Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 22, 2012

The Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery is located at the corner of Rise Street and Wind Hill Drive in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The graves of twenty Civil War veterans are easily located in this cemetery.  A prior post described the cemetery and showed old maps with its location noted.  Today, Part 4 of a 5 part series is presented, each part focusing on four of the twenty veterans buried here.

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GEORGE BAUER (1831-1905)

A G.A.R. star at the grave of George Bauer indicates Civil War service, but a specific regiment and company has not yet been identified by the Civil War Research Project.  According to the stone, his wife’s name was Annie.  Previously, George was not included in the Veterans’ List, but will be added at the next update, assuming his actual service can be confirmed.  Information is sought from readers.

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HENRY C. BOWMAN (1836-1903)

Although there is no indication at this grave that the Henry C. Bowman who is buried here was a Civil War veteran, other records seem to suggest that this is the same person as the one who served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private.  Henry was the son of Christian Bowman (born about 1817) and Mary [Dunkel] Bowman (born about 1815).  He married Rebecca E. Frank after the Civil War and had the following known children (birth years approximate):  Margaret A. Bowman (1869- ?), Lidia E. Bowman (1872- ?), Sarah J. Bowman (1874-?), Hannah A. Bowman (1876-?), Myrtle M. Bowman (1879-?), Isaac Franklin Bowman (1881-?) and Minnie F. Bowman (1883-?).

In 1880, Henry was working as a laborer in Halifax.  In 1890, still living in Halifax, Henry reported his service in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, and did not indicate that he received any disability from it.  In 1900, Henry was living in Halifax and working as a day laborer, and three children living in the household were working in manufacturing enterprises in Halifax.

In 1890, when the pension application rules were relaxed, Henry applied for an invalid pension and received a pension which he collected until his death.  His widow, Rebecca, applied for benefits in 1903 when Henry died, which she received until her death.

Several pictures exist of Henry C. Bowman and Rebecca Bowman and have been posted on family trees on Ancestry.com.

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CHARLES E. McFARLAND (1838-1896) also found as CHARLES MCFARLAND

 According to census returns, Charles E. McFarland was born in Ohio.  He was living in Halifax, Dauphin County, at the time of his enrollment in the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private.  He was then working as a school teacher.  Charles served a first enlistment in the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry from 2 September 1861 to 4 January 1864, and then re-enlisted in the same regiment and company on 5 January 1864.  His discharge came on 16 July 1865.  The Pension Index Card also notes service in the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, probably the three month service at the beginning of the war.

It appears from the records that Charles married a woman named Sarah at about the time the Civil War began.  One child, Jennie McFarland, was born during the war.  Children born after the war were (birth years approximate):  Robert B. McFarland (1866-?), Mabel S. McFarland (1868-?), Helen A. McFarland (1869-?), Emma K. McFarland (1872-?), Laura E. McFarland (1875-?), Charles E. McFarland (1878-?), and Walter S. McFarland (1879-?).

In 1870 and 1880, Charles McFarland continued working as a school teacher in Halifax.  In 1890, he attributed his heart disease to his Civil War service. He died in 1896 and was buried in the Halifax United Methodist Cemetery.

An early pension application in 1879 indicates that Charles was able to connect his disability to his war service.  The pension he received continued to his death and afterward was collected by his widow Sarah.

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JOHN W. METZGER (1845-1926) also known as JOHN METZGER

John Metzgar‘s Civil War service was limited to duty in the Emergency Force of 1863 from 4 July 1863 through 11 August 1863.  The regiment received the designation of the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry while it was in service.  John was a member of Company C at the rank of Private.

After the Civil War, John married a woman named Laura and they are found in the 1880 Census for Halifax where John was working as a grocer.  One known son, Calder C. Metzger, was born to the couple around 1872.  In 1890, John Metzger reported to the census that he was a Civil War veteran but did not indicate the name of his regiment, company, or dates of service.  In 1900, John was a merchant in Halifax, with son Calder, age 27, living in the household and working as a shoe manufacturer.  After 1910, John no longer needed to work and was living on his “own income.”  In the 1920 census, he is recorded as a widower and a servant, Rebecca Freeburn, is living with him.  Living next door is John’s son, Calder Metzger, the shoe manufacturer.  John’s wife Laura died between 1910 and 1920.  John died in 1926.

No pension record was found, probably because the Civil War service was too short for him to qualify.

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Continued tomorrow…. For other posts in this series, click here.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Civil War Burials in the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery (Part 4 of 5)
Tags: Cemeteries, G.A.R., Halifax Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 21, 2012

The Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery is located at the corner of Rise Street and Wind Hill Drive in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The graves of twenty Civil War veterans are easily located in this cemetery.  A prior post described the cemetery and showed old maps with its location noted.  Today, Part 3 of a 5 part series is presented, each part focusing on four of the twenty veterans buried here.

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GEORGE W. SPIES (1840-1920) also known as GEORGE WASHINGTON SPIES

George W. Spies, the son of Henry Spies and Barbara Spies, lived in Halifax, Dauphin County, prior to the Civil War and learned the saddler trade from his father.  In 1862, with the state emergency at hand, George was activated in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, and served as a Corporal from 15 September 1862 through 28 September 1862.  After his discharge, he returned to Halifax and worked in the related trade of harness maker.  His short Civil War service did not qualify him for a pension.  He and his wife Rebecca continued to live in Halifax.  George died in 1920 and although his war service qualified him for a veteran marker at his grave, no marker was seen.  However, his name was included in the list of Civil War veterans that appeared in the commemorative book that was published for the Halifax Bicentennial. Additional research may produce more details about his life and service, including the possibility that a picture of him exists.

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JOHN F. KLINE (1825-1906)

A G.A.R. star marks the grave of John F. Kline but his specific Civil War service has not yet been identified by the Civil War Research Project.  John Kline was a very common name for a Civil War soldier and can be also found with the spelling “Klein.”  The known information about the John Klein who is buried here is the following:  (1) In about 1852, he married a woman named Elizabeth (maiden name not found); (2) He was residing in Dauphin Borough, Dauphin County, in 1880, and working as a railroad conductor; (3) He was residing in Sunbury in 1900, but no occupation was given in the census; (4) Known children were Emma K. Kline (born about 1856), Ida May Kline (born about 1857), Sarah A. Kline (born about 1861), Harry W. Kline (born about 1864), and Lizzie Kline (born about 1870).  No Pension Index Card has been located (there are hundreds of possibilities) and he has not yet been located in the 1890 Veterans’ Census.  As a railroad employee, it appears that he lived in various places along the route of the Northern Central Railroad, but was buried in Halifax when he died in 1906.  More research is needed to properly credit this veteran with his Civil War service.  Perhaps one or more of his descendants has information to contribute.

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WILLIAM LODGE (1830-1903)

William Lodge was first identified as a Civil War veteran through the list that appeared in the Halifax Bicentennial Book.  In researching his life, it was discovered that prior to the Civil War, he married Marietta Hoffman (born about 1837), who was a direct descendant of Johann Peter Hoffman (1709-1797), pioneer settler of the Lykens Valley.  In 1862, William answered the state emergency by serving in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a 1st Sergeant, from 13 September 1862 through 27 September 1862.  A veteran named William Lodge was also found in the Emergency Force of 1863 serving as the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, as a Private, in July through September 1863, but because no pension record or other record has been located showing both services, the conclusion cannot be made that for certain this is the same person.  Therefore, not much more is known about William at this time.

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CORNELIUS D. WALDRON (1834- ?)

The grave marker of Cornelius D. Waldron clearly credits him with service in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company E, where he was a Private from 9 September 1861 through the expiration of his enlistment and discharge, which occurred on 24 December 1864.  Cornelius was the son of William Waldron (born about 1813) and Deborah Waldron (born about 1810, maiden name not identified).  William was a farmer in the Halifax area but by 1860, Cornelius was working as a merchant in Halifax and living in the household of his widowed mother.  When Cornelius enrolled in the cavalry in 1861, he gave his occupation as “postmaster.”  It was common practice in rural areas that post offices were established in general stores and that the proprietor of the store was the town’s postmaster.

After his Civil War service, Cornelius married Margaret Agnes “Mary” Lodge, perhaps related to the William Lodge (above) whose grave is in close proximity to that of the Waldron graves in this cemetery.  In 1870, Cornelius continued to operate a store in Halifax, but by 1880, he is recorded as a farmer in the same area, and his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Lodge, a 77 year old widow, is living in his household.  In 1900, Cornelius’ sister Hannah Waldron, age 56 and not married, is living in his household in the Halifax area, and Cornelius is working as a farmer.  But by 1910, Cornelius is listed as “Borough Constable” for Halifax.  The year of Cornelius’ death is not recorded on the gravestone.

As for his Civil War record, no war-related disabilities were reported in the 1890 Census.  Cornelius did apply for an invalid pension,  but that occurred in 1890, when the rules were sufficiently relaxed to permit documentation of three months or more of service as the major qualifier as opposed to injury or disability connected to war service, which usually had to be documented before 1890.  Cornelius’ wife is not named on the Pension Index Card, which usually indicates that she died before he did.

This veteran surely left more records than have been discovered to date, particularly since he operated a business in Halifax, was for a time the postmaster, and later served as constable.   Perhaps a reader of this blog can add more information about him, including a picture.

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Continued tomorrow…. For other posts in this series, click here.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 3 Comments »
Tags: Cemeteries, G.A.R., Halifax Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 20, 2012

The Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery is located at the corner of Rise Street and Wind Hill Drive in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The graves of twenty Civil War veterans are easily located in this cemetery.  A prior post described the cemetery and showed old maps with its location noted.  Today, Part 2 of a 5 part series is presented, each part focusing on four of the twenty veterans buried here.

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ADAM SNYDER (1814-1880)

Adam Snyder has a G.A.R. marker at his grave site, but his regiment and company of service has not yet been identified.  Adam was born in France and in 1870 was in Halifax working as a stone mason.  In 1880, he was working as a farmer.  Adam married Susanna C. Kline and between 1849 and 1861 the couple had six children, three of whom died young.

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CONRAD ZIMMERMAN (1842-1930)

Conrad Zimmerman was born in the Armstrong Valley, Dauphin County, the son of John Zimmerman, a laborer, and Anna Maria [Enders] Zimmerman.  In 1860, Conrad was working as a servant in the household of Samuel Meckley, a blacksmith in Jackson Township, Dauphin County.

Conrad enlisted in the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, and was mustered into service on 23 February 1864.  His Civil War service ended with his discharge on 16 July 1865.

It is not known for certain whether the Conrad Zimmerman who was found in the 1870 census for Lehigh County as a coal miner is the same as the one of this record.  But in 1880, Conrad was living in the household of his sister, Elizabeth [Zimmerman] Caslow, the second wife of prominent Halifax physician, H. R. Caslow.  Also in that household was Elizabeth’s step-son who was working as a railroad conductor and a Black servant, Ida Shorter, age 17.  In 1890, Conrad was still living in Halifax and he noted no Civil War-related disabilities.

In 1900, Conrad Zimmerman was still living in his sister Elizabeth’s household, but had changed his occupation to painter.  Elizabeth’s step-son was also still in the household, working as a mail carrier.  Roxy Weaver, age 23, a Black servant was now living in the household.

1910 saw Conrad as the head of the household and working as a house painter with sister Elizabeth, now a widow, living in the household, along with Roxie Weaver, a servant who did housework.  In 1920, in a switch of positions, Roxie Weaver was named as the head of the household with Conrad Zimmerman working as a painter.  Roxie was working as a dressmaker.  The 88 year old Conrad, in 1930, was finally retired, but still living in Roxie Weaver‘s household.  In 1930, Roxie was working in a shoe factory and the census noted that she was “Negro.”  Conrad died later in the year 1930.  He never married but he lived for more than 30 years in the same household as Roxie.  When Conrad Zimmerman died, his pension stopped.

Roxie Weaver died in 1962, apparently never married.  She is buried next to Conrad in the Halifax United Methodist Cemetery.

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JOHN E. LEEBRICK (1834- ?)

John E. Leebrick was born about 1834.  In 1860, he was living in Halifax and working as a teacher of the common school.  He was then living with his widowed father, John Leebrick, a farmer, and a brother, Thomas Leebrick, age 18, who was listed as a “gentleman.”

During the Civil War, John served in the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, as a Private, from 2 August 1861 through 8 September 1864.

Not much else is known about him.

The spelling of John’s surname is found as Lebrick, Liebrich, Liebrick, Leibrich, and Liebrick.

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GEORGE GEIGER (1846-1865)

It is believed that this George Geiger from Halifax is the same person who served in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company B, as a Private.  Records indicate he died on 9 April 1865 at the Battle of Fort Blakely in Alabama.  This battle was part of the Mobile Campaign during one of the last organized Confederate resistances following Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.  George’s death at this battle is noted on his grave marker.

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Continued tomorrow…. For other posts in this series, click here.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Civil War Burials in the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery (Part 2 of 5)
Tags: African American, Cemeteries, G.A.R., Halifax Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 19, 2012

The Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery is located at the corner of Rise Street and Wind Hill Drive in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The graves of twenty Civil War veterans are easily located in this cemetery.  A prior post described the cemetery and showed old maps with its location noted.  Today, Part 1 of a 5 part series is presented, each part focusing on four of the twenty veterans buried here.

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J. THEODORE THOMPSON (1835-1907)

Not much is known about J. Theodore Thompson except that there is a flag at his grave and his date of birth and death would be consistent with someone who served in the Civil War.  His wife’s name was Angelia.  He was listed in the Halifax Bicentennial Book as a Civil War veteran.  If anyone can identify his Civil War regiment and company, please contact the Civil War Research Project (click here to contact).

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JOSEPH M. BOWES (1790-1871)

Joseph M. Bowes has a Civil War star at the base of his grave marker, but his date of birth is probably too early for him to have served.  However, someone may have some information to the contrary and can enlighten readers as to why there is a Civil War star at this grave site.

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WILLIAM H. DOUGHERTY (1843-1887) or WILLIAM H. DAUGHERTY

William H. Dougherty first served in the 130th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a Private, from 9 August 1862 through discharge on 21 May 1863.  At the time of his enlistment in the 78th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private, he was living in East Pennsboro Township, Dauphin County.  In the latter regiment, e serve from 17 February 1865 through 11 September 1865.  After the conclusion of his war service, he married Susan A. Beam in Highspire, Dauphin County.  By 1885, he was living in Millersburg, where he was suffering from dyspepsia and anxiety of countenance, and was very much debilitated.  These conditions, which were accompanied by a cough, probably combined to cause death in 1887.  He was buried in Halifax and his widow continued to live there after his death.

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HIRAM BRUBAKER (1834-?)

Hiram Brubaker married a woman named Margaret and served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Corporal, from 21 February 1865 through 24 August 1865.  He has a “military issue” grave marker in the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery.  In addition to his date of death (which at this writing has not yet been discovered), any interesting stories about his life and military service are sought, as well as family pictures (if available).

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Continued tomorrow….

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 5 Comments »
Tags: Cemeteries, Halifax Borough, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 18, 2012

Henry Cordes (also found as Harry Cordis) was the subject of a lengthy biographical sketch in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1894.  His military exploits during the Civil War were presented in great detail, including the loss of his arm as the result of a gunshot wound that occurred near Jonesboro, Georgia, in 1864.

Henry was born in Bremen, Hanover, Germany, on 29 July 1838, and came to America with his sister Anna Cordes in 1852, arriving at New York, and then traveling to Harrisburg where he accepted a baking apprenticeship with his uncle, Henry Luebken.  Not finding this occupation to his satisfaction, he moved to Philadelphia and was for a time in the employ of Herman Haupt, chief engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad.  When Henry’s parents arrived in Philadelphia from Germany, he followed them to Harrisburg, but a short time later decided to travel to Florida where he was employed by the Florida Lumber Company.  But the Florida climate was not suitable for his health and after a while, he returned to a Harrisburg area once again, but this time assisting the brother-in-law of his uncle in a butchering business in York County.  Restless and not able to settle on any particular trade or occupation, the opening shots of the Civil War presented an opportunity to once again try something different.

The story of his military service is now told through the biographical piece that appeared in 1894:

[On] 18 April 1861… he enlisted at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, in Company B, 2nd Pennsylvania Volunteers [2nd Pennsylvania Infantry], Capt. John Deebler and Col. Frederick Staumback.  His regiment moved from Harrisburg to the vicinity of Baltimore, and after a short stay there was sent to York, Pennsylvnaia, thence through Maryland and into Virginia, and thence through Baltimore to Harrisburg, where he was discharged at the end of three months’ service.

Not satisfied with his very short military service, Henry re-enlisted, this time in the U.S. Infantry, Regular Army:

Mr. Cordes… re-enlisted [9 August 1861] in the 18th United States Infantry in which he served until 25 January 1865.

This regiment was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, in November, 1861, was transported to the Army of the Cumberland, at Louisville, Kentucky, and participated in the campaign through Kentucky, ending in the defeat Gen. Zollicoffer’s army at Mill Springs, after which it retired to Louisville.  The movement of the regiment was then from Louisville to East Point, Kentucky, thence by boats down the Ohio River to the Cumberland, up to Fort Donelson, thence to Nashville, Tennessee, thence to Shiloh, thence to Corinth, Mississippi, thence to Rienzi, Blackland, Boonesville, to near Holly Springs, Mississippi, thence back to Corinth, thence to Inka, thence to East Port Landing, crossing the Tennessee River to Alabama, whence they returned to Louisville, Kentucky, via Athens, Tuscumbia, Decatur, and Salem, Alabama; Deckard, Murfreesboro, and Nashville, Tennessee; Bowling Green, Mumfordsville, and East Point, Kentucky, and reaching Louisville, 1 October 1862.

After resting four days they started on the Perrysville Campaign, via Shepherdsville, Bardstown, and Springfield to Perrysville or Chaplain Hills, thence to Crab Orchard, Frankfort, Greenville, Mumfordsville, Bowling Green, Kentucky; Gallatin, Bellows Ford, Pilot Knob, Edgefield and Nashville, Tennessee.  They then moved on Christmas Day 1862 to Murfreesboro (Stone River) where they lost nearly half the regiment.  From Murfreesboro they moved to Tulahoma, Tennessee; thence to Cowen, across the Cumberland Mountains into the Crow Creek Valley; thence to Stephenson, Alabama; thence to Bridgeport, Alabama, where they crossed the Tennessee River and Raccoon Mountains into the Trenton Valley, Georgia; thence across Lookout Mountain into the Chickamauga Valley, Georgia; thence to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where in September, 1863, they were in a number of engagements and remained in that vicinity until 14 May 1864.

They then began the Atlanta Campaign, moving first to Ringgold, Georgia; thence to Tunnel Hill, thence to Buzzard’s Boost, thence to Snake Creek Gap to Reseca; thence to Kingston, Cassville, Burnt Hickory, New Hope Church, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Big Shanty, Kenesaw, Smyrna, Chattahoochie River, Peachtree Crek, Atlanta, Eutaw Creek, to Jonesboro, Georgia, where Mr. Cordes received a serious gunshot wound in his left arm necessitating amputation on the battlefield, after which he was taken a distance of twenty miles to the hospital at Atlanta, suffering intensely on the way.  He remained in the hospital until 23 October 1864, when he was sent with others in freight cars to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was finally discharged at Columbus, Ohio, 25 January 1865, on account of disability resulting from wounds received in battle.

Railroad Station, Jonesboro, Georgia

After his discharge, Henry Cordes used some of the service-related connections he had made to secure admission in Crittenden’s Commercial College in Philadelphia where he studied bookkeeping and telegraphy and on completion of his coursework was employed by the Northern Central Railroad, first at its offices in Harrisburg, and later at Marysfield in Perry County.  In September 1868, he was assigned to Millersburg, and remained there as station dispatcher for the remainder of his working years.  The station at Millersburg was at the junction of the lines of the Lykens Valley Railroad (also called the Summit Branch Railroad) and was one of the busiest points on the rail line.

See:  Lykens Valley Railroad at Millersburg.

Henry Cordes died in 1914 and is buried on Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg.

Previous posts on Henry Cordes can be found by clicking here or here.  The photo of Henry Cordes is enhanced from one that appeared in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Henry Cordes – Railroad Dispatcher at Millersburg
Tags: Millersburg