Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 12, 2011

Yesterday, the first post on Civil War veterans from the Lykens Valley area with the Hoover name was presented.  Today another veteran, Alfred Hoover (1815-1902) will be discussed.  Copies of some of Alfred’s pension application papers are available at the Gratz Historical Society, so more information is available on him than many of the others with the Hoover name.

Alfred Hoover was born 11 November 1815, probably in or around Curtin in Mifflin Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  At this time, not much is known about his background or his connection to other persons with the Hoover surname.  On 27 September 1860, Alfred married Mary Deibler (abt 1839-1907), who was probably the daughter of Jonas Deibler, as his name appears on their marriage certificate, and the marriage took place at the Jonas Deibler home in Mifflin Township.  The Rev. David Hoyer performed the ceremony.

Marriage certificate of Alfred Hoover and Mary Deibler. Click on picture to enlarge.

At this time it is not known whether John N. Deibler, described as Alfred’s “friend and neighbor” as well as fellow soldier, was related to Mary Deibler.  According to records available at the Gratz Historical Society, Alfred was born in 1815 and Mary was born about 1839.  Mary was much younger than Alfred (by a generation), and Alfred was older than most Civil War volunteers, let alone draftees.  The 177th Pennsylvania Infantry was a regiment of draftees, and because of his “advanced” age at the time of the draft, Alfred may have been able to opt out, or at least get a medical discharge.  Clarification on Alfred’s age and his draft status is needed.

On 15 August 1862, Elizabeth Ellen Hoover was born, the first child of Alfred and Mary.  About six weeks later, Alfred Hoover was mustered into the army, leaving Mary and baby Elizabeth at home in Mifflin Township. John N. Deibler (1830-1909) was also mustered into service on the same day. John’s records show that he was from Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, before the war, but after the war settled in Mifflin Township.

After starting at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, the 177^th Pennsylvania Infantry was sent to Washington, D.C., and from there ordered to Suffolk and assigned to the brigade under Col. Gibbs.  After spending the winter in camp on the Nansemond River, in clearing a pine forest on one side of the river, and joining small expeditions in the surrounding area, they were sent to Deep Creek on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal to stop the contraband trade. In July they were sent back to Washington, D.C. and following a short tour there they joined the Army of the Potomac in Maryland.  Their last assignment was at Maryland Heights.  They had no major engagements.  [Information from The Union Army, Volume 1].  See also post on Pennsylvania Drafted Militia.

Alfred Hoover returned from the war in August 1863 and two other children were born to him and Mary:  William H. Hoover, 17 October 1864; and Charles E. Hoover, 13 August 1867.

From Alfred Hoover‘s pension application, we learn that he shared a tent with his neighbor and friend John N. Deibler. Deibler testified that around the later part of December 1862 or January 1863 they were called to drive out the Rebs from a “deserter house” about 12 miles from their camp near Suffolk.    They went through dark and mud with their knapsacks loaded down with provisions.  After resting, they found the Rebs too strong, so instead of making an attack, they retreated.  But Alfred “gave out” and did not get back to camp until the afternoon.  Alfred got very sick and in the tent with Deibler nursing him as bet he could.  When Alfred got worse, he was sent to the Suffolk Camp Hospital.  Although Alfred stayed in the service until discharged with his company, he was only able to perform half-duty.  Since leaving the service, Alfred suffered from rheumatism.

Testimony of John N. Deibler in Pension Application of Alfred Hoover. Click to enlarge photo.

There were some questions about Alfred’s time in the hospital as the military records were not clear on his story.  So, Alfred presented additional information about the doctors who he claimed had treated him:

And about the surgeon I never knew his name the first one was nearly always under the influence of liquor and was discharged for the same and his successor was nearly in the same condition and I asked him still if he could not give some medicine to relieve me from my rheumatism and he said he could not.  The reason that John N. Deibler can give a statement is because we were neighbors before we were in the army and always together in the army and when I was in the hospital he used to get a pass to come and see me and we live as neighbors ever since.

Alfred Hoover’s pension application was submitted in 1890 according to the Pension Index Card.  In the same year, in the veterans census, Alfred reported his service in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, but indicated no service-related disability – unless the “remark” that he was “sick for 3 months” pertained to the time he was in the service.  John N. Deibler is reported on the same census sheet, and both Alfred and John gave Curtin as their post office address in Mifflin Township.

Cilck on picture to enlarge.

As can be seen from the Pension Index Card, Alfred Hoover did receive an invalid pension, but the date that he received it is not indicated.  Alfred died on 2 February 1902 in Mifflin Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in Reigle’s Church Cemetery.  Mary [Deibler] Hoover applied for a widow’s pension only days after Alfred’s death and she received the pension until her death in December 1907.

More information is sought on Alfred Hoover, his connection to other persons with the Hoover surname, and his connection to the Deibler family.  Anyone who can supply information is urged to do so.  Family pictures are particularly welcome!

This post was compiled from pension files available in the Civil War Research Project.  Census records and Pension Index Card are from Ancestry.com.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Curtin, Deibler family, Hoover family, Hoyer family, Mifflin Township, Regiments, Upper Paxton Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 11, 2011

No less than twelve persons with the surname Hoover have thus far been identified for this Civil War Research Project.  Their connection to each other, if there is a connection, has for the most part not yet been determined.  For a few, there is extensive information available but for others, much more research needs to be done to determine who they were and how they contributed to the Civil War military effort.  It’s possible also that some others have been missed.

One of the first to be identified, Henry Hoover (1837-1908) was found in Captain Enders Legion, a book co-authored by Russ Ottens and available through the Enders family website.  Henry Hoover married Louisa Zimmerman (1838-1916) who was the great-granddaughter of Capt. Enders, the progenitor of the Enders family in America, and thus, through marriage, was eligible for inclusion in the book.

Henry Hoover (1837-1908)

According to the story co-written by Ottens, Henry Hoover was born in Millersburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, on 13 May 1837, the son of John Hoover and Catherine [Sheesley] Hoover of Powell’s Valley, Dauphin County.  On 17 May 1860 in Armstrong Valley, Dauphin County, Henry married Louisa Zimmerman who was the daughter of John Zimmerman and Anna Mary [Enders] Zimmerman who was born 18 Dec 1838.  On 7 Sep 1864, Henry enlisted at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Company A.  Henry fought in various battles such as Hatcher’s Run, Bellefield Raid, the Destruction of the Weldon Railroad, Dabney’s Mills, Gravelly Run and a final skirmish at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Henry was mustered out with his company on 30 May 1865.

Henry Hoover – Enlistment Papers

Henry Hoover‘s muster card indicated he was 27 years old, was 5 foot 11 inches tall, had dark hair, blue eyes and fair complexion.  His term of service was to be one year, but since the war ended before the year was over, he was mustered out with his company.

When Henry returned from the war, he resumed his trade of carpenter and builder and was in demand in the area around Berrysburg, Dauphin County, where he settled with his wife Louisa and raised a family.  Seven children were born to the couple, six of whom survived into adulthood:  Thomas Hoover (1862-1863); Ida Hoover (1864-1949); Robert Hoover (1866-?); John Hoover (1868-1943); Lawrence Wellington Hoover (1871-1907); Oscar Hoover (1873-?); and Walter W. Hoover (1877-?). It appears from the date of birth of Ida Hoover that she was only seven months old when Henry enlisted, leaving mother and child at home while the father went off to war.  Considering that son Thomas had died 13 months prior to Henry’s enlistment, it must have been difficult for Louisa, but with her large family connection in the Halifax, Dauphin County area, she wasn’t left alone.

Henry Hoover Family Portrait – taken about 1888

When the opportunity arose in 1890, Henry applied for an invalid pension.  Other than “general disability,” which he reported to the census enumerators in 1890, the specifics of his claim are not known, nor is the date that he actually started receiving his pension.  An examination of the actual pension application files at the National Archives will probably reveal that information.  Despite his disability, Henry continued working as a house carpenter as is noted in the 1900 Census, but his John, then living at home, was working with his father in the same trade.  Henry Hoover died on 27 February 1908 in Berrysburg, and is buried there in the Old Methodist Cemetery.  After his death, Louisa [Zimmerman] Hoover applied for a widow’s pension, which she received until her death in September 1916.  The Pension Index Card and the 1890 Veterans Census are shown below:

Henry’s sons, Walter Hoover, Oscar Hoover, and Wellington Hoover went into the furniture store business in Berrysburg as the picture below attests.  His daughter Ida Hoover served as Postmistress of Berrysburg and his great-grandson Richard Hoover was a funeral director in Elizabethville.

Information for this post was taken from records available to the Civil War Research Project, some of which were provided by family member Becci [Stine] Hoover.  Photographs are from the Historical Book of Berrysburg and Mifflin Township, published in 1969.  The 1890 census record and the Pension Index Card are from Ancestry.com.  Information from the Enders book was previously cited.

Anyone with more information on Henry Hoover or any of his relatives who may have also served in the Civil War, is urged to contribute it.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Armstrong Valley, Berrysburg, Elizabethville, Enders family, Millersburg, Powell's Valley, Zimmerman family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 10, 2011

On the third day of the Battle of Gettsyburg, 3 July 1863, Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade was killed inside a home by a stray bullet while she was baking bread for hungry Union troops and thus became the only civilian casualty of the battle.  Prior to this domestic exercise, she had faithful done her morning devotions and read from the Bible.  Her fiancee, John Hastings “Jack” Skelly Jr., a soldier in the Union army (87th Pennsylvania Infantry), had been wounded at the Battle of Winchester and subsequently died days after Jennie died, neither knowing of the misfortune of the other.  Jennie’s accidental death made her the “heroine of Gettysburg” and by 1900, the Pennsylvania legislature provided money for a monument  in Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg.  Why did Jennie stay behind in the town?  She was there to give aid to her sister who had given birth days earlier.  Jennie was performing a traditional role of women – assisting in the birthing process, which included late pregnancy care of the mother and post-natal care of the child.  In effect, she was a “midwife,” although few would have called her that in 1863, and she certainly would not have given her occupation as such.

Much of the story of Jennie Wade became “enhanced” over time, but is what currently being challenged in Civil War historiography is the notion that “separate spheres” existed for men and women and there was no cross-over in gender roles.  Jennie became a heroine because she was performing a traditional role of a woman when she was killed.  In contrast, the civilian hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, John Burns, was a 70-year-old veteran of the War of 1812 who supposedly took up arms and fought side by side with the Union troops.  After the battle, he was hailed as a hero for his efforts which were undoubtedly exaggerated to fit the image of of “manly courage” that was prevalent at the time.  Abraham Lincoln even met with Burns when he appeared at Gettysburg in November 1863 to dedicate the cemetery and give his famous address.  These two civilian heroes became part of the folklore and legends that emerged in the post-Civil War period.  In a previous post, Women and the Civil War on the Northern Homefront, Judith Geisberg‘s book was discussed in relation to both the new roles taken up by women during the war, and specifically, how one woman from the Lykens valley area, took up many of the traditional roles of menfolk during the war.  That woman was Elizabeth [Klinger] Schwalm.  In her essay “Gender Analysis of Civil Responses to the Battle of Gettysburg,” Christina Ericson, points out that while Jennie was undoubtedly fulfilling the role expected of women and became a heroine because of that, her emergence as the only heroine clouds the true actions of women before, during and after the battle, and the elevation of John Burns as a symbol of a manly response of an elderly citizen does the same for the true actions of the civilian men. Through diaries and other original source material, Ericson documents the assertiveness of the many women who accepted the challenges of the battle and the temporary Confederate occupation of Gettysburg and the empowerment and protectiveness they assumed amidst the trying conditions.  Most of the men fled the town and those left behind were too elderly or infirm to take an active role in defense of the women, let alone of the town.

It is not the purpose of this post to discuss the overall role of women in the Civil War on the homefront, but rather to discuss one specific role, that of women in the birthing process, and how that role played out in one small cluster of homes and farms in the Lykens Valley.  Along what is now called “Specktown Road” in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, is a community that residents called Specktown, although it won’t be found on maps as such.  Today, the center of that “town” is approximately at the location of the Lykens Township Veterans Monument which was the subject of a previous post.  Among the earliest settlers of Specktown were Martin Rickert (1804-1871) and his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” [Yerges] Rickert (1813-1877).

For a 19th century farmer, having many children was considered a blessing, and boys especially were expected to start working the farm along with their father as soon as they were able.  So, Martin and Betsy set out to have a large family.  Unfortunately for them, their two sons Samuel Rickert (1850-1858) and Henry Rickert (1835-1837) died young – leaving only seven daughters who survived into adulthood.  At the time of the Civil War, five of those daughters had married and several of the husbands were serving in the war.  During the war, four of the daughters gave birth to a total of eight children.  The special responsibility that Betsy had to her daughters was to make sure that they learned the ways and methods of childbirth and that they assumed the responsibility of assisting each other when needed.  The youngest daughter of Martin and Betsy, Hannah Rickert, was born in 1847.  Undoubtedly, her oldest sister Elizabeth Rickert, who was about 18 at the time, was present when her mother gave birth for the last time – as was probably also Susannah Rickert who was 14, and Rebecca “Becky” Rickert, who was only 10.

Betsy Rickert (1813-1877) – Mother of Midwives?

The map above shows the community along Specktown Road in 1876.  Underlined in red is the 32 acre farm of the Widow Betsy Rickert.  By 1876, her daughters who had married, were settled in the area around her.  The home marked “”Res. Widow Mary Johns” (6 acres) – three names below Betsy -is the home that was later purchased by Hannah [Rickert] Riegle after her husband Harrison Riegle died in 1899, and to get perspective on its location, it is currently across New Specktown Road from the Lykens Township Veterans Monument, the subject of a previous post.  The road was straightened out in the 1950s to eliminate the sharp curves and replace the old covered bridge over the creek.

Rebecca “Becky” Rickert (1837-1918), as previously mentioned, was probably present at the birth of her youngest sister Hannah and was able to assist in some ways at that birth.  During Becky’s early years of life, she suffered from scarlet fever, which left her with some mental incapacity, but not enough that she couldn’t continue to assist in the births of her sister’s children and perform tasks in the home that all women were expected to perform.  During the Civil War, she undoubtedly performed the role of midwife or midwife’s assistant at the births of her eight nieces and nephews who were born during the war.  When the mother Betsy Rickert died in 1877, Becky moved in with her sister Hannah and assisted Hannah in the births of her later children.  She became especially attached to Hannah’s oldest daughter Elizabeth “Lizzie” Riegle (1872-1942) to whom she passed on her skills.  It was Lizzie who made midwifery her profession and family oral history confirms that she actually used the title and got paid for her services.  As the 19th century closed, Becky was no longer capable of taking charge in childbirth situations nor was she able to do much more than perform simple household task.  Friends and family members visited her and brought her picture post cards, which she collected, and conversed with her in “Dutch.”  She sat on her rocker, smoked a corn cob pipe, and played with her grand nieces and nephews and other children who came by.  Hannah expressed concern that she would die before Becky and that there would be no one to take care of her.  But that was not true, for if that had happened, Lizzie surely would have kept her and nursed her in her last days.  Becky died about a year before Hannah.

Becky Rickert (1837-1918) – Civil War “Midwife” of Specktown

Becky Rickert (1837-1918) – shortly before her death

Lizzie Riegle (1872-1942) – “Professional” Midwife of Specktown

Thus it was that the skills of midwifery were passed down through the generations in Specktown, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Betsy Rickert and her daughters, especially Becky Rickert, performed this invaluable service during the Civil War.  Lizzie Riegle, who learned the skills from her “Aunt Becky,” made her living by charging families $25 for one months service – two weeks before birth, birth, and two weeks after birth.  Although there were country doctors in the late 19th century and early 20th century in the Lykens valley area, and some women chose to rely on their services, the record will show that there was sufficient demand for women who specialized in assisting with childbirth.  The only training they had received was as “apprentices” to elder sisters or to their mothers who also performed the same services.

Today, midwifery is a specialty branch of medicine and is available for those who choose to not have a medical doctor assist in the birthing process.  According to information found on Wikipedia, use of the term “midwife”, common in ancient times, took a long time to return to common usage and that could explain why the Civil War era women did not use it.  In the 18th century and into the 19th century in America, midwifery was associated with witchcraft, particularly because women who practiced it were seen more as “population controllers” because they disseminated birth control information and also performed abortions.  This was the era when it was important to have as many children as possible and anyone who tinkered with that idea was seen as devilish or as a witch.

Readers are invited to submit family stories, especially of women who served as midwives during the Civil War period.

Much information for this post was taken from family records.  The essay on “Gender Analysis…” by Christina Ericson as cited above is from Making and Remaking Pennsylvania’s Civil War, by William Blair and William Pencak, published in 2001 by Pennsylvania State University.  The stories on Jennie Wade and John Burns were taken from Wikipedia articles as well as from the aforementioned essay.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Lykens Township, Pennsylvania Dutch, Regiments, Rickert family, Riegle family, Schwalm family, Specktown, Women, Yerges family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 9, 2011

(Part 3 of ongoing series). The National Civil War Museum is located high on a hilltop overlooking Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The museum aims to provide a balanced view and to inspire lifelong learning through preservation and research about the Civil War.   It has become a national destination for “families, students, civil war enthusiasts and historians to experience and research the culture and history of the American Civil War.”

On the grounds of the museum is “The Walk of Valor” – a red brick path symbolizing the blood shed and bearing the names of Civil War veterans honored by their surviving descendants.  There is a section for each state and all states that fought in the war have a stone marker indicating the number of soldiers that fought and the number of soldiers that died.

One brick honors Peter Erb:

As can be seen by the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Cards, two persons named Peter Erb served in the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry.:

Both enrolled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, at about the same time.  Both indicated residence in Lancaster County.  Peter S. Erb was mustered into Company G, 1 October 1861, at age 18.   Peter Erb was mustered into Company E, 6 October 1861, at age 21.  Both were initially enrolled as privates.  Both re-enlisted at about the same time in February 1864.  Both were mustered out on the same date, 12 July 1865.

Peter S. Erb of Company E was younger by 3 years, had light complexion, light hair, grey eyes and was the shorter of the two, being 5 foot four inches tall.  He gave his occupation as clerk.

Peter Erb of Company G was the older by 3 years, had a dark complexion, dark hair and brown eyes, and was the taller of the two, being 5 foot 7 and a half inches tall.  He gave his occupation as shoemaker.  At some point during his service, this Peter Erb was promoted to Sergeant.

Initially, Peter Erb found his way into the list of veterans from the Lykens Valley area via the 1890 Veterans Census for Fisherville, Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Red dot indicates lines for “Peter Erb.” Click on picture to enlarge.

The Peter Erb in the 1890 Veterans Census for Fisherville is the one who served in the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Sergeant.  Peter reported “disease of the kidneys” as a disability.  Since the Peter Erb in the 1890 Veterans Census is reportedly the same Peter Erb as on the brick at the National Civil War Museum Walk of Valor, we can conclude that the brick honors a person who should be included in the Civil War Research Project.  But then, who is the other Peter Erb – from the same place (Lancaster County) and who enrolled in the same regiment, but a different company?  In examining other records, the knowledge that there were two Peter Erb‘s in the same regiment, should help us identify which is which.

To begin, the Sgt. Peter Erb of Company G was 21 when he enlisted.  He was therefore born about 1840.  Pvt. Peter S. Erb of Company E was 18 when he enlisted.  He was therefore born about 1843.  Of course, this assumes they didn’t lie about their ages.

The next records to examine are the Pension Index Cards.  The card for each has been located:

The first card is for Peter S. Erb, who served in Company E, 79th Pennsylvania Infantry.  We learn from this card that this Peter applied for an invalid pension in 1890 from Kansas and was awarded a pension.  He died around 1900 as that is the date his widow, Amanda Erb applied for a widow’s pension, also from Kansas, which she also received.   The trail for this unknown Peter S. Erb will take us to Kansas!  We know that the 1890 Veterans Census for Kansas is not available as it was destroyed in a fire that consumed most of the 1890 records, but there are other records for Kansas that could place him there.

The second card is for the Sgt. Peter Erb who resided in Fisherville in 1890 and who served in Company G, 79th Pennsylvania Infantry.  The date is not clear when he applied – but appears to be in the 19th Century.  He received a pension.  There is no widow mentioned, so either he was married and he survived his wife, or he was not married.

Next, we seek burial records.  A record entitled “Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans,” the following card was found for Peter S. Erb of Company E:

The above card leads us to the Washington Cemetery, Washington, Washington County, Kansas.  The death date on the card is 20 October 1900.  A quick search of the Find A Grave database helps us confirm the cemetery and death year – and give us the birth year of 1844.  This roughly matches the information on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Card File for Peter S. Erb who was about 18 when he enrolled in Company E.

Further search of veterans records for Kansas produced the following registration page from the Soldiers’ Home in Leavenworth, Kansas:

The above page ties together much of the known information about Peter S. Erb.  There is additional information about his military record, his place of death and cause of death, and his wife Amanda is mentioned.  But, since we have no evidence that this Peter S. Erb ever had any connection with the Lykens Valley area, we can temporarily abandon any further searching for information on him.

What then happened to the other Peter Erb, the one who was living in Fisherville in 1890, and was a sergeant in Company G of the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry – and the one who is recognized on the brick on the Walk of Valor at the National Civil War Museum?

Our “shoemaker” appears in the 1880 census for Jackson Township, Dauphin County.  He is married – wife’s name Julia A. Erb – and he has an 18 year old son George P. Erb who is also working as a shoemaker.  He s 39 years old, which would make his birth year consistent with the approximate 1840 date that was assumed from the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card.

Again, the “shoemaker” is found in the 1870 Census for the same township in Dauphin County, as head of household, with wife Julia, two minor children and an apprentice shoemaker by the name of Emanuel Ludwick:

From the records of the 41st National Encampment of the G.A.R., held in 1907, at Saratoga Springs, New York, we learn that Peter Erb attended as the Post Commander of the G.A.R. Post at Fisherville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

In searching for the grave of Peter Erb on Find A Grave, no results were obtained that could be a good match.  However, in referring back to the Halifax Area Bicentennial History Book which was used as a basis for the post on the Halifax Area Civil War Veterans, we find a “Peter Herb” in New Fisherville Cemetery List.  Could this be the Sgt. Peter Erb who is the subject of this post?  A visit to the New Fisherville Cemetery will have to be made to confirm this.

While several questions have been answered in this on-going research, many questions still remain.  Readers are invited to fill in the missing details and supply any information about either Peter Erb (were they related?) – but particularly the Peter Erb, the shoemaker  who ended up as the Post Commander of the G.A.R. at Fisherville.  This research to date has yielded some interesting results and the records give us a clear basis for separating the two men with the same name, from the same place, who served in the same regiment.  Both survived the war and must have had common experiences – but after the war they went different ways.

Many of the records for this post came from Ancestry.com (census, veterans’ home register, pension index cards, card for headstones provided).  Some of the information came from the Pennsylvania Archives (Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Cards).

Category: Memorials, Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Erb family, Fisherville, G.A.R., Halifax, Jackson Township, Regiments

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 8, 2011

St. Peter’s Lutheran and Reformed Church (Fetterhoff’s)

The current Fetterhoff’s Church in Enterline, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was built in 1858 and the building dedication took place the next year.  At the time of construction, this Union church was served by Lutheran pastor, Rev. F. Waltz, and Reformed pastor, Rev. N. E. Bressler.

The first church on this site had been built in 1788.  Meticulous records of baptisms and communions were kept mostly in German through the year 1858 and the congregation has kept the record book through the present.  In order to get volunteer labor to build the first church, the men were invited to work until noon and then in the afternoon, participate in shooting matches for bear and panther.  It is said that the womenfolk came across the ridge and fields barefoot, carrying babies on one arm and shoes on the other – as it was the custom to travel barefoot, but when they got to the church door, they put on their shoes out of respect for the house of worship.

The cemetery lies along side and behind the church as can be seen from this aerial view taken in the mid-twentieth century.  The attached building at the left of the church is an educational building which was added about the time of the aerial view.

Previously stated in a post on Halifax area Civil War veterans, were the names of those veterans who were buried here.

One of those Civil War soldiers is John C. Zimmerman.

Clearly marked on this stone is “John C. Zimmerman, 1830-1885, Private, Company A, 210th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.”  A Civil War (G.A.R.) Star-Flag-Holder is in the ground adjacent to the grave marker.   However, something is amiss, as both the birth and death dates appear to be incorrect.

In an entry on Find A Grave, Russ Ottens provides the information that Pvt. John C. Zimmerman (1829-1888) was the son of Christian Zimmerman (1799-1868) and Elizabeth [Enders] Zimmerman (1804-1886).  His birth date is given as 21 October 1829.  John was married to two women, Mary Ann and Sarah, surnames unknown for either.  Ottens repeats the information about John C. Zimmerman‘s military service: Company A, 210th Pennsylvania Infantry.  Then he states:  “Though his headstone has his death in 1885, records of fatalities at the Short Mountain Colliery in Lykens state he died in a mining accident on May 14, 1888. John fathered five children, Jacob, Lucy, and three other daughters. ”  Why would the stone have both the birth and death date incorrect?  Could there be two or more persons confused here?

Further compounding the confusion is that biographical sketch of John C. Zimmerman appears in Captain Enders Legion, authored by Russ Ottens.

On 7 September 1864, John enlisted at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the 210th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company A.  James [sic] fought in various battles such as Hatcher’s Run, Bellefield Raid, the Destruction of the Weldon Railroad, Dabney’s Mills, Gravelly Run, and a final skirmish at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  They were upon the front line to the last, the flag of truce proclaiming the Confederate surrender, passing through the lines of the Brigade in which it stood….

On 14 May 1888, John was killed in a mining accident at the Short Mountain Colliery in Lykens, Pennsylvania.  He was buried in Fetterhoff’s Cemetery with his two wives.

Note the reference to John as “James” in the above text, which is cited from p. 242 of Captain Enders Legion.

Knowing that John C. Zimmerman had wives named Mary Ann and Sarah, a search was made of the pension index cards to see if there was a pension application for a John  C. Zimmerman who served in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry.

From the Pension Index Card, we learn that John C. Zimmerman served in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, and he also served in the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C.  His wife Sarah (we know from other information that John had a second wife named Sarah), applied for a widow’s pension and a pension was applied for a minor child or children by a guardian named William.  The dates are difficult to read due to the poor quality of the microfilm copy. John C. Zimmerman, at least according to this card, did not apply for a pension.  Sarah did not receive a widow’s pension, but a pension was awarded for a minor child or children.

The new information here is John C. Zimmerman’s service in the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C.  Looking up that information in the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Card Index, and the following card was found:

Unfortunately, no personal information is on the card.

In searching for the regimental registries at the Pennsylvania Archives, the following was determined:  (1) John C. Zimmerman enrolled in the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, at age 33 years, on 2 November 1862.  If he was honest about his age, he would have just been 33 years old if he was born on 21 October 1829.   (2) John C. Zimmerman enrolled in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, at age 34 years, on 7 September 1864.  If he was honest about his age, he would not yet have turned 35 if he was born 21 October 1829.

Fortunately, there is a pension file on John C. Zimmerman. The following pertinent documents were found that shed some light on the accurate birth and death deaths of John:

Testimony of Sarah Zimmerman indicating her husband John C. Zimmerman was killed in the mines, 14 May 1888.

From testimony of Nelson Enders for widow’s pension for Sarah Zimmerman, date of death given as 14 May 1888

Tentimony (unknown person) indicating John C. Zimmerman died in a mine accident, no date given.

Unfortunately, there are no documents in the file that confirm the birth date.  It is clear from the examination of the documents that the John C. Zimmerman who was killed in the mines on 14 May 1888 is the same John C. Zimmerman who is buried in Fetterhoff’s Cemetery.  It is not known why the death date is so incorrect on the grave marker as to be off by three years.

This is another case where “official” records often provide conflicting information.  Cross checking information is always important so as to present the most accurate story.  Anyone with additional information is welcome to present it.  Especially needed are newspaper articles describing the mine tragedy and pictures of John C. Zimmerman and family.

Information for this post was taken from Captain Enders Legion, co-authored by Russ Ottens; Ancestry.com (Pension Index Card); the aerial view of Fetterhoff’s Cemetery is from the Halifaz Area Bicentennial Book; the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card and information from the regimental registers are from the Pennsylvania Archives; and  Find A Grave.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Cemeteries, Enders family, G.A.R., Regiments, Zimmerman family