Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 21, 2020

The obituary of Civil War veteran Tyrus Snyder appeared in the Lykens Standard of 23 May 1919:

CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIED SATURDAY – FUNERAL WEDNESDAY

Tyrus Snyder, an aged citizen and veteran of the Civil War, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Paul Yentsch, on East Main Street [Lykens], Saturday, at 4 P.M. from infirmities due to old age.  He was aged 80 years, 4 months, and 5 days.

On October 16, 1962, Mr. Snyder enlisted and was mustered into the United States service as t Harrisburg as Private to serve in Captain Cornelius A. Harper‘s, Company K, 173rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry [173rd Pennsylvania Infantry], under the command of Col. Daniel Magel.  The regiment proceeded to Washington, D. C., and from there to Norfolk, Virginia, where they were engaged in drill and doing guard duty at various points until July 9, 1863, when they joined Meade’s Army in pursuit of Lee who was retreating from Gettysburg.  During his enlistment he was subjected to long and tedious marches and received a citation for guard duty done on Orange and Alexander Railroad.  He was honorably discharged August 18, 1863, at Harrisburg.

Mr. Snyder was a member of Heilner Post, G.A.R. 232.

Surviving to mourn their loss are the following children:  George Snyder, of Coatesville; Calvin Snyder, Shamokin; Andrew Snyder, Lykens; Harry Snyder, Inglenook; Ellen, Mrs. Brady Klinger, Wiconisco; Carrie, Mrs. Grant Ritzman, Shamokin; Mary, Mrs. Richard Clough, Wiconisco; Etta, Mrs. Paul Yentsch, Lykens; and Katie, Mrs. Richard Davidson, Williamstown.

There are fifty-seven grandchildren and fifty-seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held from the home of his son Andrew Snyder, where the body was taken after death, on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with services in the Baptist Church, Rev. A. H. Souillard, of Minersville, officiating.  Burial was made in the Wiconisco Cemetery, which is now referred to as the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery.

On 4 October 1892, Tyrus applied for a pension under the name “Cyrus Snyder.” The record card, above, from Ancestry.com, shows that he received the pension award, which he collected until his death, which occurred (according to other information), on 17 May 1919.

At the time of his death he was a widower. His wife, the former Sarah Specht, had died in 1904, and she was buried in the plot Tyrus had purchased in the Wiconisco Cemetery. When Tyrus died in 1919, he was buried next to her. See photo at top of post.

For his service as a veteran of the Civil War, Tyrus Snyder was recognized on the Lykens G.A. R. Monument. and his name appears among the privates who joined the G.A.R. post there after its organization.

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Obituary from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Lykens, Wiconisco

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 16, 2020

On 22 April 1861, Jacob Minnig of Donaldson, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, enrolled in and was mustered into service in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, at Harrisburg as a Private. At the time, he said he was 28 years old (born about 1833) and was a laborer by occupation. His three-months service concluded in August 1861, or more precisely on 26 July 1861, as stated in the 1890 veterans’ census, a portion of which is shown below.

In a search of the Fold3 Pension Index Card for that regiment and company, a card was located to indicate that on 1 December 1890, Jacob Minnig applied for a pension, which he received and collected until his death, the date of which is not recorded on the card. The service on which the pension was based, was the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry , and no other service was given in the application.

Also, from the card, it is noted that a widow applied and received benefits.

The Pension Index Card from Ancestry.com give the name of the widow as Elizabeth Minnig and the date of her application as 21 September 1897. It can be concluded therefore that Jacob Minnig died after the 1890 census but before the date of Mrs. Minnig’s pension application – and more probably closer to the date of her application.

In searching the cemeteries in the western Schuylkill County area, a stone was found on Findagrave for a Jacob Minnig (1833-1897). The stone is at the St. Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Cemetery, Tremont. On the same stone is an Elizabeth A. Minnig (1839-1923) and a Henry I. Minnig (1877-1893), the latter probably being a son.

A flag can be seen in the photo of the grave marker (upper right) which most likely indicates that this is the grave of a veteran.

No obituary has been located for a Jacob Minnig for that year.

Additional information is sought from blog readers who can provide it for this veteran who was one of the first to answer the call for service.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Jacob Minnig of Donaldson & Porter Township
Tags: Donaldson, Llewellyn, Tremont

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 14, 2020

Henry Rissinger was born 25 March 1845, the son of David Rissinger and Lovena Rissinger. During the Civil War he served in the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A, as a Private, from 19 February 1864 through 19 May 1865. He married Mary Garverich and with her had at least eight known children. Henry died on 9 November 1926 at his home in Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and was buried at Fetterhoff’s Cemetery in Halifax Township, Dauphin County.

The obituary of Henry Rissinger appeared in local and regional newspapers:

From the Harrisburg Evening News, 10 November 1926:

Henry Rissinger, Civil War Veteran Dies

Henry Rissinger, 81, a Civil War veteran died last evening at his home in Jackson Township.   Funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at his home, with further services at Fetterhoff, where burial will be made.  The Rev. Mr. Stahley, of Fisherville, will officiate.

Survivors are the following children:  Daniel Rissinger, Milton Rissinger, and Charles Rissinger, of this city [Harrisburg]; James Rissinger, of Wiconisco; George Rissinger, of Highspire; Franklin Rissinger, of Bressler; Miss Sally Rissinger, of North Dakota; and Miss Elizabeth Rissinger, at home; nineteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 10 November 1926:

HENRY RISSINGER

HenryRissinger, 81, Civil War veteran and retired farmer, died last night in his home, in JacksonTownship, Dauphin County, near Halifax.

He is survived by eight children, nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  The children are:  Daniel Rissinger, Milton Rissinger, and Charles Rissinger, of Harrisburg; James Rissinger, of Wiconisco; George Rissinger, of Highspire; Franklin Rissinger, of Bressler; Miss Sallie Rissinger, of South Dakota; and Miss Elizabeth Rissinger, at home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, at 1:30 o’clock, in the home, with a further service in the Fetterhoff Church, the Rev. Mr. Stabley, of Fisherville, officiating.

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From the Elizabethville Echo, 11 November 1926:

HENRY RISSINGER

Henry Rissinger, a Civil War Veteran, aged 81, died at his home in Jackson Township on Tuesday evening November 9th, and is survived by six sons and two daughters:  Daniel Rissinger, Milton Rissinger, and Charles Rissinger, of Harrisburg; James Rissinger of Wiconisco; George Rissinger of Highspire; Franklin Rissinger, of Bressler; Miss Sallie Rissinger of North Dakota; and Miss Elizabeth Rissinger at home; also 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30, Saturday afternoon at his home and at Fetterhoff’s Church, where interment will be made.  Rev. J. F. Stabley will officiate.

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From the Elizabethville Echo, 18 November 1926:

Funeral services for Henry Rissinger, aged Civil War veteran who died Tuesday, November 9th, were held at Fetterhoff’s Church Saturday afternoon, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.  Rev. J. F. Stabley officiated.

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From the Lykens Standard, 19 November 1926:

SENILITY CLAIMS JACKSON TOWNSHIP RESIDENT

FISHERVILLE, November 16 [1926] — Henry Rissinger, aged 81 years, 7 months and 14 days passed away at his home near this place Tuesday of last week at 5:30 P.M., from infirmities of old age.

His wife, who before marriage was Mary Garverich, preceded him in death June 10, 1926.  Surviving are eight children:  Daniel Rissinger and Milton Rissinger, of Harrisburg; James Rissinger, of Wiconisco; George Rissinger of Harrisburg; Frank Rissinger, of Bressler; Elizabeth Rissinger at home; and Mrs. Sallie Olson of North Dakota.

A military funeral in charge of the American Legion Post of Elizabethville was held on Saturday at 1:30, the Rev. J. F. Stabley, officiating.  Burial was made in the Fetterhoff Cemetery.

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News articles from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Fisherville, Halifax, Halifax Township, Jackson Township, Wiconisco

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 10, 2020

William C. Mills, who was previously profiled here on this blog, was a survivor of the sinking of the Congress by the Merrimac during the Civil War. The print above, shows the explosion that occurred on the Congress that resulted in its burning and sinking. The sinking took place in the Battle of Newport News, which occurred on 8 March 1862. Approximately 120 sailors, including the captain, lost their lives in the sinking.

William C. Mills died 21 September 1916 at Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was recognized there on the Millersburg Soldier Monument, which was erected only two years before his death. As a resident of Millersburg, it is highly possible that he was present at the monument dedication in 1914 and appeared in the photo of the veterans:

Unfortunately, to date, no information has been seen to accurately identify those in the photograph.

William C. Mills was known well enough throughout the state of Pennsylvania for his obituary to appear in City newspapers.

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From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 September 1916:

CAPT. MILLS OF CIVIL WAR FAME DIES

MILLERSBURG, Pennsylvania, September 21 [1916] — Capt. William C. Mills, last of the survivors of the battleship Congress, which was sunk during the Civil War by the Merrimac, died at his home here early this morning.  He was 75 years old.

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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 September 1916:

MILLERSBURG – William C. Mills, died this morning.  He was seventy-five years old and was the last of the survivors of the crew of the Congress that was sunk by the Merrimac.

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From the Lancaster Semi-Weekly News Era, 23 September 1916:

CAPTAIN WILLIAM C. MILLS, said to be the last of the survivors of the warship Congress, which was sunk during the Civil War by the Merrimac, died at his home at Millersburg, Pennsylvania, of heart disease there Thursday morning.   He was seventy-five years old.

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From the Carlisle Evening Herald, 22 September 1916:

LAST SURVIVOR OF SHIP CONGRESS DIES

William C. Mills, aged 74 years, a retired miller of Millersburg, died Thursday morning at 5:30 o’clock at his home in Lenkerville following a sudden attack of neuralgia of the heart.  He was a Civil War veteran and the last survivor of the Congress sunk by the Merrimac during the war.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 22 September 1916:

CAPT. W. C. MILLS, MEMBER OF CUMBERLAND CREW, DIES

Millersburg, Pennsylvania, September 22 [1916] — Captain William C. Mills, a veteran of the Civil War died suddenly of heart disease yesterday at the home in Lenkerville, aged 77 years. Mr. Mills came to Lenkerville from Chester County after the war and for many years followed milling. During the war he was a member of the warship Cumberland, and was one of the crew who escaped when rammed by the Merrimac in Hampton Roads. He also witnessed the battle between the Merrimac and the Monitor after the destruction of his ship. He is survived by two sons, William C. Mills Jr., of Millersburg, and Harry F. Mills of Hazleton, and four daughters, Mrs. Annie Noble and Mrs. H. H. Heicher, of Harrisburg; Mrs. William H. Goodwin of West Chester, and Miss Sue Mills at home.

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Finally, the one local newspaper, the Elizabethville Echo, 28 September 1916, also announced his death, but was the only one that included his prior service the 9th Pennsylvania Infantry:

William C. Mills

The death of William C. Mills, aged 74, occurred at his home in Lenkerville on Thursday morning, September 21st, caused by a sudden attack of neuralgia of the heart.  He was born in Chester County and was a soldier in the Civil War, serving in Company F, Ninth Pennsylvania Infantry and later was in the Marine service.  He was on the ship Congress when it was sunk by the Merrimac.  Mrs. Mills died eight years ago.  There are five daughters and two sons surviving.  Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon.

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News articles from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Lenkerville, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 8, 2020

A listing of the December 2019 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

Dr. Henry L. Orth – Superintendent of State Hospital for Insane

Obituary & Funeral of Aaron Ossman of Hegins and Tremont

Daniel A. Reisch – White Supremacist, 1866

Francis Asbury Awl – White Supremacist, 1866

Death & Funeral of Frank Reiner

Henry Rishe – Blacksmith in the Lykens Valley

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Tags: Table of Contents