Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 24, 2018

Abraham Campbell was born about 9 May 1835 in Northumberland County.  During the Civil War he served in the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves [35th Pennsylvania Infantry], Company B, as a Private from 10 October 1861 through discharge on a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability on 26 October 1862.  The record shows that he applied for an invalid pension on 4 April 1879, which he received and collected until his death, which occurred on 18 January 1909.

Campbell’s death was reported in the Lewisburg Journal, 22 January 1909:

Another Veteran

Abraham Campbell, aged 69 years. died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. D. W. Snyder, at Winfield, Tuesday morning at four o’clock of tuberculosis.  Besides Mrs. Snyder, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Mary Persing and Mrs. Christy Tharp, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  The deceased was a veteran of the CIvil War and a member of William A. Brunner Post 335, G.A.R.  Funeral services were held at Winfield, Thursday morning at ten o’clock, after which the remains were brought to Sunbury for interment at the Sunbury Cemetery.

Not mentioned in the obituary was that Abraham Campbell was married to Sarah Goodman who was the mother of his three children.  In 1890, Abraham Campbell was living in Dalmatia [previously known as Georgetown], Northumberland County, when he reported his Civil War service to the census, with a disability of “sore legs or ulcers.”  At about the the time of that census, Abraham and his wife Sarah decided to separate, and she went out seeking work, which she found with a widower, Jake Thompson, who was living near Shamokin.

In 1899, Mrs. Sarah Campbell met a tragic end at the hand of her employer.

From The Times, of Philadelphia, 2 August 1899:

A DOUBLE MURDERER

Jake Thompson Killed His Housekeeper and Then Shot Himself

The Had Quarreled, But Reconciled Their Differences Just Before the Terrible Crime Was Committed

Special Telegram to THE TIMES

Shamokin, 1 August 1899 — Mrs. Abraham Campbell, housekeeper for John Thompson, a retired farmer, quarreled with him one month ago, and when she went to live with friends in Uniontown he grew jealous.  The couple patched up their differences last Saturday.  Yesterday morning he murdered her and in the evening he took his own life.  He was 71 years old.  She was eleven years younger.  Two children survive Thompson, while his victim leaves a husband and three children.

Owing to marital differences, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell separated nine years ago, and as Thompson was a widower he engaged Mrs. Campbell as his housekeeper.  Saturday night she accompanied him to his home.

George Sober, and ice cream dealer, was Thompson’s tenant, and when he returned from town yesterday morning he noticed something peculiar about the actions of Thompson.  As he was about to start for this place at 10:30 o’clock he was asked by Thompson to take his horse and wagon to D. A. Shade‘s store.  He offered the young man 50 cents, but the latter remarked:  “I’ll do it as a favor.”

“It’s a mighty big favor,” responded Thompson, as he tied his horse to Sober’s wagon.  He handed Sober a note, requesting him to deliver it to Mrs. Isaac Tharpe, his stepdaughter.  The note was as follows:

“Christy Tharpe:  Your mother died Sunday, about 4 o’clock.”

Believing that something unusual had caused her death, Isaac Tharpe started for the scene.  He found everything closed except the two upstairs windows.

Thinking it was unsafe to enter, he returned home.  This morning neighbors went to the home.  Upon the floor of his bed room Thompson was found with his head resting on a straw pillow.  Blood oozed from a wound in his right temple, while in his hand was clutched an old-style 32-calibre revolver.  It was pressed close to his face, and two of its five chambers were empty.  Upon the bead was found the dead body of Mrs. Campbell.  She had been shot in almost precisely the same spot as Thompson.

It is surmised that early yesterday morning he killed her in a room adjoining his bedroom, after which he placed the corpse in bed.  In the evening, judging from the appearance of Thompson’s body, he killed himself.  Coroner Shindel will not hold and inquest, as he is assured that it was a case of murder and suicide.

A copy the Pension Index Card for Abraham Campbell is shown below:

From Fold3.

A copy of the Veterans’ Index Card for Abraham Campbell is shown below:

From Pennsylvania Archives.

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News clippings from Newspapers.com.  The drawing of the murder scene, top of post, is from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Category: Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Dalmatia, G.A.R., Georgetown, Pillow, Uniontown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 23, 2018

Peter Chubb died on 29 August 1913.  He is buried at the Long’s Cemetery, Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  There is a G.A.R. Star-Flag Holder at his grave site and it was previously noted on this blog that he was a Civil War veteran.  See: Halifax Area Civil War List.

The obituary of Peter Chubb appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph, 30 Aug 1913:

PETER CHUBB

Matamoras — Peter Chubb, 75 years old, who had been confined to his room at the home of his brother, H N. Chubb Sr., for several weeks, died yesterday morning.  Mr. Chubb was the oldest citizen of Matamoras, and practically spent his entire life in this immediate vicinity.  He served as a volunteer soldier during the Civil War.  Mr. Chubb was never married and always made his home with his brother Henry.  He was a blacksmith by trade and worked in his brother’s shop.

Peter Chubb‘s Civil War service is summarized on his Veterans’ File Card found at the Pennsylvania Archives:

On 11 August 1863, he was mustered into Company I as a a Private in the 143rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  Other than his age, which was 25 at the time, no personal information about him in on the card.  His discharge occurred on 2 March 1964 and was due to receipt of a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability.  It should be noted here that while the 143rd Pennsylvania Infantry was at Gettysburg, Peter Chubb entered the service after the battle and therefore his name does not appear on a tablet on the Pennsylvania Memorial.

The Pension Index Card from Fold3 summarizes his pension history:

The pension application was made early, on 28 June 1964, less than 3 months following his discharge.  Since he received the pension early, as noted by the low certificate number, the disability was likely connected to the reasons for his discharge.  The death date of 29 August 1913, and location of Powl’s Valley is also indicated in the card.

The value of the actual pension application papers in determining the reason for the awarding of the pension is evident in this case.  It can be generally assumed that early-granted pensions were the result of wounds received in battle.  However, in his own words, Peter Chubb gives the nature of the claimed disability – a disease!  From the application:

In the year 1863, while serving in the U.S. Army, while at Warrington Junction, Virginia, I believe that said disease originated from general exposure and hardship while in the army.  As I never was afflicted with diseases of heart and dropsy after having been exposed to all kinds of weather in the army.

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News clipping is from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Disability and Obituary of Peter Chubb of Matamoras
Tags: G.A.R., Halifax, Halifax Township, Matamoras, Powell's Valley

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 22, 2018

When Riley Bressler died on 7 December 1899, two local newspapers published lengthy obituaries of him.

The West Schuylkill Herald of Tower City, Schuylkill County, said the following in its 14 December 1899 edition:

DEATH OF RILEY BRESSLER

Riley Bressler who’s serious illness we mentioned in last week’s issue, passed peacefully away at about 1 a.m., on Thursday of last week, surrounded by the members of his family.  His death was due to several strokes of paralysis which afflicted him during the past year.  The funeral took place from his late residence on Grand Avenue [Tower City], on Monday.  Services were held at the house at 2 p.m. by Rev. Wayne Campbell, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  At 3 p.m., the cortege left the house and proceeded to the W. V. R [Williams Valley Railroad] station, where a special train was in waiting to convey the remains to Lykens, where interment took place.  The funeral was in charge of K. of P. of Lykens, of which the deceased was a member. A large number of friends from this and neighboring towns were also in attendance.

The deceased was a man of a quiet unassuming manner and had many friends here who regret his untimely taking off.

Riley Bressler was born at Gratz, Dauphin County, 20 September 1935.  He learned the tinsmith trade at Berrysburg under John Witman.  Later was an employee of Val Strichter, of Pottsville.

In 1855 he went to Wiconisco to manage the tinsmith business of Samuel Snyder, of Berrysburg.  The business was carried on in a small shop on the site of ‘Squire Hawk’s present house.  In a short time he purchased the business and soon after, the building having been sold, he built a store in April 1856, near where Mr. Lamey’s hardware store is now located.  During the summer of the same year he moved his business to Lykens and settled in the building he had built on the lot where Hon. A. F. Thompson‘s residence now stands.  Here he remained, doing a prosperous business, until December 1858 when he sold the business to Judge Snyder, of Berrysburg.

From 1851-1862 he was engaged in helping to sink the slope at Lykens known as the Short Mountain Slope; and as engineer at Lykens Valley Breaker, then under management of Harry Thomas; and as a miner in the Short Mountain Colliery.

For his country’s defence, he served in Company K, 173rd Regiment [173rd Pennsylvania Infantry] for 9 months, being discharged in August 1863.  On his return from the front he helped to drive the Williamstown Tunnel at which he worked till 1864 when he gave up mining to resume work at his trade being employed by Peter Kline until February 1865.  At this time he re-enlisted in the 16th Cavalry [16th Pennsylvania Cavalry] and served until the close of the war.

On his return to Lykens, he again worked for Mr. Kline until 1867 when he and Jonas Garman, of Lykens, purchased the business then located at the corner of Market and North Second Streets, from Mr. Kline.  The firm was then known as Garman and Bressler and this partnership existed for eight years when Mr. Garman sold his interest to Mr. Bressler, who continued the business in the old stand until 1893 when his son H. A. Bressler purchased the stock.

He and his family moved to our borough [Tower City] in April 1892 where he and his son Harper T. Bressler have carried on a prosperous hardware business under the firm name of Riley Bressler and Company.

He was a director in and one of the originators of the Citizens Water Company.  He served several terms as a councilman in Lykens and in 1881 served a term as Chief Burgess of the Borough of Lykens.

He was married on 31 July 1856 to Miss Mary Thomas of Lykens.  Eleven children blessed this union, six of whom survive:  Harper T. Bressler; Harry A. Bressler; Margaret E. Bressler; Edward I. Bressler; Katherine M. Bressler; and Calder R. Bressler.

And, the following was stated by the Lykens Register, 14 December 1899:

Biography of Riley Bressler

A man of so excellent a type and possessed of rare business method which made him so successful in life, as the late Riley Bressler of Tower City, needs more than an announcement of his death, for a life as his is well to be written in detail.

Mr. Bressler was born in Gratz, 20 September 1835.  When a young man he with his father, John Bressler, moved to the old homestead back of Berrysburg, about 1 1/2 miles from the farm now owned by Mr. Shoop.  At the age of fourteen years he began to learn his trade – tinsmith – serving his full apprenticeship with John Witman.  Later he went to Pottsville to work for Mr. Stickler.  July 1855, he came to Wiconisco to conduct the business for Samuel Snyder – the place of business being situated on the lot now occupied by the dwelling of ‘Squire Hawk.  Always being attentive to his business and finding that he was able to conduct business for himself, he in the spring of 1856, bought out Mr. Snyder and after erecting a little shop opposite the drug store of J. S. Prout, he moved into his new quarters.  In the fall he sold the building to Stephen Prout.  After disposing of the same he moved to Lykens and erected a shop on the site now occupied by the house of Ex-Senator A. F. Thompson, and moved his stock to Lykens in 1857, and adjoining built himself a dwelling.  December 1857, he sold the stock to J. D. Snyder of Berrysburg, and 1858 followed by disposing of the dwelling to George D. Daniels.  He then worked in the mines, part of the time spent in running the breaker engine.

Being desirous of following his old trade, in 1862 he went to work for Peter Kline.  The War of the Rebellion now breaking out and being loyal to the Stars and Stripes he entered the service of his country — being drafted 16 October 1862.  After serving ten months he was honorably discharged, as 3rd Sergeant under Captain Harper, of Company K, 173rd Regiment [173rd Pennsylvania Infantry].  In the year of 1864 he helped to sink Short Mountain Slope and open the Mountain Slope and open the colliery at Williamstown.  Again in 1865 he volunteered in Company B, 16th Cavalry [16th Pennsylvania Cavalry] and served until the close of the war.

Returning with the honors of war he started to work at his trad for Peter Kline.  In 1867 the latter sold out to Jonas Garman and Mr. Bressler – the firm being Garman and Bressler.  In 1868, Mr. Bressler sold his property on Market Street to William Thomas and bought back the brick dwelling now occupied by his son, H. A. Bressler.  Here he and Mr. Garman conducted their business, also operating a branch store at Williamstown.  Later Mr. Bressler erected the building where Edward Lebo now conducts business.  This stand was managed by Joe Witman.  In 1870 he sold out to the latter, and later bought the interest of his partner, Mr. Garman, and conducted the business until 1891, when he disposed of the same to his son, H. A. Bressler, who is still conducting the business at the old stand.  In 1887, Mr. Bressler bought out Samuel Schultz at Tower City and started the firm of Riley Bressler and Company.  In 1891, he moved to the latter place and erected a house and lived there until his death.

Mr. Bressler was a charter member of Lykens Lodge, No. 106, K. of P., and in 1881 was elected Chief Burgess of Lykens.  During his life he learned the trade of tinsmith to Joe Ferree,John Granger, Harry Blyler,Edward Lebo, Foster Hoethlander, James Bressler, H. A. Bressler, and William Kauderman, and bought out the firms of Edward Lebo, Lykens; Jacob Housler, Millersburg; Edward Fegley,Tower City; Mr. Loughton, Minersville, and Samuel Shultz, Tower City.

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News articles from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Death of Riley Bressler, 1899
Tags: Berrysburg, Gratz, Lykens, Millersburg, Tower City, Wiconisco, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 21, 2018

An undated patriotic post card with verse, “Glory guards, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead!  1861-1861.”  The monuments shown at right represent the Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

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Image provided by Debby Rabold, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from a family collection.

Category: Resources | 1 Comment »
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 20, 2018

A 1904 picture post card view of Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

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Image provided by Debby Rabold, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from a family collection.

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