Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 19, 2013

The geographical area encompassing the Civil War Research Project was not arbitrarily chosen.  There is a long-standing historical, economic and cultural identity in the parts of three counties that form the large triangle of valleys in the east-central area of Pennsylvania through which the Susquehanna River flows.  The lower part of Northumberland County, the upper part of Dauphin County and the western part of Schuylkill County seem have more in common with each other than they do with the part of their counties that contain their county seats of Sunbury, Harrisburg and Pottsville respectively.

When the Gratz Historical Society was formed in the late 1970s there was no group to challenge its claim to serve the entire northern end of Dauphin County.  It quickly became obvious to the founders that to study the history of the “northern end” or “upper end”, records and histories would have to be studied from the parts of the two neighboring counties as well as those from Dauphin.  There were similar geographic features, common family histories, transportation and communication networks, etc., all which pointed to the area of three counties being a county in itself – but without the official designation.  Thus, when the Civil War Research Project began a few years ago, the geographical boundaries of the area of study were roughly established as a large triangle, with Gratz Borough lying roughly in the center.

As Pennsylvania developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, counties were formed out of parts of other counties and there were constant attempts to create new counties.  When the costs of administering outlying areas of an existing county became too great for the more established areas to handle, the political will was not there to resist secessionist movements.

Previously, a set of maps was presented to show the development of Pennsylvania’s counties.  See:  Historical County Maps of Pennsylvania.

Map #8 from the set shows the existing counties in 1820:

From Map #8, Dauphin County, Northumberland County, and Schuylkill County boundaries had been established by 1820.

Next is shown Map #9, for 1840:

In comparing the two maps, it is noticed that only 5 new counties were created during this 20 year period – west of the Susquehanna River, but the counties east of the Susquehanna River remained unchanged [Note: The exception is Monroe County – see comments below].

What is not told by these maps is that there were attempts to create counties out of existing counties east of the Susquehanna River.  One such attempt, in 1834, was the proposal to create “Lykens County” out of parts of Dauphin, Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties.  Of course, the attempt failed.  However, records were left regarding this proposal.

Click on document to enlarge.

Several years ago a copy of a “draft” act to create a new county out of existing parts of Dauphin and Northumberland Counties (and parts of Schuylkill although not stated in the act title) was found in the Pennsylvania State Archives.  A portion of that “draft” (7 pages total) is shown above.

The new county boundaries were to be established as follows:

The mouth of Juniata River in the County of Perry, thence along the west side of the Susquehanna River to Union County, opposite Jacob’s Mountain, north of Georgetown [Dalmatia], Northumberland County, thence along the same to the Schuylkill County line, thence along the same to Peter’s Mountain, in Dauphin County, thence along the same to the place of beginning, shall be and the same in accordance to the foregoing lines declared to be erected into a separate county to be called Lykens.

The county seat of this new Lykens County was to be established at Millersburg, with the temporary court house and administrative center to be at the Methodist Meeting House there – until such time as an election could take place and the citizens erect a permanent court house.

The act was presented to committee for review.

On 15 February 1834, the Sunbury Workingmen’s Advocate reported:

Mr. Frailey [representative from Schuylkill County] moved that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject of certain petitions for a new county out of parts of Dauphin, Northumberland and Schuylkill.  Mr. Ayres [representative from Dauphin County] moved that the committee be instructed to report a bill, forming a new county to be called “LYKENS” and supported his view with some remarks.  Mr. Frailey stated the facts of the number of petitions, etc.  The committee was discharged.

The citizens who petitioned to form a new county were not dissuaded and they continued to agitate and petition up though 1841, when the Pottsville Miners Journal of 30 January 1841 stated:

Petitions have been presented to the Legislature for the formation of a new county out of parts of Schuylkill, Dauphin and Northumberland.  The new county would embrace the two Mahangos.  We go in for the new county.  The Mahantongos have always been an expense to Schuylkill, and the sooner they are cut off the better.

What must be noted here is that the rapidly increasing population in Schuylkill County in this time period was the reason that the citizens of that county were petitioning for moving the county seat from Orwigsburg to Pottsville.  Rep. Frailey lived in Orwigsburg and had political and economic interests there and keeping the county seat in Orwigsburg was to his economic advantage.  Likewise, a larger county with Orwigsburg as its county seat was to his advantage as well.  Thus, he resisted the attempts to move the county seat as well as have any parts of the county break off and form other counties.

Further research must be done to determine all the reasons that Lykens County never came to be. Some of that research can be done by examining more closely the lives and careers of those who supported and resisted the formation of Lykens County.

Frailey was Charles Frailey (1797-1873).  He served as a state representative from Schuylkill County in 1833 and 1835 and then as a state senator in 1836 and 1850.

Ayres was William Ayres (1788-1856).  He served as a state representative from Dauphin County from 1833-1935.

The issue of the creation of counties from existing parts of Schuylkill County is briefly discussed on page 75 of Munsell’s History of Schuylkill County, published in 1881, and available as a free download from GoogleBooks (click on title).

Anyone with further information on this topic can contact the Civil War Research Project by e-mail or add comments to this post.

Category: Reflections, Stories | 3 Comments »
Tags: Gratz Borough, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 17, 2013

Noted Pennsylvania and Dauphin County historian Dr. William H. Egle died at his home on 19 February 1901.  His many books and other writings include much information on the early development of the Lykens Valley area, including Gratz Borough.  During the Civil War, he served as an army surgeon in both the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry.  His obituary tributes appeared in Pennsylvania newspapers as well as the New York Times and some are transcribed below.

From the Harrisburg Patriot:

DR. WILLIAM H. EGLE DEAD

Attack of “Grip” Developed Into Pneumonia and Caused His Sudden Death

HE WAS A NOTED PHYSICIAN, HISTORIAN AND GENEALOGIST AND THE AUTHOR OF A LARGE NUMBER OF VALUABLE WORKS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL INTEREST

Harrisburg, 20 February 1901 — Early last evening occurred the death of Dr. William Henry Egle, at his home in this city after an illness of a week, from an attack of “grip” which developed into pneumonia.  No funeral arrangements have as yet been made.

Dr. Egle was born in this city 17 Sep 1830.  His parents were John Egle and Elizabeth von Treuful, both natives of Pennsylvania.  The father dying when the son was four years old, the latter made his home with his paternal grandfather.  He was educated in the public and private schools of Harrisburg and at the Harrisburg military institute under the former Captain Alden partridge.

In 1843 he was tendered the appointment of midshipman in the United States Navy, but declined the honor.  At the close of his school life he spent three years in the office of the “Pennsylvania Telegraph,” during which time he was foreman of the establishment, subsequently taking charge of the state printing, which was done at that office.  He was afterward editor of the “Literary Companion” and the “Daily Times” of this city.  After serving in the local post office he graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1857.

He practiced medicine in this city and during the war was a surgeon in the Union Army.  He was at one time Chief Medical examiner of General Jackson’s Division.  After the war he was appointed Pension Examiner and for twenty years he was physician at the county prison in this city.

Dr. Egle was appointed Sate Librarian on March 1887, by Governor Beaver and re-appointed by Governor Pattison.  He served also under Governor Hustings.  Dr. Egle was also Surgeon in the National Guard for many years after its organization.

It was as a historian that Dr. Egle was best known.  He was the author of histories of Pennsylvania, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, “Centennial County of Dauphin and City of Harrisburg,” “Harrisburg of the Susquehanna,” and many other well known works of local and national importance.  The most valuable of his books are those relating to the services of the Pennsylvania line of the Revolution.

In 1878, Lafayette College conferred the degree of A.M. on Dr. Egle and he was an honorary member of a large number of historical societies in this country and England.  He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic [G.A.R.], Loyal Legion, Sons of the American Revolution, and many other patriotic societies.

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Also from the Harrisburg Patriot:

EGLE OBSEQUIES

HISTORIAN’S REMAINS LAID TO REST WITH SERVICES AT ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH

The funeral of the late William H. Egle took place yesterday afternoon from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.  The services were conducted by the rector, Rev. Ernest F. Smith, and were attended by a large number of the friends of the deceased.

Delegations from the Dauphin County Historical Society, the Dauphin County Medical Society, and the Academy of Medicine and other historical societies were present.  The funeral procession left the late home of Dr. Egle, No. 305 North Second Street, at a few minutes before 2 o’clock and proceeded to the church.  The pallbearers were:  Lieutenant Governor J. P. S. Gobin, D. C. A. Rahter, James M. Lamberton, Dr. John Vallerchamp, Henry D. Boas and William B. Hammond.  The interment was made in the Harrisburg Cemetery.

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From the New York Times, 20 February 1901.

Dr. William H. Egle

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, 10 February 1901 — Dr. William H. Egle, genealogist and historian, died to-night at his home in this city of pneumonia.  He was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1850.  In 1863 he was appointed Surgeon of the Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment [47th Pennsylvania Infantry], and served until December 1865.

In March 1887, he was appointed State Librarian, which position he held for twelve years.  He was the author of a history of Pennsylvania and a large number of other historical publications.

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Most of the major writings of Dr. Egle are available at the Schwalm Library of the Gratz Historical Society.  It is from one of those writings that the portrait of Dr. Egle was taken (top of post).

Late in life, Dr. Egle applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service.  The Pension Index Card, shown below (from Fold3), indicates that although he applied, he was not awarded a pension.  However, in 1920, his widow applied and was successful in receiving benefits based on his service.

The date of the pension application, 13 February 1901, occurring only 6 days before Dr. Egle’s death, is the reason that no invalid pension was awarded.  It is not known why it took so long for his widow to make an application for benefits – nearly 20 years from the date of his death!

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on William Henry Egle – Army Surgeon, Physician and Historian
Tags: G.A.R.

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 15, 2013

Women and the Civil War – Portraits and Stories is the newest exhibit of the Civil War Research Project   It will preview at the Gratz Fair, beginning today, Sunday, September 15, 2013, at 11 a.m., and continuing to Saturday, September 21, 2013, when the Fair closes.

The exhibit description states:

This portrait gallery is of women from the Lykens Valley and beyond who were influenced by or had an influence on the Civil War.  It includes mothers, wives and daughters of men of the Civil War generation.  A few of their stories have been briefly told here.  As part of the Civil War Research Project, photographs and stories of these remarkable women are being preserved for future generations.  Over time, much of this history has been lost, because it has not been recorded and saved.  For the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, we have made it a priority to collect, record and preserve this valuable part of our heritage.

More than 175 photographs, most of which have been contributed by family members, are in the exhibit, and stories are told of a woman from Williamstown who followed a regiment to do its wash, a nurse from Pine Grove who died of disease during the war, a mother from Gratz who applied for pension benefits because she had no other means of support, a wife and mother who operated a farm in Hegins Township, a war bride from Lykens,  a daughter from Wiconisco who cared for her aged war-veteran father into the late 1940s, and other stories.

Additional preview pictures of the exhibit are shown below.  After the Gratz Fair concludes, the exhibit will be available to be loaned to interested historical/genealogical groups.

Category: Events, Resources | Comments Off on Gratz Fair Exhibit Features Women of the Civil War Era
Tags: Hegins Township, Lykens Borough, Pine Grove, Wiconisco, Williamstown, Women

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 13, 2013

Additional information has been discovered about Simon C. Gratz, the son of Theodore Gratz and Ellen [Carson] Gratz of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Simon C. Gratz was the brother of John C. Gratz of the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, who died of disease during the Civil War.  They were the grandsons of Simon Gratz, the founder of Gratz, Pennsylvania, and the son of the town’s first mayor.

Simon C. Gratz was also a Civil War veteran.  At age 20, he first served with the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, and was mustered into service at Harrisburg on 11 May 1861.

Following this enlistment Simon C. Gratz joined the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Corporal, on 16 July 1862 where he served until his discharge on 8 May 1863.  His record in this regiment is under the name of “Samuel Gratz.”

The final Civil War enlistment was with the 4th Arkansas Infantry, Company C, which became the 57th U.S. Colored Troops, where Simon C. Gratz served as Captain through the war’s conclusion and beyond into 1866.

The records of Simon’s service in the 57th U.S. Colored Troops along with his prior service, can be found in the Pension Index Cards available through Ancestry.com and Fold3 (one from Fold3 is shown above), and in the actual military records found on Fold3 as well as Returns from Military Posts found on Ancestry.com.  Fold3 has a total of 53 pages from the military records which include information about Simon’s arrest and ultimate exoneration while serving as Captain of the 57th U.S. Colored Troops.  Ancestry.com has a total of 11 pages of returns from military posts which cover the immediate period after the Civil War when Simon C. Gratz was serving at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and later at Fort Bascom, New Mexico Territory.

Also found on the Pension Index Card (above) is the fact that Simon C. Gratz died on 1 June 1923 in Philadelphia – a fact not previously known by the Civil War Research Project.

A search of the newspaper files in the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia produced several articles connecting Simon C. Gratz to the Viginius Affair in 1873. For further information about this international incident, see the Wikipedia article, which gives a good summary of events.  at first, it was thought that Simon C. Gratz was one of those on-board the Viginius who had been executed, but later it was claimed that he may have been the only survivor.

One of the articles gave his birth date as 22 February 1842 (previously only established as “about 1841”).  However, his birthplace was given as Harrisburg, whereas information available at the Gratz Historical Society states his birthplace was Gratz [see A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania, p. 13-14] and house where he was born on Market Street in Gratz still stands.  It was not until around 1853 that the family moved to Harrisburg.  Simon was baptized on 27 May 1855, in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, Harrisburg, after the family moved to Harrisburg.

At this time it is not known if Simon C. Gratz was ever married.  He applied for and received a pension, but when he died in 1923, no widow made claim.  Perhaps if a death record or obituary can be located – or a burial place – additional information about survivors could be obtained.

What was Simon’s middle name?  Possibly it was “Carson,” which was the maiden name of his mother.  It is also possible that his middle name was “Cameron,” which was found in one news article where he was referred to as “Simon Cameron Gratz.”

One caution – this is not the same Simon Gratz who was President of the Board of Education of Philadelphia who died in Philadelphia in 1925 and for whom Simon Gratz High School was named – although the two were first cousins (their fathers were brothers).

The additional information gleaned from the above-mentioned documents should lead to more discoveries about this little-known member of the Gratz family.

Anyone with information to add is welcome to do so by adding comments to this post or by sending an e-mail to the Civil War Research Project.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Simon C. Gratz – Son of First Mayor of Gratz, Pennsylvania
Tags: African American, Gratz Borough, Gratz family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 10, 2013

The following obituary and report on the funeral services of Civil War veteran Isaac Hepler of Gratz appeared in a local newspaper in late July 1918:

ISAAC HEPLER

The funeral services of the late Isaac Hepler were held in the Lutheran and reformed Church of Gratz, Friday morning, 26 July 1918, the Revs. C. P. Wehr and G. H. Seidel officiating.  Deceased was born 5 August 1838 and died 23 July 1918 bringing his age to 79 years, 11 months, 16 days.

Besides his wife he is survived by six children:  Joseph Hepler, Georgia Hepler, and Emma Hepler of Gratz; Thomas Hepler of Williamsport; Mrs. Rev. K. Miller of Washingtonville, and Mrs. Dr. Ritzman of Harrisburg.

Mr. Hepler was a survivor of the Civil War and for many years conducted a general store at Gratz.

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For the obituary of Isaac’s widow, Amanda Harper Hepler, see:  Amanda B. Hepler – Widow of Isaac Hepler.

The news clipping is from the Obituary Collection of the Gratz Historical Society.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Funeral of Isaac Hepler of Gratz
Tags: Gratz Borough