Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 14, 2011

Zion’s Lutheran and German Reformed Church and Cemetery, also known as Hoover‘s Church, is located just north of Route 209 in Rife, Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Rife is a small village located to the west of Elizabethville.  Today, the church is known as Zion Lutheran Church and its pastor is Rev. Beth George.  The cemetery is located on the east side of Rife Road and the church is located on the west side.  Yesterday, one Civil War burial was featured, that of John Y. Lenker.  Today, three more burials will be noted.

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JOHN H. PIKE (1830-1890)

The grave marker for John H. Pike is an official military issue and is in the ground at the Zion (Hoover’s) Church Cemetery in Rife.  John H. Pike was born in 1830 and not much is known about his parentage at this time.  during the Civil War, he served in the 122nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, from 11 August 1862 to 15 May 1863.  John was a laborer in Upper Paxton Township in 1870 and in Washington Township in 1880.  He and his wife Lydia had one known child, Sarah Pike, who was born about 1870.  Although he applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service, he was not approved.  However, after his death, Lydia applied for a widow’s pension which she was able to receive.  To note his Civil War service, John H. Pike‘s name appears on the Millersburg Monument.

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JAMES WISE (1845-1908)

James Wise was born in Pennsylvania in 1845.  Genealogical connections to his parents are still being researched.  In 1864, he joined the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company C, and served as a Private until 17 June 1865.  About 1870, he married Mary Anne Paul and settled in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County where he continued to live and work as a farmer and laborer until his death.  He and Mary had three known children (birth years approximate):  Margaret E. Wise (1870); Harry W. Wise (1872); and Sallie V. Wise (1879).  His name appears on the Millersburg Monument as a Civil War veteran from the Upper Paxton Township-Millersburg area.  James Wise‘s Civil War service qualified him for a pension, which he collected until his death which occurred about one month after his wife died in 1908.  He and Mary are buried together in the Zion (Hoover’s) Church Cemetery in Rife.

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AARON SNYDER (1839-1877)

Questions remain about whether the Aaron Snyder who is buried in the Zion (Hoover’s) Church Cemetery is the same Aaron Snyder who is named on the Millersburg Civil War Monument as a veteran.  Since there are several persons of the same name and of the same approximate age who lived in the same general area, it is possible that this may not be a match.  Any readers with further information are urged to present it to help clarify the record.

Category: Memorials, Research, Stories | Comments Off on Zion (Hoover’s) Church and Cemetery, Rife – Part 2
Tags: Cemeteries, Elizabethville, Millersburg, Paul family, Pike family, Regiments, Rife, Snyder family, Upper Paxton Township, Washnigton Township, Wise family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 13, 2011

Zion’s Lutheran and German Reformed Church and Cemetery, also known as Hoover‘s Church, is located just north of Route 209 in Rife, Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Rife is a small village located to the west of Elizabethville.  Today, the church is known as Zion Lutheran Church and its pastor is Rev. Beth George.  The cemetery is located on the east side of Rife Road and the church is located on the west side.

According to the name stone over the front door, the church was founded in 1843, so the congregation was active during the Civil War, but the building was rebuilt in 1882.

There are several Civil War veterans buried in the cemetery.

JOHN YEAGER LENKER (1844-1899)

John Yeager Lenker was born in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, the son of Nicholas Lenker (1814-1888) and Catherine [Yeager] Lenker (1819-1895).  Nicholas was a farmer and John, at an early age, worked on the family farm as a farm hand, first in Mifflin Township and then in Upper Paxton Township.  Late in the Civil War, March 1865, John joined the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G and served until June 1865 when he was discharged at New Bern, North Carolina.  Upon return to Pennsylvania, he settled in the Upper Paxton Township-Millersburg area and took up farming.  He married Lydia Hilde and had these children (dates approximate):  William Lenker (1868); George Lenker (1870) Alvin N. Lenker (1872); Catherine “Katie” Lenker (1874); and Mary Lenker (1879).  John Y. Lenker died in 1899 and is buried in Zion (Hoover’s) Cemetery in Rife.  For his part in the war, John Y. Lenker‘s name appears on the Millersburg Civil War Monument.  He also collected an invalid pension which his widow was able to also collect after his death.

Tomorrow, three additional Civil War burials will be featured from this cemetery.

Category: Memorials, Research, Stories | Comments Off on Zion (Hoover’s) Church and Cemetery, Rife – Part 1
Tags: Cemeteries, Elizabethville, Hilde family, Hoover family, Lenker family, Lower Mahanoy Township, Miffliun Township, Millersburg, Rife, Upper Paxton Township, Yeager family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 12, 2011

The obituary of John Adam Klinger appeared in the Lykens Standard on 9 Jan 1903:

LYKENS.– John A. Klinger, a former resident of this place, died of asthma at his home in Minersville last week and was buried on Sunday.  He was married to Amanda, daughter of the late Jonas Hoffman and wife of this place who with the following children survive:  Maggie, Mrs. John Crump of Philadelphia, Charles, Lulu, and Harry at home.  Mr. Klinger was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of the Williamstown Post G.A.R.  During his residence here he was a brakeman on Conductor Daniel Miller’s passenger train.  Grant Hoover of Main street, a nephew, attended the funeral.

Previously, John Adam Klinger was discussed in the post entitled, “The Descendants of Johann Peter Klinger and Catharina Steinbruch.”  As a decendant of Catharina Steinbruch, John Adam Klinger was also a descendant of Johann Peter Hoffman, pioneer settler of the Lykens Valley.  See post entitled, “Hoffman Family Civil War Veterans.”  The wife of John Adam Klinger, Ellen Amanda [Hoffman] Klinger (1848-1917) was also a direct descendant of Johann Peter Hoffman through his son John Nicholas Hoffman (1749-1814).

John Adam Klinger served in the 208th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private, from 30 August 1864 through 1 June 1865.  For his service, he was eligible for a pension, which he collected until his death.  After his death, his widow applied and received the pension until her death in 1917.

A Veterans’ Burial Card from the Pennsylvania Archives indicates that John Adam Klinger was buried in Mt. Peace Cemetery, Branch Township, Schuylkill County.

John Adam Klinger was born in Jordan Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, the son of Elias Klinger and Lucy Ann [Troutman] Klinger.  Elias was a farmer and a miller.  The family moved to Mifflin Township by 1860, after John’s mother died in 1857.  In addition to serving as a brakeman on a passenger train (as is stated in the obituary), John Adam Klinger also worked as a miller and a coal miner.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Obituary of John Adam Klinger
Tags: G.A.R., Hoffman family, Jordan Township, Klinger family, Mifflin Township, Regiments, Troutman family, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 11, 2011

In the files of the Gratz Historical Society are a number of unidentified or partially identified photos, some of which pertain to the Civil War.  The photo shown above was contributed to the society with the only identification as, “Devil’s Den, c. 1910., The Miller Family”  The Society has an original print of the photograph.  By clicking on a picture, it will enlarge and much of the detail can be seen.

The picture above is cut from the larger picture at Devil’s Den.  It has been identified as James Miller from other photographs of him that are available at the Gratz Historical Society.  James Miller has not been identified as a veteran of the Civil War, but from the information on his grave stone in Elizabethville, he would have been of the age to have served.

The other people in the photo have not yet been identified.

Any and all help would be appreciated in further identifying these photos and telling of the circumstances under which they were taken.  Was this a re-union or an excursion?  How did the groups get to Gettysburg?  Are there any individuals in the photos who can be identified?

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Another Devil’s Den Photo from Gettysburg – The Miller Family
Tags: Elizabethville, Miller family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 10, 2011

The following article appeared in the Lykens Standard, 9 January 1903:

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

LYKENS.– The annual installation of the officers of the G.A.R., the Woman’s Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans of this place was held in the elegant hall of the G.A.R. building last Thursday evening.  The veterans, their wives and sons and daughters and many friends assembled to witness the installation ceremonies and to enjoy a social evening in listening to the excellent music and speeches of the evening, and sit a sumptious tables as a finale of thse pleasant annual occurrences in G.A.R. circles.

Mrs. Charles E. Mosser of Hughesville, but a former Lykens lady, sang two solos during the evening, which added greatly to the enjoyment of all present.  The Hoffman boys’ quartet also sang to the delight of the guests.  The installation services on these occasions are always beautiful, solemn and impressive, and if those who so often witness these patriotic rites and ceremonies, would live up to their obligations and teachings, they could not fail but be a means of inculcating a lofty patriotism in the minds and hearts of all who attend them.

The Rev. J. R. Groff of St. John’s Lutheran Church, made the first speech of the evening.  He had been present at the dedication of the the National Cemetery at Gettysburg when Abraham Lincoln dedicated those historic grounds; sat on the platform with the dignitaries on that occasion; shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and was always deeply interested in the veterans of the Civil War.  He reminded his hearers that the exercises were to conclude in the room beneath them, and never liked to interfere with the banqueting features of these occasions would conclude his speech.

Prof. Yeingst was called and made a few remarks.  Rev. I. M. Fetterolf of the Reformed Church reminded his hearers that he appeared in the capacity of chief mourner on the occasion.  He illustrated by saying that the nearest relative to one who was being conveyed to his funeral, objected to riding in the carriage next to the hearse, but upon being urged to do so consented, with the remark that it would take all the pleasure out of the occasion for her.  So a speech on this occasion, marred his pleasure.

Rev. D. L. Mackensie was called on to make some remarks, and assured all present that they would be happier and have a better opinion of themselves tomorrow morning, if they did not get down very soon into the room below, and if they did not tarry long when they got there.  He was thinking of the nightmares and bad headaches that resulted from late banquets.  He then reminded all present that the occasion was an important one for instilling some useful lessons, and made a speech abounding with lofty patriotism.  He advised the Sons of Veterans to remember the solemn vows they had taken with uplifted right hand and with the left hand on the open Bible amid the display of American flags all around them.  He advised them to put away all vices and be worth to be the custodians of the flag and institutions of freedom which the veterans would soon hand over to them untarnished.

The Rev. Collum was called on and remarked that Mr. Fetterolf had preempted the story that he was going to tell.  But he said he was like the colored evangelist in the days of the Second Adventists who had made all arrangements to ascend into Heaven when the world would come to an end.  The colored brother had led his flock out into a hay field.  The evangelist had gotten on top of a stack of hay, all arrayed in white, and awaited calmly the end.  Some wag struck a match and set fire to the haystack, and with flames rising on all sides of him, the evangelist cried, “I’m in hell, just as I expected.”  This is the way a speech on this occasion made the speaker feel.

The services concluded in the hall, all descended to the dining room, where elegant refreshments awaited them.  After suppylying all the wants of the physical man the guests of the evening retired to their homes with delightful memories of the evening.  The officers installed during the evening were as follows:

G.A.R.:  POST COMMANDER, John Zarker;  VICE COMMANDER, Amos Kuntzelman; SECOND VICE COMMANDER, Josiah Minnich; QUARTERMASTER, Rev. L. D. Steckel; ADJUTANT, George A. Pinkerton; OFFICER OF THE DAY, William Hawk; SERGEANT, M. M. Hoffman; CHAPLAIN, Cyrus Bitterman; OUTER GUARD, William Williams; TRUSTEES, Joseph Buchanan, M. M. Hoffman, Cyrus Bitterman; DELEGATE TO STATE CONVENTION, M. M. Hoffman; ALTERNATE, A. Kuntzelman.

WOMAN’S RELIEF CORPS:  PRESIDENT, Lucy Alvord; SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Laura Barrett; JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Kate Nau; SECRETARY, Ella A. Ely; TREASURER, Sarah Myers; CHAPLAIN, Lydia Kerschner; CONDUCTOR, Ellen Minnich; ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR, Anna Hoover; GUARD, Harriet Ely; ASSISTANT GUARD, Matilda Bainbridge; FIRST COLOR BEARER, Ellen Seal; SECOND COLOR BEARER, Clara Miller; THIRD COLOR BEARER, Rebecca Ely; FOURTH COLOR BEARER, Sarah Fothingill.

SONS OF VETERANS:  CAPTAIN, Ed M. Keiser; FIRST SERGEANT, Amos Minnich; FIRST LIEUTENANT, Harris St. Clair; SECOND LIEUTENANT, William Hoffman; QUARTERMASTER, Samuel Spangler; CHAPLAIN, Elmer Spangler; CHORISTER, Harry Grow; OUTER GUARD, Albert Hoffman; INNER GUARD, John Williams; CAMP COUNCIL, H. F. Bueck, — Hoffman, Amos Minnich.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Lykens G.A.R. Installs Officers, 1903
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, G.A.R., Lykens Borough, Women