Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 19, 2013

The obituaries of two Civil War veterans, John Kauffman and Daniel Harman, as published in the West Schuylkill Herald of 1904, are presented in today’s post, along with some additional information about these veterans from the files of the Gratz Historical Society.

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John Kauffman (or Kaufman)

Kauffman’s obituary appeared in the West Schuylkill Herald, 11 February 1904:

John Kauffman

John Kauffman age 64 a veteran of the Civil War died in Wiconisco leaving a widow, one son and four daughters.

Previously, John Kaufman was profiled in the post entitled:  Calvary United Methodist Church and Cemetery Wiconisco (Part 5 of 6).  His widow was the former Mary C. Heisler who died in 1932.

As can be seen from the Pension Index Card (shown above and available through Ancestry.com), John Kaufman applied for and received a Civil War pension and after his death, his widow applied and received benefits until her death.  Adam C. Long, whose name appears on the card, was a noted and popular pension attorney who worked out of Lykens Borough.

In recognition of his Civil War service and noting his membership in the G.A.R., the name of John Kauffman appears on the Lykens G.A. R. Monument.

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Daniel Harman (or Herman)

Daniel Harman‘s obituary appeared in the West Schuylkill Herald on 12 March 1904:

DANIEL HARMAN

Daniel Harman a veteran of the Civil War died at his home two miles west of town [Gratz Borough] on Sunday May first.  His funeral was at the Hoffman’s Church.  He was the father of C. F. Harman and J. A. Harman of Enterline and Berrysburg.

A much more extensive obituary of Daniel Harman appeared in the Lykens Standard and was featured here in the post entitled Death of Daniel Harman.  Also, his gravestone picture and a brief biographical sketch was part of the post entitled Civil War Burials in the Hoffman Church Cemetery (Part 2 of 2).

In 1890, a Daniel Harman was living in Lykens Township and he noted his service in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F as a Sergeant.  He also stated that he had developed rheumatism as a disability as a result of that service.

Click on document to enlarge.

One difficulty here is that two men of the same name may be confused.   Other records show that a Daniel Herman (or Harman) only served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company C.

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These two men (and their families) are still being researched as part of the Civil War Research Project.  Help is requested from family members who may have information or pictures to contribute to the Project.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Two Civil War Veteran Obituaries from the West Schuylkill Herald of 1904
Tags: Berrysburg, Enterline, G.A.R., Gratz Borough, Lykens Borough, Wiconisco

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 16, 2013

Two men, not previously identified as Civil War veterans, were buried in Williamstown with reference to the Chester Post 280, G.A.R. in their obituaries or death notices.

In the 15 Apr 1887 edition of the Lykens Register, in the column entitled “Williamstown Waifs,” the following appeared:

An old man by the name of Carpenter, hailing from Perry County, was buried by the Chester Post of the Grand Army.  He was a soldier of the late war and had lived in Williamstown but a short time.

In the 26 August 1891 edition of the Harrisburg Patriot, in the column entitled “Williamstown Items – Doings in a Mining Town in the Upper End of Dauphin County,” this appeared:

The sad accident that occurred yesterday in the mines resulting in the death of Daniel Hummel, was caused by a fall of slate from the top.  He remarked to one of his laborers that the top looked bad and that it was necessary to set a prop.  while at work cutting a place for the prop the top gave way crushing the life out of him almost instantly.  His leg and back were broken and ribs town from the spinal column.  He was an active member of Chester Post 280, G.A.R.  His remains will be laid to rest to-morrow at 3 o’clock.  The G.A.R., Sons of veterans and the Ladies’ relief corps will turn out.

Additional information is sought on “Carpenter” and on Daniel Hummel – as to their regiments and service record and any other information that would be helpful to the Civil War Research Project.  Send by e-mail or add comments to this post.

Category: Queries, Research | Comments Off on Two Unknown G.A.R. Burials in Williamstown
Tags: G.A.R., Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 14, 2013

The obituary of John B. Gise was recently located the Elizabethville Echo, 16 Dec 1915:

WAR VETERANS DEATH AT GRATZ

John B. Gise, who had been declining in health for several years died at home 11 December (Saturday) age 75 years, 7 months, 2 days.  He was confined to his bed for two weeks.  He was a son of Benjamin Gise and Margaret Gise, born Lykens Township, 9 May 1840, married Lila Boyer had 10 children, 6 deceased.  His wife died 19 years ago.  Surviving are two sons, two daughters, 8 grandchildren, 1 grandson, three sisters.  He was a Civil War veteran of 210^th Regiment, Company H, Pennsylvania Volunteers [210th Pennsylvania Infantry].  Funeral by Rev. J. K. Hoffman officiating, buried Evangelical Cemetery [Gratz Union Cemetery].

John B. Gise applied for a Civil War invalid pension in 1890, which he received until he died.  Since his wife died before he did, there was no widow’s pension.

Previously, John B. Gise was mentioned in They Served Honorably in Company H – 210th Pennsylvania Infantry;  John W. Hoffman – Teacher, Farmer, and Stockman of Gratz and Lykens Township; and Gratz During the Civil War – Cemeteries (Part 1).

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Elizabethville, Gratz Borough, Lykens Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 12, 2013

Jonas Hoffman enlisted in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry at Harrisburg on 7 March 1865 and was mustered into the 2nd Company G, two days later, 9 March 1965.  Previously some of the wartime activities of this 2nd Company G, 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, were noted here.  See:  The Second Company G of the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  Jonas served until his discharge at New Berne, North Carolina on 25 June 1865.  At the time of his enrollment, he was a miner living in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  He was 25 years old, was 5’7″ tall, had light hair, light complexion and blue eyes. The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card (above), from which this information was taken is from the Pennsylvania Archives.

Jonas Hoffman‘s obituary appeared in the Millersburg Sentinel, 18 February 1887.

Jonas Hoffman Dead

Last week we announced the death of John Peter Hoffman, father of Col. H. B. Hoffman and this week we are pained to chronicle the death of his brother, Jonas Hoffman of Lykens Township.  The Hoffmans have been prominent in that section for years.  Peter Hoffman settled at the end of Short Mountain in 1749.  John Nicholas Hoffman, Peter’s son, was a Captain in the Revolutionary War.  Peter Hoffman, John Nicholas Hoffman’s son was a soldier in 1812.  He was the father of John Peter Hoffman.  Jonas was the youngest son and pursued the occupation of miner all his life except when in the army.

A report of his funeral appeared in the 21 February 1887 edition of the Millersburg Sentinel:

Jonas Hoffman

The funeral of Jonas Hoffman on Friday last at the Reformed Church was very large.  The deceased was a soldier in the late war.  He leaves a wife and family.

No picture has yet been located of Jonas Hoffman, but one exists of his wife, Sarah [Rickert] Hoffman, and is shown below.  Considering that since he left a very large family it is possible that there is a picture of him that has been passed down in one branch of the family.

Jonas and his wife are buried at St. Peter’s (Hoffman’s) Cemetery in Lykens Township.

Transcribed obituaries are from the collection of the Gratz Historical Society.  The portrait of Sarah [Rickert] Hoffman is cropped from a picture in the author’s private collection.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Jonas Hoffman – Veteran of Civil War and Descendant of Pioneer Family
Tags: Lykens Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 9, 2013

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 the Academy at Bloomfield at the age of 14.  He graduated from the old Penn University in 1854.  In 1856 he located in Gratz.  He died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

The report of the funeral appeared in the same newspaper on 1 March 1900:

DR. I. S. SCHMINKY

The remains of the late Dr. I. S. Schminky were interred in Evangelical Cemetery on Friday.  The funeral, conducted by Rev. W. S. Hawk of the Evangelical Church and Rev. J. J. Stauffer.  The flowers were beautiful and consisted of a large pillow of wax flowers from the citizens of Gratz and a pillow from the children.  Also a metallic wreath of forget-me-nots from Dr. Truth of Philadelphia and a living bouquet of natural flowers from the grandchildren.

Dr. Schminky was not a Civil War veteran, but his examination of treatment of veterans was well known throughout the Lykens Valley.  He was however, a member of the pre-Civil War Gratztown Militia, but did not join the company when it went to Harrisburg for the Emergency of July 1863.

Dr. Schminky’s signature can be found on many documents filed at the Pension Bureau attesting to the disabilities veterans incurred as a result of the Civil War.

The earliest such document thus far found is a statement by I. S. Schminky and George Hoffman of Gratz that supports the pension application of the widow of John Rissinger of Gratz who died on 8 May  1864 during the Civil War.  Dr. Schminky did not provide medical evidence in the sworn statement but instead verified the marital status of Catherine Rissinger, the widow, that she was only married to John Rissinger, and that there was only one known child of the marriage, John Jackson Rissinger.

Click on document to enlarge.

The above document was found on Fold3, a website of military records and was added to that site as part of a cooperative effort with the National Archives to make Civil War pension application files (and other military records) available on-line.  The progress of this project was halted by the government shutdown of October 2013, but resumed and volunteers are now scanning and uploading applications made in the post-Civil War period.  All names in that appear in the application papers are recorded – and thus by searching for “I. S. Schminky” the document was discovered in the file of the widow of John Rissinger.  As the project moves into the late 19th century applications, Dr. Schminky’s name is expected to appear more frequently in the searches.

Previously, the following information about Dr. Schminky was provided on this blog:

Dr. Schminky was a graduate of Pennsylvania Medical College in 1854.  He set up practice in this house and performed surgical operations here.  He was believed to be the first doctor in the area to use chloroform as an anesthetic.  His practice also became a place where young men could come to “read” medicine and learn the skills of being a doctor.  One such person was William Lebo who studied with Dr. Schminky and later set up a practice in Valley View.

In addition to being a lieutenant in the Gratztown Militia, Dr. Schminky played a vital role in the health care of the Gratz community.  As stated in A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania:

The post Civil War period was a morbid era, and the residents of Gratz shared in that gloomy time.  Many men from Gratz and vicinity had served with area units during the war.  Some of them never returned, and many more of them came home with very distressful conditions.  A large percentage of them were both physically and financially poor.  Dr. Schminky, with the help of a few other doctors in Gratz, had their work cut out for them.  They spent much time attending to the diseases of the veterans.  In many cases the service was gratis, because the patients were poor.  In addition to the ailing veterans, there were many elderly widows to care for and numerous maladies of everyday life.

For more information on Dr. Schminky, see Gratztown Militia and Home Guards.  See also the medical exhibit at the Gratz Historical Society.

The account books of Dr. Isaiah Schminky are available at the Gratz Historical Society and list all of the patients he treated during his long career.  There is also a record of a partnership with a “Dr. Buehler” which was formed in 1861, with no mention of length or when it was dissolved.

In politics, Dr. Schminky was a Republican and even served a term in the Pennsylvania Legislature representing Dauphin County from 1871-1873.  Later, he joined the Prohibition Party and served as a Burgess of Gratz and a school director.  His land ownership was also widely known  including the area south of town where Fort Jackson was located as well as the entirety of what is now the Gratz Fair Grounds.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Death and Funeral of Dr. Isaiah S. Schminky
Tags: Gratz Borough