Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 14, 2011

The focus in the blog post today is on those men who were drafted into Company I of the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry and subsequently deserted.  To determine which men deserted, the roll of the company was examined.  Company rolls are found at the Pennsylvania Archives.  The roll of this company can be found on-line as follows:  :  page 1; Company I, page 2; Company I, page 3; and Company I, page 4.

As previously noted in other posts, the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry was a drafted militia to meet the call of Gov. Andrew Curtin in late 1862.  It was captained by Benjamin J. Evitts who was from Lykens Township and Gratz in Dauphin County and most of the men who served in the company were known to Evitts prior to his appointment as Captain.  During its nine months of service for the Commonwealth, it sustained no battle-related casualties.  Prior posts on Benjamin J. Evitts can be located by clicking on the tag, “Evitts Family.”  For prior posts on the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, click here.

DESERTERS FROM COMPANY I, 177th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

JACOB COLEMAN.  Born about 1822.  Draftee from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Mustered in on 2 November 1862 by Capt. Norton.  Deserted from Camp Curtin on 2 November 1862.  Jacob lived in Lykens Township before the war.  After he deserted, he moved about and eventually attempted (unsuccessfully) to apply for an invalid pension.  After his death, his widow, Elizabeth [Savage] Coleman, also attempted to get a pension based on his “service” in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry.  She too was unsuccessful.  The Pension Index Card which references the applications is shown below:

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JOHN LENTZ JR.   Born about 1835.  Draftee from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Mustered in on 2 November 1862 by Capt. Norton.  Deserted from Camp Curtin on 12 November 1862.

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MARTIN LUBOLD.  Born about 1827.  Draftee from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Mustered in on 2 November 1862 by Capt. Norton.  Deserted from Camp Curtin on 12 November 1862.

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DANIEL McCURTIN.  Born about 1821.  Draftee from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Mustered in on 2 November 1862 by Capt. Norton.  Deserted from Camp Curtin on 24 November 1862.

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JACOB WALBORN.  Born about 1839.  Draftee from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Mustered in on 2 November 1862 by Capt. Norton.  Deserted from Camp Curtin on 24 November 1862.

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Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Cards are from the Pennsylvania Archives.   The Pension Index Card is from Ancestry.com.

The Civil War Research Project is seeking more information on the draftees who deserted from Company I, 177th Pennsylvania Infantry.  The men named above may not have previously been included in the Civil War Research Project, but if they have a geographic connection to the Lykens Valley area, they should be included – whether or not they served in other units during the war.  The fact that they reported for duty is enough for them to be included in the Pennsylvania statistics and in most of the databases of Civil War soldiers.  And, as can be seen from the above information, one is even found in the pension application records – applying for a pension he could not possible qualify for because of the desertion!

The post tomorrow will look at those who were drafted into Company I, 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, who paid to have a substitute serve in their place.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Andrew Curtin, Coleman family, Evitts family, Gratz Borough, Lentz family, Lubold family, Lykens Township, McCurtin family, Regiments, Savage family, Walborn family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 13, 2011

Henry Alexander Ogden (1856-1936) was a Philadelphia-born illustrator of historical subjects who, for many years was an employee of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper in New York.  He made a reputation for himself by traveling extensively throughout the American west and Europe and sending back more than 200 illustrations used in Leslie’s.  After 1881, Ogden worked free-lance and obtained a contract with the United States Army to produce historical drawings representing the various official military uniforms throughout American history.  He was also a prolific book illustrator and as such, was contracted to produce eight historical pieces in water color representing significant events in the Civil War.  These Civil War paintings were published in folios that became part of the War Memorial Association’s commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Civil War in 1911.  All told, there were 16 sections to the volume that was produced with Ogden’s paintings comprising the color illustrations for the first eight sections.

The other eight sections of the book had color plates that had previously been published years earlier as part of a series produced by the printing house of Louis Prang of Boston.

For his efforts, Ogden received credit on the title page.

In addition to the Ogden original paintings and Prang reproductions, the volume is filled with examples of wartime photography, much of it attributed to Brady and his colleagues.

The Gratz Historical Society possesses a first edition of this fiftieth anniversary commemoration entitled, A History of the Civil War, 1861-1865, and the Causes that Led Up to the Great Conflict, by Benson J. Lossing.  The Society has photographed the sixteen plates for reference and research purposes and low resolution scans of each of the Ogden paintings are presented below. Each painting has been digitally “matted” and “framed” for this web “exhibit.”  Click on the images to enlarge these low resolution scans.  High resolution scans are available for viewing and research purposes at the Gratz Historical Society.

CIVIL WAR ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. A. OGDEN

Grant in the Wilderness – May 5, 1864

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Sheridan at Five Forks – April 1, 1865

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Sherman at Kenesaw Mountain – October 4, 1864

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Thomas at Chickamauga – September 20, 1863

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Hooker at Chancellorsville – May 3, 1863

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Meade at Gettysburg – July 2, 1863

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McClellan at Antietam – September 17, 1862

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Burnside at Fredericksburg – December 13, 1862

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Category: Resources, Stories | 6 Comments »
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 12, 2011

The original purchaser of Lot #46 from Simon Gratz in 1818 was Joshua Ossman.  In 1820, Ossman left Gratz and sold the lot to Charles Coleman who owned it until he died in 1839 whereupon it is listed through his estate until 1852 when it was obtained by Jacob Laudenslager (1796-1869).  During the estate period, the house, believed to have been built sometime before 1840, was rented by John Workman, a gunsmith.

In 1859, at a sheriff’s sale, the property was conveyed to Isaac Moyer who also owned Gratz Lots #45 and #47 just across Market Street.  Moyer was a successful flour and feed merchant who was known for his adventures during the California Gold Rush of 1849.  Moyer rented the property to Zacharias Laudenslager (1834-1901), whose father has lost it in the sheriff’s sale of 1859.  About one year later, Zacharias was able to purchase the property back from Moyer.  The family of Zacharias, including the father, Jacob, lived or visited here throughout the Civil War.

The earliest found picture of this house is shown above, taken in the second half of the twentieth century.

Zacharias Laudenslager

Not much is known of the activities conducted at this property during the Civil War.  The 1860 and 1870 Censuses list Zacharias as a farmer.  Jacob Laudenslager died in 1869 and by 1872, Zacharias sold the property to Cyrene T. Bowman (1843-1919), a Civil War veteran.  Since Bowman only owned the property for about 10 days before he re-sold it, he most likely did not live here.  Other Gratz properties owned by Bowman were Lots #5 and #7.

Peter M. Kembel (1819-1891) purchased the building and land in 1872.  Kembel had been living at Fort Jackson, well south of Market Street, and probably farmed the land around the fort prior to moving onto Market Street with his large family.  Neither Peter Kembel or any of his children have yet been associated with Civil War service, although some of the sons were of age to have served.  Fort Jackson and the farm land around it have been previously associated with the Gratztown Militia.  The 1880 Census indicates Peter Kembel was a laborer.

After Peter Kembel died, his son John Kembel sold Lot #46 and its buildings through auction to Isaac Hepler (1838-1918), a Civil War veteran, who with his wife Amanda [Harper] Hepler was associated with many other properties in Gratz.  The Hepler family held the property, probably renting it, until 1897, when it was sold first to Harvey C. Fidler, and then in 1900, to Aaron S. Ritzman (1858-1928) and his wife Amelia Laudenslager (1857-1931), a daughter of Civil War owner Zacharias Laudenslager.  Amelia had lived in the house as a child during the Civil War as the Census of 1860 shows below.

Thus, coming full circle in three generations, the Zacharias Laudenslager House was owned by the father Jacob Laudenslager, lost at sheriff’s sale, repurchased by the son Zacharias, sold again, and finally re-claimed by the daughter Amelia [Laudenslager] Ritzman who was raised here as a child during the Civil War.  The Ritzman’s owned the property until 1911 when it was sold back to another previous owner, Harvey C. Fidler.

This is part 20 of an ongoing series on Gratz during the Civil War.  Some of the information for this post was taken from the book A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania.

Other posts on Gratz During the Civil War can be accessed by clicking on the tag, “Walking Tour” in the “Topics” area of the blog.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Gratz During the Civil War – Zacharias Laudenslager House
Tags: Bowman family, Coleman family, Gratz Borough, Gratz family, Hepler family, Kembel family, Laudenslager family, Moyer family, Ossman family, Ritzman family, Walking Tour, Workman family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 11, 2011

SUDDEN DEATH OF JOHN L. MATTER

LYKENS — Shortly after 10 o’clock Saturday morning our citizens were shocked by the announcement that John L. Matter died suddenly at his home on Main street.  Inquiry elicited the fact that just a few minutes previous to his demise William James, the apprentice in Mr. Matter’s tailoring establishment, had come down from the sewing room on the second floor to have him mark where to hem a pair of pants.  Mr. Matter took the pair of pants and sent the young man upstairs for something, and as he reached the top step heard the lower door close, as this was Mr. Matter’s method of signaling him to come down.  He found his employer lying on the floor near the centre of the room, purple in the face and apparently strangling.  The boy immediately summoned Mrs. Matter and her niece, Miss Carrie Gratz, when Mrs. Matter lifted her husband’s head to her knee after which he breathed twice and expired.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock, services being held at his late residence, at which his pastor, Rev. B. F. Powell of the M. E. church, officiated, assisted by Revs. L. D. Steckel and Frederick Getty.  Besides a large number of relatives and friends, Wiconisco Lodge No. 533, I.O.O.F., of which he had been treasurer, and Heilner Post, No. 232, G.A.R., attended in a body. Interment took place on the family burial plot in Odd Fellows cemetery.  The pallbearers were selected from the above named organizations, and J. S. Reiff was the funeral director.

Those attending the funeral from a distance were as follows:  Mrs. John Greenawalt, New York City; Mrs. John O’Neill, Miss Helen Greenawalt, North Clarendon; Mrs. William Bachman, Mrs. Gussler, Mrs. Syler, Sunbury; Mrs. Stroup, Walter Reinhart, Shamokin; Charles Martz, Lock Haven; William Martz, Tower City; Michael Matter and wife, William Messersmith, Mr. Lenker, Mr. Crow, John Messersmith, Miss Bordner, Mrs. Williard, Elizabethville; Mr. Minnich, George Wren and wife, Williamstown; J. H. Stroup, wife and two children, Mrs. Frain, F. W. Sponsler, and wife, Millersburg; Mrs. Jonathan B. Wright, Miss Hannah Weaver, Miss Lillian Holland, Warren E. Yeager, Philadelphia; G. B. Brubaker and wife, Lancaster; H.M. Silverood and wife, Harrisburg; Samuel Orndorff and wife, Miss Jennie Fencil, Steelton; Clara Weaver, Mr. Woodside and wife, Berrysburg; James A. deR. Griesemer and wife, New York City.

Deceased was a son of Christian Matter and wife (nee Lenker) and was born in Washington Township on 8 February 1839.  About the year 1855 he went to Wiconisco to learn the tailoring trade with Jonathan B. Matter, but was with him only about a year when Mr. Matter failed, after which deceased came to Lykens to finish his trade with Amos Kuntzelman.  On Jonathan Matter’s return to Lykens, he again entered his employ and remained with him until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he laid aside the needle to take up the sword in defense of his country.  His first enlistment was for three months in the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, under Captain E. G. Savage.  on 14 September of the same year he re-enlisted with Capt. Savage for three years’ service with the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was veteranized, 1 January 1863 with the same regiment and E. A. Hancock, Captain and was honorably discharged at Harrisburg on 18 July 1865.  he served as an orderly under Col. Francis Jordan in Sherman’s army and had the honor of capturing a Confederate Colonel after an exciting chase of several miles through a  southern wilderness.

After being mustered out of the service he returned to Lykens and engaged in the tailoring business in the basement of J. C. Miller‘s store on Market street.  On 31 October 1865 he married Harriet, daughter of William Martz of this place and about the year 1870 built his present commodious tailoring establishment and residence on East Main street.  His marriage resulted in the birth of three children….

In the death of Mr. Matter, Lykens loses one of its most respected citizens and the  family a kind and good husband and father.  He has held various positions of honor in borough council… and has been treasurer of the local lodge of Odd Fellows since 1874.  He also has for years been a consistent member of the Methodist church and one of its most ardent supporters.  He was one of the veterans in this section to advance the organization of a Grand Army post at this place and has always taken a deep interest in its welfare.

The above article is taken from the Lykens Standard of 6 September 1901.  A complete copy of the obituary is available from the Civil War Research Project.  Mr. Matter is buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery (I.O.O.F.) in Lykens.  Contributions of pictures, documents, etc., pertaining to John L. Matter are sought for the Civil War Research Project.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Sudden Death of John L. Matter
Tags: Berrysburg, Elizabethville, G.A.R., Gratz family, Lykens, Matter family, Millersburg, Regiments, Tower City, Washington Township, Wiconisco, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 10, 2011

Yesterday, the All Wars Memorial of Pine Grove‘s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post was featured.  Today the focus will be on the Pine Grove American Legion All Wars Memorial.

The American Legion Post #374 of Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, is located at the corner of Pottsville Street and Tulpehocken Street.  The All Wars Memorial fronts along Tulpehocken Street and consists of two rows of bronze emblem-flag holders representing each of America’s wars.  The rows of flag holders frame the stairway leading into a garden and the main entrance to the building.  In the garden is an artillery piece from the 20th century (partially shown in the photo below).

The Civil War is represented by two bronze G.A.R. star-flag holders – one in each row on each side of the stairway.

Additional views of the All Wars Memorial are shown below:

Category: Memorials | Comments Off on Pine Grove American Legion All Wars Memorial
Tags: G.A.R., Monument, Pine Grove