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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

88th Pennsylvania Infantry – Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg

Posted By on August 25, 2011

(Part 65 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 88th 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 88th 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 88th 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 88th 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 88th 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 areaClick 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.

84th Pennsylvania Infantry – Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg

Posted By on August 24, 2011

(Part 64 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 84th 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 84th 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 84th 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 84th 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 84th 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 areaClick 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.

Calvary United Methodist Church and Cemetery, Wiconisco (Part 6 of 6)

Posted By on August 23, 2011

Civil War veteran burials in the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, concludes today.

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Samuel Klinger (1819-1891).  Served in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, as a Private.  See prior post on Samuel Klinger.  He was married four times:  Rebecca Cooper; Magdalena ?; Belinda Savidge; and Catherine Kissinger.  Samuel was a laborer and lived in Lykens Township, Lykens Borough and Wiconisco.  There is an error on the date on his military grave marker.

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Israel Machamer (1832-1868).  Also known as Mogherman.  Served in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company B, as a Private, from 7 October 1861 to his discharge at the end of his term of service on 24 December 1864.  He married Caroline Fisher.  Not much is known about his life except that he died at the age of 35.  Anyone with more information is urged to contribute it.

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John Henry Keen (1837-1910).  John first served in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, as a Private.  He mustered in on 3 November 1862 and mustered out 18 August 1863.  During this term of service he got bitten by a horse near Richmond, Virginia.  He then joined the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company D, as a Private, and served from 12 February 1864 through 13 August 1865.  It must be noted that there are two persons named John Keen who lived in Wiconisco at about the same time.  They were about the same age and their records may be co-mingled.  The one of this burial is believed to the none who was not the blacksmith.  There are records of a John Keen marriage to Catherine Snodgrass and records of a John Keen marriage to Ann M. Poticher. This John Keen worked as an outside laborer at the mines.

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Daniel Wert (1825-1908).  His name is also found as Wart and Wirt.  Served in the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company B and Company G, as a Private, from 6 February 1865 through 11 August 1865 when he was mustered out at Richmond, Virginia.  He married Mary Ann Miller before the Civil War.  Daniel was born in Berks County and spent an early part of his life in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, working as a master carpenter.  Later he moved to Williams Township where he was first a laborer and then operated a grocery store.

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Isaac W. Holland (1844-1928).  Some sources give the birth year as 1845,  He first served in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company G, as a Private for a six month term from 15 July 1863 to 20 February 1864.  Then he joined the 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, as a Private, mustered in 6 March 1864, promoted to Corporal on 1 Mar 1865, and discharged on 1 July 1865.  Isaac married Harriet Workman in 1869.  He lived in Lykens and Wiconisco where he spent most of his working years as a track foreman for the Summit Branch Railroad.  Toward the end of his life he became senile and his family could not take care of him so he was sent to live in a Veteran’s Home in Hampton, Virginia.

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George Arthur Pinkerton (1844-1909).   Served in the 17th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private, from 17 September 1862 through 28 September 1862.  Then he served in the 39th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Private, from July 1863 to discharge on 2 August 1863.  He married Mary Louisa Treibley.  He was born in Wiconisco but lived in Tremont before the Civil War.  Like his father, he became a school teacher, a profession which he held in Wiconisco until near the end of the 19th century when he gave it up to become a plasterer.  In the records, he is found as George A. Pinkerton and should not be confused with George Atlee Pinkerton who was also a Civil War veteran, but from Lancaster County.

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William Keen (1846-1910).  Also found as Keene in the records.  There is some confusion here as to which regiments he served in because there are several persons named William Keen who were veterans of the Civil War.  There is a William Keen in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, who was a Private, and served from 23 February 1864 to 2 February 1867.  There is also a William Keen who served in the 16th U.S. Infantry, Company D and the 25th U.S. Infantry, Company D.  The grave marker, which is worn and hard to read, indicates service in the 16th U.S. Infantry and the Pension Index Card mentions both the 16th U.S. Infantry and the 25th U.S. Infantry – but not the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry.  William married Julia Ellen Hawk and lived in Wiconisco, Williamstown, and Williams Township where he worked at the mines as a car brakeman.

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James Hunter (1833-1903).  James was born in Scotland and arrived in America in 1858 at the age of 25.  He is also found in the records as James Winter.  James served in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private, from 11 April 1865 to 25 June 1865.  He and his wife Susan lived in Wiconisco after the war where James worked as a laborer at the coal breaker and a laborer in the mines.

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This concludes the six part series on the Calvary United Methodist Church and Cemetery in Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Information for this post was taken from the files of the Civil War Research Project.  The Civil War Research Project is seeking additional information on any Civil War veterans who are currently included in this study or veterans who should be included.  Readers are invited to contribute by commenting on this post or by by contacting the Civil War Research Project.

 

Calvary United Methodist Church and Cemetery, Wiconisco (Part 5 of 6)

Posted By on August 22, 2011

Civil War veteran burials in the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, are continued today.

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John Kaufman (1840-1904).  Also spelled Kauffman.  Served in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a Sergeant.   Muster in 30 October 1862 and mustered out with his company on 16 August 1863.  Married to Mary Heisler.  Born in Llewellen, Pennsylvania, and after the war lived in Wiconisco where he was a grocery merchant.

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Michael Schall (1810-1888).  Also spelled Schell.  Possibly the one who served in Hay’s Independent Infantry as a Private from 12 September 1862 through 24 September 1862 (only 12 days).  A G.A.R. marker at his grave site indicates Civil War service.  There is a Michael Schall who served in the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private, but the Michael Schall buried here is much too old to have been the one who served in that regiment.  Michael married Veronica Frances “Franey” Bordner and lived in Williams Township.  He worked as a farmer.

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Lewis Kniley (1826-1899).  He was born in German and often went by his German name, Leudwig.  He served in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private, from 9 March 1865 through 25 June 1865.  He married Mary Regina Martin.  Before the war, Lewis lived in Jackson Township, Dauphin County.  He was not injured in the war, but on his return he was involved in a coal mine accident on 24 October 1865 which left him with a short, crippled leg.  He continued working in the mines and lived in Wiconisco until his death.  A son, Frederick Kniley, also served in the Civil War, and died in 1864 as a prisoner at Andersonville.

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Anthony Paul Bretz (1825-1909).  There is a G.A.R. marker at his grave site but no specific record of Civil War service has been identified.  One possibility is the 100th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company M, and another possibility is that the records are under the Betz instead of Bretz.  More information is needed and readers are urged to respond if they are able to provide any further identification.  The Anthony Bretz buried here had a wife named Susan but a specific census record has not yet been located to connect him to the Wiconisco area or identify an occupation.

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Englebert, ? (1877?-1902).  This stone is badly worn and difficult to decipher – including the first name.  It is possible that the G.A.R. marker is misplaced and that this is a veteran of the Spanish-American War.  Anyone with information is urged to contribute it.

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Joseph Ritzman (1836-1899).  Served in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private, from 7 September 1864 through 30 May 1865.  He married Elizabeth Ellinger.  Joseph appears in the 1870 Census for Washington Township as a shoemaker and in a later census as a laborer living in Wiconisco.

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John W. Orndorff (1849-1931).  He joined the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private, at the age of 16 on 27 March 1865 and served until discharge on 25 June 1865.  His father John Orndorff was a carpenter in Wiconisco and after the war John W. return there to work in the coal mines.  In 1871, he married Susanna (also known as “Annie”) and continued working in the mines until after 1900 when he moved to Steelton and took a job as a laborer in a steel mill.

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Lewis F. Breyer (1845-1908).  Sometimes known as Louis Bryer or Briers.  He was born in Prussia and came to America at a young age with his parents.  In the 1850 Census he is living in a hotel in Harrisburg where his father, Rudy Briers, was working as a porter.  In 1860, he was working with his father in the restaurant business in Harrisburg.  Lewis joined the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company M, as a Private, on 6 October 1861 in Washington, D.C.  After his release from that cavalry regiment (perhaps because he was too young to serve), he joined Murray’s Light Independent Company of Cavalry as a Corporal, 17 June 1863 and served until 11 August 1863.  After the war, he and his wife Mary Caroline located to Wiconisco where he worked as a coal miner.

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Concludes tomorrow.

Information for this post was taken from the files of the Civil War Research Project.  The Civil War Research Project is seeking additional information on any Civil War veterans who are currently included in this study or veterans who should be included.  Readers are invited to contribute by commenting on this post or by by contacting the Civil War Research Project.

G.A.R. Heilner Post Activities, 1901

Posted By on August 21, 2011

These two articles were found in the Lykens Standard of 24 May, 1901, describing activities of the Lykens-Wiconisco G.A.R. Heilner Post, No. 232, and benefits available to Civil War veterans in the Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania area:

Memorial Day

As customary, Heilner Post, No. 232, G.A.R. and Woman’s relief Corps, No. 101, will attend divine services Sunday morning.  These services, as well as those of Memorial day, are held alternately at this place and Wiconisco, and as they were held at Lykens last year, this year they will be held in our neighboring town.  Rev. S. H. Chubb, pastor of the Evangelical church, will deliver the annual sermon Sunday morning.

On Memorial day, a committee from Heilner Post will decorate the graves of comrades in the German Catholic, Citizens’, Odd Fellows’ and Irish cemeteries, this place, after which the Post and Relief Corps will proceed to Union cemetery, Wiconisco, where the memorial services proper will be held.  Rev. Frederick Getty of the Wiconisco M. E. church will deliver the memorial address, and there will be singing by a choir of trained voices, as well as music by the band.  A committee from the Post will also decorate the graves of comrades in this cemetery.

In the afternoon, a delegation from the post will decorate the graves at Elizabethville, Berrysburg, and other cemeteries in ghe valley under the jurisdiction of Heilner Post.  At Elizabethville, where the Post has eight members, a large demonstration is expected.

G.A.R. Encampment

Reduced rates to Gettysburg via Pennsylvania Railroad

For the benefit of those desiring to attend the annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the republic, department of Pennsylvania, at Gettysburg, June 3 to 8, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company will sell excursion tickets to Gettysburg from all stations on its line in the state of Pennsylvania, on June 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, good to return until June 10, inclusive, at the rate of a single fare for the round trip.  For specific rates, apply to local ticket agents.