh.

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The Civil War record of Findlay I. Thomas:

According to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card, Thomas I. Findlay enrolled in the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry at York, Pennsylvania, on 27 August 1861.  He was mustered into Company I as a Sergeant on 12 September 1861.  At the time, he was 21 years old, was 5 foot, 8 inches tall, had brown eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion.  According to other information given at enrollment, he was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania and resided there at the time of the Civil War.  On 1 January 1864, he re-enlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia, and transferred from Company I to Company C along with a promotion to Sergeant Major.  On 26 January 1965, he was promoted to Captain.  The card shown above is from the web site of the Pennsylvania Archives.

Following the war, on 31 December 1879, Findlay I. Thomas applied for a disability pension, which he received and collected until his death in 1922.  The Pension Index Card (shown above) is from Ancestry.com and references the application file available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  Findlay I. Thomas survived his wife, who had died in 1908.  Her obituary is given below.

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He was active in G.A.R. affairs and in honoring veterans of the Civil War as the following picture and article indicate:

Findlay I. Thomas‘s post Civil War activities included active participation in Post 58 of the G.A.R., and while the Principal Teacher of the Webster School in Harrisburg, he often involved his students in recognizing the veterans who fought in the Civil War:

MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES —

On Friday exercises at the Webster School Building, Thirteenth and Kittatinny Streets [Harrisburg], were carried out in the most interesting detail by the scholars under the instructions of Quartermaster Findlay I. Thomas, of Post 58, G.A.R., and his efficient corps of teachers. The rooms of the four different grades where the exercises were held (the ten schools being combined with the schools in the four rooms) were handsomely decorated with flowers and flags.  The children all carried flags in their hands, made a scene that will long remain a bright memory to those that witnessed it.  Captain George addressed he children in each room where the exercises were held.

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Mrs. Findlay I. Thomas died in 1908 and her obituary as it appeared in Harrisburg newspaper is presented below.  The obituary is followed by a tribute paid to her by her comrades in the Dauphin County Women’s Christian Temperance Union:

MRS. F. I. THOMAS

Well-Known Resident Of East End Died Today

Mrs. Findlay I. Thomas, wife of the well-known retired principal of the Webster School building, died at the Thomas residence, 416 South Sixteenth Street, this afternoon at 12:57, aged 63 years.  Besides the husband, two children survive — Al K. Thomas, Cashier of the East End Bank, and Mrs. Willis C. Espenshade, Cochransville, Pennsylvania; also one sister, Mrs. Caroline Grove, North Sixth Street, Harrisburg. 

Mrs. Thomas was before her marriage Agnes Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of the late Jacob Kirk, of New Marke.  She was a member of the B. F. Stevens Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mrs. Thomas was an active Christian worker.  Her death was the result of a week’s illness.

The funeral arrangements will be announced later.

W.C.T.U. MEMORIAL

The following memorial of Mrs. Findlay I. Thomas was passed by the County W.C.T.U.:

With sad hearts we have heard of the death of Mrs. Findlay I. Thomas, the beloved secretary of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Dauphin County.  As such time words seem feeble to express the feelings of the heart.  Conscious, however, of the great loss our Union has sustained, we would pay loving tribute to her faithfulness as an official for many years, and to her worth as an active member of the organization.  At the same time each member of the Executive Committee feels that she has lost a personal friend, whose sympathy and regard have been most precious possessions.

We humbly bow to the decree of an overruling Providence, and hereby consecrate ourselves anew to the great work which was so close to the heart and life of our departed do-laborer.

We would recommend that a copy of this memorial be spread upon the minutes of the Executive Committee; a copy forwarded to the family of our deceased sister, and a copy furnished the press of the city.

In behalf of Dauphin Count Women’s Christian Temperance Union,

R. Elma Nickleson

Edith E. Mulford,

Committee

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

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Death of Major Findlay I. Thomas at Lykens, 1922
Tags: G.A.R., Lykens Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 23, 2015

Notice of the results of a coroner’s inquest into the death of Peter D. Eby at Lykens appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph on 5 January 1882:

KILLED IN THE MINES

A Man’s Neck Broken While Riding on the Cars

Coroner Shindler was called to Lykens yesterday to hold an inquest on the body of Peter D. Eby, aged forty-five years, who was killed in the Wiconisco mines on Tuesday.  Eby had been sick for some time and this was the first day he had worked since his illness.  He was about to go out of the mine, and feeling weak he though he would ride to the mouth, jumping on the front bumper of the car with the driver, which was contrary to the rules. The cars were going at a rapid rate when Eby was struck by the timbers overhead and his neck broken.  The driver noticed the accident in time to prevent Eby’s being thrown under the wheels.  The verdict of the jury was in accordance with the facts.  Eby leaves a wife and six children, in destitute circumstances.  His wife was sick in bed at the time he was killed.

A slight variant version of the accident was reported in the Harrisburg Patriot on 6 January 1882:

Coroner Shindler on Wednesday held an inquest on the body of Peter D. Eby, at Wiconisco.  Eby was a miner and was killed by being struck by a projecting piece of timber while he was riding up the slope of a coal train in violation of the rules of the company.  He leaves a family.  Accidental death was the verdict.

Since nearly all the archival copies of the Lykens Register were lost in a fire, there is no record on how and to what extent the accident was reported in the local newspapers.  For information on the fire, see Jake Wynn‘s post entitled Fire Destroys the Lykens Register, 1900.

Peter D. Eby was a Civil War veteran, a fact that was not mentioned in the news articles from Harrisburg.  The following items were found to verify his Civil War service:

(1) Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Cards from the Pennsylvania Archives:

Peter D. Eby enrolled at Schuylkill County in the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private, on 21 April 1861, and was mustered into service at Harrisburg on the same day.  He gave his age as 21.  No other personal information is available from the card.

Peter D. Eby enrolled at Minersville, Schuylkill County in the 129th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, on 6 August 1862, and was mustered into service in Harrisburg as a Wagoner, on 13 August 1862.  He was 23 years old at the time and served until  he was honorably discharged on 18 May 1863.

(2)  Pension Index Cards from Fold3 and Ancestry.com:

The Pension Index Card from Fold3 confirms the service in both the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 129th Pennsylvania Infantry.  There is no indication on the card that Peter D. Eby ever applied for an invalid pension for himself nor that any widow applied.  However, an application was made for a pension to support minor children on 6 August 1890.  That pension was approved.

The Pension Index Card from Ancestry.com confirms the information on the Fold3 card and adds the name of William J. Eby as the guardian of the minor children.

The Peter D. Eby family is found in the 1880 Census for Wiconisco Borough:

Click on document to enlarge

As head of the family, Peter gave his age as 41 (born about 1839) and his occupation as coal miner.  His wife Catherine was 37 years old.  Their five children were as follows:  William John Eby, age 16, working as a laborer; Mary E. Eby, age 14, attends school; Eliza J. Eby, age 12, at home with heart disease; Sarah R. Eby, age 5; and Katie Eby, age 2. This confirms five of the six children mentioned in the Harrisburg Telegraph article above.  According to information found on an Ancestry.com tree, the 6th child, Florence E. Eby was born on 5 September 1880, which would have occurred after the 1880 Census was taken.  The William J. Eby who is name in the pension records as the guardian of the minor children is most likely the son who was 16 in 1880, and by 1890, when he applied, was about 26.

It is possible that Catherine Eby died in Philadelphia in 1888, but it is unknown why she did not apply for Civil War widow benefits.  A Catherine Eby is found in the Philadelphia Death Records, FHL Film Number 2079237, died 24 June 1888, but it has not yet been confirmed that this is the same person who was the widow of Peter D. Eby.

Peter D. Eby is buried in Union Cemetery in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Information on the Findagrave Memorial confirms that the father of Peter D. Eby was George D. Eby (1814-1859), which means that Peter had several brothers who also served in the Civil War:  William H. Eby (1841-1893); George Dalles Eby (1845-1934); and Benjamin Franklin Eby (1846-1934).

All the Eby children, above mentioned, were born in Wiconisco Township.  However, only Benjamin is named on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument.  It is not known why Peter D. Eby‘s name does not appear on the monument, particularly because he was living in Wiconisco in 1880 and he died in Lykens in 1882.

Additional information is sought about Peter D. Eby, his Civil War service and his family, particularly on how his children fared following his death.  Please add comments to this blog post or send by e-mail.

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

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Peter D. Eby – Killed in Mines at Lykens, 1882
Tags: Coal, Lykens Borough, Wiconisco, Wiconisco Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 21, 2015

The name of Benjamin F. Eby appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument found on North Second Street in that Borough, Dauphin County.  He was a Private in the Civil War and he joined the Heilner G.A.R. Post after its organization.

Benjamin F. Eby died on 19 June 1934 in Harrisburg and the following obituaries appeared in the local newspapers:

(1) from the Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 June 1934;

BENJAMIN F. EBY,

RETIRED REALTY AGENT, STRICKEN

Benjamin F. Eby, 87, a veteran of the Civil War, died last nigh at his home 1321 Derry Street. He was a retired real estate and insurance agent who had been in business a quarter of a century in Harrisburg.

Mr. Eby came to the city in 1890 from Lykens where he had been a school teacher and a post office and bank employee.  He took an active part in the development of the eastern end of the city and was Treasurer of the Home Building and Loan Association until 1915 when he retired from business.

Survivors are a son, Arthur F. Eby; two grandchildren and a brother George Eby, Shamokin.  Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, 3:30, at the Fackler Parlors, 1314 Derry Street, the Rev. J. E. Rudisill, Christ Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Leroy Feagley, Hummelston United Brethren Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Paxtang Cemetery.  The body may be  view[ed] at Fackler’s Friday evening, 6 to 8.

(2) from the Harrisburg Evening News, 20 June 1934.

B. F. EBY, CIVIL WAR VET, DIES

Funeral services for Benjamin F. Eby, 87, a Civil War veteran and retired real estate agent and insurance man, who died at this home, 1321 Derry Street, last evening, will be held Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock in the Fackler Funeral Parlors, 1312 Derry Street, with the Rev. J. E. Rudisill, pastor of the Christ Lutheran Church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Leroy Fegley, pastor of the Hummelstown United Brethren Church.

Burial will be in the Paxtang Cemetery.  The body may be viewed at the Fackler Parlors Friday evening from 6 until 8 o’clock.

He is survived by a son, Arthur F. Eby; a brother, George Eby, of Shamokin, and two grandchildren.

Eby came to Harrisburg in 1890 from Lykens where he taught school and worked in the post office.  He engaged in the real estate and insurance business, retiring in 1915.  He was treasurer of the Home Building and Loan Association for many years.

On 27 July 1934, Arthur F. Eby, published notice in the Harrisburg newspapers indicating that he was handling his father’s estate, along with his attorney, Homer L. Kreider of Harrisburg:

Benjamin F. Eby was born 13 March 1845 and died on 19 June 1934.  He is buried in the Paxtang Cemetery, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  His grave marker (shown below from Findagrave) bears the name of his Civil War regiment, company and rank:  100th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private.

Benjamin F. Eby was married to the former Mary Jane Lebo of Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Eby died  on 20 December 1913 and two days later, her obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph:

Deaths and Funerals

MRS MARY J. EBY

Mrs. Mary J. Eby, aged 68, wife of Benjamin F. Eby, a real estate agent, of Allison Hill, die Saturday afternoon at her home, 1321 Derry Street.  Her death was due to pneumonia.  She is survived by her husband, one son, Arthur F. Eby, and two grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock.  The Rev. Thomas H. Reisch, Pastor of the Christ Lutheran Church, of which Mrs. Eby was a member, will officiate.  Burial will be made in the Paxtang Cemetery.

Mrs. Eby’s grave marker at Paxtang Cemetery (shown below from Findagrave), gives her dates as 9 August 1845 and 20 December 1913.

As previously stated, Benjamin F. Eby served in the 100th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private.  His dates of service – 6 March 1865 through 24 July 1865 – are shown on his Pension Index Card (below, from Fold3).

Also shown on the card is his original pension application date of 11 July 1890 and a certificate number which indicates that he received the pension and collected benefits to his death.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Obituary of Benjamin F. Eby, 1934
Tags: Berrysburg, G.A.R., Lykens Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 19, 2015

When John Dowdle (1844-1910) died in Philadelphia on 12 June 1910, the Philadelphia Inquirer of that same date included the following information on him in its “Death Notices:”

DOWDLE – On 12 June 1910, JOHN, husband of Annie Dowdle.  Relatives and friends, also League of the Sacred Heart of St. Ann’s Church and members of 50th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers [50th Pennsylvania Infantry], are invited to attend the funeral on Friday at 8:30 A.M. from late residence, 2529 E. Lehigh Avenue.  Solemn requiem mass at St. Ann’s Church at 10 A.M.  Interment at St. Ann’s Cemetery.

John Doudle, as he was known in Schuylkill Haven where he resided at the time of the Civil War, was also memorialized in The Call of that place:

John Doudle of Philadelphia, a former resident of town, died at his home on Sunday and was buried on Friday Morning.  Mr. Doudle was a veteran of the Civil War having served as a Corporal of Co. C, 50th P.V.  He enlisted from Schuylkill Haven on 14 August 1861.  On 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, he was captured by the Rebels together with twelve other Schuylkill Haven men and suffered imprisonment at Andersonville and Libby Prison from which he was paroled in 24 February 1865.  A most entertaining history of his experiences was published in The Call during the summer of 1908.  Mr. Doudle is survived by his widow and three sons and three daughters, Frank Doudle, Will Doudle, Agnes Doudle and Florence Doudle at home, and David Doudle and Mrs. McVeigh, all of Philadelphia.  He was a brother of the late Alex Doudle of town and had a host of friends here.

The experiences of John Doudle in the Civil War, as noted in the obituary, were first printed in The Call in 1910.  In 2006, when he published his book A History of Company C, 50th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment:  From the Camp, the Battlefield and the Prison Pen, 1861-1865, J. Stuart Richards, reprinted much of what Doudle said in 1910.  According to Richards, “Corporal John Doudle is one of the main contributors to this book.  His history of Company C up to his capture and of his own time spent in Andersonville prison is an excellent narrative.”

Category: Resources, Stories | Comments Off on John Doudle – Reminiscence of the Civil War
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 16, 2015

John Dougherty (1844-1862) was located in Matter’s Cemetery, Washington Township, near Elizabethville, Dauphin County with a G.A.R. marker at his grave.  It is possible that this is the same John Dougherty who was killed at Fair Oaks, Virginia, 31 May 1862, while serving with the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Corporal.  However, the date of death on the stone appears to be 10 days earlier than the date of death in the military records – a possible error in either case. More information is needed to confirm the identity and service of this individual.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card (shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives) gives additional information about the John Dougherty who died at Fair Oaks.  He enrolled at Philadelphia on 3 August 1861 and was mustered into service at the same place on 14 August 1861.  He claimed to be 20 years old at the time.

Inconsistencies with the grave stone include the claimed age at enrollment and the place of enrollment.

The Pension Index Card for the John Dougherty who served in the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry (shown above from Fold3) shows that John’s mother applied for a pension based on her son’s service on 7 March 1891. She was awarded the pension, which she received until her death.  Information in the actual application file should help to conclude whether the soldier buried at Matter’s Cemetery is the same as the one who died in the service of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  However, the pension application file has not yet been examined.  The name of this John Dougherty’s mother should appear on the Pension Index Card available from Ancestry.com, but that card has not yet been located.

If any reader of this blog can provide any additional information about the John Dougherty who is buried at Matter’s Cemetery, please add a comment to this post or submit the information via e-mail.

Category: Queries, Research | 1 Comment »
Tags: Elizabethville, Washington Township