Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 5, 2018
An undated picture post card view of the New York State Monument at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
______________________________
Image provided by Debby Rabold, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from a family collection.
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 4, 2018
A listing of the July 2018 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 3, 2018
At the time of the Civil War, John H. Shammo served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company E. He was born at Halifax, 22 January 1839, the son of John Shammo (1786-1870) and Sarah [Reinhoehl] Shammo (1786-1870).
According to information available from the Pennsylvania Archives, John H. Shammo enrolled at Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on 3 September 1861, and was mustered into service in Harrisburg as a Corporal on 17 October 1861. At the time he was 22 years old, stood 6 foot 1 inch tall, had dark hair, a light complexion, and light eyes. By occupation, he was a carpenter and was born in Dauphin County. On an unknown date, John H. Shammo was promoted to 1st Sergeant. On 5 March 1863, he was wounded at Thomson’s Station, Tennessee, 5 March 1863. On 1 January 1864, he re-enlisted at Moss Creek, Tennessee, and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 19 May 1865. On 18 July 1865 he was honorably discharged with his company.
About the time the war ended, John H. Shammo married Catherine “Kate” Bordner (1841-1912) and with her had at least four known children. She was the daughter of Michael Bordner (1799-1870) and Katherine “Kate” [Koppenheffer] Bordner. By the 1870 census, John H. Shammo had moved to Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois where he had employment as a carpenter. By 1880, he was in Sherman, Story County, Iowa, where he was a farmer. In 1900, he was living in Cedar, Antelope County, Nebraska, and in 1910, he was in Grant, Story County, Iowa. In 1920, he was living in Nevada, Story County, Iowa, where he also appeared in the 1925 Iowa census. On 14 February 1925, he died and is buried at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery, Story County, Iowa.
Because of his war injury, John H. Shammo qualified for an early pension. He applied in January 1867 and collected until his death. His wife had preceded him in death in 1912.
Previously, he was mentioned on this blog in a post entitled Halifax Area Civil War Veterans.
After the war, John H. Shammo 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.
John H. Shammo 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.
______________________________
Portrait from Ancestry.com.
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 2, 2018
John Bower is buried at the Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He died at the Soldiers’ Home in Dayton on 27 June 1909. On his stone in the cemetery, his regiment and company are noted – 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A.
On 19 August, a 23 year-old John Bower enrolled at Schuylkill County in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, and on 9 September 1961 in Harrisburg, he was was mustered into service as a Private in Company A. Other than his age, no personal information was recorded. However he did state that he resided in Tremont and was working as a laborer. John Bower served a three-year term and at the end of that service, he chose not to re-enlist.
It as not until 1890 that John Bower applied for an invalid pension. At the time he reported service also in Company I of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry.
In 1880, Bower was living at the Soldiers’ Home in Dayton. He indicated that he was born in Germany and that his occupation prior to entry in the home was “butcher.” In a 1907 home record, Bower indicated his occupation had been coal miner.
At the time of his death he was a widower. Two children survived: Rev. Bower, no first name given; and Carolyn [Bower] Conway. Nothing more has been found about the children.
No obituary has been seen.
Previously on this blog, brief information was given about John Bower. This post now adds information about him in the hope that a reader can supply more.
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 1, 2018
During the Civil War, Conrad C. Berry served in the 201st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, as a Private. The Pension Index Card (above, from Fold3) shows that on 18 September 1890, he applied for an invalid pension, which he collected until his death. Afterward, the widow, Rebecca [Walter] Berry applied and collected until her death, which occurred in 1928.
Conrad Berry married Rebecca Walter of Pillow (or Uniontown), Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census, he and Rebecca were living in Pillow and he was employed as a blacksmith. Also in the household were three children and his mother-in-law, Kate Walter.
In 1890, Conrad Berry was living in Millersburg, Dauphin County, and reported his military service to the census. He was mustered into service on 23 August 1864 and honorably discharged on 3 June 1865.
Conrad C. Berry died on 21 October 1907 in Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He was born at Ono, Lebanon County, the son of Heinrich Berry and his wife Eva Berry. Conrad is buried at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Lebanon. A Findagrave Memorial has been established for him, which includes an obituary.
The obituary of Conrad Berry appeared in the Lebanon Daily News, 21 October 1907:
CONRAD BERRY DIES OF CONSUMPTION
DECEASED WAS A NATIVE OF EAST HANOVER
He Was a Member of the First U. E. Church and Brotherhood of America – Those Surviving
Conrad C. Berry, one of the best known citizens in the Fifth Ward, died this morning of consumption at his home, 751 Mifflin Street, after a lingering illness. He was in failing health since August a year ago and his decline though slow, was pronounced ever since. He was confined to bed since last January and for the past seven weeks was absolutely helpless.
Death, therefore came as a relief from suffering. The deceased was 60 years old on October 1.
Besides his wife, there survive two daughters, Mrs. William Seibert, of 740 Mifflin Street, and Miss Ella Berry, residing at home, and four grandchildren, Nevin Seibert, Alton Seibert, Evelyn Seibert and an infant, all children of Mr. and Mrs. Seibert. There also survive three brothers, John A. Berry, of Annville; James L. Berry, on East Hanover; Henry S. Berry, of this city; and a sister, Mrs. Henry Rhode, of Jonestown.
The deceased was a native of the county, having been born and reared in East Hanover He learned the blacksmith trade with his father, the late Henry Berry and worked with him for many years. He then went to Uniontown where he resided for some years and then about fifteen years ago, returned to Lebanon County and settled in Lebanon. He conducted what is known as the Reinoehl Blacksmith Shop for more than twelve years and then went to Lebanon Stove Works, where he was engaged until his failing health required him to relinquish all business activity.
He was a member of Circle No. 25, Brotherhood of America, and First United Evangelical Church. He was highly respected wherever he was known and his demise has created sorrow in the circles in which he was familiar.
Additional information is sought about Conrad C. Berry, his life and family, as well as his Civil War record.
____________________________________
News clipping from Newspapers.com.
;