Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 18, 2017

John Christian Steckley, who was born 17 November 1845, was briefly profiled here on 11 June 2013:

John Christian Steckley (1845-1912) ——– 107th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, Private (Mustered In 18 February 1862, Harrisburg – Mustered Out 8 March 1865).  Enrolled: Hummelstown, Dauphin County.  Captured as prisoner (POW) at Weldon Railroad and held prisoner from 19 August 1864 – 8 March 1865.  Prisoner at Libby Prison, Belle Isle, and Salisbury, North Carolina.  Married:  JoAnn Mary Milliken.   Buried:  Dauphin Cemetery, Dauphin Borough, Dauphin County.  Occupation: Boatman.  Residence:  Dauphin County.   AKA:  John C. Steckley.

John C. Steckley died in Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania, on 17 December 1912, and his obituary appeared in the Altoona Tribune on 12 December 1912:

Death of John C. Steckley.

The remains of the late Civil War veteran, John C. Steckley, who died of pneumonia in the Altoona Hospital at 10:30 Tuesday night will be taken to Harrisburg this forenoon on train No. 8, leaving Altoona at 11:35.  At 1:30 p.,. on Saturday funeral service will be held in the home of a son, A. M. Steckley, of 2017 1/2 North Sixth Street, and the body of the veteran will be laid to rest in the family burial ground at Dauphin.  The remains may be viewed this morning until 10 o’clock, in the undertaking establishment of Roher and Mauk, in Juniata, and just preceding the movement of the funeral cortege to Harrisburg a brief service of prayer will be held in the undertaking parlor at 9:30.

The deceased was distinguished as a soldier, serving with valor through several years of the Civil War.  He was born in Hummelstown, 17 November 1845, and was a youth of but 17 when he enlisted as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry [107th Pennsylvania Infantry], and fought in the battles of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Antietam, on the Weldon Railroad and a number of other engagements.  He was a survivor of southern prison pens, having been at different times confined in both Libby and Andersonville, and his war record was of far more than ordinary interest.  He was a member of Post 58, Grand Army of the Republic, Harrisburg.

After the war Mr. Steckley became a bridge builder and was found on many of the large steel structures throughout the country.  He was a different times in the employ of the Phoenixville Bridge Company and the Steelton Steel Company, and followed this hazardous occupation as long as he was able to work.  For several years past he had lived retired from toil and with his children spent his last days in quiet enjoyment of life.

Surviving are ten children:  James W. Steckley, A. M. Steckley, and John D. Steckley, of Harrisburg; Mrs. Samuel Thomas, of Sunbury; Mrs. John E. Reilly, of Pleasantville, New Jersey; Mrs. C. P. Byerley and Miss Lucy H. Steckley, of New York City; Mrs. Fred Connells, of Chicago; Mrs. Frederick Brown, of Sioux City, Iowa; and S. D. Steckley, of 510 Fifth Street, Juniata, with whom the deceased made his home during several months past.  Also surviving are two brothers – Richard Steckley, of Dauphin; and William Steckley, of Fairview, just across the Susquehanna from Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown below from the Pennsylvania Archives, confirms his service:

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Obituary transcribed from Newspapers.com.  Portrait of John C. Steckley from a public family tree on Ancestry.com.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 15, 2017

Joseph Ritner Shuler was born on 28 July 1837 and died on 23 September 1910, in Liverpool, Perry County, Pennsyvlania.  He has a connection to Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in that he lived and worked there according to the 1880, 1890, and 1900 censuses.  Because of that connection, he is named on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument.

He was previously profiled here in the post entitled, Joseph R. Shuler – Gunsmith.

His obituary appeared in The News (Newport, Pennsylvania) on 6 October 1910:

JOSEPH R. SHULER HAS PASSED AWAY

Gunsmith Who Made the Rifle That Killed General Canby Under Flag of Truce

Joseph R. Shuler died 23 September, at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Anna E. Morris, of Liverpool, Pennsylvania.  He was the son of Hon. Joseph Shuler of Liverpool and was born in that town 73 years ago.  He was a soldier of the Civil War, having served in Company H, 192nd Pennsylvania Volunteers [192nd Pennsylvania Infantry].

He was a gunsmith and worked for his uncle, John Shuler, the maker of the famous “Shuler guns,” much used by hunters in many of the counties north of Liverpool.

While working here Mr. Shuler made a rifle which is now on exhibition in the National Museum in Washington, D.C.  The rifle has a history and was used bu Captain Jack, a Modoc Indian, to kill General Canby while holding a parley under a flag of truce.

Mr. Shuler made the gun while working in the shop of his uncle John Shuler as a journeyman.  It was made for a Mr. Spiece of Liverpool, about the fifties, who went to Clearfield County.  In about two years he wrote to Mr. Shuler telling him he had killed a great many bear and wolves with the rifle and that he was going to Missouri.  The history of the gun from that time until it was used in the bloody tragedy is a blank to your correspondent.

He worked for many years at the mines at Lykens, and also had a retail coal yard which he sold some time ago.

He was twice married.  His first wife was Miss Susan Roush of Freeburg, Pennsylvania.  That union lasted 25 years.  After the death of Mrs. Shuler he married Mrs. Kate Miller of Lykens, who died two years ago.

In declining days he was with his sister, Mrs. Morris of Liverpool.  He leaves three children, Harvey A. Shuler, Wilkes-Barre; Carrie Shuler, Kansas; Minnie Shuler, Liverpool.  His surviving brothers are Harrison Shuler of Liverpool and Z. T. Shuler of Montgomery’s Ferry.

The Harrisburg Patriot of 2 February 1898 says:  One of the most interesting relics which has been presented to the National Museum for a long time was a rifle which Capt. Jack, the notorious Modoc Indian used in his fight in the lava beds of Southern California and is thought to be the identical rifle with which Gen. Camby was murdered while holding a parley with the chief under a flag of truce.  The rifle was cached in the lava beds during the Modoc War, or just before the capture of Capt. jack.  It was brought out by Modoc Joe in the fall of 1896 and presented to Charles Pitt, the Indian interpreter at Warm Springs, Oregon.  By him it was given to M. C.  Davis, special examiner of the Pension Bureau, and sent by him here from Warm Springs.  The weapon is still in a fair state of preservation and rather of unusual form.  It has two barrels so arranged that they can resolve, one being under the other when being ready to fire, one stock with trigger and hammer doing work for two.  The clamp apparatus has been broken so that the barrels revolve now and could not be fired on this account.  The ball used to fit the rifle is of about half an ounce weight.  The barrels are heavily rifled and the weapon is capable of doing great execution.  The barrels are unusually long and the whole must weigh 16 or 18 pounds.  In the stock, now minus paint, as if gripped by the iron fingers of the coffee colored desperado, is a cavity over which is a brass lid.  In the box thus formed were kept the patches and grease.  The rifle is a little rusty, but not nearly as much as might be expected from its long exposure.  Engraved on one side of the barrel is the name of the maker, John Shuler, Liverpool, Pennsylvania.  The weapon is regarded as a weapon of great curiosity.

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News clipping from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: Lykens Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 13, 2017

In researching William Straw who served in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry as well as the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, it was discovered that for a short time he lived in Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, as per the 1890 Veterans’ Census of that community.  Straw was a blacksmith who was born in England about 12 October 1841, emigrated to the United States about 1849, and when the Civil War broke out, was residing in Llewellyn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The above portrait was supposedly taken after William’s return from the war after serving four years and four months in the military.  It was found publicly posted on two Ancestry.com family trees.  Prior to the discovery of this photograph, another photo, taken later in life, was obtained by the Civil War Research Project.  That photo was cropped from a group picture and is shown below.

In addition to the photo taken in his military uniform, supposedly taken about 1865, an undated photo has been seen of William Straw and his wife Mary Elizabeth Straw visiting the Devil’s Den in Gettysburg.

According to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card, shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives, William Straw enrolled in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private, at Llewellyn, and was mustered into service the same day at Harrisburg.  At the time, he was living in Llewellyn, was a laborer, and was about 19 years old.  An accurate muster out date has not been found, but occurred either sometime in July 1861, according to some muster rolls, or sometime in August 1861, according to the above card.

Also not located at this time is an exact muster in date for his service in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry.  According to the card from the Pennsylvania Archives, at the age of 18, and working as a blacksmith while residing in Llewellyn, he enrolled in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, as a Musician.  The card is hard to read and additional information has been handwritten on it – but he had a light complexion, light hair, and dark eyes.  Also noted is that he re-enlisted at Cincinnati, Ohio, on 1 January, probably 1864.  His height was about 5 foot 6 inches.  Another record indicates that he served as a Corporal, perhaps first entering at that rank and then becoming a Musician, or vice versa.

William Straw died in Philadelphia on 5 April 1906.

A number of other items are available for William Straw, including a death notice which appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper, a birth record from England, and a marriage record.

William Straw is one of those veterans, who because he did not live in one place for most of his life, is easily forgotten by the local communities where he actually lived.

Additional information is sought about him and his family as well as his military record.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 11, 2017

Emanuel Straub, who was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on 5 November 1842, was the son of George Straub (1803-1859) and Barbara [Zerbe] Straub (1803-1899).  After the death of his father, the mother and Emanuel moved in with Daniel Straub, Emanuel’s brother, who was a farmer in Hegins Township, Schuylkill County.  All appear together in the Hegins census of 1860.

On 27 March 1865, with his residence at that time declared as Northumberland County, Emanuel enrolled in Pottsville in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Private.  He gave his age as 22 and his occupation as miner.  His height was 5 foot 7 inches, he had light hair, a light complexion, and blue eyes.  According to the record card at the Pennsylvania Archives (shown above), he was honorably discharged on 17 July 1865.

Following the war, about 1868, Emanuel married Adaline “Ada” Snyder (1849-1941), and with her had several children.

On 21 February 1880, Emanuel Straub applied for a pension based on his Civil War service.  He was awarded the pension, which he collected until his death on 19 February 1933.  Afterward, his widow applied for benefits.  She died in 1941.

When Emanuel Straub died in 1933 in Shamokin, Northumberland County, he was one of the longest surviving area Civil War veterans.  His obituary, and several other news articles told of some of his war experiences.

The obituary from the Shamokin News-Dispatch, 20 February 1933, follows:

DEATH CUTS RANKS OF THE G.A.R. TO SIX

Comrade Emanuel Straub, One of the Last Survivors of Civil War Succumbs to Stroke Suffered Friday

AGED WAR HERO WAS IN NINETY-FIRST YEAR

The ranks of Lincoln Post, No. 140, Grand Army of the Republic, of this city, were reduced to six through the death of Comrade Emanuel Straub at 8 o’clock last evening at his home, 39 North Coal Street, where he succumbed to a stroke of paralysis suffered last Friday  Mr. Straub was the second oldest member of the post he aided in founding.

Comrade Straub, a former widely known stone mason, had been in fading health for several months and became bedfast a week ago.  Pneumonia developed and this was followed by a severe stroke.

Emanuel Straub, son of George Straub and Barbara [Zerbe] Straub, was born in the Mahantongo Valley, 3 November 1842, and was reared to manhood on the family farm.  At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a member of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry [48th Pennsylvania Infantry] and served throughout the civil conflict, having participated with distinction in many of the major battles in the southland.  At the close of the war he returned to his home, later residing in the Deep Creek Valley of Schuylkill County.  He was married in 1866 to Miss Ada Snyder, of Tremont, and in 1868 came to this city and became affiliated with fellow comrades in the upbuilding of the Grand Army of the Republic veterans, in which organization he was keenly interested and active as long as health permitted.

A member of a family of stone masons, Mr. Straub had followed his trade until he attained the age of 72, when he retired.  During his many years as a stone worker, he had assisted in the building of many of the town’s oldest stone and brick structures, these included the former G.A.R. Opera House, several local churches and other large buildings.

Religiously, Comrade Straub was the oldest member of St. John’s Evangelical Church.  Surviving are his wife, one brother, Tobias Straub of Williamstown, six grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 Wednesday afternoon from the Shamokin funeral parlors on North market Street, with the Rev. Earl Slichter to officiate and with burial to follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Note:  Emanuel Straub’s enlistment date needs to be checked.  The Pennsylvania Archives gives his date of enlistment as 27 March 1865, but his obituary states he served from the “outbreak,” which was in 1861.

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News clipping is from Newspapers.com.  Grave marker is from Findagrave.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 8, 2017

Emanuel Stoneroad, whose name appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument, died in 1917 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and his obituary appeared in the Reading Times, 25 June 1917:

4 GENERATIONS SURVIVE HIM

Many Descendants Left by Emanuel Stoneroad, Dead at 88

Survived by one daughter, nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, Emanuel Stoneroad, 88 years of age, died yesterday at the home of his only living child, Mrs. Thomas George, of 318 North Front Street, of senile debility.  He was a veteran of the Civil War, having gone to the front in ’61 with the Dauphin County recruits.

He was born in Lancaster County and lived the greater part of his life at Lykens, Dauphin County, where interment will take place.  The body will be taken to Dauphin County Wednesday morning and interment will be made Wednesday afternoon.  Deceased was a member of the Lykens Post of the G.A.R.  Undertaker – Seidel.

A more brief obituary appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph, 27 June 1917:

Emanuel Stoneroad, a native of West Hempfield Township, near Elizabethtown, died Monday, age 88 years.  On daughter, nine grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren survive.  He was a veteran of the Civil War and was wounded.  He was a member of the Grand Army.

Emanuel Stoneroad enrolled in the militia at the time of the Emergency of 1863, 26th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Corporal at Lykens and was mustered in at Harrisburg four days later.  He served at Gettysburg and was discharged on 30 July 1863 at the end of the emergency.  He said he was 34 years old at the time, and for some unknown reason was registered as Emanuel Stonewood.

After his discharge, he enrolled in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry on 24 August 1864 at Harrisburg, and on the same day and place he was mustered into Company B as a Private.  He served the duration of his enlistment and was honorably discharged by General Order on 29 May 1865.

During his working years, Emanuel Stoneroad was an engineer in the mines at Lykens and Wiconisco.

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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.

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Tags: G.A.R., Lykens Borough, Wiconisco Township