Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 6, 2019

The name W. H. Meck appears on a 1866 petition supporting the white supremacist views of Heister Clymer in his bid to become Governor of Pennsylvania.

During the Civil War, William H. Meck served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private, from 21 March 1865 to 24 August 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. The Pension Index Card, shown above from Fold3, indicates that Meck did not apply for a pension, but his widow did apply. The notation at the bottom of the card states that the widow’s application, along with a minor’s application was filed together with the application of David Culp, who served in the 184th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B. The conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the widow, whose given name has been determined to be Catherine, was first married to David Culp, and with him had at least one minor child.

The card shown above from Ancestry.com, indicates that on 26 September 1864, the widow Catherine Culp first applied for a pension, which she received, and that on 31 January 1878, she applied for benefits for the minor child or children of David Culp, which she received, but she applied as Catherine Meck, guardian. Military records for David Culp, or Kulp as he is sometimes referred to, note that he was declared missing in action at Petersburg, Virginia, on 22 June 1865. This information is obviously in error as the war was concluded at that point. The date when he was declared missing was probably 22 June 1864.

Thus, it can be concluded that the widow Catherine Culp, married veteran William H. Meck, and therefore lost her pension based on the service of Davis Kulp.

William H. Meck apparently died before 8 December 1890, as that is the date that Catherine Meck applied for a widow’s pension.

According to the Registers of Pennsylvania Volunteers, David Culp was 20 years old when he enrolled in the 184th Pennsylvania Infantry.

There is also a William H. Meck who served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company C, as a Private. This same William H. Meck was previously mentioned on this blog in a post about the Gratztown Militia. There is no evidence that this is the same person as the one who served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry .

The William H. Meck who served in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private, is definitely not the same William H. Meck since the dates of service overlap the dates in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry . That William H. Meck died on 28 September 1927 in Schuylkill County.

Previously on this blog, in a post entitled Halifax Area Civil War Veterans, a William Meck was mentioned. It is possible that this William Meck is the same person who is the subject of this post.

Not much more is known about William H. Meck, 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry , or his widow Catherine.

But what is known is that after the war, William H. Meck 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.

William H. Meck 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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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 1, 2019

In researching Civil War veteran John L. Miller, who served in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a Corporal, a Pension Index Card was located at Fold3 (shown above), that indicated that he died at Wiconisco, 31 December 1918.

The Military Index Card, also from Fold3, confirms the service of John L. Miller in that regiment and company. But no other military records are available from that source. Information from regimental sources states that this company was mustered into service on 1 November 1862 and mustered out on 16 August 1863, which as to the muster-out date, matches the date on the Pension Index Card.

Because the regiment was a “drafted militia,” Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives contains no personal information about him.

From records on Ancestry.com, it appears that John L. Miller was the son of Jonathan Miller (1811-1900) and Hannah E. [McAllister] Miller (1815-1892).

Census records provide the following information:

• 1870 – John L. Miller, age 33, a teamster, was living in Tremont, Schuylkill County, with his wife Susan Miller, age 30, and four children: Charlie Miller, age 13, attending school; Priscilla Miller, age 9, attending school; Jonnie Miller, age 6, attending school; and Cassie Miller, age 5, at home.
• 1880 – John L. Miller, age 44, works in coal mine, living in Tremont, with his wife Susan E. Miller, age 37, and five children: John F. Miller, age 16, works in coal mine; Catherine E. Miller, age 13, in school; Elizabeth Miller, age 8; Henry Miller, age 5; and Lyman Miller, age 1.
• 1890 – John Miller, living in Washington Township, Schuylkill County, reported service in Company G of this regiment. However, this is probably not the same as John L. Miller. Note that there was also a John Miller in Company G and in Company B, so this is most likely not the same person as the John L. Miller being researched here. As of this writing, no John L. Miller who served in Company F has been located in the 1890 Veterans’ Census.
• 1900 – John L. Miller, age 64, a stationary engineer, was living in Wiconisco with wife Susan E. Miller, age 62, with two children: Harry A. Miller, age 24, laborer in coal mine; and Lyman T. Miller, age 22, clerk in music store.
• 1910 – John L. Miller, age 74, working odd jobs, was living in Wiconisco, in the household of a Harry Miller, age 37, possibly his son Henry as enumerated in the 1880 census.? Or, possibly a daughter Hattie Miller who married a Miller? Also, he indicated service in the Union Army, a question asked on this census.

John L. Miller‘s death certificate (available from Ancestry.com), confirms his date of death as 31 December 1918, and place of death as Wiconisco Township, Dauphin County. At the time, he was a widower (confirming the 1910 census), and his parent’s names were stated as given in Ancestry.com family trees (as noted above). The cause of death was given as “exhaustion” with contributory “chronic dysentery.” The undertaker was Reiff and Helt of Lykens, and the place of burial was Wiconisco.

In searching Findagrave, a memorial was established for John L. Miller in the Wiconisco‘s Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery (formerly the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery). However, there was no grave marker photograph provided with the memorial.

In 1911, this cemetery was extensively photographed for this Civil War Research Project and no grave marker was discovered for John L. Miller.

In a search of the Lykens Standard and the Elizabethville Echo for the end of December 1918 and early January 1919, no obituary was located for John L. Miller. Likewise, a search of the available newspapers covering the Tremont area produced no obituary.

The Lykens G.A.R. Monument has a John Miller listed with “Privates” who were “not members of the Heiler Post.” Could this be the John L. Miller researched for this blog post? Probably not. Throughout this research, each time John L. Miller has been referenced in military, census, death, and other records, he has always been named as “John L. Miller.” And, if this is the same person, then why was he listed with the Privates, rather than with the Corporals, the correct rank that he held?

Further research still needs to be done on John L. Miller. Any blog readers who can contribute information are urged to do so by adding comments to this post.

Category: Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Lykens, Tremont, Wiconisco, Wiconisco Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 30, 2019

Joseph Moody died on 11 February 1907 in Tremont, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where he was serving as postmaster. During the Civil War he was a Corporal in Company H of the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry. On 14 May 1864, he was wounded at the Wilderness, and was in the hospital at time he was mustered out, 3 October 1864.

An extensive obituary appeared in the West Schuylkill Press & Pine Grove Herald of 16 February 1907. It included the above photograph.

OBITUARY

Joseph Moody, the venerable Tremont postmaster, passed peacefully away at 5:20 o;clock p.m. on Monday at his residence, Corner Main and Crescent Streets.  He had been failing for several months, and for some time past had not been able to take any nourishment.  He was 80 years, 6 months, and 13 days of age and was always an active man.  In his younger days he was a hard worker, and it may be said his system was worn out with the stress of years.  While his death was not unexpected, its announcement came as a shock to our people.  He was one of the best known citizens in the West End, and was active in church work, up to the time he was confined to his bed.

Joseph Moody was born at Carlisle, in this state, July 29th, 1826.  His parents some time afterwards removed to Phoenixville, where he resided until 1845, when he came to Tremont.  He was a moulder by trade and followed that avocation for many years.  In 1871 he engaged in partnership with William Reese in boiler making in this place under the firm name of Reese and Moody.  They operated the Tremont Boiler and Machine Shop from 1871 to 1875.

He was a veteran of the Civil War, and had an enviable record in the service of his country.  On Lincoln’s call for volunteers Mr. Moody was one of the first to respond, and through three years or more of hardships and struggle he defended the Stars and Stripes.  His army life was full of truly patriotic events.  Always willing to help his comrades, even at the risk of his own life, on one occasion during the thickest of the Battle of the Wilderness when men were falling on all sides, and when his company was being gradually pressed back, he saw a Union soldier suffering intense pain, and heard him begging for assistance.  Every man seemed unconcerned in the excitement of the battle, but Mr. Moody could not endure the thought of one of his comrades dying when it was possible to render some assistance, so he crawled along the ground and underbrush, sheltered here and there by the trees of the forest, and yet with bullets and grapeshot falling thick about him he managed to reach the side of his wounded compatriot.  He appealed to be taken to camp, an appeal which Mr. Moody, seeing that the man was mortally wounded felt impossible to accomplish.  However, he managed to put the wounded soldier on his back and then crawled back again to his own firing line.  He saw that the wounded soldier was given every attention that the circumstances could afford and then returned to his post in the front.  He learned later that the man whom he assisted died a few hours later in the arms of his friends.  His last hours were made pleasanter by the thought that he was surrounded by Union soldiers.  This is only one of many instances of his heroism and true patriotism.

For several years past Mr. Moody was the postmaster of this place [Tremont].  His son, William E. Moody was appointed as his assistant.  The post office has never been in more deserving hands than while under the charge of our veteran patriot and citizen.

Mr. Moody was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was always active in church work.

He was a member of Swatara Lodge, No. 267, F. & A. M., and for many years held the office of Tyler.  The lodge of which he was a member attended the funeral in a body and conducted the regular lodge service at the grave.

His aged widow was almost constantly at his bedside contributing to every want of her invalid husband.  The survivors are the widow, sons, William E. Moody, of this place; Charles Moody, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania; Harry Moody of Reading; and his daughters, Mrs. Ella Adams, and May B. Bashore, wife of E. S. Bashore, Esq.

The services at the house were held on Friday at 1:00 P. M., Rev. David Lord and Rev. J. W. Klingler, of this place, and Rev. Bertram Shay, of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, officiating.  Moyer and Otto were the undertakers in charge. Interment was made in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, where while enjoying good health, Mr. Moody found pleasure in working to beautify the last resting place of the dead.

The family have the profound sympathy of everybody.

Other newspapers provided some of the same information, but failed to mention any details of his Civil War service. The Pine Grove Herald of 15 February 1907 added the following about his widow:

The aged widow, who was Elmira Deibler, survives him….

The West Schuylkill Herald, 15 February 1907, noted the following about the funeral:

The funeral… will be in charge of the masonic fraternity.

The funeral merited a separate article in the West Schuylkill Press & Pine Grove Herald, 23 February 1907:

The funeral of Joseph Moody was held from his late residence at 1 o’clock on Friday afternoon.  Services were held at the house.  Officiating clergymen were Revs. David Lord, J. W. Klingler and Bertram Shay.  The active pall bearers were B. F. Stuck, G. M. Huntzinger, H. F. Wigmore, H. W. Hibschman, of Tremont; R. R. Evans, of Reinerton; J. F. Dreisigacker of Tower City, [all] members of Swatara Lodge, No. 267.  The honorary pall bearers were A. R. Lamberson, Edward Purcell, Aaron Ossman, Anthony Fisher, W. D. Murphy, Charles Kreis, and John Herring, all veterans of the Civil War.  Swatara Lodge, No. 267, F. A. M. and Williams Post, No. 136, G.A.R., of which the deceased was a member, attended the funeral in a body.  Interment was made in the M. E. Cemetery.  The floral tributes were many and handsome.  Undertakers were W. E. Moyer and H. H. Otto.

Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were:  Mr. and Mrs. William Moore, Phoenixville; Mrs. Sarah McAndrew, Mrs. Richard Hopkins and child, Gordon; Mr. and Mrs. George Washburn, Williamstown; Charles Moody and wife, Red Lion; H. P. Moody and family, Reading; Rev. Bartram Shay, Philadelphia; Mrs. Mattie Crooks, Reading; W. H. Bashore, Schuylkill Haven; William Lathlaen, Mrs. H. G. Dunkelberger, Miss Clara Brower, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kaercher, Pottsville; W. C. Hack, Shamokin; Mrs. D. H. Christ, Minersville; Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Wilcox, Llewellyn.

Finally, the York Daily, 19 February 1907, reported the attendance at the funeral of Charles W. Moody, son of the deceased:

Charles W. Moody, druggist of this place [Red Lion,. York County, Pennsylvania], has returned from Tremont, where he attended the funeral of his father, Joseph Moody, who was buried on Friday last.  Mr. Moody was born in Carlisle.  He was in his eighty-first year.  For several years he was a member of the firm of Reese and Moody, who operated the Tremont boiler and machine shop from 1871 to 1875.  He was a veteran of the civil was and for several years was postmaster at Tremont.  The deceased was a member of the Methodist Church and was a Mason.  He is survived by a widow, and three sons and two daughters, as follows:  William E. Moody, of Tremont; Charles W. Moody, of Red Lion; Harry Moody of Reading; Mrs. Ella Adams and Mrs. R. S. Bashore of Tremont.

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News articles and photograph from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Gordon, Tower City, Tremont, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 28, 2019

In doing further research on Israel B. Morgan (1841-1885), Civil War veteran from Valley View, Hegins Township, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, a small notification was discovered in the Pottsville Republican of 21 July 1885 as part of a general mining report:

General remarks: fatal accidents:

11 June, 1885 – Israel Morgan, a miner at West Brookside Colliery, age 44 years, killed by a fall of top slate, leaving six children to survive him.

This small piece of information led to a further search of newspapers of the time to determine if anything further could be discovered about the mining accident.

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From the Pottsville Republican, 13 June 1885:

While Israel Morgan, of Valley View, was dressing off a shot at Brookside Colliery yesterday he was struck by falling slate, which cut one of his legs totally off, besides injuring him in other parts of his body. This is one of the pleasant [sic] features in connection with coal mining.

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From the Pottsville Republican, 16 June 1885:

Israel Morgan of Valley View, who died from injuries received in the Brookside mines last Thursday, was interred yesterday in the cemetery at that place.

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From the Pottsville Republican, 17 July 1885:

TOWER CITY

Special Correspondence Daily Republican

The remains of Israel Morgan were buried at Valley View last Sunday with military…. The funeral procession was, without exception, the largest ever seen in Pyne Valley.

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The local newspapers also provided information on the accident and gave some information about the survivors.

From the West Schuylkill Press & Pine Grove Herald, 13 June 1885:

FATAL ACCIDENT

On Thursday morning Israel Morgan, a resident of Pyne Valley, was injured in No. 3 slope, Brookside, and died from the effctts of his injuries the following night. Morgan and another man entered their breast to dress a shot when the top fell down, striking Morgan on the leg. The limb was cut off by the fall and the consequent loss of blood was great. He was conveyed to his home, but grew weaker right along and died early in the night. Mrs. Morgan died about three weeks ago. Six children survive.

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And, from the Pine Grove Press Herald, 19 June 1885:

Three accidents occurred at Brookside Colliery last week. James Elliot of Tower City, had his foot hurt, and William Adams of Clark’s Valley, had his head injured on Wednesday by top slate. Israel Morgan of Valley View, was severely injured on Thursday by a fall of top slate. One of his legs was so badly smashed that amputation was necessary. He is otherwise so badly injured about the body and head that his recovery is doubtful. Mr. Morgan lost his wife a few months ago, leaving seven children.

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Israel Morgan‘s Civil War record is given on the above card, from the Pennsylvania Archives. On 19 August 1861, he enlisted at Hegins, Schuylkill County, in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, and on 9 September 1861, he was mustered into Company A, as a Private at Harrisburg. At the time, he was 19 years old, working as a laborer, and living in Hegins. He stood 5 foot 6 inches tall, had light hair, a florid complexion, and blue eyes. The record also shows that he re-enlisted on 1 January 1864 at Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, and, according to Bates was mustered out on 30 July 1865, The card record notes that from 18 May 1865 to the date of his muster out, he was “absent sick.”

Israel Morgan applied from Pennsylvania for an invalid pension on 8 March 1882, according to the Pension Index Card available from Ancestry.com (above)> However, the pension was not granted. The card also indicates that on behalf of the minor children, five years after his death on 20 July 1890, an individual named R. B. Dunkelberger, claiming to be guardian, applied. That pension also was not awarded. Similar information is found on the Pension Index Card from Fold3 (not shown here).

Additional information is sought about Israel Morgan and his family. Is more information available about the mining accident that resulted in his death? Why was he not awarded an invalid pension when he applied in 1882? And, what happened to his minor children after their mother and father died? Was R. B. Dunkelberger a storekeeper in Gratz, and postmaster of that community when he applied as the “guardian” of the minor children in 1890?

Research is ongoing on this veteran.

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News clippings from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Gratz, Hegins, Hegins Township, Valley View

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 25, 2019

Michael Messner, a Civil War veteran from Pillow, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was born on 3 October 1942 and died 11 June 1917. He is buried at the Union Cemetery in Jordan Township (near Pillow), Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. At his grave is a G.A.R. marker-flag holder.

His obituary appeared in several newspapers, including the following:

From the Elizabethville Echo, 14 June 1917:

Another Veteran Passes Away

Michael Messner, a well-known and life long resident of Pillow, Dauphin County, died at his home on Monday morning after suffering from some time from the infirmities of old age.  He is survived by two children:  Lizzie Messner, at home, and William Messner of Harrisburg, and a number of grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 Saturday morning at his late home and the burial be made in the Evangelical Cemetery at Pillow.

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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 16 June 1917:

TOWN’S ONLY VETERAN DIES

Pillow, Pennsylvania, June 16 [1917] — MichaelMessner, the only veteran of this town, died on Monday morning.  He is survived by a son and a daughter, WilliamMessner, of Camp Hill, and Lizzie Messner, of Pillow.

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From the Lykens Standard, 22 June 1917:

PILLOW

Civil War Veteran Passed Away on Last Monday – Funeral Saturday

Special to “The Standard“

Michael Messner, the last veteran of this place, was called to his Reward on Monday of last week.  Mr. Messner was a true and faithful member of the Evangelical Church for more than half a century.  He is survived by a son, William Messner of Harrisburg, and a daughter, Mrs. Charles Artz of town.  Those attending the funeral, which was held Saturday, were:  Mrs. Joseph Underkoffer and family of Sunbury, and Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Nace and Mrs. Sarah Spotts of Philadelphia.

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According to information from his Civil War record and other sources, Michael Messner was “shot in the hand” at Fort Stedman, Virginia, 25 March 1865, and was absent at his muster out due to recovery in the hospital.

Michael Messner served in the 208th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Corporal, from 23 August 1864 to his discharge on 7 July 1865. Prior service was in the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry [drafted militia], Company B, Private, from 28 October 1862 to 1 August 1863.

In August 1868, as a result of his disability which was incurred during the war, Michael Messner applied for and received an invalid pension, which he collected to his death, the date of which is noted on the Pension Index Card from Fold3, above.

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Obituaries from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Jordan Township, Pillow