Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 10, 2018

From the West Schuylkill Herald, 2 May 1919:

Civil War Veteran Answers Last Roll Call

Jacob Boyer, a well-known Civil War veteran, died at 12:45 o’clock Saturday night at his home on Grand Avenue after a long illness of asthma and other complications.  His condition had been critical for some time.

Mr. Boyer was 76 years of age.  He was resident of Tower City for many years and was well known. He was a faithful and active member of the U. B. Church of Tower City for more than 40 years and never missed a service so long as his health permitted.  He was the last member of the church for whom services were held in the old church building as the structure is now being torn down to make room for a larger and handsomer building.

At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Boyer enlisted as a Private in Company A, 50th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers [50th Pennsylvania Infantry], and served for almost the entire period of the war, taking part in some very important engagements.  He was a member of William Thompson Post, No. 174, G.A.R., and took an active interest in its welfare.  To survive he leaves a widow and the following adult children:  Mrs. John Stahl Jr.; Mrs. Emma Wolfe; Mrs. Edward Hunter; Frank Boyer; and Samuel Boyer, all of Tower City; and Milton Boyer, Lorberry.  There are two brothers, Martin Boyer of Llewellyn; John Boyer of Girardsville; and one sister, Mrs. Felix Neidlinger, Blackwood.

The funeral took place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock and was very largely attended.  A full military burial was given.  The few surviving members of the [G.A.R.] Post, who were able to attend, turned out in a body.  The pall bearers, firing squad, color guards, bugler, Chaplain, and other officers were soldiers who served during the present war [World War I].  They were:  Harry Rickert, Warren Miller, Sgt. Charles Powell,Harry Kurtz,Grant Shuey,John Neyer, Norman Wagner, John R. Miller,Simon Unger,Albert Bailey,Albert Williams, Harry Machamer, Jesse Hand, William Boyer,Leroy Kaufman, Stanley Miller, Thomas Bowman, John Heberling.

After a brief service at the house by his late pastor, Rev. Haas, the remains were taken to the U. B. Church where further services were conducted, at the conclusion of which the remains were taken to Greenwood [Cemetery] where burial took place with full military honors, the above named soldiers officiating.

Previously on this blog, Jacob Boyer was profiled as part of a post on Civil War veterans from the Tower City area:  Tower City, Porter and Rush Township Civil War Veterans – Part 1

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News clipping from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Tower City

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 9, 2018

Dr. John Boyer Beshler died at Oakdale, Washington Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 8 April 1869, and was buried at the Peace Cemetery, Berrysburg, Dauphin County.

He was the son of Dr. Henry C. Beshler (1806-1888) and Mary [Boyer] Beshler (1814-1894) and was born 8 September 1839.

The Lykens Register from 1869, reprinted in 1907, his death notice:

Dr. John B. Beshler, of Berrysburg, well known to many of our readers, died on Thursday of last week at the home of D. K. McClure at Oakdale, after a protracted illness.  Deceased was 29 years old.  He was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia.

At the age of 23, J. B. Beshler enrolled on 14 June 1862 as an Assistant Surgeon in the 81st Pennsylvania Infantry at Washington, D.C.   According to the record at the Pennsylvania Archives (above), he was discharged on 3 April 1863.

A second card was also found for J. B. Beshler (above), which indicates that his service was also to the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry, as an Assistant Surgeon.

Dr. Beshler’s wife, Jennie Beshler, who died in 1867, is also buried at the Peace Cemetery in Berrysburg.  As the above Pension Index Card shows, on 3 June 1883, a guardian applied for pension benefits for a minor child or children.  The benefit was not granted.

The Pension Index Card from Ancestry.com names the guardian as Daniel S. Boyer.  At the time of this writing, it not known what relationship if any Daniel S. Boyer had to any minor children of Dr. Boyer, or who were the minor children.  The names and the reasons of the denial of the pension benefits would most likely be found in the application file, which was not available for this post.

Previously on this blog, Dr. Beshler was featured as part of a post on Civil War Burials at Peace Cemetery.  Also, there is a short biographical sketch of him on his Findagrave Memorial.

Any readers with additional information about Dr. John Boyer Beshler are urged to contribute it.

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News clipping from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Berrysburg, Oakdale, Washington Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 8, 2018

During the Civil War, Cornelius D. Waldron served as a Corporal in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company K.  He enrolled at Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on 9 September 1861, and was mustered into service at Harrisburg on 29 October 1861.  At the time he was 26 years old, stood 5 foot 8 inches tall, had light hair, a light complexion, and light eyes.  He claimed to be born in Dauphin County and gave his occupation as postmaster.  On 24 December 1864, upon completion of his term of service, he was discharged, as he chose not to re-enlist.

Cornelius D. Waldron was born on 27 May 1834, the son of William Waldron and his wife Debroah Waldron of Dauphin County.  Around 1865, he married Margaret Agnes “Mary” Lodge, the daughter of John Lodge and his wife Elizabeth Lodge.  It is not known whether Cornelius and Mary had any children of their marriage.

In addition to being postmaster of Halifax, Cornelius D. Waldron was also a store keeper for many years, and later in life served as Constable of the borough.

The Waldron’s lived near the railroad, and on 31 March 1904, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported on fire that destroyed upper part of the Waldron home:

FIRE AT HALIFAX

Roof and Upper Story of a Home are Destroyed

Special to the Telegraph

Halifax, Pennsylvania, 31 March 1904 — The need of an organized fire company in Halifax was plainly demonstrated yesterday afternoon when fire broke through the roof of Cornelius Waldren‘s residence on the corner of Market and Water Streets.  While willing hands directed two streams of water on the house and had the fire under control in twenty minutes after the arrival of the hose cart, yet they lacked a leader and much unnecessary damage was done by water.

The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought a spark from a passing train lit on the roof which was of shingles, and the fire spread quickly to the side occupied by Mrs. Helen Bressler.  Mr. and Mrs. Waldren were away from home at the time.  All the furniture on the lower floors was removed safely.  The fire destroyed the entire roof and upper story of Mr. Waldren’s side.  All their smoked meat was kept in the garret and was lost.  There was no insurance on property or contents.  The shoe factory’s hands turned out in force and did valiant work.

On 23 July 1890, Cornelius D. Waldron applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service.  He received the pension and collected benefits until his death.  He died on 7 July 1923 at the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ Home in Erie, Pennsylvania and is buried at Halifax.

Previously, Cornelius D. Waldron was mentioned on this blog in a post entitled Halifax Area Civil War Veterans. and in a post entitled Civil War Burials in the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery (Part 3 of 5).

After the war, Cornelius D. Waldron openly supported the white supremacist views of Heister Clymer by signing a call for denial of equal rights to African Americans, both those who were previously slaves and those who were previously freemen. The statement was published in the Harrisburg Patriot of 24 July 1866 and included his name, regiment, company and rank.

Heister Clymer was a white supremacist candidate for Pennsylvania Governor on the Democratic Party ticket in 1866, and was previously profiled here on 26 April 2016.

The call for a meeting of Union Soldiers was printed in the Harrisburg Patriot, 24 July 1866, along with an up-to-date list of Clymer supporters who openly supported Heister Clymer‘s white supremacist views and wanted to deny “negro equality and suffrage” even to those who had been free men before the war.

The undersigned honorably discharged Union soldiers, believing that we battled in the late war for the Union of these States, and had successfully maintained it, view with alarm the persistent efforts of radical men who seem determine, practically to destroy the Union we went forth to save.  They would have the community believe that Union soldiers are willing to give up in the hour of victory the great object to which their sacrifices and toll and blood were given….

Therefore we unite in requesting all the honorably discharged officer, soldiers and seamen of Dauphin County who favor the wise and constitutional policy of President Johnson, who oppose the doctrine of negro equality and suffrage, and desire the election of the Hon. Hiester Clymer, to meet in Mass Convention at the Democratic Club Room, Walnut Street, below Third, Harrisburg, at 7 1/2 o’clock, on the evening of the 25 July 1866, for the purpose of electing fourteen delegates to the Convention of Union Soldiers, which is to assemble in this city [Harrisburg] on Wednesday, 1 August 1866.

The Dauphin County veterans who signed the racist petition calling for the meeting were from a variety of regiments and social levels.  Included in the list were some residents of Upper Dauphin County, the area north of Peter’s Mountain – all of which is included in the geographic area of the Civil War Research Project.

Cornelius D. Waldron was only one of many honorably discharged Union soldiers who openly supported the white supremacist gubernatorial campaign of Heister Clymer in 1866.  The full list of those with a connection to Upper Dauphin County will be presented over time.

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Tags: Halifax, Hate

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 7, 2018

The Mount Carmel Item of 6 August 1904 reported the death of Isaac O. Billman, a hotelman of near Herndon, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Death of I. O. Billman

I. O. Billman, the well known resident of Jackson Township [Northumberland County], who keeps a hotel three miles back of Herndon, died on Tuesday night, aged about sixty-three years.  For some time he had been troubled with dropsy.  He was well and favorably known through the lower end of the county and was a prominent Democrat.

Isaac was the son of Solomon Billman (1812-1891) and his wife, Salmone “Sarah” [Michael] Billman (1813-1875), and was born on 6 Jun 1839.

During the Civil War, Isaac O. Billman saw service in two Pennsylvania regiments:

On 7 August 1862, a 23 year old Isaac O. Billman, enrolled at Northumberland County, in the 136th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered into service in Company C as a Private on 16 August 1862 at Harrisburg.  He served in that regiment and company until he was mustered out on 29 May 1863.

On 22 February 1864, a 24 year old Isaac O. Billman, enrolled at Harrisburg, in the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was mustered into service at the same place on 27 February 1864, as a Private in Company A. At the time, he claimed he was born in Northumberland Counnty and was a laborer.  He stood 5 foot 5 inches tall, had light hair, a fair complexion and grey eyes.  According to information in Bates, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 17 July 1865.  He served in that regiment and company until he was mustered out on 23 August 1865.

According to information given to the 1890 census, when he was living near Herndon, he was discharged from the 136th Pennsylvania Infantry on a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability, and because he joined the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, he was considered a re-enlisted veteran.  Since the actual military record or pension application record was not consulted for this blog post, the nature of any disability for which he was discharged cannot be confirmed, as this information does not appear on the Veterans’ File Cards shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives.

Isaac O. Billman married the former Mary H. Bucher (1848-1923) and with her had at least 8 known children.  In the censuses prior to 1900, his occupation is given as laborer.  In the 1900 census, he is a landlord at a hotel.

The pension application information for Isaac O. Billman and his widow is found on two available cards:

The above card, from Fold3, shows that the first application made by Billman was on 14 October 1890.

The above card from Ancestry.com shows that the widow, Mary Billman, applied on 11 August 1904, only days after the death of her husband.  Both the application of the veteran and widow were made from Pennsylvania.

Isaac O. Billman is buried at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Red Cross, Northumberland County.  His wife was buried with him after her death in 1923.  Some additional information is found at his Findagrave Memorial, but as of this writing, other than the picture showing the shadow of a G.A.R. star-flag holder, there is no stated indication that he was a Civil War veteran, as there was also no indication in his death notice (top of post) that he was a Civil War veteran.

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News clipping from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Herndon, Jackson Township, Red Cross

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 6, 2018

A death certificate was filed in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on 14 May 1915, for Samuel Bartlett.  The cause of death was “unknown to jury either suicide or exhaustion – body was found with clothes burned off due to mountain fire.”  The certificate, shown above from Ancestry.com, notes that Samuel Bartlett was a widowed, “colored” male [African American] about 83 years old, who was a farmer by occupation.  His father’s name was also Samuel Bartlett.  The exact date of death was unknown.

Newspapers reported the discovery of the body as follows:

From the Pittston Gazette, 15 May 1915:

FARMER DIES ON MOUNTAIN

Pottsville, Pennsylvania, 15 May [1915] — Samuel Bartlett, a wealthy farmer whose body was found near Thomaston, on the mountain, is believed to have lost his way and perished while trying to get help.  A forest fire prevented his rescue.  His clothes were singed.

From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 15 May 1915:

LOST IN FOREST FIRE, DEAD

Missing Man’s Money and Gold Watch in Pockets

Pottsville, 15 May [1915] — Samuel Bartlett, a wealthy farmer, whose body was found Thursday night on the mountain near Thomaston, is believed to have lost his way and perished while trying to get help.  A forest fire, which was raging, obscured his vision and prevented his rescue.  His clothes were found singed with flames and smoke.

It was at forest thought he was murdered, but a large sum of money and a gold watch were found untouched on his person.

Two facts were not given in the notices of the death of Samuel Bartlett:  (1) He was a Civil War veteran; (2) He was an African American.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card, shown above from Ancestry.com, indicates that during the Civil War, Samuel Bartlett served in the 43th United States Colored Troops from 5 August 1861 to 9 June 1865, and is buried at the United Brethren Cemetery, Deep Creek Valley, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  The dates are wrong, because this regiment was not organized until between March and June 1864.

According to information from the National Park Service, the regiment was involved in the following:

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River, Virginia, May-June, 1864. Guard trains of the Army of the Potomac through the Wilderness and to Petersburg. Before Petersburg June 15-19. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Grove Church September 29-30 and October 1. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. On the Bermuda Hundred front and before Richmond till March, 1865. Moved to Hatcher’s Run March 27-28. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run March 29-31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty at Petersburg and City Point till May 30. Moved to Texas May 30-June 10. Duty on the Rio Grande opposite Mattamoras, Mexico, till October. Mustered out October 20, 1865, and discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., November 30, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 48 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 188 Enlisted men by disease. Total 239.

According to information at the National Park Service, Samuel Bartlett did serve with the 43rd United States Colored Troops.but no dates of service were given.

In 1890, Samuel Bartlett, while living in Weishample, Schuylkill County, reported Civil War service in the 43rd United States Colored Troops for 1 month and 20 days.  No company was named.

Military records on Fold3 show the following about his service:

(1) Muster and Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of U.S. Volunteers forwarded for the 43rd Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry.  Roll dated 3 April 1865, Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

An 18 year old laborer enlisted at Pottsville for one year.  Hazel eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, height 5 foot 6 1/2 inches.  Mustered in 3 April 1865 at Pottsville.  Remarks:  Name not taken upon muster roll of any company of regiment.

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(2) Individual Muster-out Roll of the organization named above.  Roll dated Camp Cadawalder, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 23 May 1865.

Mustered out of service by virtue of General Order 77 War Department, 28 April 1865.

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(3) Volunteer Enlistment.

This document repeats some of the same information found on the summary card (#1 above) and includes the signature of Samuel Bartlett.

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Note that documents #1 and #2 specify that Samuel Bartlett was in Company B, his name does not appear on the rolls of that company.  The documents also verify that Samuel Bartlett served the period of time indicated on the 1890 census and not the period of time indicated on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card.

While the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card indicates that he is buried at the United Brethren Cemetery in Deep Creek Valley, his grave marker has not been photographed and he has no Findagrave Memorial as of this writing.

Since the military records confirm that the length of his service was less than 3 months, he was not eligible for a pension, so no pension application was located for him.

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Additional information is sought about this soldier and his service as well as his family.  Readers can supply this information via e-mail or by adding a comment to this post.

Category: Queries, Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Deep Creek Valley, Weishample