Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 11, 2019

During the Civil War, John D. Messner served in the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.

According to the Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives, John Messner enrolled at Harrisburg on 19 February 1964 and on the same day was mustered into service in the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Company D, as a Private. He was 18 years old, born in Dauphin County, and indicated he was working as a laborer. He stood 5 foot 10 inches tall, had light hair, dark complexion, and blue eyes. According to the record, he mustered out with his company with an honorable discharge on 9 November 1865.

The Pension Index Card available from Ancestry.com shows that from Pennsylvania, John Messner applied for invalid benefits on 29 July 1890. He received the benefits and collected them until his death, which occurred on 3 January 1932.

An extensive obituary of John D. Messner appeared in the West Schuylkill Herald, 8 January 1932:

New Year Takes a Heavy Death Toll at This Place

Tower’s City’s Last Civil War Veteran Dies; Only One Remains from Porter

JOHN D. MESSNER

Mr. John D. Messner, Tower City‘s last remaining Civil War veteran, died at his home on South First Street on Sunday morning at 11:05 o’clock.  His death was not unexpected as he had been an invalid for several years, suffering with bronchial asthma, and for the past month had been growing gradually weaker.

Mr. Messner was a native of Dauphin County, where he was born, near Dalmatia, on April 4, 1848, and spent the early part of his life.  Like many other boys of splendid physique and early development, he could not resist the call to arms when his country was engaged in its struggle for the preservation of the Union, and on February 19, 1863, he ran away from home and enlisted as a private in Company D, 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, 152nd Artillery Volunteers [3rd Pennsylvania Artillery].  Shortly before this he had run away to Harrisburg and enlisted, only to be brought back by his parents, who considered him too young to go to war.  At his second enlistment, however, they saw he was determined, and consented to his remaining.

From that time on he had a most interesting military career.  With little preparation he was taken south, and his regiment took an active part in the closing events of the war about Richmond.  He took part in the siege before Petersburg and Richmond, and was one of the first soldiers to enter Richmond, where he did military police duty for some months after the close of the war.

It was his privilege to be one of a special detail of ten privates which made the arrest of Jefferson Davis as he and his wife and secretary were taken from a Confederate man of war onto a Union barge that went to meet them in the harbor.  Mr. Messner recalled that Davis twice refused to salute the U. S. flag that hung above the general’s tent to which he was escorted, but when made to approach it a third time, did so only when he was threatened with the bayonet.  He guarded Davis while he was a prisoner of war, and said that Davis gave his guards little peace, keeping them continually at the jump with requests for various articles such as pen, paper, ink, water, etc.

It was also his privilege to be one of the detail which arrested the keeper of the notorious Libby Prison, and he recalled how that person, whose cruelties to Union prisoners are a matter of history, cringed and took refuge behind his wife when they approached.

He was honorably discharge November 9, 1865, at Fort Monroe, Virginia, returning to his native county, where in 1866, he was married to Miss Sarah Patrick, daughter of John Patrick and Polly Patrick, who died at Tower City in 1917.  Two children were born to this marriage:  Daniel E. Messner, of Tower City, and Frank Messner, who was killed in a mine accident at Brookside Colliery in 1899.  Following the death of his son, Mr. Messner and his wife took their three orphan grandchildren to raise.  These three grandchildren:  Harry Messner, of Reinerton; Charles Messner of Bethlehem; and Ellen Messner, wife of Torrence Dort, of Harrisburg; and four sons of Daniel E. Messner, also survive.  There are nine great-grandchildren.

Mr. Messner came to this place [Tower City] in 1872, when he was granted a miners’ certificate and engaged in coal mining.  Previous to this he had been employed as a bridge builder for the Northern Central Railroad, then operating between Baltimore an Wilkes-Barre.  He helped to build the railroad from Brookside to Lykens, and later became road foreman for the Williams Valley railroad.

He served as Constable of Porter Township for a number of years, and was also a school director in that township before Tower City became a borough.  Later he served as borough supervisor in Tower City borough.

He was an active member of the G.A.R. and attended many state and several national encampments.  It was while attending an encampment at Indianapolis about twenty years ago that he contracted a severe cold and pneumonia developed.  From that time on he suffered from asthma.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Tower City, and was one of its first council members when a separate congregation was organized.

Funeral services were conducted at the house on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock, and he was accorded a military funeral by the members of Harry Heartter Post, American Legion, who used the G.A.R. burial service at Mr. Messner’s request.  Comrade William H. Long, Porter Township‘s only surviving Civil War veteran attended the funeral and paid his last respects to a friend and comrade of a half century.

Funeral director Dreisigacker had charge.  Burial was made in Greenwood Cemetery.

During Mr. Messner’s residence of almost fifty year in Tower City he lived in but two squares, and in only two homes.

The Pottsville Republican of 7 January 1932 reported briefly on his funeral:

Funeral of John D. Messner

The funeral of John D. Messner, who passed away Sunday, was held on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock from the home of his son Daniel Messner at Tower City.  As he was a Civil War veteran the Legion attended in a body, and formed a guard of honor.  Also present was William Long, the only survivor of the William Thompson Post of Tower City, who recently moved into Tower City from Muir.  representatives of the Knights of Pythias, of which the deceased was a member, were also in attendance.

Six grandsons of the deceased were pall bearers.  They were:  John Messner; William Messner; Jonas Messner; Clarence Messner; Charles Messner; and Harold Messner.

But the Schuylkill County newspapers were not the only ones that reported on his death and obituary. Since he was widely known in the Lykens Valley area, his death received attention in both the Lykens Standard and the Elizabethville Echo.

The Lykens Standard of 8 January 1932:

John D. Messner

John D. Messner, 83, a resident of Tower City for 59 years, Civil War veteran and a railroad employee for many years, died at his home Sunday at 11:05 A.M., death having been caused by infirmities of old age.

Preceded in death by his wife, he is survived by one son, Daniel Messner, of Tower City, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  He attended and was a member of the Lutheran church.

Funeral services were held from his late home Wednesday, January 6th.  Rev. Ira F. Frankenfield, pastor of the Tower City Lutheran Church, officiated.  Burial was made in the Greenwood Cemetery.

And, the Elizabethville Echo, 7 January 1932:

AGED TOWER CITY MAN BURIED YESTERDAY

John D. Messner, 89, died at his home in Tower City Sunday.  He is survived by one son, Daniel Messner of Tower City.

Funeral services were held from the residence Wednesday morning with the Rev. Ira Frankenfield, pastor of the Tower City Lutheran Church officiating, and interment was made in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Mr. Messner was a Civil War veteran and helped build the Summit Branch Railroad from Millersburg to Lykens.  A section of this railroad extends to Williamstown for the purpose of transporting coal mined there.  Mr. Messner was construction foreman for many years.

Previously on this blog, John D. Messner was briefly featured in the following posts:

Civil War Burials in Greenwood Cemetery

Tower City, Porter Township & Rush Township Veterans

________________________________________

News articles from Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on John D. Messner – Guarded Jefferson Davis While He Was in Captivity
Tags: G.A.R., Lykens, Porter Township, Tower City, Williamstown

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 9, 2019

Thomas McGee, also found in the records as McGhee and Magee, was born in Scotland on 17 March 1828 and after emigrating to America, resided in Branchdale, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. In the early 1890s he moved to Mount Carmel, Northumberland County. He was a coal miner, who during the Civil War was involved in digging the mine at Petersburg.

According to the Veterans’ Card from the Pennsylvania Archives, Thomas McGhee enrolled at Pottsville on the 18 March 1864 in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, and on the same day was mustered into Company E as a Private. He was recruited for this service. At the time he declared that he was a miner by occupation, was 35 years old, and had been born in Scotland. He was 5 foot 2 inches tall, had dark hair, a light complexion, and hazel eyes. The card notes that he was mustered out with his company on 17 July 1865.

In 1890, Thomas McGee, then living in Branchdale, Schuylkill County, reported his service in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, and indicated that he was disabled by “sun stroke” which he claimed occurred during his service.

On 16 July 1886, Thomas McGee applied for an invalid pension based on his service in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry. According to the Pension Index Card from Fold3, he received the pension. His death occurred on 29 April 1908, and no widow applied for benefits following his death.

From the Pennsylvania Death Certificate, found at Ancestry.com, the following can be added about Thomas McGee:

• The cause of death was “dilatation of the heart.”
• He was a widower at the time of his death.
• The parents’ names were Robert McGee and Mary [Cook] McGee, both born in Scotland.
• The place of death was Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
• The place of burial was the Mount Carmel Cemetery.

On 29 April 1908, the Mount Carmel Item first reported his death as follows:

THOMAS McGEE DEAD

Thomas McGee, aged about 82 years, died at one o’clock this afternoon at his home on West Third Street, after a long illness.

Mr. McGee is survived by a large number of relatives in town.  Full particulars will be given in tomorrow’s paper.

The Pottsville Republican also reported his death, 29 April 1908, and noted that he was a Civil War veteran:

Death of Thomas McGee

Thomas McGee, formerly of Branchdale, and a veteran of the Civil War, died at his West Third Street home in Mount Carmel yesterday, and will be buried at one o’clock on Saturday afternoon.

And, as promised, the Mount Carmel Item followed through with a more complete obituary on 30 April 1908:

DEATH OF VETERAN MAGEE

Brief mention was made yesterday of the death of Thomas Magee, who died at 12:30 o’clock at the home of his step-daughter, Mrs. Isabel Gottshallo, at No. 333 West Third Street.  Disease had suffered from dropsy and heart disease.

Mr. Magee was eighty years of age and was born in Scotland.  He came to America when a very young man, and located in Branchdale, Schuylkill County, where he resided until fifteen years ago, when he came to Mount Carmel.

His wife died four years ago.  The survivors are an adopted son, Robert Magee, of Providence, Rhode Island; and his step-daughter, Mrs. Gottshall.  He had many relatives in this city.

Deceased was a veteran of the Civil War, and served as a Private soldier in Company E, Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers [48th Pennsylvania Infantry].  He enlisted March 9th, 1864, and was mustered out at the end of the War, July 17th, 1965.  He had an excellent army record, and was one of the Schuylkill County miners who drove the famous mine tunnel at Petersburg.

The funeral will be Saturday, services to be held at the house at 1:00 o’clock, conducted by Rev. J. G. Shireman, pastor of the Mennonite Church.  The 2:35 Pennsylvania and Reading train will be taken for interment in Mount Carmel Cemetery at Alaska.  Undertaker McConnell directing.

The Daily News of Mount Carmel, 30 April 1908, added the following about Thomas McGee‘s Civil War service:

Although the history of the 48th does not mention Mr. Magee, it is a well-known fact that he was prominently connected with the memorable mine at Petersburg, Virginia.  It is said that he handled every keg of powder that was put into the mine.  The engineer in charge of the mine did not have the knowledge of mining of the experienced miners of Schuylkill County and he depended largely upon a number of miners serving with the 48th, particularly upon Mr. Magee.

__________________________________

News clippings from Newspapers.com.

On 28 April 2011, a blog post here described the monument to “The Crater” at the Petersburg Battlefield. See: Monument to the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry. Although Thomas McGee is mentioned as a known person from the Lykens Valley area who was a member of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, very little was known about him at the time. Today’s post is a result of recent research which includes information from sources not readily available in 2011, including Mount Carmel newspapers.

For additional information about the digging of the mine, see The Crater, published on 4 April 2013.

The military grave marker at the top of this post is from Thomas McGee‘s Findagrave Memorial. An additional grave marker (non-military) is also available on that site, which gives his wife Helen’s birth and death years as 1830-1904.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Thomas McGee – Helped Drive Petersburg Mine
Tags: Branchdale

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 7, 2019

On 14 May 1926, Josiah Welker died. He was a Civil War veteran. His burial place is the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

The obituary of Josiah Welker appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph of 15 May 1926:

AGED VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR DIES

Joshua Welker Victim of Blood Poisoning at Lewistown Hospital

Lewistown, May 15 [1926] — While preparations were being made to amputate his leg in a last effort to halt blood poisoning, Joshua Welker, Civil War veteran, lumberman and farmer died at the Lewistown Hospital last night, aged 89.  An infection which developed several weeks ago was the cause of death.  He won a citation for bravery in action during the Civil War.

Mr. Welker was born in Northumberland County, where he attended private school in an old log school house until his family removed to the Lykens Valley where he continued to study until he was twenty years of age when he established a saw mill.  He closed down his mill and enlisted in Company C, 36th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers [36th Pennsylvania Infantry], under the command of Dr. Witman, of Halifax, at Camp Curtin.  He was invalided home after an attack of typhoid which developed at Gettysburg and confined him to an Army hospital for several months.  After his recovery he re-enlisted at Camp Curtin in Company F, 200th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers [200th Pennsylvania Infantry].  He was promoted and cited for meritorious services and bravery while on picket duty near Dutch Gap.  He was in a number of engagements, including the storming of Petersburg.  After the war his health was impaired and he abandoned his saw mill and took over the old Greenawalt farm in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, which he operated until about 20 years ago.  He had been making his home with a daughter, Mrs. Clara R. Shoop, wife of John R. Shoop, of Lewistown.  Other daughters are Sara Jane, wife of August Meals, Philadelphia; Ellen, wife of Horace W. Ballets, Harrisburg; George Welker, of Hatfield; and C. H. Welker, of Dauphin.

Funeral services will be held at Lewistown, probably Tuesday and the body will be taken to Dauphin arriving on the noon train, for burial in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, at Red Hill, by the side of his wife who died fifteen years ago.

 

The following biographical sketch was found in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896:

Joshua Welker

JOSHUA WELKER, farmer, was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1837.  He is a son of Jonas Welker and Sarah [Kocher] Welker.  His father was born October 16, 1800, and died February 16, 1888.  His mother was the daughter of Peter Kocher.  She died aged about sixty-four years.  They had thirteen children:  William Welker; Joshua Welker; Amanda Welker; Joel Welker; Isaac Welker; Sarah Welker; John Welker; Levi Welker; Eli Welker; Jonas Welker, who died in childhood; and three others who are deceased.

Joshua Welker attended a private school in an old log cabin, until he was twelve years old, when his father removed to the Lykens Valley, Dauphin County, in 1849 or 1850.  He attended the district schools in Washington Township four or five years, when the family moved to Jefferson Township.  There he continued attending school in the winter months until he was twenty years of age, assisting his father during the busy season on the farm.  At twenty years of age he rented Buffington’s Saw Mill, Jefferson Township, and began business for himself, cutting lumber for the farmers and for merchant trade.  He continued this business until June 1863.  ON this date he enlisted at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, in Company G, 36th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Capt. Dr. Witman, of Halifax, and was sent to Gettysburg where he was stricken down with typhoid fever, and was for some time in the army hospital.  He returned home, but again enlisted at Harrisburg, August 23, 1864, in Company F, 200th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.  He was in the ranks, but was promoted to Corporal in November 1864, for meritorious services and bravery while on picket duty near Dutch Gap.  He was in a number of hotly contested engagements, and at the storming of Petersburg.  He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, May 30, 1865.  His health was seriously impaired by exposure.  On his return Mr. Welker engaged in farming on his own account in Jefferson Township, and continued there until 1872, when he rented the old Greenawalt farm, Middle Paxton Township, which he has cultivated up to the present time [1896].

Mr. Welker was married, June 12, 1856, to Catherine Spayd, daughter of John Spayd and Elizabeth [Spotts] Spayd.  She was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1834.  They have ten children; five are deceased; one died in infancy; Elizabeth Welker, born November 19, 1859; John Henry Welker, born May 15, 1862; Minnie Agnes Welker, born August 28, 1869; Edward J. Welker, born July 7, 1874.  Their living children are:  Sarah Jane Welker, wife of August Meals; Clara R. Welker, wife of John Shoop; Ellen Welker, December 7, 1866, wife of Horace W. Bailets; Charles F. Welker and George H. Welker [twins], born August 11, 1876.  Mr. Welker is earnest and active in all measuers intended to promote the welfare of the community.  He has been Superintendent of the Sunday School at Red Hill for many years.  Politically, he is a Republican.  The family attend the Lutheran and Reformed Churches.  The parents of Mrs. Welker are both deceased.  Her father died aged about sixty-four, and her mother aged eight-two years.  They had nine children, two of whom are deceased:  John Spayd and Joseph Spayd.  Their living children are:  Jonathan Spayd; Philip Levering Spayd; Catherine Spayd, Mrs. Welker; Lydia Spayd; Elizabeth Spayd; Rebecca Spayd; and Amanda Spayd.

Not much information about the Civil War service of Josiah Welker is available on the Veterans’ File Cards found at the Pennsylvania Archives. For the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia (Emergency of 1863), someone wrote some information on the card, but the only legible word is Halifax, probably indicating the place the company was organized.

For the card for his service in the 200th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, there is nothing on the card except the Bates reference.

However, information from other sources is available. The militia service was from 4 July 1863 to 11 August 1863. This militia regiment was at Gettysburg, but after the battle, and its duties were to clean up the battlefield and help to bury the dead. There is no mention that Josial Welker was discharged early due to typhus.

The service in the 200th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F, as a Private, began on 23 August 1864, and at an unknown date, he was promoted to Corporal. Unfortunately the record notes that at muster out, he was “not accounted for.”

The two available Pension Index Cards, shown above from Fold3 and from Ancestry.com, indicate that Josiah Welker did not apply for a pension until 14 June 1897. If he had been injured during the war, he could have applied prior to 1890, but it doesn’t appear that he had any evidence to support his claim.

However, from his pension application papers, the following was noted:

I was in Co. G 36th Regt Pa State Service was enrilled 27th day of June 1863 to serve 90 day & was discharged 11th day of August 1863 and I was not in any other Regt except the 200 Regt wich I have mentioned in my application for Pension. I have never made application for Pension before.  I was slitely wounded but was never treated at any Hospital.  I make this voluntary Statement to W. A. Bailets of Dauphin Pa.  This statement was not dictated directly or indirectly.  [Rec’d: Pension Office, September 24, 1897].

There are several problems in Josiah’s statement including that the militia service was not a specified amount of time – he claimed it was 90 days. Secondly, there is no record of anyone in Company C of the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia getting wounded. Finally, the persons to whom he made the statment had the same surname as his son-in-law.

The two cuts above are from the 1890 Veterans’ Census. Note that Josiah Welker only claimed service in the 200th Pennsylvania Infantry, and that during that service he was woulded at Fort Stedman. He also claimed “re-enlisted veteran status.”

This kind of confusion was common when veterans applied for pensions. The war had taken place many years prior and memories were fogged by time. In any event, the Pension Bureau carefully checked all claims and the fact that Josiah Welker received a pension, indicates that his statements and records were carefully verified.

A final thought: Although Josiah Welker spent a short time in Washington Township, Dauphin County, including attending school there, he is not named on that place’s list of war veterans. However, his sister, Sarah Welker married William Crabb, grandson of a pioneer African American settler of the Lykens Valley. She was born in Elizabethville and is buried there in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Josiah Welker – Veteran Died of Blood Poisoning in 1926
Tags: Dauphin Borough, Halifax, Jefferson Township, Washington Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 4, 2019

A listing of the September 2019 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

John Culp – 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry

August 2019 Posts

Lorenzo Michael – Another Millersburger Ignored by Millersburg

Charles Henry Laudenslager of Lykens

Obituary of Patrick J. Martin, 1906

Obituary of Henry Knauber – Hotel Operator of Newtown

Death of Peter Matter, 1902

Obituary of Amos McColly, 1910

Finding More About August Miller of Millersburg and/or Hegins

John H. Bricker – Cavalry Vet Died in Illinois at Age 102

George W. Lehman – Why Was His Pension Canceled?

Obituary of Henry Miller of Williamstown – Veteran Cavalryman

W. H. Harris – 24th United States Colored Troops

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on September 2019 Posts
Tags: Table of Contents

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 2, 2019

William H. Michaeldied on 6 May 1911 and is buried at Seybert’s Cemetery, Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The inscription on his grave marker notes that he served in an unassigned company of the 157th Pennsylvania Infantry.

Information on his service is can also be found in the 1890 Veterans’ Census where the same military information is given plus the fact that his rank was “Private” Also, in the 1910 Census, he declared that he was a Union war veteran. In both censuses, he was living in Williamstown.

On 13 April 1865, a William Michael enrolled in the 157th Pennsylvania Infantry at Pottsville, but was unassigned as to company. On the same day and at the same place, he was mustered into service as a Private, but still was unassigned as to company. At the time, he was 18 years old, was residing in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, and was working as a laborer. He
stood nearly 5 foot 4 inches tall, had brown hair, a florid complexion, and hazel eyes. On 23 May 1865, he was mustered out of service by General Order, having served in the regiment less than two months.

No pension application has been located for him. He would have been ineligible, because a minimum of three months was required to receive benefits, and according to his military records, he only served one month and ten days.

His death certificate notes the cause of death as “myocarditis.” At the time of death, he was working as a miner, and he left a wife.

According to genealogical records, William’s wife the former Leah Jane Rowe. She lived to 17 April 1956 to the age of 101, and at the time of her death was one of the only surviving Civil War widows left in the Lykens Valley area, although her obituary which appeared in the Elizabethville Echo, 19 April 1956, failed to note that:

MRS. MICHAEL DIES AT AGE OF 101 YEARS

Mrs. Leah J. Michael, died at her home in Williamstown Tuesday, at the age of 101 years.

She was a member of the Evangelical Congregational Church, WIlliamstown.

Mrs. Michael was a daughter of the late Daniel Rowe and Susan [Frantz] Rowe and was born in Lykens Valley, May 16, 1854.  her husband, William H. Michael, preceded her in death.

She is survived by fifteen grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren and twenty-one great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held from the Lyons Funeral Home, Williamstown, at 2:00 o’clock Saturday afternoon.  Rev. R. G. Hower, pastor of the Evangelical Congregational Church will officiate and interment will be made in the church cemetery.

____________________________________

News clipping from Newspapers.com. Veterans’ File Card from Pennsylvania Archives. Death certificate from Ancestry.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on William H. Michaels – 157th Pennsylvania Infantry
Tags: Williamstown