Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 22, 2019

Obediah Johnson Farling was born in Millersburg, Dauphin County, on 19 April 1839, the son of Jacob Farling and Catherine [Christ] Farling. About 1868, he married Elizabeth A. Byers (1841-1924). There were no known children from the marriage. Following the Civil War, he became a minister of the Church of God. Obediah died on 14 August 1927, at Harrisburg.

His obituary, which appeared in the Harrisburg Evening News of 15 August 1927 only briefly mentioned his Civil War service and failed to mention his volunteer work at the Dauphin County Alms House:

Funeral services for the Rev. Obediah J. Farling, 89 years old, retired minister of the Church of God and a veteran of the Civil War, who died yesterday at his home, 1402 Regina Street, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock from the Penbrook Church of God. The Rev. Dr. C. H. Grove, the Rev. J. A. Detter, pastor of the Penbrook Church of God, and the Rev. J. C. Forncook, retired, of New Cumberland, will officiate. Burial will be in the East Harrisburg Cemetery.

The Rev. O. J. Farling was born in Millerstown [sic], and was for a number of years a resident in the vicinity of Linglestown. At the outbreak of the Civil War, hew enlisted, was captured and held for a while in Libby Prison. He began to preach shortly afterward, but was not ordained by the East Pennsylvania Eldership until 1883. He has served in charges in Chambersburg, York, Matamoras and East Steelton during the past fifty years.

He has been retired for the past several years. Several nieces and nephews, of this city, survive him.

The obituary does not state how long Rev. Farling served in Matamoras. It should be noted though that he is not included in the list of Halifax Area Civil War Veterans that was published in the Halifax Bicentennial Book.

The Civil War record of Obediah J. Farling (sometimes referred to as Obadiah), is summarized on his Pension Index Card, shown above from Ancestry,com. From the regimental and company information available on the card, and from other records, his service was as follows:

• On 3 November 1862, he was drafted into Company C of the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, as a Private. After serving the required 10 month term.
• On 4 February 1864, he was mustered into Company B of the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry, as a Private. It was probably during this service that he was taken as a prisoner as noted in the obituary (above). On 17 June 1865, this regiment was merged into the 1st Pennsylvania Provisional Cavalry and on 13 July 1865, he was mustered out with his company.
• On 20 October 1879, as shown on the Pension Index Card, Obediah applied for a disability pension, which he was awarded and collected until his death in 1927.

More specific information about the military service of Obediah Farling would be found in his military records and pension application. These records are available from the National Archives and were not consulted for this blog post due to the expense of obtaining them. Of particular interest is whether the records confirm his imprisonment, including location, length of time, and condition of release.

Some information about his ministerial service was found in area newspapers (not in chronological order).

From the Altoona Tribune, 16 August 1927:

RETIRED MINISTER DIES

HARRISBURG, August 15 [1927] – (A.P.) – Rev. Obediah J. Farling, retired minister of the Church of God, and a Civil War veteran, died at his home here yesterday at the age of 88. He was ordained in 1883.

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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 23 December 1901:

Pastor Remembered

Rev. O. J. Farling, pastor of the Second Church of God, at Steelton, and who conducts religious services every other Sunday at the county almshouse, today received as a Christmas present from Poor Directors W. Scott Stroh, Isaac Hoffman and Joseph Early, and Steward Look, a good overcoat and a fine silk hat. Rev. Mr. Farling has been conducting services at the almshouse for the past several years and those in authority of the home appreciate his work.

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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 6 January 1908:

Presented With a Silk Hat

The Poor Directors and Clerk G. A. L. Row at the meeting held today presented Rev. O. J. Farling with a fine silk hat. Rev. Mr. Farling is pastor of the East Steelton Church of God, and with is work at that church conducts services every two weeks at the County Home.

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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 14 May 1917:

The Rev. O. J. Farling 78 Years Old Next Saturday

The Rev. O. J. Farling, 1402 Regina Street, will celebrate next Saturday his 78th birthday anniversary. He was born in Millersburg, this county. He has been a minister of the Church of God for many years and has long been chaplain of the county home. He is a Civil War veteran, having served as 1st Lieutenant in Company B, First Provisional U.S. Army [sic].

January 23, 1868, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Byers of Cumberland County. On Saturday from 2 to 5 and from 7 to 9 p.m. they will be at home to their friends. It has been suggested that it would be an opportune time for the extending of congratulations to the aged couple as well as the presentation of some substantial gift.

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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 9 May 1924:

Mrs. Elizabeth Farling, 82 Years Old, Dies

Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Farling, 82, wife of the Rev. Obediah J. Farling, 1402 Regina Street, who died at her home yesterday, will be held from the Penbrook Church of God Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Burial will be in the East Harrisburg Cemetery.

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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 11 May 1927:

Celebrate Anniversary in Green Street Church

The fifty-eighth anniversary of the Green Street Church of God, Green and Calder Streets, pastor the Rev. E. F. Asper, will be celebrated today.

Special services at the church this evening will mark the celebration.

The church was founded on May 5, 1869, at 1317 Williams Street, the home of the Rev. O. J. Farling, by seven members. Two survive. They are the Rev. Mr. Farling and Mrs. Jones.

The public is invited to attend the celebration this evening.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 14 May 1917:

Birthday Anniversary of the Rev. O. J. Farling

The Rev. O. J. Farling of 1402 Regina Street, for many years a minister of the Church of God and chaplain of the County Home, will celebrate his seventy-eighth birthday on Saturday, May 19. He is a Civil War veteran having served as 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 1st Provisional U.S. Army [sic] and on January 23, 1869, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Byers of Cumberland County, so their golden anniversary is nearly here.

The Rev. and Mrs. Farling will be “at home” to their friends Saturday from2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. It has been suggested that a general visit from their friends at that time will be greatly appreciated and that accompanying the congratulations and good wished serviceable gifts or substantial donations will be in order.

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From the Harrisburg Patriot, 28 November 1917:

Tomorrow’s services at the East Steelton Church of God will be conducted by the pastor, Rev. O. J. Farling. He will preach in the morning at 10:30 o’clock and in the evening at 7:30. Sunday School and other services at usual hours.

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Some additional information is found at the Findagrave Memorial for Obediah J. Farling. The information includes his birthplace as Millersburg. In the obituary (above near top of post), his birthplace is given as Millerstown, which apparently is incorrect. The death certificate states that he was born in Millersburg (see below).

Additional information is sought on this Civil War veteran who became a minister of the Church of God. Of particular interest is a photograph of him taken later in life.

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The Civil War portrait is from a local history newsletter. News clippings are from Newspapers.com and from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The death certificate is from Ancestry.com.

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Tags: Halifax, Halifax Township, Matamoras, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 20, 2019

An obituary of Daniel Hawk, Civil War veteran, appeared in the Lykens Standard, 29 November 1918:

Daniel Hawk, for many years a resident of this place [Lykens], but who about six years ago removed to Jefferson Township, died at his home there last Saturday of liver trouble, in his 72nd year. Deceased was twice married, his first wife, Clara Lehman, having preceded him in death a number of years ago.

The surviving children of this union are: Harriet [Hawk] Buffington (Mrs. W. H. Buffington), of Barberton, Ohio; Edward G. Hawk, of this place; Flora [Hawk] Parfet (Mrs. G. W. Parfet), of this place; Gertrude [Hawk] Koppenhaver (Mrs. Charles Koppenhaver, of this place; Mabel [Hawk] Hoover (Mrs. John Hoover), of Barberton, Ohio; and Clara [Hawk[ Bogar (Mrs. J. A. Bogar), of this place. His second marriage was to Mrs. Joseph Fauber of Paul’s Valley, who also survives.

Mr. Hawk was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, from which he received an honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was a member of Heilner Post, No. 232, G.A.R., of this place. Funeral services were held at his late home at 1 p.m. Tuesday by Rev. Rhoads, pastor of the United Brethren Church of Lykens, of which deceased was a member for many years. Burial took place in Odd Fellows Cemetery beside his first wife.

The Pension Index Card for Daniel Hawk, shown above from Fold3, indicates that he applied for benefits on 27 March 1897. He collected benefits until his death, which occurred on 23 November 1918. According to the card, death occurred at Lykens, which conflicts with information in the obituary. For some reason unknown at this time, his second wife did not collect pension benefits although she survived him.

Other sources give his dates of military service as 27 January 1865 through discharge on 14 July 1865.

For his service, Daniel Hawk is recognized on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument as a veteran who joined the Heilner Post after its organization. His name appears with other Privates who were members.

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News clipping from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Jefferson Township, Lykens, Powell's Valley

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 18, 2019

More information is sought about David Ferster who was born 2 March 1828, the son of Peter Ferster (1794-1864) and Maria Christina [Rebuck] Ferster (1796-1838), in Washington Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

At the time of he Civil War, David Ferster joined the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private on or about 16 October 1862 and was mustered out on 1 August 1863.

On 2 August 1890, David Ferster applied for a Civil War pension, which he received and collected until his death, which occurred on 11 August 1903. Thereafter, his widow, Judith [Brosius] Ferster, received benefits for a short time until her death on 3 March 1904. The Pension Index Card, above, is from Fold3.

Additional known facts:

• In 1860, David and Judith (who appears in the census as Julian), were living in Washington Township, Northumberland County, with four children in their household. David was a farmer.
• In 1870, David was a farmer at the same place, His mother-in-law, Catherine Brosius, was living in his household.
• In 1880, he was still a farmer at the same place.
• In 1890, his address for the Veterans’ Census was Washington Township, Northumberland County.
• In 1900, he gave his occupation as landlord. He and his wife “Juda” were still living in Washington Township.
• David Ferster and Judith had at least six known children together.
• David Ferster died on 11 August 1903 and is buried in St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Cemetery, Urban, Northumberland County. When his wife died less than a year later, she too was buried at the same cemetery.

For readers who have additional information that can be contributed, please do so by adding a comment to this post, or send it by e-mail.

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Portrait of David Ferster is from a public family genealogy on Ancestry.com.

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Tags: Urban, Washington Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 15, 2019

A “Resolution of Respect” was published in the Lykens Standard of 19 October 1923 for Samuel M. Fenn:

At a meeting of the Directors of the MINERS DEPOSIT BANK, of Lykens, Pennsylvania, held the 16th day of October 1923, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted.

WHEREAS, by the inscrutable laws of Providence, our Associate Director, Mr. Samuel M. Fenn has been removed from our midst,

RESOLVED, that in the death of Mr. Fenn, the Miners Deposit Bank has lost one of its most useful and efficient directors, his wife a kind and dutiful husband, his children a loving father, and the community a good and conscientious citizen.

RESOLVED, that these resolutions be spread on the minutes, a copy be presented to the family of the deceased and be published in the Lykens Standard.

ISAAC MOSSOP

FRED J. DOUDEN

FRED G. KNILEY

Committee

One week prior, in the Lykens Standard, the community was informed of the death of Samuel M. Fenn, with the following obituary:

DEATH OF SAMUEL M. FENN

Samuel M. Fenn, an aged and well known former publisher died at his home in Main Street, 5:30, after an illness of about six years duration. The past two years he was confined to his home practically all the time because of infirmities.

Mr. Fenn was the son of Benjamin Sedgwick Fenn and Sarah Scranton, and was born August 2, 1839, in Canaan, Connecticut. In early life he removed to Harrisburg where he resided with his uncle, Theophilus Fenn, then editor of the Pennsylvania Telegraph, where he received such advantages of study as could be afforded him. At the age of sixteen he entered the office of the Palladium, at New Haven, Connecticut, and served an apprenticeship to the art of printing. In September, 1862, Mr. Fenn enlisted in Company C, 16th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers [16th Connecticut Infantry], and served until the close of the war for the Union.

After an interval he returned as foreman on the Hartford Times (Connecticut), and in November 1868, removed to Lykens, where he purchased the office and effects of the Upper Dauphin Register, which was subsequently changed to Lykens Register. He published that periodical for a number of years.

April 14, 1872, he married Addie Miller, who survives with one daughter, Emma M. Fenn (Mrs. J. M. Miller), of this place [Lykens], and one son, George B. Fenn, of New York.

Funeral services will be held at the Fenn home Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the Rev. R. H. Comly of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will be made in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.

The portrait at the top of this post was featured in the death notice that was featured in the Harrisburg Telegraphof 13 October 1923:

AGED PUBLISHER BURIED TODAY

Nephew of Theophilus Fenn Who Died at Lykens Laid to Rest in Odd Fellows Cemetery

Lykens, October 13 [1923] — Samuel Fenn, an aged and well-known publisher, who died at his home Wednesday morning after an illness of six years, was buried this afternoon at 3 o’clock in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, the Rev. R. H. Comly, of the Methodist Episcopal Church officiating.

Mr. Fenn was born in Canaan, Connecticut, in 1839, but spent his earlier days in Harrisburg with his uncle, Theophilus Fenn, then editor of the Pennsylvania Telegraph, later the Harrisburg Telegraph. At the age of 16 he entered the office of the Paladium at New Haven, Connecticut, where he served as apprentice till the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company C, of the Connecticut Volunteers. At the close of the war he returned to Hartford, later moving to Lykens, where for a number of years he was editor of the Upper Dauphin Register.

In 1872 he was married to Addie Miller, who survives, with one daughter, Mrs. J. M. Miller, Lykens, and one son, George Fenn, of New York.

On 26 August 1891, Samuel M. Fenn applied for pension benefits based on his Civil War service. He received the pension until his death in 1923, whereupon his widow, Addie Fenn, applied. She was awarded the pension which she collected until her death in February 1933. The Pension Index Card shown above is from Ancestry.com

Documentation of two other pieces of information is found on the Pension Index Card from Fold3: (1) Samuel M. Fenn served as a Sergeant in the 16th Connecticut Infantry; and (2) his death date was 10 October 1923, and place of death was Lykens.

The name of Samuel M. Fenn is listed on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument with the 1st Sergeants who joined the Heilner Post, G.A.R. at Lykens, after its organization.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: G.A.R., Lykens

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 13, 2019

Henry W. Faust died in March 1899 and is buried at the United Methodist Church Cemetery in Tremont, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. During the Civil War he served in the 39th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia (Emergency of 1863), Company H, as a Private from 29 June 1863 to 2 August 1863 when he was discharged at the end of the emergency.

No additional information is provided on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives.

Because his service was so short, he did not qualify for a Civil War pension at least three months being required unless serious injury or death occurred attributed to service. However, he did legitimately claim veteran status at the time of the 1890 census, giving as his only service the aforementioned militia duty.

The West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald gave a good accounting of his life when they published his obituary on 18 March 1899:

DEATH OF H. W. FAUST – Henry W. Faust, one of Tremont‘s best known citizens, died at his home on West Main Street soon after six o’clock on Wednesday morning, of miners’ asthma, after a long illness. Mr. Faust was born in Ravine, near Pine Grove, 21 August 1840. He was a man of powerful physique in his younger days, tall, heavy-boned and exceedingly strong. He was a miner, and the work, in later years, shattered his health, as in the case with so many who follow the same occupation. For some years he was very feeble. Mr. Faust served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a gallant soldier. He was a popular citizen and a few years ago he was elected to the office of tax collector, but declined to serve, L. W. Kopp being appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Faust was a member of Williams Post 136, G.A.R. and Tremont Lodge, No. 245, I.O.O.F. Both of these organizations will attend the funeral. Survivors are the widow and the following sons and daughters: John H. Faust, borough clerk; Charles Faust and Roy Faust, of town [Tremont], and William Faust, of Philadelphia; and Misses Louisa Faust and Beulah Faust, both at home.

The funeral services will be held at the home of the deceased, tomorrow afternoon at one o’clock. Revs. Lentz and Snyder will officiate.

Interment will be made in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery. Undertaker Seltzer will have charge.

A more brief notice of his death appeared in the Pine Grove Herald on 17 March 1899:

Henry W. Faust, aged 59 years, died of miners’ asthma at Tremont, Wednesday morning. He is a brother of Israel Faust, of Ravine. Funeral on Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock.

Henry W. Faust was married to the former Emma L. Fegley, who was born in 1845, daughter of Jonathan Fegley and Mary M. [Bonawitz] Fegley. Emma survived her husband, living to 19 October 1912, when she died in Tremont.

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News clippings from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Pine Grove, Ravine, Tremont