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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

The Passing of Ned Weaver – Civil War Specialist at Gratz Historical Society

Posted By on October 7, 2012

Ned Weaver (1924-2012)

A few days ago we were notified by Jim Weaver, the son of Ned Weaver, that his father passed away in California while visiting his family there and celebrating his 88th birthday.  Funeral services were held this past Friday in Elizabethville.

Ned’s work for the Gratz Historical Society will live on through his writings about the men from the Lykens Valley area who served in the Civil War and through several presentations he gave at monthly meetings, all of which have been preserved in video.

Ned also made several contributions to this blog, one of which was a tribute to his wife Leah [Radel] Weaver, who passed away in 2008.   That post was entitled Southern Mansions – The Orton Plantation.

Other posts where Ned was mentioned include:

Civil War Milestones – 35th Anniversary of Gratz Historical Society.  Ned was involved in #3, #4 and #6.  Note: The story of the Civil War drum has yet to be told here, but it was Ned who did the extensive research to document its provenance.

Best of 2011 – A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania.

Posts on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week will feature a news article about a program Ned Weaver presented several years ago and a story about his great-grandfather Hiram Schramm who served in the Civil War.

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The photo of Ned was provided by his son, Jim Weaver.

Muir All Wars Memorial

Posted By on October 6, 2012

The Muir All Wars Memorial is located in Muir, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, at the intersection of Keystone Street and East Wiconisco Street.

The memorial stone reads:  “In honor and memory of all Muir veterans who proudly served their country.”  The in-ground metal flag holders recognize each war in which Muir residents fought.

The “1861-1865 Star” recognizes veterans of the Civil War.

To locate the Muir All Wars Memorial, turn south at the United Methodist Church sign on Route 209 in Muir, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The Grace United Methodist Church is located on the northeast corner of Keystone Street and East Wiconisco Street.  Part of the Muir All Wars Memorial can be seen in the lower left corner of the above picture.

On the west side of the Muir All Wars Memorial, the Grace E. C. Church building is located.

From the Muir All Wars Memorial at the intersection of Keystone Street and East Wiconisco Street, continue driving south for two two short blocks on Keystone Street to East Church Street.  The Grace United Evangelical Cemetery is located on the southwest corner of East Church Street and Keystone Street.  The post on Friday, 19 October 2012 will present some of the Civil War burials in that cemetery.

September 2012 Posts

Posted By on October 5, 2012

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

Historical Society Activities for Civil War Sesquicentennial

Mathias Wilson McAlarney – Provost Marshal, Journalist & Postmaster

Laborers in 1860 in Pennsylvania

John H. Hoffman – Williamstown Merchant and Manufacturer

August 2012 Posts

Daniel Y. Lenker – Tailor and Distiller

Gratz Fair Week – 16 to 22 September 2012

History of the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry

The Journey of the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry to Andersonville Prison

Ravine All Wars Memorial

The 2nd Company G of the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry

Newspaper Writing Style 1862

Civil War Veteran Burials in Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City – Part 1 of 5

Civil War Veteran Burials in Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City – Part 2 of 5

Civil War Veteran Burials in Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City – Part 3 of 5

Gratz During the Civil War – I.O.O.F. Building

Gratz During the Civil War – Phillips House

Gratz During the Civil War – Ossman House

Gratz During the Civil War – Harner House

Gratz During the Civil War – Ritzman House

Gratz During the Civil War – Keiter-Snyder Property

Gratz During the Civil War – Crabb House

Free Tennessee Civil War Publications

Visit any National Park Free Saturday

Civil War Veteran Burials in Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City – Part 4 of 5

Civil War Veteran Burials in Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City – Part 5 of 5

Who is Lewis Boyer and Where is He Buried?

Richard Cutchall and Webster Wynn

Jacob Kissinger – Home Guards and 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry

James Nagle of Pottsville

 

 

Abraham Lincoln Statue in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

Posted By on October 4, 2012

 

 

On 22 September 1871 a statue was dedicated in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, “To Abraham Lincoln – From a Grateful People.”  The statue had been commissioned with $22,000 that had been raised by the public.  The bronze figure of a seated Lincoln was created by Randolph Rogers and placed on a traffic island near the entrance to the park.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the event in grand fashion, including all the speeches and names of the dignitaries in a full page story in its Saturday, 23 September 1871 edition:

OUR MARTYR PRESIDENT

PHILADELPHIA’S TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY

Unveiling of the Statue at the Park

IMMENSE OUTPOURING OF THE PEOPLE

Grand Success of the Undertaking

ORATION BY COL. WILLIAM McMICHAEL

Fine Display by the Military

BANQUET AT BELMONT MANSION

Who was There and What was Said

A DAY LONG TO BE REMEMBERED

The people of Philadelphia yesterday were awakened from the chronic condition of staidness, which is said to mark their existence, to a state of mind and action almost exceptional in their history.  The city has never been noted for her testimonials to the memory of the dead.  The old worthies who have made her history illustrious are not, as elsewhere, remembered to the resembling marble and fame upon a score of shafts.  The people of the present day, that is, the mass of people, know scarcely anything of the lives of the fathers of the Republic save what they have meagerly gleaned in their younger days by the chance study of some school history.  But now the energy of a number of our leading citizens has made it certain that this shall no longer be.  At least the deeds of the most illustrious character in recent history shall not be forgotten, and so there has been erected a splendid statue at the entrance of Philadelphia’s grandest pleasure ground, where all can see it and not soon forget.

As stated, the original location of the statue was on a traffic island in the middle of the east drive along the Schuylkill River – the present Kelly Drive.  The photograph below, from the Library of Congress, shows the original setting.

By 2001, heavy traffic and reconstruction of Kelly Drive were the reason that a decision was made to move the statue east of the road where it stands today (as shown in the picture at the top of this post).

Its present location is at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Sedgely Drive, Philadelphia.

In addition to the inscription, “To Abraham Lincoln – From a Grateful People,” which is found at the front base under the seated Lincoln, there are three other inscription plaques.  On the left side of the the base is the following:  “I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within the states in rebellion are and hence-force shall be free.”

On the back of the base:  “Let us here highly resolve that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

And on the right side of the base:  “With malice toward none, with charity toward all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.  Let us finish the work we are in.”

 

 

 

Riegel Family Veterans of Pennsylvania Civil War Regiments (Part 3 of 7)

Posted By on October 3, 2012

Part 3 of 7.  In a prior post, one branch of the Riegel family’s origins in America was presented – that of Mattheis Riegell (born about 1615) of Bad Muenster, Palatinate, Germany, who married Maria Werner.  They had a son, Jost Riegell (1615-1687) who married Maria Honen (or Hoenen).  Their son, Cornelius Riegel (1674-175) was the immigrant who arrived in Philadelphia in 1733, with his wife Anna Gertrude Ehrmann, and their family.  Two of the sons of Cornelius and Anna Gertrude had preceded the family by arriving in Philadelphia in 1732.

From Philadelphia, the members of this family migrated first to Berks County and later westward, with many of the descendants ending up in the Lykens Valley while others went to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa.

During the Civil War, more than 100 different men with the Riegel surname (or some variation of the name) served in Pennsylvania regiments.  Some of these men will be presented in this and future posts.  For many, the connection has already been made to the line of Matheis Riegel.  For others, very little is known.  It is hoped that readers will help complete the stories and genealogies of each of the men named Riegel.

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Hamilton Riggle (c. 1843-?).  21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company H, Private.  Mustered into service at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 23 February 1865.  Mustered out on 8 July 1865.

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Harrison Riegle

Harrison Riegle (1840-1899).  Also found as Reigel and Reigle.  103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private and Musician.  He was mustered into service on 25 June 1865 and mustered out on 14 March 1865.  He is found in Dr. Samuel Riegel‘s history on page 2-119 and because he was from Gratz and Lykens Township, he is used as the relationship connection to other persons with the same surname.  He was also previously featured in several blog posts – click here.  Harrison married Hannah Rickert of Lykens Township and he is buried in Gratz Union Cemetery.

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Harry Riegle (dates unknown) was found in the Gratz Sesquicentennial Book where he was named as a Civil War veteran.  If this is the same person as Harrison Riegle (1840-1899), then he is named twice in that list.  It is also possible that this is Henry Riegle, but no specific Civil War service has been identified for him.

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Henry Reigel (?-c. 1898).  He is also found as Rigel.  208th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Private.  Served from 31 August 1864 through 1 June 1865.  His wife’s name was Rosanna.

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Henry A. Reigle (1832-1906 or 1908).  Also found in other spelling combinations as well as Henry J. Riegel201st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, Private, and then promoted to Corporal on 20 May 1865.  He was married to a woman named Martha.

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Henry A. Reigle (c. 1841-probably 1864).  He can also be found as Riggle.  40th Pennsylvania Infantry (11th Reserves), Company K, Private.  Henry enrolled at Brookville, Pennsylvania, and was mustered into service at Washington, D.C., 29 July 1861.  The military records show that he was missing in action (MIA) since 5 May 1864 at the Wilderness and probably died there without his remains being identified.

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Henry F. Rigle (c. 1839-?) .  Also named as Riggle.  200th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Corporal.  He enrolled and was mustered into service at Harrisburg on 4 September 1864 but he was not accounted for at muster out.

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Henry F. Reigle (c. 1845-1868).  Spelling of the surname could also be “Reigel.”  184th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, Corporal.  Henry enrolled at Harrisburg and was mustered into service on 12 May 1864.  During his term of service, he was captured at Petersburg, Virginia, and held as a prisoner (POW) from 22 June 1864 through 20 February 11865.  He was discharged on 14 July 1865.  he is buried at the Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Freeburg, Snyder County, Pennsylvania.

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Henry Rigel

Henry G. Rigel (c. 1836-1910).  Records have also been found with his name as Riegel and Riegle.  7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company I, Private.  He enrolled at Reading, Berks County, but was mustered into service at Philadelphia, 13 February 1864.  At the time of his enrollment, he was 5’3″ tall, had dark complexion, gray eyes, and dark hair.  He indicated that he had been born in Berks County and was employed as a laborer.  During his Civil War service, he was reported as “deserted and returned.”  His discharge date was 23 August 1865.  Henry married Sarah Werts and is buried at Alsace Lutheran Cemetery, Beading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  The grave photo is from Ancestry.com.

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Henry W. Riggle (c. 1838-?).  169th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, Private.  Henry enrolled at Maysville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was mustered in at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, 16 October 1862.  He served until his discharge on 26 July 1863.  Prior to the service in the 169th Pennsylvania Infantry, he served in the Gilles Independent Company for ten days from 15 September 1862 through 25 September 1862.

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Ira W. Reagle (c. 1836-?) can also be found at Keagle and Kagle.  He began his service in the 34th Pennsylvania Infantry (5th reserves) on 21 Jun 1861 and on 6 June 1864, he transferred to the 191st Pennsylvania Infantry.  His wife’s name was Theodoria.

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Isaac Riegle (c. 1846-1864).  His name can be found as Riggel and Reigle as well as other spellings.  49th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, Private.  Isaac was born in Union County, Pennsylvania.  His father was Jacob B. Riegle.  At the time of his enrollment, his height was 5’8″, his hair was brown, his eyes were gray, and his complexion was fair.  he was mustered into service at Harrisburg, 26 February 1864, and on 10 May 1864, he was killed in action (KIA) at Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia.

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Jacob Riegle (c. 1838-?).  42nd Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company A, Sergeant.  He was mustered into service at Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, 3 July 1863 and discharged on 11 August 1863 at the conclusion of the emergency.

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Jacob A. Riegle (dates unknown).  48th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company I, Private.  Mustered into service on 2 July 1863 and discharged on 26 August 1863.  Although this is possibly the same person as Jacob Allen Riegel (1847-1919) – see below – no evidence has been found to confirm this.

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Jacob Riegel (c. 1838-c. 1890).  Found also as Reigle and Reigal.  194th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, Sergeant.  Mustered into service on 18 July 1864 and on 9 September 1864, transferred to the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company F, as a Private.  From 10 September 1864 at Baltimore, Maryland, through 23 June 1865, he served in this latter regiment.  At the time of his enrollment, he was working as a brush maker, and lived in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  However, he was born in Berks County.  His widow, Sarah F. Field, applied for a pension from Maryland.

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Jacob Allen Riegel

Jacob Allen Reigel (1847-1919).  Possibly also went by Jeremiah.  At the time of his enlistment in the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Private, he was a student living in Berks County where he had been born.  He was mustered into service at Reading, Berks County, 28 February 1864, and served until his discharge on 16 July 1865.  Jacob married Annie F. Fulmer and is buried at Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Jacob was the 5th cousin once removed of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  The cemetery stone photo is from Ancestry.com.

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Jacob Riegel (1810-1883) is mentioned in Dr. Samuel Riegel‘s history, page 2-100, as having served as a captain in the militia, but it cannot be determined at this time if that service was before and/or during the Civil War.  His wife was Matilda Hummel.

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Jacob Riggle (c. 1829-1892).  14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company K and Company B, Private.  Mustered into service in Company K on 9 March 1864, transferred to Company B on 31 July 1865, and mustered out on 24 August 1865.  He married Nancy Marshall.

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Jacob Riegel (c. 1839-?).  Also found as Riegle.   6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, Private.  A brush maker by trade, Jacob was a resident of Pottsville when he was mustered into service at Harrisburg on 22 April 1861.  He served until discharge on 27 July 1861.

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Jacob R. Riegel (c. 1840-?).  Alternate spelling is Riegle.  1st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, Private.  He enrolled at Harrisburg and was mustered into service there on 20 April 1861.  He completed his service on 24 July 1861 and was mustered out.

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Jacob L. Riegle

Jacob L. Riegle (c. 1837-1912).  35th Pennsylvania Infantry (6th Reserves), Company D, Private.  Jacob was a resident of East Waterford, Pennsylvania.  He mustered in at Harrisburg on 27 July 1861 and served until his discharge on 28 February 1863 on a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability on account of wounds received in action.  His widow, Alice, applied for a pension from Maryland.  He is buried at Loudon Park National Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.  The cemetery photo is from Ancestry.com.

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Jacob Riegle (c. 1838-?).  27th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Private and later Sergeant.  Called into state service in Schuylkill County on 20 June 1863, mustered in at Harrisburg, and served until discharge on 31 July 1863.

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Continued next Thursday, 11 October 2012.

For a list of all posts in this series, click here.

To add information to this post, complete the “comments” section below or send an e-mail to the blog (click here).  Of special interest are pictures, military and pension records, stories and genealogies of the veterans and their families.