Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 17, 2012

A biography of Capt. John K. McGann appeared in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1894:

Capt. John K. McGann, retired farmer and real estate dealer, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 28 May 1835.  Edward McGann, his grandfather, was born and passed his life in Ireland; he was a wool carder and spinner.  Edward McGann Jr., father of Captain McGann, was born in Kildare County, Ireland.  He received his education in his native county, and worked in the woolen mill with his father until he became of age, when he left Ireland for America.  He made the voyage in a sailing vessel, accompanied by his young wife.  They landed in Philadelphia, where he found work at his trade for one year.  At the end of the year, Mr. McGann removed to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and for fourteen years was employed in the woolen mills of N. K. Zook.  He next removed to Dauphin County, locating in Lykens Valley, where for four years he carried on the business of carding and weaving on his own account.  He then removed to Armstrong Valley with his family, and worked for six months at his trade as a journeyman for his former employer, at Lancaster County, and he finally settled at Harrisburg, where he died 3 March 1870.  His wife, Bridget [Kelly] McGann died in the same city about 1884.  They were married in Ireland.  They had seven children:  John K. McGann; Catharine McGann, wife of C. McCarty, of Harrisburg; William C. McGann, of Harrisburg, in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Susan McGann, wife of John O’Leary, hotel keeper in Harrisburg; James McGann, deceased; Mary McGann, widow of Alexander Boyle, Harrisburg; and Margaret A. McGann, deceased.  Mr. McGann was a Democrat, a prominent man, and quite popular.

John K. McGann attended the public schools of Lancaster County, and also the Academy at Strasburg.  In his younger days he worked in the mills with his father.  After the removal of the family to the Lykens Valley, he worked four years as a farm hand among the neighboring farmers.  Then for two years and six months he was clerk and teamster for Jacob Buch, in Lykens Valley, and subsequently drove team for Mr. Buch to and from Pottersville.  For several years after this Mr. McGann was engaged in huckstering.  He taught school in Miller’s School House for four months, after which he was for seven months clerk in a store in Mahantongo Valley, then taught again four months in Jackson Township.  Then he was clerk for six months in Powell’s Valley, then taught four months at Jacksonville.  In 1858, Mr. McGann spent nine months in Harrisburg, in the employ of the Northern Central Railroad Company, as clerk; he then taught still another four months at Fisherville.  He had fourteen acres of land which he farmed between other engagements.

On 19 August 1862, Mr. McGann enlisted in Company H, 130th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (130th Pennsylvania Infantry), as 1st Lieutenant under Captain Hoofacker and Col. H. J. Zinn.  The Captain being on sick leave, McGann comanded the company.  He participated in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chencellorsville.  Being wounded at Fredericksburg, he was for a few days in the field hospital.He was discharged from the service 20 May 1862, and returned home.  He continued teaching school, cultivating his farm, and working for other farmers.  Upon the ordering of the draft, 24 February 1864, Captain McGann formed a company fo 42 men and joined Company E, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  he was promised the command of the company, but failed to obtain it.  He fought in the battles of Cripple Creek, and throughout the campaign of general Sherman. On 16 October 1864, he was made private secretary of Gen. Kilpatrick, with whom he remained until the close of the war.  He received his discharge oat Lexington, North Carolina, 20 July 1865.  After returning home, Capt. McGann continued teaching and farming.  He bought more land and has now eight-five acres, which he has highly improved.  He retired from active farming, and since 1876 has dealt in real estate, settled up estates, etc.

Capt. McGann was married in Jackson Township in 1857, to Miss Elspy Fetterhoff, daughter of Colonel G. Fetterhoff and May [Zimmerman] Fetterhoff, born in Jackson Township, 28 April 1835.  They have three children:  (1) Isaac H. McGann, Lutheran pastor, of Union County, Pennsylvania, was educated at the State Normal School, at Millersville, and the Missionary Institute, in Snyder County, was ordained to the ministry in 1885, married Annie Mattis, and has three children – Maud McGann, Laura McGann, and  Evaline McGann; (2) Ellen McGann, married in 1882 to James F. Gerberich, who was born in Jackson Township, the son of Amos Gerberich and Julia A. [Keiter] Gerberich, attended school in Jackson Township, was six years Turnkey at Harrisburg Lockup, farms the homestead of his wife’s father, and has three children – J. D. Cameron Gerberich, Annie Gertrude Gerberich, and Esther Gerberich; and (3) Annie E. McGann, teacher in Jackson Township, educated in the high school in Harrisburg, and graduate of Berrysburg, and Millersville State Normal School has been teaching three years.

Captain McGann is a Republican.  He was clerk in the County Commissioners’ Office, County Auditor, Assessor and Tax Collector;  he was also for several years Justice of the Peace.  He was Captain of a volunteer company formed before the Civil War.  He is a member, and is Chaplain, and has been Commander of R. B. Miller Post, No. 392, G.A.R.  He is one of the most widely known and most popular men of the county.  He is esteemed for his virtues, and beloved for his his god will and kindness to all.

A Veterans’ File Card was located at the Pennsylvania Archives:

At the time of Capt. McGann’s enrollment in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, he indicated that he was born in Philadelphia, was residing in Harrisburg, and was working as a teacher.  His physical description was that he had hazel eyes, fair complexion, and dark hair.  He stood 5 foot, 6 inches tall, and was 29 years old.

A Pension Index Card was located in the on-line resources of Ancestry.com:

The Pension Index Card notes a date of pension application prior to 1890, possibly confirming the information that his wound received at Fredericksburg, may have aggravated his physical condition to the point where he was eligible under the more strict rules.  When the 1890 Census was taken, John K. McGann reported that he was disabled because his rheumatism was caused by the wound he received in the war.

In 1900, John K. McGann was living in Jackson Township and gave his occupation as landlord.

Capt. John K. McGann died on 21 July 1909 and is buried in Fetterhoff’s Cemetery, Halifax, Dauphin County.

The Civil War Research Project is seeking additional information about John K. McGann.  Readers are invited to contribute by adding comments to this post or by sending information via e-mail (click here).

Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Cards are from the Pennsylvania Archives.  Pension Index Cards are from Ancestry.com and reference pension application files available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Berrysburg, Fisherville, G.A.R., Jackson Township, Powell's Valley

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 16, 2012

The St. Peter (Hoffman) Cemetery is located along the Crossroads between Loyalton (on Route 209) and Route 25.  It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Lykens Valley area.  Today’s post concludes a look at some of the Civil War veterans who are buried there,

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JONAS W. HOFFMAN (1838-1887) also known as JONAS HOFFMAN

Jonas W. Hoffman was a direct descendant of Johann Peter Hoffman (1709-1798), pioneer settler of the Lykens Valley.  His wife was Sarah Ann Rickert (1840-1912), one of the daughters of Martin Rickert and Betsy [Yerges] Rickert, and his brother-in-law was Harrison Riegle (1840-1899) who married Sarah Ann’s sister, Hannah Rickert.  Jonas’ mother-in-law, Betsy Rickert, was previously featured in a post entitled Midwives and the Civil War.

Jonas W. Hoffman was the son of John Peter Hoffman (1809-1867) and Elizabeth [Umholtz] Hoffman (1806-1886).  Through his mother, he was a descendant of lines that include Jury, Seidenstricker and Wiliard.

Jonas served in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, 2nd Company G, as a Private, from March to June 1865 along with many others from the Lykens Valley.  He was discharged at New Bern, North Carolina.

Prior to the Civil War, Jonas and Sarah Ann had begun their family and between the years 1859 to 1883, they had eighteen children, but not many survived into adulthood.  Many of the children who died young are buried in the Hoffman Cemetery.  Jonas was a coal miner.  He died of consumption on 14 February 1887.

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JOSEPH RUSSELL (1836-1901)

Joseph Russell, son of David Russell and Catharine Russell, of Washington Township, Dauphin County, was a laborer who served in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company B, as a Private.  He was captured and held as a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia, and Libby in Richmond.  During the Civil War he married Elizabeth Batdorf and they began their family.  In 1890, Joseph was living in Loyalton, Washington Township, when he reported to the Veterans’ census that he had been a prisoner at Libby and that he was suffering from weakness of the spine and rheumatism.  There is a possibility that the Joseph Russell who is listed on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument is the same person since Loyalton did not have a G.A.R. post and the closest community where he could join was at Lykens.

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JOHN BELLON (1819-1892)

At some time in the late 1840s, Sarah J. Burd married John Bellon, an immigrant from Wurtemberg, Germany.  Sarah bore children from about 1850 through about 1876, with fifteen recorded births.  John was drafted into service in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I and served as a Private under Captain Evitts and at the end of the war served in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, 2nd Company G.  A prior post noted his record in more detail and featured a different view of his grave marker as well as a copy of his Pension Index Card.

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DANIEL HARMAN (1842-1904)

Daniel Harman was married to Emmaline Jane Matter (1849-1917).  He was a farmer and day laborer who lived in the area of Lykens Township mist of his life.  During the Civil War he answered the call to service during the Emergency of 1863, serving in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, along with many of his neighbors from Lykens Township and Gratz Borough.  For a prior post, see The Death of Daniel Harman.  Daniel was also mentioned in the post entitled The Gratztown Militia and the Home Guard.

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WILLIAM WEAVER (1834-1910)

William Weaver was previously mentioned in the study of the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, which served under Capt. Evitts and his Pension Index Card was shown at that time.  Additional information about him has been discovered in Hoffman Cemetery.  He was the son of John Weaver and Rebecca Weaver.  John was a farmer in Lykens Township, Dauphin County in 1860 and son William was living at home and working on the farm.  William has not yet been located in any other census except for the 1890 Veterans’ Enumeration, where he was living in Curtin, Mifflin Township, Dauphin County, and reported no Civil War-related disabilities.  He is buried next to his wife Rebecca Weaver (1844-1898), maiden name unknown.

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This concludes the two-part series on Civil War Burials in the Hoffman Church Cemetery.  To see the first post, click here:

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Civil War Burials in the Hoffman Church Cemetery (Part 2 of 2)
Tags: Cemeteries, Curtin, G.A.R., Gratz Borough, Loyalton, Lykens Borough, Lykens Township, Mifflin Township, Washington Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 15, 2012

The St. Peter (Hoffman) Cemetery is located along the Crossroads between Loyalton (on Route 209) and Route 25.  It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Lykens Valley area.  Today, the first set of Civil War burials in that cemetery will be featured with the series concluding tomorrow.

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ISAAC B. MOYER (1845-1872)

Isaac Moyer was mustered into service in the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, on 15 February 1864.  On 30 November 1864, he was discharged on a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability.  He married Mary Breslin and had one known child, Ida Moyer.  Not much else is known about him except that he died young at age 27.  He was provided a military issue grave marker which is at his graveside at Hoffman’s Cemetery.  More information is sought about Isaac, his Civil War service, and the reason for his early demise.

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CHARLES YOHE (1823-1898)

Not much is known about Charles Yohe other than what is inscribed on his grave marker.  He was married to Angeline Henninger.  His actual Civil War service has not yet been determined, but his grave is clearly marked with a G.A.R. Star-Flag Holder.  Information on Charles Yohe is requested so that his veterans’ status can be properly acknowledged.

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CHRISTIAN KISTLING (1817-1893)

Christian Kistling served in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private, from 30 September 1861 to 18 October 1864, when the regiment and company were combined with the 95th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G.  Both regiments had many casualties which resulted in one regiment that was about at full strength.  Records of the regiment note that Christian deserted on 7 October 1861 but returned on 15 November 1863.  On 19 October 1864, one day after the regiments were combined, Christian received a gunshot wound of the right foot and spent the remainder of his service time in recovery until he was discharged on 3 August 1865.  Christian Kistling received a “military issue” grave marker which stands at his burial place in the Hoffman Cemetery.

More information is sought on Christian Kistling.  Was he married?  Did he have children?  Where did he live and what was his occupation?  Are there pictures?  Interesting stories?  Anyone with further information, please contribute.

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JOHN GUNDERMAN (1837-1913)

The portrait of John Gunderman (above) was recently located in the files of the Gratz Historical Society.  His mother was a Riegle and he married Amanda Rickert (1845-1893) which connected him to two long-standing Lykens Valley families.  John was drafted into the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, and served as a Private from 1862 to 1863.

The Gunderman’s had nine known children.  They lived in Lykens Township.  In 1890, John noted that he was partly disabled and had liver problems.  By 1910, he was relying solely on his pension for income.  He died on 7 August 1913.  He is remembered by being named on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument.

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LEVI HOLWIG (1820-1896)

More research is needed to determine the regiment and company of service of Levi Holwig.  He was married to a woman named Mary and had a son named Levi D. Holwig (1846-1894).

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To be concluded tomorrow….

Add information in the “comments” below) or send an e-mail (click here).

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Cemeteries, G.A.R., Lyikens Borough, Lykens Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 14, 2012

Two previously published biographies of John F. Helt are presented below:

John F. Helt was the son of David Helt and Elizabeth [Miller] Helt of Clark’s Valley, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where he was born on 14 January 1841.  John married Margaret A. Enders in October 1861.  She was the daughter of Philip Enders and Margaret Anne Zimmerman and was born 9 January 1840 in Enders, Pennsylvania.  John and Margaret had two children, Annie Jane Helt, born 4 July 1862 and Ira M. Helt, born 17 August 1865.  Their children were born in Enders.

On 4 November 1863, John enlisted in the 89th Pennsylvania Regiment, Eighth Cavalry [8th Pennsylvania Cavalry] for a three year term.  He entered the army and agreed to serve in place of another enlistee for the bounty sum of $300.00.  John reported to his regiment that was in winter quarters in Bealton Station, Virginia.  On 21 Dec, the regiment was ordered out and participated in a raid in the Luray Valley, where much property valuable to the enemy was destroyed.  On 1 January 1864, they crossed the Blue Ridge at Chester Gap, destroying forage, partially tanned leather and tan-yards.  They then went back into winter quarters.  On 4 May, the 8th Cavalry marched with General Sheridan in the Wilderness Campaign.  They participated in engagements at the fortifications at Richmond, Virginia and Brock Road and lost about 100 men, among them Lt. Colonel Samuel Wilson who was wounded.  Rejoining Sheridan, they skirmished at Hawes’ Shop and lost 25 killed and wounded.  On 31 May, Sheridan attacked Fitz Hugh Lee’s Cavalry, supported by Clingman’s Infantry and routed them.  On 7 June, the regiment under Sheridan raided Gordonsville and met Confederate forces at Trevilian Station and lost 35 more killed and wounded.  The next engagement was at St. Mary’s Church and the enemy was held in check.  Staff Officer Colonel Pennock Huey and Captain John Piggot Jr. of Company D were captured and 40 men were killed, wounded and missing.

In July 1864, the 8th Cavalry was stationed near Petersburg, Virginia, and picketing from Blackwater towards South Side Railroad.  Further engagements were at Malvern Hill, Charles City Road, Spotted Tavern and Nelson Farm.  with heavy losses, the regiment was left with about 200 men present for duty in mid August.  More losses were suffered at Reams’ Station on 23 August.  During the fall and winter, the regiment was in reserve as they lost all their field officers, having been either wounded or captured.

On 29 Mar 1865, the regiment had their final engagement at Five Forks, where Capt. John S. Howard, Company G, who had displayed signal daring and gallantry in bearing dispatches, was mortally wounded.  After the 9 April Confederate surrender, the regiment moved with the Cavalry to Danville, Virginia, to reinforce General Sherman and after the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston on 26 Apr, returned to Petersburg.  Ordered then to Lynchburg, on 24 July, the 8th was consolidated with the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  It was mustered out of service with that organization on 11 Aug 1865 at Richmond.

By researching the military history, in Bates Civil War History of Pennsylvania Volunteers and the National Archives, their files indicate that most of John F. Helt‘s records were lost or misplaced.

When John came home after the war, he resumed his trade as a carpenter.  Later he entered the mercantile business, as a partner with his brother-in-law, G.W.D. Enders.  He also served as Postmaster in Enders and was a Director of the Halifax Bank for a number of years.  John also served as School Director in Jackson Township.

Margaret died 21 Nov 1894 in Enders and John passed on 15 March 1910 in Enders and is buried beside his wife in Fairview Cemetery.

The biographical sketch of John F. Helt that appears below was published in 1896:

John F. Helt, postmaster and general merchant, was born in Clark’s Valley, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 14 January 1841.  His father, David Helt, was a native of Dauphin County, and a son of Christian Helt, an extensive farmer and stockman in Clark’s Valley. David Helt was also largely interested in the same business, being the owner of over three hundred acres of land.  He married Elizabeth Miller, a native of Dauphin County, by whom he had eight children:  John F. Helt; Henry Helt, deceased; Emeline Helt, widow of David Smink; William Helt, deceased; Daniel Helt, farmer of Jackson Township; Elizabeth Helt, deceased; Catharine Helt, unmarried; and one child who died in infancy.  David Helt died in Jackson Township, 3 May 1883. His wife is living and resides in the township.  Mr. Helt was a Republican.  He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was a deacon and elder, and held other church offices.  He was a prominent and popular man.

John F. Helt attended school in Uniontown, Clark’s and Powell’s Valley, for six months.  This was his entire school education.  He is self-educated.  He worked with his father on the farm until he was fifteen, after which he hired out to work for wages for three years.  At eighteen years of age he went to learn carpentry, in which occupation he spent ten years.  During part of the time he was a contractor and builder.  In 1867 Mr. Helt formed a partnership with George W. D. Enders in the mercantile business in Jackson Township.  This partnership continued until 1876, when he bought the interest of Mr. Enders and has since conducted the business with fair success.  He is a director of the Halifax Bank and was one of its organizers.

Mr. Helt was first appointed postmaster under the administration of President Hayes, and has given so general satisfaction that he has been retained in office through all the changes in the General Government.  Mr. Helt is a Democrat.  He has filled the township offices of school director, auditor and treasurer.  He was married in 1861 to Margaret Enders, a native of Jackson Township, daughter of Conrad Enders and sister of George W. D. Enders.  They have two children:  Anna J. Helt, wife of Dr. C. C. Miller, of Halifax; and Ira M. Helt.  Mrs. Helt died 21 November 1894.  Mr. Helt is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Ira M. Helt, son of John F. Helt, was born 17 August 1865.  He was educated in the district schools, in the high school of Elizabethville, and in Berrysburg Academy.  He is now in charge of his father’s store.  He is a promising young business man, and is popular in all circles.  Mr. Helt was married on his twenty-fifth birthday, 17 August 1890, to Maggie Phillips, daughter of William Phillips.  They have two children:  Vernie Helt; and Carrie Helt.  Mr. Helt is a Democrat.  He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Surprisingly, the 1894 biographical sketch contained no reference to John F. Helt‘s Civil War service.  It is not know why this was so other than the comment made in Captain Enders Legion suggesting the records were lost.  While the three databases available on Ancestry.com (U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865; American War Soldiers; and U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles) do include John’s Civil War record, none of them indicate a date of discharge.  The Steve Maczuga database, Pennsylvanians in the Civil War, which is compiled essentially from information in Bates, notes that John was “not accounted for” at the time of discharge.

Attempts thus far to locate a reference to a pension application have been unsuccessful.  Perhaps John F. Helt never applied for a pension.  He lived until 1910 and this meant that if he applied after 1890, he probably would have received one (the rules were greatly relaxed in 1890).   He also has not yet been located in the 1890 Veterans’ Census.  This could be an indication that he never reported his service to the census takers.  Finally, he is not named in the Registers of Pensylvania Volunteers for the “Unassigned” enrollment group of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

John F. Helt‘s Civil War records are referenced on Microfilm Series M554, Roll 52, at the National Archives, as shown below by the search result in the database U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, on Ancestry.com:

Many questions remain unanswered about John F. Helt, including whether he actually served in the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry as reported in the first biographical sketch at the top of this post.  Anyone with information about John F. Helt who can help clear up these unanswered questions, is urged to come forward with the information.

Information for this post was obtained from Captain Enders Legion, page 91-93, and from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, pages 742 and 755 (the portrait, which has been digitally enhanced from the version published in 1894).  The grave marker of John F. Helt is from www.findagrave.com and was posted by the author of Captain Enders Legion.  Copies of Captain Enders Legion are still available from the author or from the Enders Association.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on John F. Helt – Cavalryman, Postmaster, Bank Director and School Director
Tags: Berrysburg, Clark's Valley, Elizabethville, Enders, Halifax Borough, Jackson Township, Powell's Valley, Uniontown

Posted By Brian Tomlin on August 13, 2012

Here are six blogs that on on Civil War Topics that are regularly updated and feature information, photographs and other materials of interest to Civil War Researchers.

Civil War Day by Day. The University of North Carolina Library produces this blog using documents, photographs and other primary source materials from its collections and presents them on a day by day basis reflecting what was happening 150 years ago. It is a nice telling of the Civil War through primary sources.

Disunion. Another Day by Day blog, this one produced by the New York Times. The New York Times began publicationin 1851 and is going through thier own archives to present stories form each day of the war.

Civil War Books and Authors. Andrew Wagonhoffer is a civil war book reviewer. His blog contains a good selection of the many Civil War related books currently being published.

Rantings of a Civil War Historian. Eric Wittenberg, an Ohio attorney who grwew up in Reading, PA and went to Dickinson College. His blog seems to specialize on the Gettyburg Campaign, but features many interesting stories on a variety of cavalry and military horse topics of the period.

Civil War Women’ Blog. Majority of the posts are on a single woman from the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Fascinating stories and photographs that tell another parat of the history of the time period than many of the sites and blogs. I wish the site said who wrote it.

John Banks’ Civil War Blog. Most interesting part of this blog is a series of posts called “Faces of the Civil War” which tells sotries of individual soldiers and their expriences with photographs, records and other documents.

We would like to know what other Civil War Blogs you read.

Category: Culture, Resources | Comments Off on 6 Interesting Civil War Blogs
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