Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 10, 2013

Two articles that appeared in the Millersburg Herald on 6 January 1882 and on 20 January 1882 explained and clarified the death of Edmund L. Umholtz of Gratz, who was the Mercantile Appraiser of Dauphin County and who died of small pox in Gratz in 1882.  He was a Civil War veteran but that fact was not noted in the articles.

6 Jan 1882

Edmund L. Umholtz

Sudden Death – Up to Monday of last week, Mr. Edmund L. Umholtz of Gratz was in the enjoyment of his unusual health, a fine robust and healthy looking man in the prime of his life.  Monday he complained of feeling unwell but nothing serious was apprehended until the next day when he took ill very suddenly and was a corpse before noon. Mr. Umholtz had been keeping hotel in that borough for several years and was highly respected in the upper end for his integrity of character and many other good qualities.  He was a son of John Umholtz and nephew of Jacob Umholtz well known citizen of this section of the county.  About two weeks ago he was appointed mercantile appraiser of the county by the commissioners and was about entering upon the duties of this appointment when death overtook him.  He leaves a wife, four children and many relatives and friends to mourn his sudden death.  His funeral took place yesterday.

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20 Jan 1882

Edmund L. Umholtz – SMALL POX AT GRATZ

The secret of Mr. Edmund L. Umholtz’ death in the borough of Gratz about two weeks ago, was only ascertained last week.  After an illness of two days he died very suddenly, but no one suspected the real cause, although many were shocked and surprised that a man’s physical constitution and general health should be take so suddenly. Since last week his sorrowing wife.

Have been prostrated, and after a careful investigation by the physicians, they pronounced it a virulent form of small pox.  Although the greatest care is exercised to prevent communication with the infested family. All reports confirm the belief that the cases are of more or less serious character.  Jonathan Umholtz, cousin of the deceased and postmaster of Gratz is also suffering with the same disease and Robert McNulty, the undertaker is also reported as having it.  The latter cases are pronounced as a milder type.

This is a very unfortunate loss for the borough of Gratz, resulting in the death of an esteemed citizen and fair prospects of a general spread of the loathsome disease.  Immediately after the appointment of Mr. Umholtz, as Mercantile Appraiser of the County, he took a trip to Harrisburg, Reading and Lebanon, expecting to enter upon the duties of the office after his return.  On a cold disagreeable day he assisted in filling his ice house, contracted as he though a severe cold, which was pronounced by the physicians pneumonia.  The day he was to report he died.  Friends and kind neighbors flocked to the home in great numbers , to shed a tear of sympathy, utter a word of consolation or assist in the preparation for his burial.  Hundreds of people from the town and neighborhood viewed the corpse at the funeral and when his body had been carefully laid to its rest, little did they think of what might follow in the community.

The very latest news from the village of Gratz, is that Joseph D. Gise, Harry Umholtz and Hiram Knerr have taken small pox, but in a mild form.  Including those already reported there are now ten cases in and about town.

For previous blog posts on Edmund L. Umholtz, click here. He is also found on the blog as Edmon Umholtz.

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The obituaries are from the transcribed obituary collection of the Gratz Historical Society.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Edmund L. Umholtz – Dauphin County Mercantile Appraiser Dies of Small Pox in Gratz
Tags: Gratz Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 8, 2013

Previously on this blog, a brief sketch of Civil War veteran Charles E. Riegel was presented.  See:  Riegel Family Veterans of Pennsylvania Civil War Regiments (Part 1 of 7).  Capt. Riegel is buried Messiah Lutheran Church Cemetery in Fisherville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

An obituary for Captain Riegel has now been located in the Millersburg Herald of 15 March 1889 and is presented here:

DEATH OF CHARLES E. RIEGLE

At midnight Saturday, Capt. Charles E. Riegle, Clerk to the County Commissioners died at his residence at East Harrisburg after an illness of several weeks, and by a stroke of paralysis.   From the first it was feared by friends that the stroke would prove fatal, but Mr. Riegle did not share in this idea, and insisted that he would get well.  His vigorous constitution however broke down and during Saturday it was seen that the end was near.  His wife and two sons were with him when he died.  Capt. Riegle was born near Gratztown in 1837 and learned the trade of coachmaking with the late R. J. Fleming in Harrisburg.  Subsequently, he engaged in farming near Fisherville and during the war he an commissioner Bixler organized Company A, 210^th Pennsylvania Volunteers [210th Pennsylvania Infantry], he being Captain and Mr. Bixler Lieutenant.   After the war he and Mr. Bixler engaged in coach making, but when the latter was elected commissioner he succeeded in having Mr. Riegle made clerk, a position he held to his death.  His second wife and six children by his first wife survive.  The deceased was a member of the Odd Fellows, G.A.R. Post Fisherville, and Mt. Vernon Fire Company of Harrisburg which organization will attend his funeral.  The funeral took place yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

Based on information found in the obituary in the Millersburg Herald, a search was made of the Harrisburg Patriot for their obituary of Charles E. Riegle, with the following result which was printed in the 11 March 1889 edition of that paper:

THE STROKE WAS FATAL

Clerk Charles E. Riegle Passes Away Saturday Midnight

The paralytic stroke which rendered helpless Charles E. Riegle, the county commissioner’s clerk, about three weeks ago and which all his friends feared would result in his death, had its fatal effect and since Saturday night at 12 o’clock Mr. Riegle has been cold in death.  Frequently during his illness Mr. Riegle rallied and he himself spoke of getting out of bed and going to the office.  he never rallied sufficiently, however, to rise from his bed.

Mr. Riegle was born 3 July 1837 in this county on a farm near Gratztown, his father dying when he was quite young.  He learned the trade of coach making at R. J. Fleming‘s coach shop, which stood on the site of College Block on Third Street.  After serving five years apprenticeship he engaged in farming in Armstrong Valley, near Fisherville, this county.  After the war began he enlisted and did duty at Gettysburg in burying the dead and on guard on that field.  later on he and Commissioner Bixler organized Company A, Two Hundreth and Tenth Regiment, P. V., of which Mr. Riegle afterward became Captain and Commissioner Bixler first Lieutenant.  After the rebellion had ended Mr. Riegle engaged in the coach making business, for a time on his own account, and later with Mr. Bixler, who has always been his most intimate friend.  Four years ago he was appointed chief clerk to the county commissioners, a position he retained at the time of his death.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows and the G.A.R. post at Fisherville.  Six children, four of whom live in Minnesota and two in Harrisburg survive him.  He was married twice, his first wife dying three years ago; his second wife lives to mourn his death.

Mr. Riegle was an efficient clerk, faithful in his duties and always true to his friends, whom he counted by the hundreds.  His death will be generally regretted.

The Mt. Vernon Fire Company, of which deceased was a member, will attend the funeral in a body.

The obituary that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot mentioned Charles E. Riegle‘s service in the militia which helped clean up and patrol the Gettysburg battlefield after the battle and his service in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry.  It ignored one other regiment in which Capt. Riegle participated, namely the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E (he served as a Private).   Pennsylvania Archives Veterans’ Index Cards for the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry are pictured below:

No record has been located that indicates Charles E. Riegle applied for a pension, nor is there any record that his second wife applied for widow’s benefits.  This would seem to suggest that he did not have any war-related injuries or disabilities.  He died before the rules were relaxed in 1890 after which veterans were eligible based on old age.

In addition to the Riegle Family post mentioned above, the following prior blog posts also mention Charles E. Riegel (spelling of the surname may vary – Riegel, Riegle, Reigle, Reigel, etc.):   History of the Dauphin County Civil War Monument – Part 2, The 1863 Draft for Upper Dauphin County and The Gratztown Militia and the Home Guards.

The Civil War Research Project is seeking additional information about Charles E. Riegel [CW#R098] for its files.  Of particular interest are pictures and stories.  Submissions may be sent by e-mail or information may be added in the comments section below.

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The first obituary of Charles E. Riegel is from a collection of transcribed obituaries at the Gratz Historical Society.  The obituary from the Harrisburg Patriot is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Fisherville, G.A.R., Gratz Borough, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 6, 2013

Israel Seiders was born on 1 September 1838 in Matamoras, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the son  Henry Seiders (also known as Zeiders) and Mary [Miller] Seiders,  His mother was a descendant of the Enders family, early pioneer settlers of the area near Halifax Township.  He died on 4 May 1904, and the next day, his obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot:

OBITUARY

ISRAEL SEIDERS

Old War Veteran and Pennsylvania Railroad Employee Dead

Israel Seiders, who was a member of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, died at 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at his home 1536 1/2 Wallace Street.  He had been ill with pneumonia only since Thursday noon and was 66 years of age.

Mr. Seiders with his two brothers William Seiders and Joseph Seiders, enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil War in the 127th Pennsylvania Volunteers [sic, 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry] serving nine months.  They again re-enlisted in the 187th  [187th Pennsylvania Infantry], First Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps for three years.

In addition to his brother, Mr. Seiders is survived by his wife and one child, Mary Jane, wife of C. S. Mason.  Mr. Seiders was an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad and is a member of Post 116, G.A.R., and the Pennsylvania Relief Association. The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the house and will be in charge of Rev. Edward S. Bowman, pastor of the Otterbein U.B. Church.  Interment will be made in the Harrisburg Cemetery.

Israel Seiders’ war record was described in detail in Captain Enders Legion:

He served with Company A, 172nd Pennsylvania Drafted Militia from 22 October 1962 to 31 July 1863.  On 2 Dec 1862, the regiment proceeded to Washington and after a halt of two days moved by transports to Newport News, Virginia.  It remained for a week, busily engaged in drill, at the end of which, they marched to Yorktown and relieved the 52nd Pennsylvania [52nd Pennsylvania Infantry] at the fort.  Here the 172nd was soon settled in quarters where it spent the greater part of its term of service.  The troops were kept employed in garrison duty and drill in infantry, light and heavy artillery practice.  Early in July 1863, it was ordered to Washington and then proceeded to Hagerstown, Maryland where it was attached to the Eleventh Corps.  It joined in pursuit of the Confederate Army to Williamsport and after the escape of the enemy across the Potomac, marched with the Eleventh Corps to Warrenton Junction.  Its term of service then expired and the regiment returned to Harrisburg where it was mustered out on 1 Auustg 1863.

On 29 March 1864, Israel reenlisted in Company H, 187th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.  His military records describe him as being 5′ 6″ tall, with gray eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion.  Like most of the men written about in this book, Israel suffered hardships during his military service.  Upon arriving at the lines of Petersburg, Virginia, on the night of 16 Jun 1864, the 187th Pennsylvania had the following experience as described in History of the First Battalion Pennsylvania Six Months Volunteers and 187th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry by James M. Gibbs:

“Here was the first experience of a water famine.  The fatiguing march was accomplished by the accustomed growling and word went along the line that the Division would halt as soon as water was reached.  At last it was found, fit probably, for thirsty soldiers, but certainly for none else.  A green slime floated on the surface, a skillful but sudden movement with the bottom of the tin cup, opened the scum, and then a hurried dip before it closed again, supplied a cupful.  So urgent was the thirst that the foul, slimy liquid was swallowed with avidity, regardless of taste or consequence.  With the daylight an attempt to wash in this swampy bayou was speedily abandoned.  It revealed hosts of forbidding animalculae, tadpoles, ‘zig-zaggers,’ and every squirming insect that found life and comfort in such repulsive quarters.  The flavor of the morning coffee disappeared in galling bitterness.  Rather than fill canteens, the men moved on in hopes of finding something better.  They soon discovered their mistake, instead of finding better, there was none at all.  In the section the Army was approaching, and that was long to be its home, there was no water on the surface during the hot season just at hand.  At every change of position it was first to dig for cover then dig for water.”

On 18 Jun 1864, Israel participated in the fierce charge led by Colonel Joshua Chamberlain at Petersburg.  Both Chamberlain and Israel’s brother Joseph were seriously wounded in the engagement.  The regiment was next in action on the Jerusalem Plank Road and Weldon Railroad 21-23 June and held in reserve during the Battle of the Crater on 30 July.  They then fought in the battle for the Weldon Railroad, 18-21 August.  The 187th remained at Petersburg until 22 September 1864 when they were ordered to Philadelphia for garrison and escort duty at Camp Cadwalader.  They also served as Guard of Honor over remains of President Lincoln in Independence Hall, Philadelphia and escort to the funeral cortege in May 1865.  Israel was mustered out as a Private on 3 August 1865.

In September 1860, in Buchanan County, Missouri, Israel married Elizabeth Francis Williams, born 20 June 1840.  The couple had a child, Mary Jane Seiders who was born 6 September 1860.  However, Elizabeth died on 9 June 1862, and Israel returned to Dauphin County with his daughter.  Israel’s connection with Missouri was through his Enders family cousin Daniel Seal Jr. [Daniel’s mother and Israel’s mother were sisters], a resident of Missouri who spent summers in Enders, Dauphin County.  But when the war broke out, Daniel Seal Jr. joined the Confederate Army and was later mortally wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.  On 24 March 1864, Israel married Mary Jane Heinkel.  No children were born of this second marriage.  Mary Jane [Heinkel] Seiders died 15 August 1914 in Harrisburg.  Mary Jane Seiders, Israel’s daughter of the first marriage, eventually married a man named C. S.Mason, who is mentioned in the obituary.

Additional information about Israel Seiders is sought.  Comments can be added to this post or sent by e-mail to the Civil War Research Project.

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The portrait of Israel Seiders at the top of this post was adapted from one of the Seiders’ brothers found attached to an Ancestry.com tree.  The obituary is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Israel Seiders – Pennsylvania Railroad Employee
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Halifax Township, Matamoras

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 4, 2013

A listing of the September 2013 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

John Ritz, Alias Daniel Driebelbies

August 2013 Posts

Joseph M. Johnson – Millersburg Contractor and Civil War Veteran

Samuel Byerly – Sunbury Merchant and War Veteran

Funeral of Isaac Hepler of Gratz

Simon C. Gratz – Son of First Mayor of Gratz, Pennsylvania

Gratz Fair Exhibit Features Women of the Civil War Era

William Henry Egle – Army Surgeon, Physician and Historian

Historical Basis for the Geographical Area of the Civil War Research Project

Lydia McColly Snyder – Widow of James Snyder

Miscellaneous News Briefs from Area Newspapers – 1922, 1931, and 1943

Henry S. Huidekoper – Medal of Honor Recipient and Advocate for Veterans

A Tribute to Riley Bressler

Events of the World: Sept 1863

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on September 2013 Posts
Tags: Table of Contents

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 2, 2013

In a prior blog post, it was noted that the ancestral roots of Abraham Lincoln were in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  The historical marker shown below was featured in that post.

As noted on the marker, the homestead is located just 1.25 miles south.  At the intersection on Route 422, travel south toward the Lincoln Corporate Center and the community of Lorane, Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  The road curves east and shortly afterward at another curve in the road, there is a sign erected by the Berks County Historical Society pointing to the Lincoln Homestead.

The only available off-road parking at this point is where the sign is located.  The Lincoln Homestead is on the other side of the road.

Along the road there is also an old “marker” – actually an inscription carved on a rock:

House built about 1733 by Mordecai Lincoln, Gr.-Gr. Grandfather of President Abraham Lincoln.  Berks County Historical Society, 1915.

Other than the two markers placed by the Berks County Historical Society, there are no descriptive story boards or other historical information at the site.  According to on-line information, the home was restored in 1987-1988. It does not appear that the interiors of the buildings have been been restored.

Additional photo views of the home and summer kitchen are shown below:

For further information on the Lincoln Homestead, see the Wikipedia article and the Berks History Center.

Category: Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Abraham Lincoln