Civil War Blog

Posted By Jake Wynn on May 29, 2013

A rare thing is to hear the Civil War years as described through the eyes of a child who grew up in the shadow of the war.

Dr. Charles H. Miller, originally of Lykens, gives us that exact thing in a book he published as a young college graduate of the University of Pennsylvania medical school.

Born around 1850 in Lykens, Charles was the last of three sons born to Joseph Jonas Miller, a wealthy land surveyor and Dauphin County clerk, and Barbara Hoffman. It is likely that the family also held a house and property in Gratz as well, as several documents attest to this ownership. However, for this post we will focus on the Lykens connection. His account of growing up in Lykens during the 1850s is captured in a short story, titled, “Lykens, Twenty Years Ago: An Historical Sketch,” and was published by the Lykens Register in 1876. Dr. Miller describes the life and adventures of a young boy growing up in a developing coal and transportation hub. The text is an incredible asset for anyone researching the early years of the town, and within the pages of this text, many names and interesting facts can be gleaned.

An Historical Sketch, the title page to Dr. Miller’s book

Near the end of the text, Miller goes into describing some of his final days as a boy in Lykens, before his family moved to Harrisburg and his father took up the position of Dauphin County clerk. The most likely time period for the events described is during the early months of 1861.

Twenty years ago the glory of the Battalion Day was just in its wane. For more than a half century its lustre was a thing of renown and its name a guiding star of the almanac. The threats of secession in the South, the mutterings of war in the North attracted the attention of the country to something more defensive than pop-beer and ginger-bread, and the grand strut of the militia captain, awing and soul inspiring upon that all conspicuous day, had lost its fear and importance in the impending crisis.

The last of such days was held at Lykens at this period. The woods, for many acres square upon what is now North Second street, beyond the railway embankment, were hewn down and removed, and the undergrowth of shrubbery burned to the surface. The tent-pole took the place of the sapling and the flag-staff and canvas crowned the scene. Never before had the village enjoyed so much importance. The war horse danced and pranced before admiring multitudes in the street, snuffing danger afar off. From his glossy sides, like a thing that had grown from him, towered the brave commander, stiff with silent grandeur. How our heart went up and our breath came fast and thick at the sight of this august personage! His extensive epaulets, glittering sword and gorgeous plumage upon his hat! If we could have exchanged our lot with any one in the  wide, wide world at that moment, it would have been with that statue of pomposity at the head of such magnificence.

Every fresh arrival of militia brought with it its own brass band or drum corps, which struck up a lively strain the moment it entered the village, and only ceased after breath became an object of extreme solicitude. Every fresh arrival also brought to the doors all the village that could contain itself, and with it such an aroma of cinnamon and ginger as brought tears of anguish to the nose of the visitor and such friendliness of heart and head as extended its own welcome anywhere. The streets were a holiday attire; and root beer was only two cents a glass. The amount of cake that could have been bought for a penny at any of the numerous stands, would have disgusted the stomach of an elephant.

Several very important facts can be retrieved from Dr. Miller’s boyhood memories. An interesting line points to the location of the militia’s parade ground and encampment.

The woods, for many acres square upon what is now North Second street, beyond the railway embankment, were hewn down and removed, and the undergrowth of shrubbery burned to the surface. The tent-pole took the place of the sapling and the flag-staff and canvas crowned the scene.

This likely points to the area just beyond the where the Lykens Valley Railroad and  North Second Street intersected and close to Miller’s possible childhood home, as being the collecting point for enlisting soldiers before heading to muster points in larger communities such as Harrisburg or Pottsville.

Section adjacent to North Second Street and railroad embankment. Possible site of parade ground and encampment.

Another important item that Miller points out is just the sheer importance of this community to the region during the time of crisis. The Lykens of 1860 and 1861 was a fast growing community of over 3000 people, according to the Census of 1860. The coal trade and railroad were proving to be a profitable business, and the town was the staging area for all mining operations located within the Lykens and Williams Valley region. With war looming on the horizon, Lykens became an important marshaling point for local residents who wished to volunteer for the Union army. Much can be taken from even the smallest details of the young man’s remembrances of one of the most critical moments in the history of the nation.

Now for Dr. Charles H. Miller, life took a turn for the worse following the publishing of this text. The opening page of the document states:

Read before the Lykens Harmonic and Literary Association, Friday evening, December 22, 1876.

Miller’s promising writing career would be choked off only a few days after he read this book before a group of local citizens. A fire on New Years’ Day 1877 in the Lykens Valley Slope, located in the colliery above Wiconsico, shut down the mines for nearly a year. Not one shipment of coal from the Lykens collieries made it to market that year. Paired with the economic depression resulting from the Panic of 1873, the Miller family saw their money and standing dwindle. The family seems have to broken apart at this point, with the older brothers leaving the area and heading to Philadelphia.

New York Times headline reporting the fire.

Charles was forced to forgo his writing career and head west, eventually landing in the area of Hutchinson, Kansas with his wife, Frances Elizabeth and several children. For one reason or another, this venture failed and Dr. Miller attempted to come back to Pennsylvania, possibly to friends in the Lykens area, or further on towards family in Philadelphia. Regardless of his intended destination, Miller never made it past the Allegheny rail yard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the early summer of 1889.

Miller, according to reports, was found beaten and bloodied to nearly the point of unconsciousness in a railcar. Miller later succumbed to his wounds in a Pittsburgh hospital. A coroner’s inquest into the events suggested that foul play was likely in his death and an investigation called, although no suspect or person of interest was never named.

The Pittsburg Post from June 29, 1889, reporting that the death of Dr. Miller was murder

IT WAS MURDER

The Coroner’s inquest on the death of Dr. Charles H. Miller, who died in the West Penn Hospital from wounds received in some mysterious way, was concluded yesterday. He was found, as will be remembered, in a box car on the Allegheny Valley Railroad. The jury’s verdict was that he came to his death from wounds inflicted with a blunt instrument in the hands of persons unknown. Special Officer Edward Fillinger, of the Allegheny Valley Railroad, was censured for not making a more careful investigation of the car in which Dr. Miller was found. Coroner McDowell is confident that it is a clear case of murder; the police think otherwise.

However, several theories were floated through newspapers throughout 1889 and into early 1890. Speculation abounded as to Dr. Miller’s destination on that fateful ride. A New York Times article published in February of 1890 suggested that Dr. Miller succumbed to starvation aboard a locked boxcar and that that was the cause of death. Several other newspapers reported similar stories.

New York Times article stating it wasn’t murder.

DIED OF STARVATION.      The Sad Story of a Doctor With Money or Patients.

Pittsburg, Penn., Feb. 23.– Eight months ago the dead body of Dr. Charles H. Miller of Hutchinson, Kan., was found lying in a freight car on the Allegheny Valley Railroad in this city. There were no marks of violence, and although the case was supposed to be one of murder, the mystery surround the stranger’s death was never cleared up…

However, this theory runs directly into the testimony of witnesses at the scene, including the rail yard workers who discovered the bloodied Miller. The doctor who first aided Miller was a certain Dr. R. M. Sands, who reported that he “discovered that he had sustained a fracture of the skull and had two ugly gashes above his eyes. It is my opinion that the wounds were made with some blunt instrument.” All of this adds up to a case of sizable intrigue.

Unfortunately, the site of Dr. Miller’s grave is not currently known, but the search continues. The case will never be solved and we are left with the curious details surrounding his unfortunate demise and to surmise what could have befallen him that night in June 1889.

A future post will look into another member of the Miller family, Charles’ older brother Edmund, who served in the Union army during the Civil War.

The full version of Dr. Miller’s text about Lykens can be found at the Gratz Historical Society.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 7 Comments »
Tags: Hoffman family, Lykens Borough, Miller family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on May 28, 2013

Veterans of the Civil War identified as having some connection to the Lykens Valley area and included in the Civil War Research Project was last updated 19 April 2012.  In a series of posts continuing intermittently until concluding in mid-June, a brief sketch of each of the new names added since then will be presented.  Note that in a few cases, the persons are not veterans, but have been identified with some Civil War event or are related to a Civil War veteran.  At the conclusion of the listing of these added names, the Veterans list will be updated with the new names, re-alphabetized, and presented in a new format which includes the Project File Number for each individual.

Additional information is sought on each of the individuals in the Veterans’ List.  Comments can be added to the blog post or information can be sent by e-mail.  Of particular interest are stories, pictures, military records, pension information, and genealogies.

Abbreviations:  CW# = Civil War Research Project File Number.  MI = Mustered In.  MO = Mustered Out.  NARA = National Archives and Records Administration Microfilm Series and Roll Number.  POW = Prisoner of War.  AKA = Also Known As.  Months are abbreviated with the standard 3-letter abbreviation.

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CW#H002.4] Daniel Hafer (1837-1907) ——– 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private (MI 16 Sep 1864 – MO 30 May 1865).  Enrolled: Harrisburg.  MI: Harrisburg.

[CW#H002.6] Jacob Hafer (1824-1889) ——– 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private (MI 16 Sep 1864 – MO 30 May 1865).  Enrolled:  Harrisburg.  MI: Camp Curtin.

[CW#H002.8] Charles Hain (18xx-xxxx) ——– 139th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, ?  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H005.5] William Haines (1844-1920) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 19 Feb 1864 – MO 30 Jul 1865).   NARA M554-R47.  Enrolled: Pottsville.  MI: Pottsville.  Died: Allentown.

[CW#H005.7] Francis Hair (1839-xxxx) ——– 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private (MI 10 Sep 1864 – Deserted 10 Sep 1864).    Enrolled: Harrisburg.  MI: Camp Curtin.  Deserter.

[CW#H010.5] John Hamilton (18xx-xxxx) ——- 36th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company C, Private (MI ? – MO 11 Aug 1863).  Possibly the same as “John R. Hamilton” of Halifax (not confirmed).

[CW#H011] John R. Hamilton (18xx-xxxx) ——– Unknown.   Buried: Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery, Halifax, Dauphin County.  Named in Halifax Bicentennial Book as Civil War vet.                                                                                        \

[CW#H015] Adam Hand (18xx-xxxx) ——–  Unknown  Named on Tower City Veterans’ Memorial.

[CW#H019.5] Charles Handy (1819-xxxx) ——- 43rd U.S. Colored Troops, Company G, Corporal (MI ? – MO 20 Oct 1865).  MI: Philadelphia.  Retained at Camp William Penn as witness in counterfeit case, 25 May 1864.  Possible member of Enty family, connected to Crabb family.

[CW#H024.5] William H. Harman (18xx-xxxx) ——– Member of Zouave unit?

[CW#H027] Edward Harner (1840-1912) ——–  30th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, Private (MI 4 Jun 1861 – 13 Jun  1864).   NARA M554-R56.  Married: Maria ?     Buried:  St. Paul’s (Artz) Cemetery, Sacramento, Schuylkill County.    Named in Klingerstown Bicentennial Book as Civil War vet.    AKA: Horner and George W.

[CW#H028.5] Romandes Harner (1842-1877) ——-  50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 6 Apr 1864 – MO 30 Jul 1865).  NARA M554-R59.  Enrolled: Pottsville.  MI: Pottsville.   Guardian of Minor Children: Michael Freehafer.    Buried: Union Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County.  Residence: Schuylkill Co.  Occupation: Boatman.    AKA: Romandus and Romanus.

[CW#H034] John Harper Harper (1846-1938) ——– 208th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, Musician (MI 30 Aug 1864 – MO 1 Jun 1865).  21st Pensylvania Cavalry, Company B, Private (MI 23 Jun 1863 – MO 20 Feb 1864).  NARA M554-R5.  Father: Amos Hoffman.  Married:  Mary Swab.  Brother was Medal of Honor recipient Thomas William Hoffman.   Buried: Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Williamstown, Dauphin County.

[CW#H036.5] Samuel Harriman (1826-1897) ——–  General.

[CW#H039.5] Thomas Maley Harris (1817-1906) ——- General.

[CW#H048] John Hartman (18xx-xxxx) ——– 75th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, ?  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H056] Jacob R. Hartter (1834-1898) ——-  151st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, Corporal or Chaplain? (MI 3 Nov 1862 or 30 Jun 1863 – MO 2 Aug 1863).  NARA M554-R47.  Residence in 1890: Tremont.  Missing in action (MIA) at Gettysburg, 1 Jul 1863.  Reported Disability: Sore leg.  Married:  Rebecca S. ?  Buried:  Possibly at Tremont, Schuylkill County. Possibly a Chaplain or Reverend.

[CW#H066.1] William Reily Haunabaugh (18xx-xxxx) ——–  Unknown.   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H066.2] Benjamin Haupt (18xx-xxxx) ——–  172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H066.3] Simeon Haupt (18xx-xxxx) ——– 18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H066.4] Thomas J. Haus (1838-1917) ——–  50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 13 Feb 1865 – MO 30 Jul 1865).  196th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Corporal (MI 14 Jul 1864 – MO 17 Nov 1864).   NARA M554-R51.  Enrolled 1st: Philadelphia.  MI 1st: Philadelphia.  Enrolled 2nd: Norristown.  MI 2nd: Norristown.  Married:  Amelia D. ?  Died: Camden, New Jersey.   Occupation: Painter.  Residence: Lehigh Co.   AKA:  Hans and Hause.

[CW#H066.8] Henry W. “Harry” Haverstick (1856-xxxx) ——–  Not a Civil War veteran.  Father:  Michael Haverstick, died in Civil War.  He was a war orphan in a state established orphanage.  Found in Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, p. 1157.  Residences: Lykens & Millersburg.

[CW#H074] William Henry “Harry” Hawk (1837-1916) ——–  Actor.  No military record found.   Intimate friend of Capt. Tom Wilson of Harrisburg, who worked in the Pennsylvania Bureau of Industrial Statistics. Died: Granville, England.  On stage at Ford’s Theatre in Washington when John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

[CW#H074.5] Joseph Roswell Hawley (1826-1905) ——–  General.

[CW#H077.5] John G. Hazard (18xx-xxxx) ——–  General.

[CW#H089.2] Henry Heckman (1841-xxxx) ——– 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private (MI 19 Sep 1864 – Deserted 1 Apr 1865).  Enrolled: Harrisburg.  MI: Camp Curtin.  Deserter.   AKA: Henry Lynch (Alias).

[CW#H089.3] Valentine Heckner (18xx-xxxx) ——–  18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).    Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H089.4] Edward Heebner (1846-1931) ——- 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 19 Feb 1864 – MO 30 Jul 1865).  NARA M554-R52.  Enrolled: Pottsville.  MI: Pottsville.   Born: Tremont.  Married: Catherine “Kate” ?         Residence: Pottsville.  Occupation: Boatman.  Residence in 1890: Tremont.  Occupation in 1880: Mining Engineer.

[CW#H089.7] Henry  “Harry” Hehn (1837-1864) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 22 Feb 1864 – Died 25 Jun 1864).  NARA M554-R52.  Enrolled: Reading.  MI: Reading.  Died while a prisoner (POW) at Andersonville?    Father received pension #245345.  Married: Lydia ?  Guardian of Minor Children: Charles A. Meck.           Buried:  Fort Monroe National Cemetery, Fort Monroe, Virginia   Residence: Schuylkill Haven.  Occupation: Boatman.  Possible co-mingling of records with another of same name who was born in 1840.

[CW#H089.8] Jacob Hehn (1843-1916) ——–  50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 9 Sep 1861 -MO 30 Jul 1865).  5th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, Private (MI 20 Apr 1861 – MO 24 Jul 1861).   NARA M554-R52.  MI: Harrisburg.  Captured, held as prisoner (POW) at Andersonville.  Discharged for wounds received in action (SCD), date unknown.  Re-enlisted 22 Feb 1864.   Married:  Susan or Susannah “Susie” Close.  Died: Roxborough, Philadelphia.    Buried:  Leverington Cemetery, Roxborough, Philadelphia.  Occupation: Boatman.  Residence: Schuylkill Haven.

[CW#H090.5] Andrew A. Heim (18xx-xxxx) ——– 18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H091.3] Harrison Heim (18xx-xxxx) ——– 18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?). Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H091.7] Henry Heim (18xx-xxxx) ——– Unknown.  Died in war. Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H093.5] Levi P. Heim (18xx-xxxx) ——–  18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H098] Benjamin Hardin Helm (1831-1863) ——- Confederate General.  Killed at Chickamauga/Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Lincoln’s brother-in-law .  Married Emilie “Little Sister” Todd.

[CW#H099] James Kellerson Helms (1841-1893) ——– 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, Private (MI 22 Apr 1861 – MO 27 Jul 1861).  48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, Sergeant (MI 23 Sep 1861 – MO by Special Order for Disability).   NARA M554-R52.  Enrolled: Pottsville.  MI: Harrisburg. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 10 Dec 1862.  Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, 1 Sep 1863.  Promoted to Captain, 22 Jul 1864.  Brother of Jere K. Helms, killed at Antietam.  Married: Amanda Kantner.   Buried:  Union Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County.  Occupation: Dentist.  Residence: Schuylkill Haven.   AKA:  James K. Helms.

[CW#H100] Jeremiah K. Helms (1846-1862) ——– 50th Pennsyvlania Infantry, Company C, Musician (MI 9 Sep 1861 – KIA 17 Sep 1862).  NARA M554-R52.  Enrolled: Schuylkill Haven, PA.  MI:  Harrisburg, PA.  Killed at Antietam, 17 Sep 1862.   Mother:  Lucy Ann Heichold.    Buried:  Old Union Cemetery, Myerstown, Lebanon County.  Occupation:  Tailor.  Residence:  Schuylkill Haven.  G.A.R. Post in Schuylkill Haven named for him.    AKA:  Holmes and Holm;  “Jere”  H. K.

[CW#H111.3] Nathan Henninger (18xx-xxxx) ——–  172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K , ?   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H111.5] Guy Verner Henry (1839-1899) ——-  General.

[CW#H115.5] Nathan Hensyl (18xx-xxxx) ——– 18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H118.3] Jacob T. Hepner (18xx-xxxx) ——– 131st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, ?  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H119] Abraham B. Herb (18xx-xxxx) ——–  173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, Private (MI 30 Oct 1862 – SCD 15 Feb 1863).  NARA M554-R53.  Residence in 1890:  Hegins.  Discharged on Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability (SCD), 15 Feb 1863.  Ruptured.

[CW#H120.5] Daniel Herb (18xx-xxxx) ——– 100th Ohio Infantry, Company ?   Died in war.  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans’ list, p. 53.

[CW#H127.5] John Crull Herman (1836-1886) ——–  130th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, Private (MI 9 Aug 1862 – MO 21 May 1863).  NARA M554-R53.  Enrolled: York.  MI: Harrisburg.  Married:  Frances Jane McGraw.    Buried:  Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg.   Found in Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, p. 624. Politician: Mayor of Harrisburg, 1881-1883, Republican.  Possibly promoted African American rights in Republican Party.

[CW#H128] William Wallace Herr (1834-1911) ——–  None.  Brother-in-Law of Lincoln.  Married:  Catherine “Kitty” Todd.

[CW#H142] Benjamin L. Hewitt (1833-1894) ——–  Military record, but not specified.   Politician  Spealer of Pennsylvania House, 1881-1882.

[CW#H146.5] Michael Higgins (1840-xxxx) ——–  210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private (MI 15 Sep 1864 – Deserted 17 Sep 1864).     Enrolled: Harrisburg.  MI: Camp Curtin. Deserter.

[CW#H149] Henry Hill (1842-1909) ——–  50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Sergeant (MI 9 Sep 1861 – MO 30 Jul 1865).   NARA M554-R54.  Enrolled:  Schuylkill Haven.  MI:  Harrisburg.  Promoted from Corporal to Sergeant, 20 Mar 1865.  Re-enlisted Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, 1 Jan 1864.  In 1890, gave his disability as “gun shot left leg.”  Medal of Honor.  Married:  Sarah Ann Hehn.  Brother William H. Hill was KIA.  Buried:  Union Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven.  Residence:  Schuylkill Haven.  Occupation:  Boatman.

[CW#H150] William H. Hill (1830-1864) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, 1st Sergeant (MI 9 Sep 1861 – MO KIA 6 May 1864).  NARA M554-R54.  Enrolled:  Schuylkill Haven.  MI:   Harrisburg. re-enlisted, Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, 1 Jan 1864.  Killed at Wilderness, Virginia (KIA), 6 May 1864.  Married:  Rebecca ?  Brother was Henry Hill who received Medal of Honor.   Occupation:  Boatman.  Residence:  Schuylkill Haven.

[CW#H152] George W. Hiney (1842-1862) ——–  50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 9 Sep 1861 – KIA date unknown).   NARA M554-R54.  Enrolled:  Schuylkill Haven.  MI:  Harrisburg.  Killed at 2nd Bull Run, 30 Aug 1862 (date in conflict with death date).   Occupation:  Brickmaker.  Residence:  Tremont.

[CW#H153.5] William Henry Hiney (1840-1864) ——–  50th PAennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Sergeant, 1st Lieutenant (MI 9 Sep 1861 – Died 1 Jun 1864).  NARA M554-R54.  Enroled: Schuylkill Haven. MI: ?  Promoted from Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant, 21 Oct 1862 to 1st Lieutenant, 17 Mar 1864.  Died of wounds received in action, 1 Jun 1864.  Father: Frederick R. Hiney.  Occupation: Brick Maker.

[CW#H154] Jacob Hininger (1846-1926) ——- 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private (MI 6 Apr 1865 – MO 25 Jun 1865).    NARA M554-R54.  Married, probably in Illinois:  Rachel Ann Devoe.  Occupation 1865: Laborer.  Moved to Illinois after war.   AKA:  Heiniker and Heininger.

[CW#H156.3] Franklin “Francis” Hoch (1843-1912) ——– 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, Sergeant (MI 23 Sep 1861 – MO 17 Jul 1865).   NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled: Pottsville.  MI: Harrisburg.  Wounded at Antietam, 17 Sep 1863.  Recuperated in Baltimore.  Promoted to Sergeant, 1 May 1865.  Re-enlisted at Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, 1 Jan 1864.  Married:  Margaret “Marguerite” C. Black.  Father, Thomas Hoch, died in war.  Buried:  Frieden’s Cemetery, Hegins, Schuylkill County. Occupation: Teamster.  Found in Valley View Veterans’ Book, p. 14.  Residence:  Barry Township.  AKA:  Hoach and Hock.

[CW#H156.5] Thomas Hoch (1824-1864) ——–  17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company H, Sergeant (MI 27 Sep 1862 – Died 13 Jun 1864).   NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled: Schuylkill Co.  MI: Harrisburg.  Promoted to 1st Sergeant, 24 May 1863.  Reduced to Sergeant by General Order, 24 May 1863.  Wounded at Trevellian Station, Virginia.  Died from wounds at Gordonsville.  Married:  Esther Heim.    Buried:  Culpepper National Cemetery, Culpepper, Virginia.   Widow applied for pension, Jun 1866.  Found in Valley View Vets Book, p. 14.  Residence:  Barry Township.

[CW#H157.5] John Peter Hocker (1837-1906) ——– 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, Private (MI 12 Nov 1862 – MO 18 Aug 1863).   NARA M554-R55.   Married:  Mary Ann Ferree.    Found in Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, p. 865-866.  Tragedy:  Father killed by team of runaway horses.  Several persons of this name, records could be co-mingled.

[CW#H161.5] Theodore Hoff (1844-1921) ——– 104th Pennsyvlania Infantry, Company B, Company F Private (MI 12 Sep 1861 – MO 25 Aug 1865).  Navy (or marine service – possibly post-Civil War).  NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled: Attleboro, Pennsylvania.  MI: Doylestown.  Re-enlisted, 18 Feb 1864, Morris County, South Carolina.  Born: Northampton, Pennsylvania.   Occupation: Soldier.  One of tallest in military: 6’5″.  Lived in Veterans’ Home:  Danville, Illinois).  AKA:  Hof or Hough.

[CW#H162] John Henry Hoffa (1840-1907) ——–  58th Peennsylvania Infantry, Company A, Company D, Company K, Private (MI 16 Sep 1861 – MO 24 Jan 1865).  NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled:  Philadelphia, PA.  MI:  Philadelphia.  Promoted to Full Sergeant, 1 Mar 1862.  Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Company D, 1 Mar 1865.  Married:  Margaret Umholtz.   Occupation:  Farmer.  Born:  Sullivan Co., Pennsylvania.

[CW#H166] Cornelius Hofman (1831-1916) ——–   Not a Civil War veteran.   Found in Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, p. 737, 1132 (portrait).

[CW#H168] Daniel Cyrus Hoffman (1833-1878) ——– 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private, (MI 23 Sep 1861 – Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps).   Married: Rebecca Waas.   Possibly 2 different with same name confused here:  Daniel Hoffman as Musician in 96th Pennsylvania Infantry was 44 years old at enrollment.  Moved to Jefferson Co., Kentucky, after the war.  Named on Lykens G.A.R. Monument as member of Heilner Post.   Daniel C. Hoffman (1817-1902).

[CW#H170.5] George H. Hoffman (1840-1903) ——- 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Corporal (MI 9 Sep 1861 – MO Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability, 17 Nov 1862).   NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled: Schuylkill Haven.  MI: Harrisburg.  Married: Jemima ?   Buried: Trinity Union Church Cemetery, Leesport, Berks County.   Residence: Schuylkill Haven.  Occupation: House & Sign Painter.  Lived in Veterans’ Home.   AKA:  George W. Hoffman and George F. Hoffman.

[CW#H176.5] Isaac W. Hoffman (1849-1921) ——–  Unknown.   Married:   Mary A. ?  Buried:  St. Peter’s United Church of Christ Cemetery, Reinerton, Schuylkill County.  No G.A.R. marker at grave.  Probably not a Civil War veteran.

[CW#H181.5] Jerome Hoffman (1846-1888) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 3 Mar 1864 – MO 30 Jul 1865).   NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled: Reading.  MI: Reading.  Occupation: Boatman.  Residence: Schuylkill County.

[CW#H195.5] Philip Hoffman (1844-1876) ——– 9th Pennsyvlania Cavalry, Company B, Private (MI 16 Feb 1864 – MO 18 Jul 1865).  NARA M554-R55.  Born: Dauphin County.  Married:  Catharine M. Rickert.   Buried:  I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Lykens Borough.   Tragedy:  Killed in Mine Accident.  Occupation: Farmer.  Residence: Dauphin Co.  Possibly two with same name, records co-mingled.

[CW#H196.5] Samuel Hoffman (1839-1911) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private, Corporal, Sergeant (MI 9 Sep 1861 – MO 30 Jul 1865).  NARA M554-R55.  Enrolled: Schuylkill Haven.  MI: Harrisburg.  Re-enlisted at Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, 1 Jan 1864.  Promoted to Corporal to Sergeant, 1 Jul 1865.    Born: Schuylkill Haven.  Married: Caroline ?    Occupation: Boatman.  Residence: Schuylkill Haven.  Lived in Veterans’ Home – Hampton, Virginia (died there).

[CW#H197.5] William Hoffman (1842-xxxx) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 9 Sep 1861 – Trans to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown).  Enrolled: Schuylkill Haven.  MI: Harrisburg.  Re-enlisted, Blaine’s Crossroad’s, Tennessee, 1 Jan 1864.  Occupation: Boatman.  Residence: Schuylkill Haven.

[CW#H198.5] Lewis Hohl (1827-1904) ——– 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 9 Sep 1861 – MO Deserted).  118th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, Private (MI 1 Jun 1865 – MO 10 Jul 1865).  91st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private (Trans to 30 Jul 1863 – MO 1 Jun 1865)   NARA M554-R55.  NARA M554-R104.  MI: Harrisburg.  Deserted from Camp Curtin, 18 Sep 1861.  Record confused by desertion & alias.  Wounded at Petersburg, Virginia, 29 Mar 1865.  Transferred to 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, 1 Jun 1865.  Born: Germany (Immigrant).  Married:  Mary ?  Buried:  Alsace Lutheran Cemetery, Reading, Berks Co., PA. (cemetery record shows alias of John Roster as well as name of Lewis Hohl)   Occupation: Baker.  Residence: Schuylkill Haven.   Alias: John Roster.  Alias: John Porter.

[CW#H206] Harvey Henry Holdeman (1842-1864) ——– 110th Ohio Infantry, Company B, Private (MI 13 Aug 1862 – Died 13 Jun 1864).  Died in war, not known if KIA or disease.   Mother: Elizabeth Riegel.   Buried:  Alexandria National Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia.   AKA:  Halderman and Holderman.

[CW#H207] Isaac W. Holland (1845-1928) ——–  21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company G, Private (MI ? – MO ?).  99th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Corporal (MI 15 Jul 1863 – MO 20 Feb 1864).   NARA M54-R55.  Promoted to Corporal 1 Mar 1865.   Died in Huntsville, Alabama.   Married:  Harriet Workman.     Buried:  Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Wiconisco.    Lived in Veteran’s Home.

[CW#H208] John S. Hollenbach (18xx-1874) ——- 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private (MI 6 Jul 1863 – MO 12 Aug 1863).   NARA M554-R55.  Buried:  Zion Lutheran & Reformed Cemetery, Georgetown, Hickory Corners, Northumberland County.   Named in Klingerstown Bicentennial Book as a Civil War vet.

[CW#H209] Philip Holler (1833-xxxx) ——–  173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, Private (MI 16 Oct 1862 – MO 17 Aug 1863).  NARA M554-R55.  Residence in 1890:  Williams Township.    Married:  Mary A. ?

[CW#H227.5] William H. Hoover (1833-1865) ——– 2nd Pennsylvania Artillery, Company K, Private (MI 8 Feb 1864 – MO 30 Apr 1864).  7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company I, Private (MI 16 Dec 1861 – MO Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability, date unknown).  2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, Private (MI 20 Apr 1861 – MO 26 Jul 1861).          NARA M554-R56.  Enrolled: Harrisburg.  MI: Harrisburg.  Married:  Mary B. Yingst.  Son Charles Hoover at Orphans’ School.  Brother-in-Law of Frederick W. Yingst.  Occupation: Carpenter.  Residence: Harrisburg.

[CW#H234.5] John Houser (1843-1915) ——– 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, Private, Corporal (MI 31 Oct 1861 – MO 16 Jul 1865).  Post-war: 6th U.S. Cavalry, Company I, Private (MI 1865 – MO 1868).  NARA M554-R57.  Enrolled: Harrisburg.  MI: Muddy Branch, Maryland.  Promoted to Corporal, 1 May 1865.  Taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, Virginia, 2 May 1863 (POW), Libby then transferred at Belle Isle after 13 Days.  Wounded severely in face, Peace Tree Creek, GA, 20 Jul 1864.   Married: Mary Ann Zimmerman.     Buried:  Heckton Cemetery, Heckton, Dauphin County.  Residence: West Hanover Township.  Occupation: Laborer.  Res: Wiconisco Township (1870).  Tragedy: Was found dead as old man in Lemoyne.  Tragedy:  Father died of disease in war.  Found in Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, p. 853.

[CW#H234.7] William Houser (1822-1863) ——–  177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private (MI 2 Nov 1862 – Died 3 Aug 1863).   Died at Portsmouth, Virginia, 3 Aug 1863.  Reported as absent, sick at MO.   Married:  Catherine Mease.  Son: John Houser, also Civil War veteran.  Pension application for minor, 1 May 1866.   Found in Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, p. 853.

[CW#H235] Benjamin Houtz (1844-1924) ——– 39th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company H, Private (MI 29 Jun 1863 – MO 2 Aug 1863).   Residence in 1890: Tower City.  Married:  Jennie ?   Buried:  St. Paul’s Church Cemetery, Tower City, Schuylkill County.   Named in Tower City Centennial Book as Civil War vet.   AKA:  Benneville and Hautz.

[CW#H238] Isaac Houtz (1838-1864) ——-   50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, Company K, Private (MI 9 Sep 1861 – MO 12 Jun 1864 or 29 Sep 1864).  79th New York Infantry, Company F, Private (MI 15 Jan 1864 – MO 15 Apr 1864).   NARA M551-R67 (NY).  NATA M554-R57 (PA-Hautz).  Died from wounds received in action, 12 Jun 1864.  Possibly Killed in Action (KIA).  Detached to New York regiment as indicated.   Mother:  Elizabeth Houtz.   AKA:  Hautz.

[CW#H242.5] Baldwin Hufty (1836-1904) ——– General.

[CW#H246] Lewis F. Hughes (1834-1906) ——– 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company L, Captain, Private (MI 19 Aug 1862 – MO 24 Aug 1864).  ? 5th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, Private (MI 20 Apr 1861 – MO 25 Jul 1861).                NARA M554-R58.  Residence in 1890:  Williams Township.  Rank in Captain; rank out Private.  Married:  Mary ?    Buried:  Shamokin Cemetery, Shamokin, Northumberland County.

[CW#H247.03] Thomas Humble (18xx-xxxx) ——– 18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).  172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, ?  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans list, p. 53.

[CW#H247.05] Benjamin Hummel (18xx-xxxx) —— 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, ?  Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans list, p. 53.

[CW#H247.2] John C. Humphrey (18xx-xxxx) ——– 18th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company B, ? (MI ? – MO ?).  172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, ?   Found in Trevorton Civil War veterans list, p. 53.

[CW#H247.3] Andrew A. Humphreys (1810-1883) ——–  General.

[CW#H247.7] Henry Jackson Hunt (1819-1889) ——–  General.

[CW#H251] James Hunter (1833-1903) ——– 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private (MI 11 Apr 1865 – MO 25 Jun 1865).  NARA M554-R58.  Married:  Susan Hunter.   Buried:  Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin County.  Alias:  James Winter.

Category: Queries, Research | Comments Off on Additions to Veterans’ List – H
Tags: Barry Township, Georgetown, Halifax, Hegins, Klingerstown, Lykens Borough, Millersburg, Reinerton, Sacramento, Tower City, Valley View, Wiconisco, Wiconisco Township, Williams Township, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on May 27, 2013

Songs of the Civil War

Cover Them Over With Beautiful Flowers

Cover them over with beautiful flow’rs,

Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours,

Lying so silently night and day,

Sleeping the years of their manhood away,

Give them the meed they have won in the past,

Give them the honors their future forecast,

Give them the chaplets they won in the strife,

Give them the laurels they lost with their life.

Chorus—

Cover them over, yes, cover them over,

Parent and husband, brother and lover;

Crown in your hearts those dead heroes of ours,

Cover them over with beautiful flowers.

 

———- E. F. Stewart

Low In the Ground They’re Resting

Low in the ground they’re resting,

Proudly the flag waves o’er them;

Neer more ‘mid wars contesting

To save the land that bore them!

Chorus—

Sleep, brave ones, rest, in hallow’d graves!

Our flag now proudly o’er you waves!

Vict’ry and fame, vict’ry and fame,

Loudly forever shall your brave deeds proclaim,

Loudly forever shall your brave deeds proclaim.

 

———- Collin Coe

——————————

The photo at the top of the post is of Old Methodist Cemetery, Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Category: Memorials | Comments Off on Memorial Day 2013
Tags: Berrysburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on May 26, 2013

A book entitled, The Civil War:  A Collection of U.S. Commemorative Stamps, was published in 1995 in cooperation with the U. S. Postal Service, as a companion to the issuance of a sheetlet of 20 stamps recognizing sixteen individuals and four events of the Civil War.

The Civil War sheetlet was designed by Mark Hess.   There were 20 different designs (4 rows of 5 stamps).  The sheetlet was released on 29 June 1995 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. There were 1,950,134 First Day Cancels applied to the full sheetlet of 20 or to individual or combinations of stamps from the sheetlet.  There is no way to tell how many First Day Cancels were applied to individual stamps or combinations of stamps, or full sets of 20 stamps, since the post office didn’t keep those records.

The stamps on the sheetlet are as follows:

FIRST ROW (left to right):

Monitor and Virginia (Merrimack) – (9 March 1862)

Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870).

Union Nurse Clara Harlowe Barton (1821-1912).

Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885).

Shiloh (6-7 April 1862).

SECOND ROW (left to right):

President of the Confederacy Jefferson Finis Davis (1808-1889).

Union Vice Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870).

Journalist-Orator Frederick Douglass (1818-1895).

Confederate Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes (1809-1877).

16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865).

THIRD ROW (left to right):

Abolitionist Harriet Ross Tubman (about 1821-1913).

Confederate Brigadier General Stand Waite (De-ga-do-ga) – (1806-1871).

Confederate General Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).

Union Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-1886).

Confederate Diarist Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut (1823-1886).

FOURTH ROW (left to right):

Chancellorsville (1-4 May 1863).

Union Major General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891).

Confederate Nurse Phoebe Yates Levy Pember (1823-1913).

Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan Jackson (1824-1863).

Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863).

——————————

Information on issue dates and first day cancels is from the Scott Specialized Catalog of U.S. Stamps and Covers, 2005.  Basic information on stamp issues is from Abraham Lincoln on Postage Stamps, the catalog for a special exhibit prepared for a county historical society in Pennsylvania in 2000.

For other blog posts about United States Postage Stamps and the Civil War see:

Early Postage Stamps Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Postage Stamps Honoring Abraham Lincoln – Bureau of Engraving and Printing to 1909

Abraham Lincoln on Stamps – Regular Issues of the 1920s to the Early 1950s

Former Presidents Who Were Alive During the Civil War

Abraham Lincoln on Stamps – Regular Issues of the 1950s through the 1960s

Abraham Lincoln on Stamps – Commemorative Issues, 1909-1958

Abraham Lincoln on Stamps – The Sesquicentennial Issues of 1959

Commemorative Postage Stamps for the Civil War Centennial, 1861-1865 to 1961-1965

Abraham Lincoln on Stamps – From the Sesquicentennial to the Bicentennial of His Birth

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

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on May 25, 2013

The African American population as reported in the 1860 Census for selected areas of the Lykens Valley area is presented in today’s blog post.

In 1860, African Americans were enumerated in two “free” categories:  (1) Black; and (2) Mulatto.  These categories were combined in a category called “Total Free Colored.”

African Americans were not found as a significant percentage of the population in any of the communities in the Lykens Valley area.  Harrisburg (in Dauphin County), although outside the area of study of this Civil War Research Project, had a population of more than 13,000, with African American comprising  nearly 10% of that total.

The 1860 Census shows a concentration of African Americans in a stretch of communities along what is now Route 25 beginning with Gratz-Lykens Township, continuing east through Hubley Township, Hegins Township, through Tremont and ending at Pottsville.  This line of communities intersects the Tulpehocken Path that crosses the mountain from Berks County, continues through Pine Grove (where there is also a small concentration of African Americans), and crosses the Lykens Valley as is heads toward the Klingerstown Gap.  This gives some support to the theory that the Tulpehocken Path was one of the Central Pennsylvania routes of the Underground Railroad.  This route lacked the railroad “connections” that were found along the Susquehanna  River, but because there were no railroads on this route and because it was more rural and isolated, it may have been considered safer than the river route.

In looking at the Northern Central Railroad “river route” communities between Harrisburg and Sunbury, it is noticed that competitively fewer African American resided in those communities than in the more rural areas between Gratz and Tremont.  For example, Millersburg, a railroad junction, had only one African American resident in 1860.  See:  Lykens Valley Railroad at Millersburg.

Along the route of the Lykens Valley Railroad, very few African Americans resided.  Note that Washington Township (which included Elizabethville and Oak Dale, or Loyalton) had only two African American residents and Wiconisco Township and Lykens Borough had none.

The data tables below present the census information for selected areas of Dauphin County, Schuylkill County and Northumberland County:

Readers are urge to comment on the significance of these numbers.

Category: Research | Comments Off on African American Population of the Lykens Valley Area, 1860
Tags: African American, Elizabethville, Gratz Borough, Hegins Township, Hubley Township, Klingerstown, Loyalton, Lykens Borough, Lykens Township, Oak Dale, Pine Grove, Tremont, Washington Township, Wiconisco Township