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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Edward Crabb – Victim of Bigotry in Gratz

Another Memorial Day has gone by and the grave of Edward Crabb, an African American Civil War soldier buried in Gratz Union Cemetery, continues to be un-decorated [no G.A.R.-Star-Flag-Holder and Flag].  In addition to being un-decorated, the Crabb family plot is one of the worst maintained in a cemetery which is known for its manicured […]

The Draft of 1861 and the Second Amendment

Further proof that the Second Amendment originally applied specifically to a “well regulated militia” and not individuals collecting personal arsenals of unregulated weapons for their own protection and defense, is found in an explanation of the Pennsylvania Draft of 1861 as it was presented to the public in an article appearing in the Reading Times, […]

The Death of Isaac Umholtz at Five Forks, Virginia

Isaac Umholtz of Gratz and Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was only 17 years old when he enrolled in the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private on 9 August 1862, although he claimed his age was 21.  His older brother Emanuel Umholtz stayed at home on the family farm helping the father, Samuel […]

Emanuel H. Umholtz – The Bell Tolls for Him

On 16 September 1904, Emanuel H. Umholtz died in Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  His funeral was held a few days later at Simeon Church and he was buried in the church yard, now called Gratz Union Cemetery.  About two weeks earlier a new 649 pound bell, purchased from Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati, Ohio, had […]

Death and Funeral of Dr. Isaiah S. Schminky

The obituary of Dr. Isaiah S. Schminky of Gratz appeared in the Lykens Standard on 22 February 1900 : DR. I. S. SCHMINKY The death of I. S. Schminky at Gratz, Monday, closed a career of medical practice covering a period of 45 years.  He was born 27 January 1832 in Lancaster County.  He entered […]