Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 8, 2012

On 28 April 1865 at Harrisburg, Peter E. Bowen enrolled in the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private.  There, he was mustered into service on 4 March 1865.  According to information given at the time of enrollment, he was 20 years old (born about 1844), was 5′ 11″ tall, had light hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion.  By occupation, he was a laborer.  He was a resident of South Lebanon, Pennsylvania, but had been born in Snyder County,  During the course of his service he was promoted to Corporal and then, on 5 July 1865, he was promoted to Sergeant.

The last engagements of the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry had taken place in 1864 near Charleston, South Carolina, and by the time Peter E. Bowen joined the regiment, it had moved to West Virginia where it was guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  His term of enlistment coincided with the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee, and after some peace-keeping activities, the regiment concluded its service near Clarksburg, West Virginia, and on 29 August 1865, he was mustered out of the army at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

In March 1883, Peter E. Bowen applied for an invalid pension based on his service in the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D.  In 1890, he reported to the census his service in the same regiment, serving at the rank of sergeant, and giving no Civil War-related disabilities.  The pension application was successful and Peter E. Bowen collected benefits until his death in 1922, and afterward, his wife Margaret S. Bowen collected until her death in 1933.

Click on document to enlarge.

Peter E. Bowen belongs in the Veterans List of the Civil War Research Project because, for a time – at least in 1870 – he was a resident of Millersburg, as shown by the portion of the census sheet shown above, where he stated that he was employed as a carpenter.  In 1890 and later, he was a resident of Sunbury, Northumberland County.  He worked as a carpenter and as an employee for the railroad.

The portion of the Millersburg Soldier Monument which should contain the name of Peter E. Bowen is shown above.  However, his name does not appear on the plaque.

Peter E. Bowen was discovered for possible inclusion in the Civil War Research Project because his name appears in list of Civil War Veterans who are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Millersburg.  The alphabetical cemetery list also references his service in the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D as a Sergeant.  Peter E. Bowen was buried there in 1922, after the monument was constructed and probably was not known to the Kilpatrick Post because, at the time, he was living in Sunbury.  Therefore, he is one of many Civil War veterans who, because of their brief connection with Millersburg, should be recognized, but aren’t.  It is not known why Peter E. Bowen and his wife Margaret are buried in Oak Hill.

Additional information is sought on Peter E. Bowen, his life, and his Civil War service.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Peter E. Bowen – Laborer, Carpenter and Railroad Clerk
Tags: Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 7, 2012

Lloyd F. A. Watts, the great-great-grandfather of Harrisburg’s current Mayor Linda D. Thompson, was a Civil War soldier who served in the 24th United States Colored Troops, Company B as a Sergeant.  He was mustered into service at Camp William Penn near Philadelphia as a Corporal on 3 February 1865, promoted to Sergeant on 8 February 1865, and sent to Point Lookout, Maryland, where he and members of his regiment were responsible for guarding Confederate prisoners.  The rank of Sergeant was the highest permitted for African Americans who were only permitted to serve in the Union Army late in the war, and only then in “colored” regiments that were led by white officers.

Click on document to enlarge.

Lloyd F. A. Watts was born on 6 February 1835 in Carroll County, Maryland, the son of Valentine Watts and Violet Watts.  Watts appears in the 1863 Civil War Draft Registration records for Harmony Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, a community in western Pennsylvania on the Ohio River which was founded by abolitionists in 1833 as a haven for escaping slaves.  At age 27, he noted that he was “colored,” a laborer, was married, and had been born in Maryland.  All the other registrants on the draft sheet for Harmony Township were white.

From a web-based compilation of the roster of the 24th United States Colored Troops, Company B, found at pa-roots.com, a partial listing shows Lloyd Watts, his rank, and his dates of service.  In the same list of officers of Company B, there is a John P. Crabb, who was promoted to Corporal on the same day as Watts became Sergeant and served the same length of time as Watts.  This John P. Crabb was born and educated in Gratz, Dauphin County, and worked there as a blacksmith.  After the Civil War he moved to Harrisburg and recent research has shown that he, and other members of “colored” Civil War regiments were instrumental in the formation of the David R. Stevens Post No. 520 of the G.A.R.  This G.A.R. post was one the last formed in Pennsylvania and was exclusively for African Americans who were not permitted to join posts with white veterans.  In 1894, John P. Crabb was elected Commander of the post and in the years from the late 1880s through the late 1890s, his name appears in frequent news articles in the Harrisburg Patriot telling of fights for pension rights, reporting on the honoring of veterans at their passing, marching in patriotic parades, and attending state and national G.A.R. conclaves.  Research is on-going into the life of John P. Crabb and the David R. Stevens Post of the G.A.R. and the information found will be the subject of future posts.

After the Civil War, Lloyd F. A. Watts, returned to Gettysburg, Adams County, where his family had moved before the war.  He became a school teacher and taught at the town’s “colored” school and was also active in St. Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal Church.

A Google search for Lloyd Watts produced many results including pages at Gettysburg College, Findagrave, and he is prominently featured in Margaret S. Creighton‘s, The Colors of Courage: Gettysburg’s Forgotten History.  A portrait of Watts, painted by his grandson and based on a photograph of Watts, is found at the Gettysburg Center.  Also found on-line is the transcription of a letter that Watts sent to his wife while he was stationed at Point Lookout during the Civil War.  According to family trees found on Ancestry.com, Watts married Philena Cameron, the daughter of a Gettysburg blacksmith in 1861.  However, no references have been found that associate him with the G.A.R.

Lloyd F. A. Watts is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Gettysburg.  One other member of the 24th United States Colored Troops is buried there:  Emanuel Craig, who served as a Private in Company A.  It is believed that John P. Crabb is buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Harrisburg, but his grave marker has not yet been located and photographed.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: African American, Gratz Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 6, 2012

The Stephen Spierberg film, Lincoln, is based somewhat on the Pulitizer Prize winning book by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,  However, the film focuses on only a small part of the book, mainly a few pages describing the last months of the Lincoln presidency, when Abraham Lincoln was actively seeking to get the 13th Amendment passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The amendment had previously passed in the Senate by a two-thirds vote, and all that mattered was that the House would pass it by the same majority.  But, a prior vote in the House, conducted almost completely along party lines, had failed to get the super-majority.

A second vote was taken in January 1865, and Lincoln, by whatever was within his power, sought to move the amendment through the House.  In all, it would take five Democrats to vote for the amendment, or it would not pass.

Two Pennsylvania Democrats courageously broke with their fellow party members and joined the Republicans in voting for the 13th Amendment.   Those two Democrats, Alexander H. Coffroth and Archibald McAllister are described by Goodwin as the debate in the House began:

[James M. Ashley (Republican-Ohio)] decided to yield his time to the small band of Democrats who would support the amendment but needed to justify their shift to constituents.  He called first on Archibald McAllister.  The Pennsylvania congressman explained that he had changed his mind when he saw that the only way to achieve peace was to destroy “the corner-stone of the Southern Confederacy.” His remarks brought forth applause from the galleries, as did those of his colleague Alexander Coffroth.  “If by my action to-day I dig my political grave,” the congressman from Somerset County proclaimed, “I will descend into it without a murmur.” (page 689).

When the vote was taken, the Speaker announced “the ayes have 119, the noes 56…. The Joint resolution has passed.”

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Archibald McAllister (1813-1883)

Archibald McAllister was born 12 October 1813 at Fort Hunter, Pennsylvania, near the present-day location of Harrisburg, Dauphin County.  McAllister was elected to the 38th Congress as a Democrat in 1862 in a re-organized 17th Congressional  District.  Prior to election, he was an iron manufacturer.  He only served one term in Congress and chose not to run for re-election in 1864.  Therefore, he was a “lame duck” in the Congress in early 1865, and lost nothing politically by voting for the amendment.  When he left Congress, he returned to iron manufacturing.  Archibald McAllister died on 18 July 1883, and is buried in Mountain Cemetery, Royer, Blair County, Pennsylvania.

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Alexander H. Coffroth (1828-1906)

Alexander H. Coffroth was born 18 May 1828 in Somerset, Pennsylvania.  He was a Democratic newspaper publisher and member of the legal profession. He was first elected to Congress in 1862 and served until 1866 as the representative from Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District.  His service ended in 1866, when a Republican, William H. Koontz, successfully contested the election.  Coffroth returned to Congress in 1879 and served for one term.  At that time he was Chair of the Committee on Invalid Pensions.  He chose not to run again and returned to the practice of law in Somerset County.  Alexander H. Coffroth died on 2 September 1906 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

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The first state to ratify the 13th Amendment was Illinois, the home state of Abraham Lincoln.  The vote took place on 1 February 1865.  On 2 February 1865, the second state, Rhode Island, ratified it.  On 3 February 1865, a group of five states, including Pennsylvania, voted in the affirmative.  But it was not until 6 December 1865 that enough states had ratified it for it to officially become part of the Constitution – too late for Abraham Lincoln to see his greatest legislative achievement become the law of the land.  Ironically, it was Georgia’s ratification of the amendment that completed the process.  Three northern states, New Jersey, Kentucky (Lincoln’s birth state) and Delaware had rejected it while Lincoln was still alive – and two former Confederate states, North Carolina and South Carolina (along with Georgia) made up the difference by voting yes for ratification.  For a list of how the states voted for ratification and a map, see Wikipedia.

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Portraits of McAllister and Coffroth are from public family trees on Ancestry.com and are in the public domain.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 5 Comments »
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, African American

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 5, 2012

A listing of the Novmber 2012 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

Elizabethville Civil War Veterans List

Dr. Wilson E. Naylor – Elizabethville Dentist

October 2012 Posts

Election of 1862

Spielberg Lincoln movie opening Nov 9

The Ditty Brothers of Millersburg & Elizabethville

Jeannie Gourlay – Cast Member at Ford’s When Lincoln Was Assassinated

Jeannie Gourlay and Norman Harsell – The Film That Never Was

The Machamer Boys of Wiconisco

Col. Edward C. Williams – Veteran of Two Wars

Shamokin and Coal Township All Wars Memorial

John S. DeSilva – Machinist and Mine Supervisor

The Rambergers of Rough and Ready

John G. Killinger – Agricultural Implement Agent & Justice of the Peace

Rev. Daniel Kendig – Army Chaplain at Presidio During Civil War

Amos Kuntzelman – Sewing Machine Agent

William Bender – Farmer, Carpenter and Wheelwright of Millersburg

Autumn Family Dinner, 1860s

Rev. John R. Kooken – Killed at Battle of Fredericksburg

Dr. Charles A. Rahter – Prussian Immigrant in Civil War and Franco-Prussian War

The Last Year Without an Official Thanksgiving Day

Civil War Burials in St. Peter’s U.C.C. Cemetery, Reinerton (Part 1 of 3)

Civil War Burials in St. Peter’s U.C.C. Cemetery, Reinerton (Part 2 of 3)

Civil War Burials in St. Peter’s U.C.C. Cemetery, Reinerton (Part 3 of 3)

Jonathan R. McHargue – Served on Both Sides

Marching Through Georgia

William H. Lebo – Carpenter and Farmer

Dr. Isaac LeFever – Assistant Surgeon of the 76th Pennsylvania Infantry

John A. Sipe – Tailor of Herndon

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on November 2012 Posts
Tags: Table of Contents

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 4, 2012

In a section describing John A. Sipe, found in the Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County Pennsylvania  (1911), no less than ten Civil War veterans are mentioned in his extended family.  John A. Sipe was a merchant tailor who had a post-Civil War business that centered in Herndon, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, but operated in the rail and river corridor from Millersburg to Sunbury.

In Friday’s post the full biographical entry was presented along with follow-up information about the military service of John A. Sipe. his father, Jacob Sipe, and his uncle, Jeremiah Sipe.  In Saturday’s post, Jacob Henry Sipe, the brother of John A. Sipe, and William Ickes., the half-brother of John A. Sipe, were presented.   In Sunday’s post, the three Vanaman brothers’ service in the Civil War was noted; David Vanaman, George Vanaman and Thomas Vanaman were brothers of John A. Sipe‘s wife, Eva [Vanaman] Sipe.  Finally, in the post today, the two other brothers-in-law of John A. Sipe, Monroe Chronster and Hiram M. Jacobs will be presented.

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MONROE CHRONSTER/EMANUEL CHRONISTER (1842-1900)

Monroe Chronster, who married John A. Sipe‘s sister, Jennie Sipe, is possibly the same person as Emanuel Chronster or Emanuel Chronister as the name is most often found in the records.  While the Annals of Northumberland County states that he served in the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry, no person of the name Chronister has yet been located in the records of that regiment.  An Emanuel Chronister has been located in the records of the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I as shown (above) by the Military Index Card found at Fold3. This Emanuel Chronister is apparently the same person, who in 1890 (below), reported his service in the 56th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, with service dates of 20 March 1865 through 1 July 1865.

Click on document to enlarge.

The 1890 Census post office location for Emanuel Chronister was Hampton, Adams County, Pennsylvania – which is the location given for the Monroe Chronster named in the Annals of Northumberland County.  No Monroe Chronster was found in that location in 1890.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card (above), which references records at the Pennsylvania Archives and in Bates (Volume 2, page 240), states that Emanuel Chronister was drafted into the 56th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private on 20 March 1865 at Chambersburg, was promoted to Corporal on 21 May 1865, and was mustered out on 1 July 1866 [sic].  At the time of his muster in, he was 23 years old, with no other descriptive information given.  The Pension Index Card available from Fold3 (above) states that his initial invalid pension application was made on 17 July 1890 and that a widow’s application was made (no date given).  A death date for Emanuel Chronister is given as 15 October 1900.

The Pension Index Card available from Ancestry.com (above) names the widow as “Jennie Chronister.”

The grave marker for Emanuel Chronister who died in 1900 was found through Findagrave in the Hampton Union Cemetery, Hampton, Adams County, Pennsylvania.  At the same site, his wife, Jennie [Sipe] Chronister (1848-1944) is buried.

The York County Heritage Trust notes the following personal information about Emanuel Chronister:

Son of Levi Chronister & Rachel Chronister.

Siblings: David Chronister, Aaron Chronister, Moses Chronister, Jonas Chronister, Sarah Ann Chronister, Brough Chronister, and Rachel Chronister.

Occupation:  Carpenter

Married Jennie L. Sipe.

Children: Nettie Chronister (born about 1869); Robert J. Chronister (born about 1870); and Mabel Chronister (born about 1875).

Residence: 1890, lived in Reading Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

David H. Chronister (1844-1829), who is mentioned in the above database as the brother of Emanuel Chronister, served in the 138th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Corporal and was shot in the stomach and mortally wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia, on 6 May 1864.  He died on 14 May 1864.  He had enrolled at Adams County and was mustered in at Harrisburg on 17 September 1862, giving his occupation as carpenter and his residence as Middletown, Adams County, Pennsylvania.  He is buried at the National Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

This analysis has uncovered several errors.  The errors in the Annals of Northumberland County include an incorrect first name of Monroe for Emanuel Chronister and an incorrect regiment of the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  And, there is an error on the Military Index Card (National Archives); these cards are compiled in the database, U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, found on Ancestry.com.  The Military Index Cards state service was in the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry, but all other sources indicate service was in the 56th Pennsylvania Infantry.

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HIRAM M. JACOBS (1844-1929)

A sister of John A. Sipe, Adaline Sipe, was married to Hiram M. Jacobs.  According to the Annals of Northumberland County, Hiram Jacobs served in the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry.  This is incorrect.  Hiram M. Jacobs served in the 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, as a Private, as clearly shown by both the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card (above) and the Pension Index Card (above).

According to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card, Hiram M. Jacobs was mustered into service on 7 February 1865 at Chamberburg, Pennsylvania, at age 20.  No other personal descriptive information is given on the card.  He was discharged on the 28 July 1865.  But, according to information given on the Pension Index Card found at Fold3 (not shown), his service dates were 27 February 1865 through 1 July 1865.

The York County Heritage Trust notes the following personal information about Hiram M. Jacobs:

Son of Michael Jacobs and Elizabeth [Asper] Jacobs.

Siblings:  Juliann Jacobs; Abraham Jacobs; John Jacobs; William J. Jacobs (born 8 September 1856), and James Jacobs (born about 1862).

Married Adeline E. Sipe, 27 March 1890.

Residence: Latimore Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Hiram M. Jacobs died on 4 July 1929 in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

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The York County Heritage Trust Civil War Database was constructed by researcher Dennis W. Brandt from information found in the veterans’ pension application files found at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  The database contains information on Civil War veterans who had a connection to Adams County and York County, Pennsylvania.  Pension Index Cards are either from Ancestry.com or Fold3.  Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Cards reference Bates as well muster rolls available at the Pennsylvania Archives.  U.S. Census records are available from Ancestry.com.

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Tags: Herndon, Millersburg