Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 9, 2015

One of several names on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument that was not previously identified as to a specific Civil War regiment and company is George W. Clark.  The monument tablet only notes that he was a musician and that he was not a member of the Heilner G.A.R. Post.

In searching for him in the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Card File (Pennsylvania Archives), the above card was located.  The following information can therefore be added:  George W. Clark enrolled in the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry at Lykens, on or prior to his ‘muster in” on 26 April 1861 as a Fifer in Company F of that regiment.  At the time he declared himself to be 22 years old, a plasterer by trade, and a resident of Lykens.

Using the information that his occupation was “plasterer,” a census search was done through Ancestry.com.

In 1870, George W. Clark is found working as a plasterer in the Williams Valley, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  In the household, there are 3 children and a wife, Emma J. Clark.

In 1880, George W. Clark is found working as a plasterer in Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.  The wife, Emma J. Clark, is in the household as are two of the three children named in the 1870 Census.  There are also two additional children in the household, the youngest of which was born about 1875 in Pennsylvania.  From this information, it can most likely be assumed that the family did not move to Kansas until sometime between 1875 and the taking of the 1880 Census.

In 1889, George W. Clark, born about 1839, and married, is found working as a plasterer in Pierce County, Washington.  There are no other useful details in this state census.

In the 1890 Veterans’ Census of Tacoma, Washington, George W. Clark indicated that in addition to his service in the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry, he also served as a Sergeant in the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry and as a Sergeant in the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry.  That information is shown below (click on document to enlarge).  George also indicated that he had “deafness” as a result of his military service.

In 1900, George W. Clark was working as a plasterer in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington State.  In addition to his wife Emma, his household consisted of his son Allen Clark, then a widower, a youngest daughter Sadie, age 8, who was born in Kansas, and a granddaughter, possibly the daughter of Allen.  Allen was working as a fireman for the city of Tacoma.

In 1910, George W. Clark, living in Tacoma, Washington, gave his occupation as “none.”  At that time he was a widower and living in the household of his son-in-law, the husband of his daughter Hattie.

Washington State death records note that George W. Clark died on 20 Aug 1912 at Tacoma.  His parent’s names as reported were William E. Clark and Hannah Cassel.

According to his Findagrave Memorial, he is buried at Tacoma Cemetery.

The grave marker (shown above) notes that George W. Clark served in the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company L, as a Sergeant.

Returning to the records at the Pennsylvania Archives, the following Veterans’ Cards were located:

Following his service in the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry, George W. Clark enrolled in the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry at Pottsville and was mustered into service at Washington, D.C., on 22 August 1861 as a Private.  On the same day, he was promoted to Corporal, but in November 1863, he was reduced in ranks. Later, in January 1864, he was appointed Sergeant, the rank at which he was mustered out on 24 August 1864.  At the time of his enrollment, he was about 23 years old, was working as a plasterer, and was living in Schuylkill County.

George’s final enlistment occurred at Pottsville on 17 February 1865, where he was mustered into service at the same day and place in the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  His initial rank was Private, but the record shows he received a promotion to Sergeant on 1 June 1865.  He served in Companies A, B, and D of this regiment.  At the time of his enrollment, he was about 26 years old, still working as a plasterer, and residing in Port Carbon, Pennsylvania.

An additional document available on-line through Fold3, is George’s Pension Index Card (shown below).

The Pension Index Card confirms the three regiments in which George W. Clark served as well as his death year of 1912.  His initial pension application was made on 24 Feb 1887.

What is interesting about these discoveries is that the Lykens G.A.R. Monument does not list George’s highest military rank – which was Sergeant.  The grave marker at Tacoma Cemetery does give the rank of Sergeant – but only notes one regiment of service, albeit the one in which George served the longest.  It is not known whether George lost all contact with Lykens after he moved west.  The names on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument were compiled by Henry Keiser, who himself had served in the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry with George W. Clark, so Keiser may have not known that George had served as a Sergeant in a different regiment – nor did anyone else who read the published list of names that were to be included on the monument prior to its erection.

One additional fact need to be explored.  The maiden name of George’s wife was Emma Jane Snyder – a surname found very frequently in the Lykens area.  Her death record gives her father’s name as Josiah Snyder and her mother’s name as Sarah Messner.  Perhaps a reader of this blog post can identify this couple and indicate whether they or any of their children had a continuing presence in the Lykens Valley area in the post-Civil War period – particularly into the early 20th century when the Lykens G.A.R. Monument was erected.

Additional information can be added in the comments section of this post or sent by e-mail.

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The portrait of George W. Clark was found in several public-posted Ancestry.com family trees.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Who Was George W. Clark, Musician?
Tags: G.A.R., Lykens Borough, Williams Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 7, 2015

John Crane, who is also found in the records as John Crain, is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  At his grave there is a G.A.R.-Star-Flag Holder indicating service in the Civil War.  However, his name does not appear on the Millersburg Soldier Monument.

There is a John Crane who served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private, from 1 March 1865 through 24 August 1865, as noted in the 1890 Veterans’ Census of Lykens Borough.  It can be assumed that this is the same John Crane whose name appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument on North Second Street in Lykens Borough.

In the Pension Index Card file on Fold3 (shown above), a record was found indicating that this John Crane died on 8 January 1906.  That card notes that a widow applied for benefits, but does not give the date of her application.

In the Pension Index Card file on Ancestry.com, the information is slightly different – indicating that the widow, Jane E. Crane, applied for benefits on 29 December 1905.  Could this be an error?

Turning back to the grave marker at Millersburg (enlargement above), the death date of John Crane appears to be 21 December 1905 – which is consistent with the application date of the widow as it appears on the Ancestry.com version of the Pension Index Card.

Since the more accurate death date is established in December 1905, the death occurred just days before Pennsylvania began keeping state-wide death records – which required a death certificate, most of which are now available on Ancestry.com.  Therefore, there is no Pennsylvania Death Certificate for John Crane.

But, the Harrisburg Patriot of 23 December 1905 did print an obituary for John Crain – which was available through the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia:

OBITUARY

DIED AT LYKENS

Lykens, 22 December 1905 — John Crain, or Main Street, a veteran of the Civil War, died yesterday afternoon, at the age of eighty years and eight months.  He was born at Liverpool, Perry County, and was the only son of John Crain and Catherine Crain.  In 1858 he was married to Jane E. Cook, who survives him.

About thirty years ago Mr. Crain lost the fingers of his right hand in saving the life of a boy at a saw mill at Selinsgrove, and later lost his left arm by having it caught in a cog wheel in a mill at Millersburg.  Mr. Crain lived here during the past twenty-five years.

The body will be taken to Millersburg on the 7:24 train Saturday morning for interment.  Brief services will be held at his late home.  The Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a member, will have charge of the funeral.

The accidents referred to in the obituary were also reported in the Harrisburg newspapers:

From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 29 June 1883:

Last Monday while John Crane was engaged in drawing logs into John L. Freck‘s stave mill he met with a serious accident.  In the act of drawing in a log Mr. Crane reached up to adjust the rope, by some means getting his hand caught in a pair of cog wheels.  His arm was drawn into the cogs and crushed from the fingers up to above the elbow before he succeeded in extricating it.

And from the Harrisburg Telegraph of the same day:

Arm Crushed at Millersburg

On Monday last while John Crane was at work in John L. Freck‘s stave mill, in Millersburg, the belting caught his shirt sleeve and drew his left arm into the cog wheel, completely crushing his arm, necessitating amputation, the operation being performed by Drs. Weiser and Bowman.  Mr. Crane is between fifty and sixty years of age, and several years ago had the fingers on his right hand taken off by a circular saw.

In 1880, John Crane can be found in the Millersburg Census with occupation given as “works in saw mill.”  In 1890, he is found in the Lykens Borough Veterans’ Census; he reported no Civil War-related disabilities, although it is clear from the news articles that he had disabilities as a result of the circular saw accident and the cog wheel accident at the stave mill.  On 27 September 1889, John Crane applied for a disability pension based on his Civil War service.  At this writing, his pension application has not been seen to determine whether his job-related injuries contributed to his receipt of a pension.  And in 1900, John Crane is found in the Lykens Borough Census, where he gave his occupation as “notions peddler.”

Click on document to enlarge.

Jane [Cook] Crane died in Lykens on 14 March 1918 of a cerebral hemorrhage.  It is assumed that she was supported in her later years by her husband’s Civil War pension.   No children have been identified for this couple.

As already stated, John Crane is named on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument.  Shown above is his name, listed with Privates who were members of the Heilner G.A.R. Post.  His name is probably not included on the Civil War Memorial at Millersburg, because he was a G.A.R. member at Lykens – but it should have been included there because he lived there, suffered his second serious accident there, and is buried there.

More information is sought on John Crane, including his military record, his pension application information, and any interesting stories about him.  Readers can contribute to the comments section of this post or send the information by e-mail.

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Some of the news articles were obtained through Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on John Crane of Millersburg and Lykens
Tags: G.A.R., Lykens Borough, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 4, 2015

Less than five years after the death of Leonard P. Craig, his widow was found dead in a locked home in Dauphin Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Leonard P. Craig was a Civil War soldier who was previously profiled here in a post entitled:  Leonard P. Craig – Foreman, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

During the Civil War, Leonard P. Craig served as a Private in the 2nd United States Colored Cavalry, Company M, from 19 February 1865 to 11 February 1866.    He died on 7 September 1923.

From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 26 March 1928:

MAN WITH WIDOW AT DEATH, POLICE BELIEVE;HUNT HIM

Dauphin Woman Found Dead in Locked Home; Was Noted Cook

Circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Annie F. Craig, 56, a Negress, who was found in her home at Dauphin late Saturday, were investigated by State Police today, who are seeking for questioning Dangerfield Proctor, a Negro, who is believed to have been with the widow when she died.

Mother Receives Note

A note received by Mrs. Mary Bair, 21 South Sixteenth Street, mother of the dead woman, with whom Mrs. Craig lived part of the time, explained that Proctor intended to leave Harrisburg to get work. State Police believe that he was with Mrs. Craig when she became ill and then placed two pillows under her head and a comforter over her. He became alarmed and fled. An autopsy showed no marks of violence.

Mrs. Craig was last seen Wednesday night. She had spoken to neighbors about work around her home and explained that two men were to come there. Proctor was believed to have visited her. The next day Mrs. George F. Landis discovered that the Negress had failed to report for housework as she had promised. Later Mrs. Clayton C. Manning, a neighbor, discovered the chickens had not been fed Saturday night and investigated.

Find Key on Mat

A key to the house was lying on a mat at the door.

No Disorder in Rooms

The door was locked. There was no disorder in the rooms on the first floor, but on the second floor, between two beds, was found the body of Mrs. Craig. The pillows under her head and the comforter over the body led authorities at first to believe in foul play, but later death was believed to have resulted from natural causes.

Funeral Tomorrow

Two nieces, Mrs. Lizzie Page and Mrs. Ruth James; and two nephews, Wallace S. Bair and Leonard Craig, all of Harrisburg, also survive her.

Funeral services will be held at the Walter J. Hooper Funeral Parlor, 604 Forster Street, tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock.  The Rev. Luther Blalock, Pastor of the Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Dauphin Cemetery.

Noted as Cook

Mrs. Craig was noted as a cook. She was the widow of Leonard Craig, a pensioned soldier and retired employee of the Reading Company.

An article appearing in the Harrisburg Evening News on the same day noted that although Dangerfield Proctor was not suspected of foul play in Mrs. Craig’s death, police still wanted to question him.  According to the article, Proctor had slipped a note and ten dollars under the door of his landlady indicating that he wanted her to hold his room for him until he returned from seeking work.  He had been previously employed as a waiter at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station and at the Penn-Harris Hotel in Harrisburg.

According to the evening article, Mrs. Craig died of a cerebral hemorrhage and heart disease.  The coroner believed that Proctor left because he was frightened.

No news article was located that indicated that Dangerfield Proctor was ever found and questioned.  However, a Pennsylvania Death Certificate was located for a waiter named Dangerfield G. Proctor, born 10 April 1870 in Alexandria, Virginia, son of Thomas Proctor and Agnes Neuby, and died 27 October 1959, in York County, Pennsylvania.

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The news article was found on Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on The Death of Mrs. Leonard Craig
Tags: African American

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 2, 2015

At the St. Paul’s (Artz) Cemetery in Sacramento, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the tombstone of Martin Koppenhaver (1829-1900) has a G.A.R. star and flag holder indicating that he served in the Civil War.  However, to date no military or pension record of Civil War service has been found for him.

Next to the stone of Martin is a stone for Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver (1831-1908).  While the grave marker for Sarah does not indicate that she was the wife of Martin, the stones are the same style and shape.  Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver was the daughter of Philip Dietrich (1794-1871) and Eva Maria [Artz] Dietrich (1794-1885).  Genealogical sources confirm that she was the wife of the Martin Koppenhaver who is buried next to her.

In the Gratz (Simeon’s) Union Cemetery, there is a stone for Catherine Ann [Thomas] Koppenhaver (1846-1886), that indicates that she was the wife of Martin Koppenhaver.  Catherine was the daughter of Samuel Thomas (1811-1874) and Hannah [Hoffman] Thomas (1815-1887).  Buried in the same plot with Catherine are three of her children:  Anna Koppenhaver, John Koppenhaver, and Hattie Koppenhaver.  However, if her husband was Martin Koppenhaver, he is not buried in that plot in Gratz, nor is he buried anywhere else in the Gratz cemetery  In fact, the only Martin Koppenhaver who has been found in any Lykens Valley area cemetery, is the one in the St. Paul’s (Artz) Cemetery in Sacramento.

Gratz and Sacramento are only a few miles apart, despite the fact that they are located in different counties.

The strongest evidence that there were two different persons named Martin Koppenhaver in that same area comes from the 1880 Census:

1880 Census. Hubley Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

From the 1880 Census of Hubley Township (Sacramento), Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, a Martin Koppenheffer, age 51 (born about 1829), a farmer, was head of household, with wife Sarah, age 48, keeping house and 10 children ranging in ages from 14 to 31.  Sarah is Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver.

1880 Census. Gratz Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

From the 1880 Census of Gratz Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, a Martin Koppenhaver, age 50 (born about 1830), a huckster, was head of household, with wife Catherine, age 34, keeping house and 4 children in the household ranging in ages from 2 to 13.  Catherine is Catherine [Thomas] Koppenhaver.

However in the 1870 Census, neither of these Martin Koppenhaver‘s has been found.  Instead, Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver is living in Hubley Township with her children – but no Martin (see below)!

1870 Census. Hubley Township, Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania.

Where is Martin? And, where is Catherine [Thomas] Koppenhaver, who does not appear in any 1870 Census, with or without Martin?

Other than the 1880 Census, no other record has been found that suggests that there there were two persons of the name Martin Koppenhaver who were born at approximately the same time and living in the same location.

In consulting with genealogist Roger Cramer, who keeps one of the most extensive databases of families who lived in the Lykens Valley, two descendants lists were made available by him. They contain the descendants of “each” of the two Martin Koppenhaver’s.

Hereafter in this post, the Martin who was married to Catherine will be referred to as “Gratz Martin” and the Martin who was married to Sarah will be referred to as “Hubley Martin.”

By laying out the two families on a single timeline, it is noticed that “Hubley Martin” had 10 children who were born between 1849 and 1867 and “Gratz Martin” had 5 children who were born between 1867 and 1883.  There is one overlapping “event” in 1867:  “Hubley Martin‘s” last child was born 15 March 1867 and “Gratz Martin‘s” first child was born 3 October 1867.  This makes it likely that “Hubley Martin’s” wife Sarah was nearly-full-term pregnant when “Gratz Martin‘s” first child was conceived.

“Hubley Martin‘s” occupation during the Civil War was peddler or huckster and he paid a tax based on that occupation.  As a peddler or huckster, he would have been “on the road” during and after the Civil War.  But the 1880 Census says that “Gratz Martin” was also a huckster.  Is this evidence that “Gratz Martin” and “Hubley Martin” are the same person?

A more definitive answer can probably be found by looking at a portion of an 1876 map of Hubley Township:

Click on map to enlarge.

The property of Martin Koppenhaver (“Hubley Martin”) can be seen between the property of Eva Dietrich [Dieter], widow of Philip Dietrich, and the Artz Church.  The road that runs east-west through Hubley Township [currently known as State Route 25] enters Lykens Township at the left side of the map, just above the red words “Eva Dietrich.”  That road continues into Gratz.  But the most significant point made by this map is that the properties of Martin and Eva are adjacent to each other – and it it known that Eva was the mother-in-law of “Hubley Martin.”

The father-in-law of “Hubley Martin” was Philip Dietrich, who died 28 January 1871.  Philip made his will on 22 March 1870.

Click on document to enlarge.

The 3rd Item in Philip Dietrich‘s will is particularly cogent:

3rd Item:  I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah intermarried with Martin Koppenhaver the log house, frame stable, and outbuildings thereon erected where she now —- on, at three hundred dollars and after the death of my said wife as aforesaid, I order that my Executor hereinafter mentioned shall pay seven hundred dollars thereto, making one thousand dollars in all, as her pro-rata share.

Looking at some of the events chronologically – with a few speculative comments:

1861-1865 (Civil War):

“Hubley Martin” is working as a farmer, huckster and peddler.  During this time he is traveling east into Spring Glen (Springville on the map above), where he was born, and further east into Lykens Township and Gratz.  It may have been during this time that he encountered the family of Samuel Thomas, the father of Catherine Thomas, and perhaps met Catherine, who was between 15 and 19 at the time.

1866:

“Hubley Martin” and wife, Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver, conceive a child, about June of that year.   Martin continues to peddle his wares to the east toward Gratz.  Perhaps he met Catherine during 1866, when she was about 20.

1867:

In about February 1867, in Gratz, “Gratz Martin” and Catherine Thomas conceive a child.  On 15 March 1867, “Hubley Martin” and wife Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver have their 10th and last child, Ida Silara Koppenhaver, born in Hubley Township.   On 3 October, a child is born to Catherine Thomas.  That child is named Sarah Sevilla Koppenhaver.  Some records indicate that the child was born in Schuylkill County.

1868-1869:

Not much is known about this time period.

1870:

Knowing that he is near death, Philip Dietrich makes his will on 22 March.  He may have been unaware that his son-in-law, Martin Koppenhaver, had a child with Catherine Thomas.  It is not known whether “Hubley Martin” had any idea that he was mentioned in Philip’s will.  But it is possible that Sarah [Dietrich] Koppenhaver knew and about that time, Martin left and went to live with Catherine and her child.  The Census of 1870, taken in mid-year, shows Sarah living in Hubley Township without “Hubley Martin,” but with all their children, most of them minors.  Neither “Gratz Martin” nor Catherine Thomas, nor their only child Sarah Sevilla Koppenhaver has been located in a census for 1870.

1871:

Philip Dietrich dies on 28 January.  The will is probated.  In order for Sarah to collect her inheritance, “Hubley Martin” has to return to the family.  At some point after the death of Philip Dietrich, his property is transferred into the name of his widow Eva and the property inherited by Sarah and Martin is transferred into Martin’s name.  “Hubley Martin” supports both families.

1872:

In about January, “Gratz Martin” and Catherine conceive a 2nd child.  That child, named Annie L. Koppenhaver, is born 11 September.  It is not known where Catherine and her children were living.  Martin Koppenhaver continues to support both families.

1874:

“Gratz Martin” and Catherine conceive a 3rd child in or about October.

1875:

The 3rd child, John F. Koppenhaver, is born to “Gratz Martin” and Catherine, on 10 June 1875.  Some records indicate that John was born in Schuylkill County.

1876:

The name of Martin Koppenhaver (“Hubley Martin“) appears on a map of Hubley Township, Schuylkill County, as the owner of property next to his mother-in-law Eva [Artz] Dietrich, widow of Philip Dietrich.

1877:

On 10 July, the child John F. Koppenhaver dies.  He is buried in Gratz Union Cemetery in a plot, most likely purchased by Martin.  Other graves in the plot are reserved for future use.

1878:

“Gratz Martin” and Catherine conceive a 4th child in or about October.

1879:

On 15 June, the 4th child, Jennie M. Koppenhaver, is born to “Hubley Martin” and Catherine.

During this time period and afterward, no Civil War pension application has been located for anyone named Martin Koppenhaver.

The evidence seems to lean toward the conclusion that “Hubley Martin” and “Gratz Martin” were the same person. Other researchers may have different information and they are invited to present that information here.  Comments can be added to this post or sent by e-mail.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Martin Koppenhaver – Was He a Civil War Veteran & Did He Have Two Families?
Tags: Gratz Borough, Hubley Township, Lykens Township, Sacramento, Spring Glen

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 31, 2015

A listing of the August 2015 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

Some Connections to Abraham Lincoln – Really?

Obituary of Israel O. Enders of Fisherville

Civil War Veteran Burials at Oak HIll Cemetery, Millersburg (Part 6)

Was There Ever a G.A.R. Post in Elizabethville?

Some Brief Obituaries of Lykens Valley Area Civil War Veterans

Two Civil War-Era Centenarians Who Died in 1923

Bullets from the Battlefield

William W. Davidson Dies on Visit to Detroit

Obituary of William DeHaven of Millersburg

Some Wedding Anniversaries of Veterans in 1919

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on August 2015 Posts
Tags: Table of Contents