On 19 August 1911, the obituary of Levi S. Adams appeared in the West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald:
Levi Adams, an old and highly respected citizen of Spring Street, died suddenly of heart trouble at 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, aged 72 years. Mr. Adams was a veteran of the Civil War and also was a veteran in the service of the P. & R. Company, having been retired and pensioned by that company for long and faithful service. He was employed as repairman and section boss by the company for many years. Up to the time of his death he was high constable of Tremont. He is survived by the widow, six sons: William Adams, of Pottsville; Harry Adams, Philadelphia; Francis S. Adams, George B. Adams, John H. Adams, and Edward S. Adams, of town. Four daughters, Mrs. Jonathan Zimmerman, Pine Grove; Mrs. Richard Shollenberg, Pine Grove; Mrs. Charles Miller, Butler; Mrs. Harry Pfeiffer, adopted, Joliett, Illinois. Three brothers: Elias H. Adams, William Adams, and George W. Adams, Outwood. Three sisters: Mrs. Isaac Miller, Frystown, Berks County; Mrs. Henry Kobie, Swatara Valley, near Pine Grove; Mrs. John Behney, Outwood. Services were held at the house Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock with the Rev. G. W. Spotts, Pastor of the Reformed Church. The six sons of the deceased were the pall bearers. Interment was made in the Reformed Cemetery. Undertaker Otto had charge.
The Civil War service of Levi S. Adams was in two parts:
On 30 October 1862, he was mustered into the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, as a Private. He served his term as a draftee and was honorably discharged on 17 August 1863.
Levis’s second service was as a volunteer. On 6 February 1865, he enrolled at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and on the same day and at the same place he was mustered into service in the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a Private. He was 26 years old, living in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, and working as a laborer. He stood 5 foot 7 inches tall, had light hair, a light complexion, and grey eyes. On 2 April 1865, he was wounded at Petersburg, and he was not present when his regiment was mustered out on 27 June 1865. These facts were taken from the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, above, from the Pennsylvania Archives.
The Pension Index Card from Fold3. shows that Levi S. Adams applied for a pension on 5 April 1875 and received a pension. He died on 13 August 1911 at Tremont, Schuylkill County.
Following his death, his widow. Mary L. Adams, applied and received benefits until her death. The Pension Index Card, above is from Ancestry.com.
A sad story of an immigrant, wounded veteran who served honorably throughout the Civil War and who died alone at the county poorhouse, is told through newspaper stories, available military records, and other genealogical resources.
From the Pottsville Republican, 5 November 1902:
Poor Old Soldier
Communicated
Died at the Schuylkill County Almshouse, November 4, 1902, Joseph Gee, unwept, unhonored, and unsung. When a youth he enlisted, August 22, 1861, as a Private in Company A, 96th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers [96th Pennsylvania Infantry], while the regiment was being organized at Lawton’s Hill. Two grievous wounds he received during his term, one in the neck and the other in the left side. After serving well and faithfully he was transferred with the 96th Battalion [sic] to the 95th Pennsylvania Volunteers [95th Pennsylvania Infantry] (Goalane’s Zouaves), in which he served as a Sergeant of COmpany E until veteranized, after which he was honorably discharged January 4, 1864 [sic].
His old comrades of the 96th knew nothing of his condition until this morning at Capt. Hendler’s funeral when the announcement was made, too late to make preparations for his interment.
The survivors of the regiment will meet this evening at the office of Davis Mellon, Esq., to take action relative to his case. He was a good soldier and deserves a better fate than to have his remains consigned to the dissecting table.
From the Pottsville Republican, 6 November 1902:
Burial of Old Soldier
Under frowning skies, without wail of bugle, roll of muffled drum or sob of fife, unattended by a single citizen, in an undertaker’s wagon and only escorted by the firing squad of Post 23, G.A.R., under Capt. Smeltzer, Quartermaster A. W. Schalck, and a bare corporal’s guard of his old companions in arms, the battle-scarred remains of Sgt. Joseph Gee, of Company A, 6th Pennsylvania Volunteers [6th Pennsylvania Infantry] Volunteers; Company A, 96th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers; Company E of the re-enlisted Pennsylvania Volunteers; and thereafter of the Veteran Reserve Corps, were consigned to earth in the old soldiers lot in the Odd Fellows Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The burial services were fervently pronounced by the Rev. Ephraim Potts, of the Methodist Church of Cressona, himself an old soldier, who kindly offered his services after the arrival of the body from the almshouse. Mr. Shalck feelingly read the G.A.R. ritual for the dead, and Capt. J. T. Boyle, of the 96th spoke briefly of the services of the deceased and of his utter friendliness he being as a stranger in the country which he had sacrificed himself to help preserve and which had entirely forgotten him and his services. The pall bearers were Capt. J. T. Boyle, and Squire D. M. Mellon, of the the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Comrades A. W. Sands,M. M. Clarkson, George Blank, James Candy. The undertaker was J. M. Weiser of Minersville.
On 6 November 1902, J. W. Sallade of Auburn, Schuylkill County, filed for Letters of Administration for the Estate of Joseph Gee. The document (above) is fromAncestry.com.
The estate of Joseph Gee was estimated at $67, which in 2018 dollars, would be be about $2930.67. See: CPI Inflation Calculator.
The Civil War service of Joseph Gee is documented through readily available, on-line records:
On 22 April 1861, at Llewellyn, Schuylkill County, Joseph Gee, a 27-year-old miner from Donaldson, Schuylkill County, enrolled in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, and was mustered into service the same day at Harrisburg as a Private. Upon completion of this 3-months service, he was mustered out with his company in August 1861.
Then on 22 August 1861 at Pottsville, he enrolled in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry as a Corporal but immediately was promoted to Sergeant and was mustered into Company A of that regiment, also at Pottsville about a month later on 23 September 1861. At the time he joined this new regiment, he claimed he had been born in England, was about 28 years old, and was working as a cabinet maker. He was 5 foot 4 inches tall, had light hair, a fair complexion, and light blue eyes. On 14 February 1864, he re-enlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia, and on 18 October 1864, he transferred into Company E, of the 95th Pennsylvania Infantry, remaining as a Sergeant. This transfer was a result of the consolidation of the 96th into the 95th. On 17 July 1865, with the war over, he was mustered out of service with his company.
The above two Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Cards from the Pennsylvania Archives show that Joseph Gee served the duration of the war, from April 1861 through July 1865. However, the cards do not indicate any injuries received as a result of his service.
On 27 May 1879, Joseph Gee applied for a disability pension based on his service in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry. The card above from Ancestry.com indicates he received the pension. The actual application for the pension was not consulted for this blog post due to the cost of obtaining it from the National Archives. However, the nature of any of the injuries received by Joseph Gee would be found in that application. For some unknown reason, the service in the 95th Pennsylvania Infantry was not claimed in applying for the pension.
The version of the Pension Index Card available at Fold3 gives essentially the same information, but records his death date as 4 November 1902.
The next available military information is from the Veterans’ Census of 1890, when Joseph Gee was enumerated on the sheet for Reilly Township, Schuylkill County, but with a post office address of Swatara. Two cuts from that census are shown above. Here, he only reported his service in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry. His injuries from that service were given as “shot in leg twice.”
The final military document available on-line is the record page of the Soldiers’ Home at Hampton, Virginia. In the military history portion, shown above from Ancestry.com. it is stated that the disability incurred was “gunshot wounds in neck,” although it is not specifically stated where this occurred. The final discharge received was at Halls Hills, Virginia.
In the domestic history portion of the home record, it is stated that Joseph Gee was born in England, that he was 64 years old, nearly 5 foot 6 inches tall, with a light complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, and was literate (could read and write). His occupation at time of admission to the home was laborer, and that his residence subsequent to discharge was Tremont, Schuylkill County. He was single, and his closest relative was a Mrs. Elizabeth Minning, of Joliett, Schuylkill County. Unfortunately, there is no indication in the home record as to how Mrs. Minning was related to him.
The final portion of the home page gives the “home history.” Joseph Gee was formally admitted on 25 April 1898. He was then receiving $12 a month in pension. The date of discharge is curious, because 14 April 1903 is more than five months after his death. The reason for discharge is that he was “dropped (AWL)” meaning “absent without leave.” He should have been in the Soldiers’ Home at the time of his death. It is not known how he ended up in the Schuylkill County Almshouse.
Much of the early and later history of Joseph Gee is elusive. Here’s what is known or not known from the genealogical records:
He was an immigrant from England, but the date and place of entry have not yet been located.
He is found in the 1860 Census for Frailey Township, Schuylkill County, a single miner, age 26, living in the household of Thomas Harrit, a 50-year-old miner, also born in England.
As of this writing, he was not yet located in either the 1870 or 1880 censuses.
As previously stated, he was living in Schuylkill County at the time of the 1890 Census.
He also has not been located in the 1900 census, but presumably he should have been at the Soldiers’ Home at Hampton, Virginia.
Newspapers provide some further evidence of his activities from the time he received his pension to his death.
From the West Schuylkill Press & Pine Grove Herald, 16 April 1881:
Mr. Joseph Gee, private in the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers, is to receive a pension of $375. He expects it on Wednesday.
Note: The amount received in one initial payment was for back payment to the date of application. Records indicate that the most he ever received per month was $12.
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From the West Schuylkill Press & Pine Grove Herald, 4 July 1896:
PENSION GRANTED – Joseph Gee, of Swatara, has been granted a pension of $12 per month. Mr. Gee served as a Sergeant in Company A, 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers and participated in over a score of battles. He was wounded and has a soldier record which would make many a man feel proud. This pension was granted through Squire Mellon’s Agency.
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From the West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald, 2 July 1898:
Joseph Gee, a veteran of ’61, writes from the National Soldiers Home, Virginia, what he likes his new home. He ordered a copy of the PRESS to be sent to him. Joe contemplates a visit to his former home about December.
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From the West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald, 17 November 1900:
Joseph Gee, an inmate of the Soldiers’ Home at Fortress Monroe, paid his annual visit to West End friends this week. Mr. Gee has been on furlough the past three months but elects in a week or two to return to the Home.
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From the Pottsville Republican, 25 September 1902:
Joseph Gee, of Hampton Roads, Virginia, a survivor of the gallant 96th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, is visiting comrades in Pottsville.
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It may have been that Joseph Gee was on one of his visits to Schuylkill County from the Soldiers’ Home when he took ill, and no one knew he was officially residing at Hampton, Virginia, so had him committed to the Schuylkill County Almshouse, where he died on 4 November 1902.
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Additional information is sought about this veteran who died alone at the almshouse and whose remains were rescued from the medical dissecting table. He apparently was well-liked by his comrades, who saw that he had a fitting heroes burial.
A brief mention was made in the Lykens Register of 10 June 1897 of Harry W. Fox:
Harry W. Fox returned this evening from his visit to Johnstown where he attended the reunion of his old regiment, the Fifty-Fifty Pennsylvania.
The name of Harry W. Fox appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument as a veteran who served as a Captain in the Civil War and who joined the Heilner Post after its organization.
The Record Card from the Pennsylvania Archives gives a rough outline of the Civil War service of Harry W. Fox, who is found in the regiment as Henry W. Fox:
On 11 October 1861, he was mustered into service as a Private in Company H, also at Harrisburg.
The only physical information about him that is noted on the card is that he was about 28 years old.
On 19 November 1861, he was promoted from Private to Sergeant Major, in F & S [regimental officers].
On 23 October 1862, he transferred to Company K with a promotion to 2nd Lieutenant.
On 24 October 1862, he was discharged for a disability via a Surgeon’s Certificate #308. The card notes that this was a War Department Order with a letter on file.
On 1 January 1864, he re-enlisted for a period of 3 years or the duration of the war.
On 30 June 1880, Henry W. Fox applied for a disability pension based on his service in the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry, which he received and collected until his death. Card above from Fold3.
On 17 September 1904, Henry’s widow Annie Fox applied for benefits, which she received until her death. Card above from Ancestry.com.
The following news articles, including the obituary of Harry W. Fox, were found in local newspapers. Some include some additional information on his Civil War service.
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Shortly after returning from the Civil War, Harry W. Fox went to work at Short Mountain Colliery as an engineer. From the Lykens Register of 1866, reprinted in the Lykens Standard, 19 Jan 1906.
On Tuesday morning last as four loaded cars were descending the inclined plane, the safety truck ran off the track, letting the cars pass down without any check. They came down with a crash, completely demolishing two of them, injuring one of the others and an empty car that was standing at the foot of the plane. Daniel Thomas, outside boss at Short Mountain Mines, and John Orndorff, brakeman, who were on the cars jumped off in time to save themselves, being but slightly injured. Emanuel Hoffman, who attended the foot of the plane had two horses attached to some empty cars and seeing the accident attempted to save the horses and himself and in so doing very narrowly escaped a shocking death. One of the horses was instantly killed, but the other was injured. Harry W. Fox had charge of the drum at the head of the plane.
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He then went into the restaurant business. From the Lykens Register of 1867, reprinted in the Lykens Standard, 20 March 1906.
Harry W. Fox purchased the restaurant fixtures, &c., of Mrs. A. B. Heard.
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From the Lykens Register of 1872, reprinted in the Lykens Register, 27 May 1897:
The following officers of Wiconisco Encampment, I.O.O.F, of this place, were installed Wednesday evening: C.P., Henry W. Fox; H.P., John Chappel; S.W., F. J. Douden; J.W., Thomas George; Treasurer, Emanuel Hoffman; Scribe, R. G. Stewart; Guide, D.C.P., W. W. Jones; I.S., John H. Keen; O.S., Alfred GIlbert; 1st W., John C. Jenkins; 2nd W., William Bateman Jr.; 3rd W., John O’Neal; 4th W, P.C.P, William Thomas.
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In 1896, he put up his green grocer stand for sale. From the Lykens Register, 14 February 1896:
FOR SALE – Lately the stand of Fox Brothers on Market Street, Lykens, on easy terms. Also a horse, wagon and harness. Apply to H. W. Fox.
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From the Lykens Register, 6 Mar 1896:
Harry W. Fox is confined to his home by sickness.
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From the Lykens Register, 29 May 1896:
Harry W. Fox is confined to his home, having been poisoned about his face and hands by poison ivy.
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This may refer to his son. From the Elizabethville Echo, 25 June 1896:
Harry W. Fox has been appointed health officer of Lykens.
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From the Lykens Register, 24 Jul 1896:
Captain Henry W. Fox announces himself as a candidate for county commissioner. Mr. Fox is an old soldier who served through the war, entering as a private and leaving as a captain; being promoted because of faithful and true service. He has all the necessary qualifications and will make a first-class commissioner. All citizens who are “agin the ring” will give him their heartiest support.
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From the Lykens Register, 2 June 1898:
H. W. Fox, William Trout, C. B. Boeckler, John F. Davis and William J. Mummey are attending to business at Harrisburg today and incidentally taking in the state Republican Convention.
From the Lykens Register, 21 July 1898:
Ex-Senator A. F. Thompson, W. Claude Thompson, Harry W. Fox and J. Sylvester Matter transacted business at Harrisburg today.
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From the Lykens Register, 1 September 1898:
Harry W. Fox returned this evening from Altoona, where he had been attending the reunion of his old regiment – the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
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From the Lykens Register, 24 August 1899:
Reunion of the 55th Regiment
The eighth annual reunion of the Fifty-fifth regiment, Pennsylvania veteran volunteers, will be held in Philadelphia, September 6, 1899, in Room 6, fifth floor, Odd Fellows’ Temple, Broad and Cherry Streets, at 6 o’clock p.m. Addresses will be made by Colonel John H. Filler and others. Camp fire will be held immediately after the business meeting. Comrades will ask for information regarding headquarters at the bureau of information at the depot.
Company G, of the Fifty-fifth regiment was recruited at Harrisburg by Captain Isaac Waterburry, whose widow still lives at 612 North Second Street. Its second captain was Levi A. Weaver, who died a few months ago at 610 North Street. There are about ten or twelve of the company still residing in Harrisburg; among them are August Milhouse, William N. Brown, John M. Lyon, Edward Looker, Joseph L. Leonard, Daniel Boyer, S. Lowe, Henry Minich, Jerry Minich, Alex Poist.
Lykens also has a share in the honors of this regiment, having furnished a number of recruits. Among the survivors are Capt. H. W. Fox, who enlisted as a private in Company H, Fifty-fifth regiment, promoted to Sargent Major, again promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company K, on the field of battle at Pocotwilga, South Carolina, October 22, 1862, and promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Captain and mustered out with rank of Brevet Major; William Marter, Company G; Elias Deterick, Company D; George Irving, Company E.
This regiment has quite a war record standing fifth in casualties and losses of any regiment that went out of the state, losing 700 men in eleven months’ time.
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From the Lykens Register, 16 August 1900:
Attended Dedication
Capt. H. W. Fox, of this place, left Tuesday for Indiana, Pennsylvania, to attend the dedication of the Col. Dick White monument, and also the reunion of the 55th Pennsylvania regiment of which Mr. Fox was Captain of Company K during the Civil War.
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From the Lykens Standard, 7 Jun 1901:
Capt. H. W. Fox of North Second Street, left Wednesday morning for Gettysburg to attend the annual reunion of his regiment – the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
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From the Lykens Standard, 10 October 1902:
H.W. Fox and William Turner left Tuesday morning to attend the G.A.R. encampment at Washington. The 55th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which the former was a member, held their annual reunion at the same place Wednesday.
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From the Lykens Standard, 4 March 1904:
H. W. Fox and Joseph Duncan have been confined to the house during the past week with illness, the latter having had quite a serious attack.
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The obituary of Henry W. Fox appeared in the Lykens Standard of 16 September 1904:
H. W. Fox of North Second Street, died of Bright’s Disease about noon Saturday, aged 72 years, 2 months and 26 days. He was born at Pottsville and came to Lykens about the year 1856, where he has since resided. For a number of years preceding his death he was engaged in the green grocery business in the Young Block on Market Street, but for the past nine months was unable to be at his store and only once or twice since has he gone up town. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the three months’ service and re-enlisted in Company K, 55th Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he served three years, having attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant when mustered out. He was originally a member of Heilner Post, No. 232 G.A.R., of this place, but some time ago withdrew his membership and deposited it with Post 58 of Harrisburg, which had instructed the local Post to represent them at the funeral.
Deceased is survived by a widow, two sons, Harry W. Fox, and J. Foster Fox, and one daughter, Miss Carrie Fox, and one sister, Mrs. Ellen Hurd of Buffalo, New York.
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. D. L. Mackenzie, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, conducting the services, and Rev. A. A. Thompson of the Methodist Episcopal Church, offered the prayer. Interment was in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
The pallbearers were selected from the Sons of Veterans and were as follows: 2nd Lieutenant Claude Minnich; Sergeant of Guard Harry A. Miller; Color Sergeant R. L. Hawk; Camp Council H. F. Bueck; Charles Engle; John H. Yentch.
Among those from a distance attending the funeral were: Mrs. Isaac Price of Avondale, Alabama; Mrs. Ellen Hurd, sister of the deceased and only surviving member of family, of Buffalo, New York; Mrs. John Neitz of New York City; Miss Rebecca Hoffman of Harrisburg.
The family have requested us to thank neighbors and friends for kindly assistance during the last illness and at the funeral of Mr. Fox.
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From the Lykens Standard, 21 October 1904:
The will of Henry W. Fox, late of Lykens, was probated Monday afternoon and letters on the estate granted to deceased’s widow, Anna Fox.
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And from the Lykens Standard, 28 October 1904:
EXECUTRIX NOTICE
Letters testamentary having been granted the undersigned on the estate of HENRY W. FOX, late of the Borough of Lykens, Pennsylvania, deceased, all persons knowing themselves indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payments, and those having claims against the same, to present them, duly authenticated to
Mrs. ANN FOX, Executrix.
Lykens, October 20, 1904.
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Any reader with additional information about Harry W. Fox is welcome to add it as a comment to this post or send it via e-mail. Is there an available photo?
On 10 August 1862, claiming to be 43 years old, Benjamin Goebel, a tailor living at Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, enrolled in the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered into Company K, as a Private, at Harrisburg, six days later. No other information about him is given on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card (shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives).
On 28 July 1890, Benjamin Goebel applied for a Civil War pension, which according to the card (above) from Fold3, he was awarded and collected to his death, which occurred in 1905. It most likely can be concluded that since he waited until the rules were sufficiently relaxed that “old age” was an acceptable reason to apply for benefits, that he didn’t have any injuries as a result of the war.
The entry for Benjamin J. Goebel, above, from the 1890 Veterans’ Census, for Tremont, Schuylkill County, shows his service in the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, but then indicates that he did have a war-related disability – “left foot frozen at Fredericksburg.” No other record has been eto confirm this.
Efforts thus far to locate him in any area newspapers that are on-line have not been successful. Although the Pension Index Card states he died in 1905, no obituary has been located that matches this veteran.
In 1870, Benjamin Goebel, a 55-year-old tailor was living in Tremont, Schuylkill County, with wife Sarah Goebel, and two children: John H. Goebel, about 8 years old and attending school, and Alice Goebel, about 3 years old and at home. Benjamin indicated he was a citizen and had been born in Pennsylvania.
In 1880, still living in Tremont and still a tailor, Benjamin indicated he was a widower and living as a boarder. No other information is known about the wife, except that she was about 39 in 1870 and she died before the 1880 census. Efforts to locate the two children have also not been successful.
Benjamin has not yet been located in the 1900 census.
Additional information is needed to tell more of this veteran’s story. If any reader has obtained his military records or pension application pages from the National Archives, or knows anything more about his family, please share by adding a comment to this blog post.
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Norman Gasbarro, Ed.D., is a genealogical/historical researcher and writer living in Philadelphia, PA. Norm taught history for over twenty-five years. He is a graduate of Muhlenberg College with a major in history and holds advanced degrees from Rowan University (NJ) and Columbia University (NY).
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