Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 4, 2011

The Branch Dale All Wars Memorial is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Route 209 and New Mines Street, Branch Dale, Reilly Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The monument inscription reads:

Dedicated in Honor of the Men and Women of this Community who Served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America in World War I * World War II * Korean * Vietnam.  Erected by the Wainwright Club 1958.

On each side of the stone are bronze flag holders representing all wars.

The G.A.R Star-Flag Holder represents the Civil War and is found on both the left and right sides of the stone.

A small park surrounds the memorial and offers a view of the main street of town.

Category: Memorials | Comments Off on Branch Dale, Reilly Township – All Wars Memorial
Tags: Branch Dale, G.A.R., Monument, Reilly Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 3, 2011

The Newtown All Wars Memorial is located in a small park just off Tremont Street in Newtown, Reilly Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The memorial is dedicated to all veterans.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Two bronze plaques list the names of Newtown residents who served in the military.  The names on the plaques are listed alphabetically and are not separated by the war in which they fought.  Information is sought on whether any of the listed names are from the Civil War.

ROLL OF HONOR

Citizens of Newtown Served in the Armed Forces

Clarence Aucker —– Lawrence Bettinger —– Lester Bettinger —– John Blamey —– Lamar Blamey —— Michael Bouchalk —– Henry Garter —— Earl Dougherty —– Lamar Dougherty —– Charles Fultz —– George Frew Jr. —– Robert Frew —– Charles Gauntlett —– Thomas Gauntlett —– August Graeff —– Charles Graver —– Robert Gregory —– David Griffith —– Edward Huth —- George Ignatz —– Irma Irving —– Robert Irving —– Harold Jefferson —– John Kelly —– Henry Knauber —– Anthony Loftus —– Albert Minnichbach —– *Leslie Minnichbach —– John McCullough —– Charles McGovern —- Francis McGovern —– Edward McQuillan —– Merlin Near —– Gerald Neidlinger —– Joseph Neidlinger —– Orville Neidlinger —– Walter Ordlinger —– Frederick Ossman —– Norman Ossman —– John Oswald —– Thomas Oswald —– Richard Quinn —- Earl Renninger —– *Norman Renninger —– Theodore Renninger —– Thomas Roach —– Jules Romanko —– Oliver Shadle —– Harry Shuler —– William Stichler —– Norma Stine —- Francis Walsh —– Robert Withelder —– George Womer —- Charles Zerbe —- John Zernhelt —– James Zimmerman

Arthur Boyer —– Clair Dougherty —– Robert Faust —– Donald Frew —– Gerald Frew —– Philip Gauntlett —– Robert Graeff —– *Russell Hamershy —- *George Hancock —– John Hancock —– John Irving —- Thomas Kennedy —– Charles Neidlinger —– William Neidlinger —- Thomas Oswald —-Clyde Renninger —- William Shadle —– Bernard Stine —– Edward Stine —–George Stine —— Vincent Stine —— Louis Visintin —– Gene Zerbe —– Kathleen Zernhelt —– William Zernhelt

Category: Memorials | 1 Comment »
Tags: Monument, Newtown, Reilly Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 2, 2011

This is the ninth in a series of posts on Gratz during the Civil War. The current house on Lot #65 on the north side of Market Street was built about 1857.  Originally, this corner lot was purchased from Simon Gratz by George Philip Keener, a carpenter, but by 1852, it reverted back to the Gratz estate.  In 1855, it was purchased by Adaline [Kiener] Kauffman, the wife of Emanuel Kauffman, who sold the lot to her brother-in-law Jacob Kauffman who only kept it until 1856 when he sold it to Solomon Wolf, a carpenter.  Wolf then built the two-story house that stands there today and a tenant, John Schreffler, also a carpenter, took up residence there.

The above early twentieth century photograph was taken at the time when the house was owned by Elias Zerfing and some some or all of the unidentified individuals could be from the Elias Zerfing family.

Emanuel Kauffman (1822-1863) was a circuit rider for the Methodist Church and soon moved to Defiance County, Ohio, where he established churches.  At the time of the Civil War, his son Jonathan Kauffman (1843-1863) enlisted in the 21st Ohio Infantry, Company H as a Private, mustered in on 29 August 1861, was promoted to Corporal, and and eventually died on 27 October 1863 of wounds received at the Battle of Chattanooga,  He is buried in Chattanooga National Cemetery, Tennessee.  Emanuel Kauffman, served as a Captain in the 100th Ohio Infantry, Company I, from 22 July 1862 until 3 October 1863, when he died of typhoid fever at Knoxville, Tennessee, and is buried at Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville. 

Jacob Kauffman (1808-1878), older brother of Emanuel, built the first buildings on this lot, a house and stable which no longer stand today.  Jacob’s son Daniel E. Kauffman built the Union House in Tower City and was in the hotel and mercantile business there most of his life. Jacob’s son Jonathan Kauffman (1815-1860) was also a merchant and Jonathan’s children continued in the mercantile business in the Wiconisco and Tower City areas through the Civil War period.  Civil War service has not yet been located for any of Jacob Kauffman‘s direct descendants.

Solomon Wolf (1811-after 1865) owned the property during most of the Civil War.  He was born in Prussia, emigrated to America and originally settled in Harrisburg.  His carpentry business led him to Gratz where built houses.  In March, 1865, he sold the house and land of Lot #65 to Civil War veteran Elias Zerfing.  Wolf then retired to Harrisburg where he died some time after 1865.

Elias Zerfing (1838-1918) had the longest “Civil War association” with this house and land, owning it until his death in 1918.  Like the previous owners, Zerfing was a carpenter and he built attachments to the house and outbuildings to provide for his activities and supplies.  He continued in the home building business in the area for many years.  He purchased mountain land and felled the trees for lumber.  In addition to houses, he also made furniture and wooden tools.

The house was large enough for two families and at some point it was divided.  Elias and his wife, Elizabeth Hepner, lived on the east side.  Amelia Zerfing, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth, lived on the west side with her husband Edmund Kissinger.

Elias Zerfing was drafted into the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, as a Private, and served from 2 November 1862 through discharge on 5 August 1863. In the post-war period, he took an active part in many of the veterans’ activities in Gratz and the Lykens Township area.

Elias Zerfing died tragically in 1918 just a few days before the World War Armistice.  While he was felling lumber on one of his mountain properties, a tree fell on him causing fatal injures.  He was buried in Gratz Union Cemetery and in early 1919, the house and land were sold to Monroe E. Klinger (1879-1938).

Elias Zerfing (1838-1918)

Some of the information for this post was taken from the book A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania.

Category: Research, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Gratz Borough, Gratz family, Hepner family, Kauffman family, Kiener family, Kissinger family, Klinger family, Lykens Township, Regiments, Schreffler family, Tower City, Walking Tour, Wolf family, Zerfing family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 1, 2011

DEATH OF DR. J. L. BRALLIER

LYKENS – Dr. Jacob L. Brallier of Lewisburg, Pa., formerly a resident of this place, died on Saturday last of chronic cerebral disease, aged 67 years.  The funeral was held Tuesday interment at Lewisburg cemetery.

Dr. Brallier was born in Bedford county, this state, in 1834, where he lived until about six years of age when he moved with his parents to Cambria county, to what was then almost a wilderness, and spent his boyhood on a farm.  At the age of 21 years he went to Johnstown to learn the carpenter trade, but finding he had missed his calling he abandoned this, and went to school at Lewisburg college (now Bucknell University,) and then read medicine with Dr. William Lemon at Ebensburg.  After a course at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, he began the practice of medicine in ’61 at Carrolltown, Cambria county.

In July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 115th Reg’t Pa. Vols. [115th Pennsylvania Infantry] and was commissioned first lieutenant.  When the regiment wasa organized he was appointed adjutant.  During the winter following he was sent to Philadelphia with a regiment of men to hunt up deserters, and succeeded in getting them.  while there he suffered a stroke of apoplexy.  After he was able he returned to his regiment, but his health completely failing he was honorably discharged on a physician’s certificate of disability.  In 1863 he entered the State service for one month, and in August, 1864, re-enlisted, joining the 184th regiment [184th Pennsylvania Infantry] and was commissioned hospital steward, serving until the close of the war, wehn he was honorably discharged, and returning to Carrolltown a second time to resume the practice of medicine.

In 1866 he was appointed postmaster of Carrolltown, and during the same year was married to Miss Margaret Klockner of New Berlin, Union county.  A year or two later, moving to Philadelphia, he engaged with the wholesale drug firm of Zeigler & Smith as traveling salesman, and continued selling drugs on the road, representing Messr. Smith, Kline & Co., and afterward Messrs. French, Richards, & Co., all of Philadelphia, and later Messrs. KcKesson & Robbins of New York, making his home for some years in Philadelphia, afterward at Harrisburg and later at the Logan House in Altoona, where his wife died in 1882.  The same year he left the road and located at this place [Lykens], engaging in the retail drug business in the Garman building on Main street, at present used as a postoffice.

In 1885 he married Miss Mary Reber of Lewisburg.

Mr. Brallier was a charter member of Lykens Conclave, No. 109, I.O.H., in which he carried an endowment of $1,000.  His health failing in 1885 he sold out his business and removed to Lewisburg.  Gaining somewhat in health after a year’s rest, he rerpresented Messrs. Boltz, Clymer & Co., wholesale cigar manufacturers, for several years, until suffereing another shock of apoplexy he was obliged to retire to public life.  His health gradually failed for several years, and rapidly within the past few months.

About 25 years ago Dr. Brallier became an ardent temperance man, and so continued during the remainder of his life.  During middle age, (about 1877,) he was baptized into the German Baptist church, and held to it.  He was an honest, just business man, a generous, faithful friend, and an honorable Christian gentleman.  He is survived by his wife, two brothers, Daniel of Altoona and Lee R. of Johnstown, and two sisters, Mrs. Hannah Good, of Holmesville, Neb., and Mrs. Ella Ferguson of Ebensburg.

From the Lykens Standard, 29 March 1901.

Veterans’ Census of 1890 for Jacob L. Brallier of Lykens, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, showing military service.  [Click on picture to enlarge].  From Ancestry.com.

Pension Index Card reference to National Archives files of Jacob L. Brallier.  From:  Ancestry.com.

One of three Veterans’ Index Cards for Jacob L. Brallier from the Pennsylvania Archives.

The name of Jacob L. Brallier as it appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument as a 1st Lieutenant who joined the Heilner Post after its organization.

Additional information is sought on Jacob L. Brallier.  Readers are invited to contribute.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Death of Dr. Jacob L. Brallier
Tags: Brallier family, Klockner family, Lykens Borough, Reber family, Regiments

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 31, 2011

(Part 67 of an ongoing series on the Battle of Gettysburg).  Around the base of the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg are a series of plaques which, by regiment and company, note the names of every soldier who was present at the Battle of Gettysburg.  This post will present the plaque recognizing the men who served in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry.  By clicking on the plaque it should enlarge so the names can be more clearly read.  Following the plaque is a list of the men who have thus far been identified as eligible for inclusion in this Civil War Research Project who, it is believed, served for a time in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry .  Not all the names may appear on the Pennsylvania Memorial plaques.  If a name does not appear, it could be that the soldier did serve in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry, but was not part of the regiment during its days at Gettysburg – or it could mean that the soldier was erroneous included in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry list.  There could also be errors on the plaque.  Readers are invited to submit comments about any names appearing below, or on the plaque, especially if they believe the soldier was from the Lykens Valley area and should be included in this study.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Men from the Lykens Valley area who probably served in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry :

Note:  At the present time, no veterans from the Lykens Valley area have been identified in this regiment.  Since research is still being conducted to determine the Civil War regiments in which many of the Lykens Valley area veterans served, it is possible that some names will be added in the future.  Research is on-going and corrections and additions are always welcome.  Readers are invited to submit comments about any veteran found on this plaque, whether or not they have a connection to the Lykens Valley area.  Click here for map.

Information for this post was taken from the files of the Civil War Research Project.  A separate digital file is kept on each soldier who is included in the list of veterans.  Information is sought on any men from the Lykens Valley area who were soldiers or sailors during the Civil War.

Category: Memorials | Comments Off on 91st Pennsylvania Infantry – Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg
Tags: Monument