Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 2, 2012

Adaline “Ada’ Hoffman (1845-1915) was born in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and was only one generation removed from the Lykens Valley.  Her father, Jacob David Hoffman (1812-1887) had been born in Lykens Township, and was the great-grandson of Johann Peter Hoffman (1709-1797), pioneer settler of the Lykens Valley.  Ada’s mother was a Romberger, also from a pioneer family.  Ada had two brothers of Civil War service age but no record of military service has been found for them.  Likewise, none of her sisters appear to have married Civil War soldiers, although research is ongoing to determine more information about their husbands.

In 1867, Ada married Mathias Wilson McAlarney, a prominent publisher who had served as Provost Marshal of his district during the Civil War.  The 18th Pennsylvania District where McAlarney served, was re-districted from the 15th Pennsylvania District for the Congress that met in 1863 and its Congressman, James Tracy Hale, was from Bellefonte, Centre County. An 1863 Congressional map of Pennsylvania would probably confirm that Union County was also in this newly re-districted area.

A biographical sketch of Mathias Wilson McAlarney appeared in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania:

Mathias Wilson McAlarney, son of John McAlarney (1802-1876) and Catharine [Wilson] McAlarney (1812-1892), was born 7 June 1840, in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania.  He was educated at Bucknell University. He learned the art of printing in the Chronicle office at Lewisburg, and for a period of six years published the Potter Journal, a weekly newspaper at Coudersport.

During the Civil War he was Provost Marshal of the 18th Pennsylvania district.

He studied law with Hon. Isaac Benson, of Potter County, and was admitted to the bar 27 February 1867. In May of the same year he removed to Harrisburg and entered upon the practice of the law. From 1874 until the close of 1882 he was more or less actively engaged in editorial work on the Harrisburg Telegraph, and in the fall of 1883 he purchased a majority of the stock of the Harrisburg Publishing Company, publishers of the Daily Telegraph and Semi-Weekly Telegraph, and has continued from that date as editor of the Telegraph and manager of the publishing company.

In 1868 he was appointed clerk to the commission to settle the damages done by the border raids during the Rebellion, and in 1871, by appointment of Governor Geary, he was the attorney for the Commonwealth in connection with the same work in the county of Cumberland.

In the fall of 1874 he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for district attorney, with every prospect of success, when on 23 September 1874 he was appointed postmaster at Harrisburg, and continued in office under subsequent re-appointments until April 1887.  He purchased for the government the land upon which the United States post office was erected.  He was appointed disbursing agent during the construction of the building, and upon its completion in 1882 was appointed custodian of the building. He married, in 1867, Ada Hoffman, daughter of Jacob D. Hoffman, and they have two children, Martha Worden McAlarney and John Hart McAlarney. Three children died in infancy.

More information is sought on Mathias Wilson McAlarney.  His obituary appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 6 December 1900, but tells little more than the biography that appears in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia.  For a copy of the obituary, click here.  For a different portrait of McAlarney, click here.

There is a particular interest in finding a portrait of Adaline [Hoffman] McAlarney because of her family roots in Lykens Township.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Mathias Wilson McAlarney – Provost Marshal, Journalist & Postmaster
Tags: Hoffman family, Lykens Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 31, 2012

The largest, single monument honoring a Civil War-era personage in Pennsylvania, is not a stone temple on the Gettysburg battlefield but is a bridge between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Named the “Walt Whitman Bridge” when it opened in 1957, it is today one of the largest suspension bridges on the east coast of the United States and one of five bridges operated and maintained by the Delaware River Port Authority.  Arguably, it can be said that it is the most expensive memorial in the country dedicated to any individual participant in the war, North or South.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is considered by many to be the first modern American poet.  In addition to writing poetry, he is known as a journalist, an essayist, a novelist, and teacher – as well as his Civil War roles as a government clerk and volunteer nurse.

It cannot be said of Whitman that he was the literary voice of the Civil War – a tribute that most critics believe rightly belongs to  Abraham Lincoln – but as a voice from the Civil War, he may may stand alone in explaining through literature the transition from the ante-bellum era to the modern era.

No soldiers marched into battle singing tunes set to his words.  Nevertheless, his words do convey a vivid picture of what going into battle must have meant to those who willingly and unwilling did so.  There are words describing every major event of the war – specifically and generally – from the outset to the assassination of Lincoln.

To best understand Walt Whitman it is necessary to read him in the “raw,” unfettered by what critics have said about him – to look at his words as he wrote them, and try to understand them in that context.

A short anthology, The Civil War Poems: Walt Whitman, permits the reader to do just that.  There is no text other than the poems themselves.  Interpretation is left to the reader, with the exception of some brief notes on the dust jacket explaining the volume’s arrangement.  Published in 1994 by Barnes and Noble, this small book of 103 pages is divided into three sections: (1) Memories of President Lincoln;  (2) Drum-Taps; and (3) Song of the Open Road.

The four poems on Lincoln include the most familiar, “O Captain! My Captain!” to the less familiar “This Dust Was Once the Man.”

Part of one poem from the second section is worth repeating.  The lines from “Beat! Beat! Drums!” portray the call to arms as it must have impacted the men and women of the Lykens Valley area:

Beat! beat! drums! – blow! bugles! blow!

Through the windows – through doors – burst like a ruthless force.

Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,

Into the school where the scholar is studying;

Leave not the bridegroom quiet – no happiness must he have now with his bride,

Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain,

So fierce you whirr and pound you drums – so shrill you bugles blow.

The controversies surrounding Whitman are many – from his position on slavery to his sexual orientation – and critics consider these positions when evaluating his works and his influence on American literature.

Walt Whitman remains a difficult figure to understand but any study of the Civil War cannot ignore him.  The bridge that connects Pennsylvania and New Jersey, named in his honor, serves as  a constant reminder of that.

In 1940, Whitman was recognized as one of the five greatest American poets with a stamp in the Famous Americans series:

For a brief biography of Walt Whitman, found on Wikipedia, click here.

For the Delaware River Port Authority‘s web site feature on the 50th Anniversary of the Walt Whitman Bridge, click here.

Category: Memorials, Reflections | Comments Off on Understanding Walt Whitman
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Assassination, Monument

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 30, 2012

John W. Simonton, the presiding judge at the trial of Keiper and Rowe, the two Halifax National Bank robbers and murderers of bank cashier and Civil War veteran Charles W. Ryan, was himself a Civil War veteran, having served as a Private in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry (Militia of 1862), Company K.  The biography and portrait of Judge Simonton appeared in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Hon. John Wiggins Simonton, was born in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, in 1830 (the exact register of his birth is missing from the record), son of Hon. William Simonton, son of William Simonton and Elizabeth W. [Snodgrass] Simonton, daughter of Rev. James Snodgrass.  His preparatory education was received at the country school near Hanover Church, continued at the Strasburg Academy, Lancaster County, and then at Lafayette College, Easton, graduating at the College of New Jersey [Princeton] in 1850.  His choice of profession was the law, and he was entered as a student with Hon. Hamilton Alricks, at Harrisburg, admitted to practice at the April term, 1853.  With a very brief interval his residence has been at Harrisburg.

When the war broke out he was one of the first to respond and served as a Private in Company K, 1st Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, until discharged after the Battle of Antietam.

He married, 8 July 1856, Sarah H. Kunkel, daughter of George Kunkel, merchant, and Catharine [Ziegler] Kunkel.  It may be safely said of Judge Simonton that he never sought an office, his ambition was to be a thorough lawyer, and as such win success, and before office sought him he was considered a safe counselor as well as a capable one.  He was chosen District Attorney in 1866.  As soon as another opportunity presented itself to honor him with a higher station, his fellow citizens chose him without serious opposition, in 1881, President Judge of the Twelfth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, to succeed Judge Pearson, and again re-elected him in 1891 for the term of ten years.  Every opinion handed down since he has held this important position has shown an intimate knowledge of the laws of his native State, of his literary ability, acute perception of such facts as are necessary in considering cases, and in nearly every instance have been sustained by the higher court.

Judge Simonton’s Civil War service was not in the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry, the regiment that went into service in April 1861, but rather in the state militia regiment that was was called into duty in 1862.

As shown by the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card (above), his time in the militia was very brief, serving only from 13 September 1862 through 24 September 1862.  While this service qualified him to be designated a war “veteran,” it was too brief to qualify for a pension.  John W. Simonton was 28 years old at the time of his war service.

As previously noted, Judge Simonton was the presiding judge at the trial of Weston Keiper and Henry Rowe, the two Lykens men who were found guilty of murder.  He passed the sentence of death upon them on 18 May 1901:

ROWE AND KEIPER TO HANG

Special to the Inq.  Pennsylvania, 18 May 1901 — Henry Rowe and Watson [sic] Keiper were to-day sentenced by Judge Simonton to death for the murder of Cashier Charles W. Ryan, in their attempt to rob the Halifax National Bank in March.  They heard the sentence without a tremor.

A few months prior to the sentencing of Rowe and Keiper, Judge Simonton was honored by the Dauphin County Historical Society by elevation to the office of President of that group.  He followed Dr. William H. Egle who died in office.  The Harrisburg Patriot reported the succession in its 15 March 1901 edition:

Within a period of two years, Judge Simonton himself took ill and on 11 February 1903, the Harrisburg Patriot reported that his end was near:

Judge John W. Simonton died at Harrisburg on 11 February 1903 and because of his prominence, his death was widely reported.  The Philadelphia Inquirer included a picture of Judge Simonton along with an extensive article on his life and work:

Three days after his death, the funeral was held in Harrisburg.   The court house was ordered to be draped in black for thirty days and “appropriate resolutions were adopted” to honor him.  Again, major state newspapers carried the funeral details.  The following description is from the Philadelphia Inquirer of 15 February 1903:

Ironically, the man who had been elected as President of the Dauphin County Historical Society to fill an unexpired term of a president who died in office, himself died while serving as its president, and once again the Society had to meet to elect a new president.  Later in the month of February, the 1st Vice President, Dr. John P. Keller was elected to succeed Judge Simonton:

Dr. Keller addressed the Dauphin County Historical Society expressing his feeling of incompetency to occupy a position which was so ably filled by is predecessors.  “The objects of this society are noble ones and I rejoice to know that the thirty-three years of our existence have not been entirely in vain, our aims being as our motto declares to resurrect the history of the past and preserve the doings of the present for the generations of the future.”

When Judge Simonton was laid to rest, his accomplishments were duly noted, including his service in the militia during the days of the Civil War.  Although he did not reside within the geographic area of the Civil War Research Project, his influence as President Judge made him well known to the residents of the Lykens Valley area and for that reason, he should be included in the project list of Civil War veterans.

The news clippings are from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.  Complete copies of the articles are available in the files of the Project.  The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index card is from the Pennsylvania Archives.  For prior posts on the Halifax Bank Robbery, click here.

Note:  There is another Civil War veteran named John W. Simonton who was born 5 December 1812 and died 28 April 1895 and is buried in Mifflinburg Cemetery in Union County, Pennsylvania.  The two men should not be confused.

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Tags: Halifax Borough, Lykens Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 29, 2012

The following sketch of the life of Frederick R. Gilbert is from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. L. Runk and Company of Chambersburg:

Frederick R. Gilbert, merchant tailor, was born at Loyalton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 16 November 1825, the son of John Gilbert, and Elizabeth [Rathron] Gilbert.  His great-grandfather, Samuel Gilbert, was born in Germany, 10 August 1743, and died in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 8 April 1826.  He came to America with two brothers in 1752.  He married Catherine Saul, born 11 December 1757, died 11 June 1806.  She was a daughter of Nicholas Saul, who resided near Jonestown, Lebanon County, and later removed to Lykens Valley, where he died in 1814.  Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Gilbert had three children.  Jacob Gilbert, grandfather of Fred R. Gilbert, was born 2 April 1783. He was prominent both in business and politics, and was a member of the State Legislature during the early history of the State.  He first married Elizabeth Long [and] they had six children: Samuel Gilbert; John Gilbert; Jacob Gilbert; Sarah Gilbert; Catherine Gilbert; and George Gilbert.  Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert died, and Mr. Gilbert was united to second marriage to Elizabeth Mark.  John Gilbert, father of Frederick R. Gilbert, married Elizabeth Rathron [and] they had four children:  Frederick R. Gilbert; Elmira Gilbert, widow of Michael Ward; Henry L. Gilbert; and Jeremiah S. Gilbert.  Mr. and Mrs. John Gilbert are both deceased.

Frederick R. Gilbert was brought by his parents to Upper Paxton Township in his early childhood, and there attended the public schools until he was sixteen, at which time he began to learn tailoring with Jacob Ziegler, at Millersburg, Pennsylvania.  After an apprenticeship fo four years, he was employed for one season by Judge Walker, at Sunbury, Pennsylvania.  In 1846, he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he worked at his trade as a journeyman until the spring of 1847.  He then returned to Millersburg, Pennsylvania, and began the tailoring business on his own account.  He was very successful and later added a general dry goods business.  In 1884 he erected the large and convenient building on market Street, which now accommodates his extensive trade, and where he carries a full stock of clothing and dry goods, and enjoys his full share of the patronage of the surrounding territory.

Mr.Gilbert has been prominent in numerous important enterprises in Dauphin and other counties.  He was one of the original movers in the establishment of the Millersburg Bank, having drafted the constitution and by-laws of that institution; his draft was adopted by the board of directors with the change of but one word; he afterwards served for some years as director of the bank.  He was one of the organizers of the Mifflin and Patterson Water Works at Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and at Steelton, Pennsylvania, a stockholder in both, and elected president of both corporations, in which position he served several years.  From 1868 to 1884 Mr. Gilbert and his family resided on his Mt. Pleasant farm; since then their home has been in Millersburg.  Mr. Gilbert has experienced the ordinary vicissitudes of a business life, and he has steadily preserved, meeting adversity bravely, and enjoying prosperity without undue elation.  The outcome of his enterprise and prudence is an ample competence for himself and the family.

Mr. Gilbert was married, 1 January 1846, to Sarah Ann Ditty, daughter of David Ditty and Annie [Osmond] Ditty, born 14 January 1827.  Three of their seven children are deceased…

Mrs. Gilbert died 5 January 1881.  she was affectionate and faithful as wife and mother, active and devout in her religious life, and beloved by all who knew her.  Mr. Gilbert’s second marriage, 4 October 1890, was to Miss Clara A. Wagner, who was born in West Beavertown, Snyder County, 17 June 1856.  She was a daughter of Abraham Wagner and Sabine Wagner, the former of Snyder County, the latter of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and both now deceased.

At the time of the 1890 Census, living on Market Street in Millersburg, Frederick R. Gilbert reported that he was a Civil War veteran, but for some unknown reason, did not indicate a specific regiment, company or length of service.

Click on document to enlarge.

In checking the card file at the Pennsylvania Archives, the following card was located:

The enrollment of Frederick R. Gilbert as Quartermaster of the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, took place at Harrisburg with muster in at Washington, D.C. on 22 August 1862.  For an unexplained reason, Frederick resigned on 10 September 1862.  Why he never mentioned his service except to the 1890 Census is unknown.  Millersburg had a very active G.A.R. post in the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century and Frederick is not mentioned on the Millersburg Civil War Monument.  No record has been located to indicate that he applied for a pension..

More information is sought on this brief service in the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry.  Note:  There is also the possibility that the Frederick Gilbert who enrolled in the 68th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, at Philadelphia in July 1862 and then deserted is the same person as the Frederick R. Gilbert who was in the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry. There is an overlap of several days, but not enough to insure that they are two different people.

The portrait of Frederick R. Gilbert is from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, page 755.

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Tags: G.A.R., Loyalton, Millersburg, Upper Paxton Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 28, 2012

Isaac Lyter (1844-1912) was previously featured here as part of a series of posts on the Halifax Bank robbery.  The following biographical sketch is from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg.  While it sheds little light on his military service, additional interesting information is presented about his family and his life.

Isaac Lyter, bank teller and county commissioner, was born in the Borough of Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 11 November 1844.  He is a son of Christian Lyter and Catherine [Bowman] Lyter.  His great-grandfather, Christian Lyter, is supposed to have been born in Germany.  When a child he came with his parents to America.  They settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and removed thence to Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Christian Lyter lived to the age of one hundred and our years and passed away suddenly, one morning, while sitting at the breakfast table.  Peter Lyter, grandfather of Isaac, was born in Lower Paxton Township, and was a farmer. He married a Miss Shirk.  Their children were:  Joseph Lyter; Christian Lyter; Henry Lyter; Abram Lyter; Daniel Lyter; John Lyter; Moses Lyter; Louisa Lyter, married a Mr. Utz; and Betsy Lyter, married a Henry Bowman.  Mr. Lyter died in Halifax, in February, 1870.

Christian Lyter, father of Isaac Lyter, was born in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, where he was educated and grew to manhood.  He came with his father to Halifax in 1831 and learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed in addition to the business of auctioneering.  He traveled much over this part of the state as an auctioneer, and was one of the most skillful and successful men in the business.  His death, which occurred 9 July 1874, was much lamented.  He had been justice of the peace for twenty years and had filled other local offices.  His children are:  Ellen V. Lyter, wife of A. J. Shammon, Halifax; Elspy Lyter, wife of G. W. Botomstone, Wyoming, Iowa; Isaac Lyter; Sarah Lyter, deceased, wife of H. C. Brubaker; William H. Lyter, grocer, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; John F. Lyter, clerk, Harrisburg; and Lawrence W. Lyter, conductor on the Northern Central Railway, resides in Halifax.  Mrs. Lyter, mother of Isaac, died 10 January 1896, aged seventy-seven.  She had long been a great sufferer from a complication of diseases.

Isaac Lyter attended the schools of his native place a part of each year until he was seventeen.  During his boyhood he assisted his father both on his farm and in his blacksmith shop.  In this way he gained considerable knowledge of the trade.  Isaac enlisted at Harrisburg, 14 September 1864, in Company I, 46th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (46th Pennsylvania Infantry), and served until the close of the war, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.  He was discharged in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 8 June 1865, and at once returned home.

In the spring of 1866, Mr. Lyter entered into partnership with his father in the blacksmith business, and continued with him two years.  He then bought and conducted the business alone until 1888; he then sold it to assume the position of teller in the bank at Halifax, which he was efficiently filled since that date.  He is also a stockholder.

Mr. Lyter was married, 6 January 1870, to Mary Brubaker, daughter of Joseph Brubaker and Esther Brubaker.  They have four children:  Harry W. Lyter, born 4 December 1871; Pearl E. Lyter, 20 June 1874; May Lyter, 29 January 1877; and Catherine Lyter, 19 October 1881.  Mr Lyter has been honored by his fellow citizens with about all the offices in their gift, from the lower places of trust up to the office of burgess.  He was first elected county commissioner in 1889 and is now serving his second term in that responsible position.

Th portrait of Isaac Lyter is adapted from one that appeared on page 719 of the Biographical Encyclopedia.

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Tags: Halifax Borough