Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 11, 2019

According to information found at the Pennsylvania Archives (above), Patrick Fagan, a 19-year-old miner, enrolled in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, as a Private, on 23 September 1861, at Pottsvillle. He stood about 5 foot 9 inches tall, had dark hair, a dark complexion and light-colored eyes. According to information on the card, he was not discharged, but instead was listed as a deserter. The desertion occurred just four days after the end of the Battle of Gettysburg, in which his regiment and company participated.

The Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg has a plaque containing the names of all the members of the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry credited with participating in the battle. However, the name Patrick Fagan does not appear on the portion of the plaque for Company K. There are a few names from Company K that appear to have been removed after the monument was dedicated. It is not known when and why these names were removed, or if Patrick Fagan was one of the names removed. The present policy of the National Park Service is not to make any corrections (additions or removals) on battlefield monuments. The was explained in post entitled More Information on Correcting Errors on the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg.

In 1890, the Patrick Fagan who served in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry , Company K, as a Private, was living in Williams Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In the two cuts above from the census page, the service is reported as beginning on 23 September 1861 but with no ending date nor length of service given – and that he deserted on 7 July 1863. Note: Click on images to enlarge.

There is no record that a Patrick Fagan who served for a time in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry ever applied for a pension.

Some information known about Patrick Fagan:

• In 1870, he was living in Williams Township with his wife Anne (the former Anne Ryan), and four children. He was working as a laborer in the mines and he claimed he could not read or write. He also claimed to be born in Pennsylvania.
• In 1880, he was living in Williams Township with his wife Anne and seven children. He was working as a coal miner but had been unemployed for five months in the previous year. He noted that both parents were born in Ireland.
• In 1890, he was living in Williams Township, as previously mentioned (above).
• In 1900, he was a widower, working as a miner, and living in Williamstown, with three children in his household.
• In 1910, still in Williamstown, he claimed to be living off his “own income,” a term usually given when either pensioned or a landlord.
• In 1920, at about age 76, he was living in Williamstown and claimed to be retired.
• Patrick Fagan died on 24 June 1922 and is buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

It is not known at this time what led Patrick Fagan to be a deserter or why he registered as a veteran in 1890. Further information on this soldier is sought and can be added as a comment to this post, or can be sent via e-mail.

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Tags: Williams Township, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 8, 2019

George Farber, who was born in Prussia, Germany, about 20 May 1840, was living in Petersburg, Lackawanna, County, Pennsylvania, at the time of the Civil War, when he enrolled there in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry on 17 September 1861. Like his father, he was a carpenter. After traveling to Harrisburg to be mustered into service on 7 October 1861, he declared Dauphin County to be his residence. While there is no evidence that he had any geographical connection to the Lykens Valley area, he joined Company B of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry which was composed primarily of men from the Lykens Valley area. At age 21, standing about 5 foot 7 inches tall, with red hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion, he took his place as a private in the company. The card, above, from the Pennsylvania Archives, reports no unusual events during his service, but does state that on 1 January 1864, he re-enlisted at Mossy Creek, Tennessee. His service was completed when he was honorably discharged on 18 July 1865.

George Farber claimed that he fired the last shot of the Civil War, an event described briefly in the Wilkes-Barre Record of 8 September 1900, published a short time after his death:

LAST SHOT IN CIVIL WAR

THAT DISTINCTION CLAIMED FOR A LACKAWANNA COUNTY MAN JUST DECEASED

The Scranton Tribune, notes the death in Petersburg, that county, of George Farber, the man who fired the last shot in the Civil War. The tribune says:

“The incident by which he won the distinction occurred at Edwardsburg, North Carolina, just previous to Johnson’s surrender. Mr. Farber, and George Burkee, who still lives in Scranton, were detached from their company of cavalry and assigned to artillery work. They were operating a large gun in a wooded place some distance from the main body and in this way continued firing after hostilities had been called off, they not knowing of the surrender. Mr. Burkee, and George Schultz Jr., brother-in-law of the deceased Mr. Farber, are the only survivors of the seventeen sturdy young lads who went out from Petersburg with the 9th Cavalry.

“On returning to Scranton, he was captain of a boat on the Pennsylvania Canal for a year, then engaged in mining, and finally established the Fairview Hotel, which he conducted until about ten years ago, when he retired from business.

“The deceased was born in Allebach, Prussia, May 28, 1840. Since 1851 he lived in the Petersburg portion of Scranton. He worked in the mines until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he and his brother Louis Farber, enlisted in Company B, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. His father had previously gone out with the 107th Pennsylvania Infantry. The deceased was discharged in July 1865 after four years of service.

The Pension Index Card (above) from Fold3, notes that on 18 June 1891, George Farber applied for a Civil War pension – which he received and collected until his death. The widow Caroline [Goerlitz] Farber then applied and she collected benefits until her death, which occurred in 1916.

The Pittston Gazette of 5 September 1900 included the information that George Farber had served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives:

Hon. J. George Farber, of Petersburg, Scranton, died last evening after an illness of three months of dropsy. He was born in Prussia in 1840 and had lived in Petersburg since 1851. During the Civil War he served four years in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. It is said that he fired the last shot of the war. For twenty years he was a member of the Lackawanna County Republican Committee. He served in the House of Representatives at Harrisburg during the term 1885-1886.

George Farber is buried at the Dunmore Cemetery, Dunmore, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. His grave marker notes his Civil War service and at graveside, there is a G.A.R. star-flag holder.

Previously on this blog, a brief mention was made of George’s service in a post entitled 2012 Additions to Veterans’ List.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com. The portrait of George Farber in Civil War uniform (top of post) is from Ancestry.com.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 6, 2019

Ephraim F. Knipe was born in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, about 1839.  He was a painter at the time of the Civil War, and according to military records, he served in three different regiments, one of which was an 1863 emergency militia.  He was married to the former Elizabeth Zimmerman.  In 1890, at the time of the veterans’ census, he was living in St. Louis, Missouri.  He also spent some time at a soldiers’ home in Illinois.  In May 1899, Ephraim Knipe applied for a Civil War pension from Missouri, and after his death in 1905, his widow applied from the same place. 

In 1896, as a result of over-exposure to lead paint, Ephraim “went mad” and was taken to the City Dispensary in St. Louis.

The incident was reported in the St. Louis Dispatch, 31 August 1896:

BARKED LIKE A DOG

Peculiar Affliction That Has Befallen Ephraim Knipe From Poisoning

Ephraim Knipe, a carriage painter, whose home is at 3604 Clifton Place [St. Louis], but who has been rooming at Broadway and Clark Avenue for a week or two, grew hysterical late Sunday night, and aroused other occupants in the house by a barking like a dog.  He was in great agony, and when several of the roomers reached him he was gnawing the bed clothes with his teeth and tearing them into shreds.

An ambulance was called to take him to the City Dispensary, and when Driver Jacob Fessenmier went into the room, Knipe was running naked from corner to corner, barking and frothing from the mouth, as if he had hydrophobia.

Fessenmier tried to persuade him to put on his clothes, but he ran under the bed, barking and snarling, and when Fessenmier pulled him out, he turned on him with all the fury of a maniac.

Assistance reached Fessenmier, and the madman was overpowered, dressed, locked in the ambulance and driven to the Dispensary.

Dr. Thomp examined Knip closely, and found that in addition to a raging fever, he was suffering from chronic lead poisoning, contracted with paint materials, and which often affects its victims with violent hysteria.

Knipe’s condition is critical, and he was sent to the City Hospital.  He is 50 years old and married.

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The Pension Index Card for Ephraim F. Knipe shows that he served in the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, and the 39th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company H.  His widow, Eliza P. Knipe is also named.

The Pennsylvania Archives has a record card with information from a muster roll, indicating that Ephraim Knipe also served in the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D. However, this information is not found in other military records and it must be noted that he did not include it in his pension application.

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News clipping from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Pine Grove

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on February 1, 2019

In 1890, the widow of William Evans was living in Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  Gwendoline E. “Gwenny” [Simons] Evans was named as “Guene E.”, and she gave her husband’s 5 months of Civil War service as the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Private.  His ending date of service was “died June 1864.”

On 5 August 1864 , “Gwenny” applied for pension benefits, which she received and collected until her death, which occurred in 1907.  The Pension Index Card shown above is from Fold3.

William Evans enrolled in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Private at Pottsville, and was mustered into service the next day.  He said he was 25 years old at the time and was a recruit.  The card above, from the Pennsylvania Archives, notes that William died on 22 June 1864 of chronic diarrhea at Mt. Pleasant U.S.G. Hospital, Washington, D.C.

The information on his death is confirmed in the U.S. Registers of Deaths of Volunteers, 1861-1865, shown above from Ancestry.com.  The information provided repeats what was indicated on the Pennsylvania Archives card.  An additional column, not shown above, names C. A. McCall, assistant surgeon, who verified the cause of death.  Note:  Click on any document to enlarge.

The above two document selections are from the U.S. Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, available on Ancestry.com.  The first indicates that the home residence of William Evans was Pottsville as well as confirming his military information.  The second indicates that at the time of William’s death, “Gwenney”, the widow, was living in Philadelphia [actually, New Philadelphia, Schuylkill County].  It confirms the cause of death and approximate age at death.

Some of the interesting documents from the Pension Application File are presented below.  The entire file is available on Fold3.

Document #6  is a marriage certificate for Gwenney Simons, of New Philadelphia, Schuylkill County, and William Evans, of Valley Furnace, Schuylkill County, who were married 8 August 1857 by Charles William Edwards, Minister of the Gospel.

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Document #11.  On 9 June 1872, the widow Gwendoline Evans married David Edmunds.  As a result of the marriage, she lost the pension from her first husband, William Evans.  Rev. Robert Weightman, Minister of the Gospel, attested to the marriage.  The document was verified by Eugene Horn, Justice of the Peace.

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Document #13.  Following the death of David Edmunds in 1888, Gwenny re-applied for benefits based on the service of her first husband, William Evans.  The benefits were resumed.  The document above shows that the last payment received by Gwenny was for $12 and was on 4 November 1907.  She was then dropped from the rolls because of death, 20 November 1907.

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There are a total of 58 document images in the Pension Application File.  Some of these are the backs of documents and show only a received stamp. 

No evidence has been seen to indicate that William and Gwenny had any children.

Category: Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Tower City

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 30, 2019

Elias Dietrich (1836-1902) was previously profiled her in a post entitled Dietrich Family in the Civil War.  At that time, the following was stated:

Elias Dietrich (1836-1902).  Also found in the records as Detrich, Detrick, Deitrick, and Deitrich.  Elias served in the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private, from 19 January 1865 to 30 August 1865.  He married Amanda Welker (1840-1917) in 1860 in Berrysburg, Dauphin County.  The couple had 14 known children (birth and death dates approximate):  Louisa Dietrich (1862-1932); Solomon Dietrich (1863-1931); George Dietrich (1864-1943); Amanda Dietrich (1865-1947); Sarah Dietrich (1868-1947); John Dietrich (1868-1935); Isaac Dietrich (1871-1938); Samuel Dietrich (1874-1935); Alfred Dietrich (1875-?); Catherine Dietrich (1878-1952); Edward Dietrich (1880-1951); Harry Dietrich (1881-1946); Mamie Dietrich (1883-1961); and Valera Dietrich (1885-1886).   From the 1870 census through the 1890 census, Elias was living in Wiconisco Township and working as a laborer.  In 1900, his occupation was laborer in coal mines.  Son Samuel, age 26, was living at home,and employed as a tailor. Son Harry, age 18, was living at home, and employed as a laborer in coal mines.  Elias died in 1902 from Bright’s disease.  Elias Dietrich was a direct descendant of Lenhart Dietrich and his genealogy appears in Our Dietrich Lines.

Elias Dietrich died on 23 October 1902 and is buried in the cemetery in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.   At the time of his death, obituaries and descriptions of his funeral appeared in the local newspaper.

From the Lykens Standard of 24 October 1902:

ELIAS DIETRICH

Elias Dietrich, residing about one mile west of town, died yesterday morning at 5 o’clock of Bright’s disease, aged 66 years, 5 months and 1 day.  He is survived by a wife, 8 sons and 7 daughters, viz:  Solomon Dietrich; George Dietrich; Samuel Dietrich; Henry Dietrich; Isaac O. Dietrich; and Edward H. Dietrich, of this place; and John Dietrich and Monroe Dietrich of Shamokin; Amanda (Mrs. L. Marks), of Reading; Louisa (Mrs. William Orr), and Mrs. Richard Williams of Wiconisco; Catharine (Mrs. David Kerstetter), and Mabel Dietrich, both of Harrisburg.  He is also survived by one brother, Simon Dietrich of Dietrich.

The funeral will be held Sunday morning at 10 o’clock, Rev. Z. A. Wedler conducting services at the U. B. Church, after which interment will take place in Union Cemetery.

Mr. Dietrich was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of Heilner Post No. 222, G.A.R., of this place.  He was also a member of Lykens Local, No. 1062, U.M.W.A., both of which organizations will attend the funeral.

From the Lykens Standard, 31 October 1902:

Funeral of Elias Dietrich

The funeral of Elias Dietrich of Coaldale, who died Wednesday morning of last week of asthma, was held at 10 o’clock Sunday morning and was largely attended.  The service as announced in our issue of last week were held in the U.B. Church, Rev. Z. A. Weidler, the pastor, officiating.  Floral tributes were received from the following:  Sheaf of Wheat, Relief Corps; White Asters, Miss Ida Messner and Minnie Rettinger; Chrysanthemums, Misses Reba Hoffman, Amy Wehry, Cornelia Orr, Mrs. Joseph Daniels and daughter Hellen Daniels; Carnations, Miss Ellen Douey, Shamokin.

The following from a distance attended the funeral:  Simon Dietrich and wife of Dietrich; William Crabb, wife and two daughters Sadie Crabb and Sallie Crabb, Ben Welker and wife, Mrs. Reuben Kessler, Mrs. P. Heller, Thomas Battdorf and wife, Loyalton; Jacob Zerby, Elizabethville; Mabel Dietrich, D. G. Kerstetter and wife, Harrisburg; L. Marks and wife, Reading; John Doney and wife, Shamokin; and many other relatives and friends.

The family desire to thank the G.A.R., Relied Corps, S. of V.A., U.M.W. of A. of this place, and friends and neighbors for kindly assistance.

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The Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives, above, indicates that an Elias Deitrick enrolled on 19 January 1865 at Harrisburg in the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry and was mustered into Company G, as a Private, the same day.  At the time he was 27 years old, stood 5 foot 6 inches tall, had black hair, fair complexion, and brown eyes.  He gave his occupation as laborer.  He was honorably discharged o 30 August 1865.

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On 29 November 1886, Elias Detrick applied for a Civil War pension, which he received and collected to his death.  Afterward, his widow, Amanda [Welker] Dietrich (1840-1917), applied and received benefits.  The card above is from Fold3, which gives the date of death of Elias , 23 October 1902.

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News clippings from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Berrysburg, Coaldale, Dietrich, Elizabethville, G.A.R., Loyalton, Lykens Borough, Wiconisco Township