Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 31, 2017

Previously, on this blog, the death and funeral of John C. Miller were described.

The above portion of the plaque on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument notes the name of 1st Sergeant John C. Miller as a Civil War veteran who was wounded during the war and joined the Heilner Post after its organization.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives states that John C. Miller was enrolled at Annville, Lebanon County, on 17 September 1861, in Company H of the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry, as a Private, and was mustered into service at Lebanon, Lebanon County, on 27 June 1865.  At the time he was 18 years old, was a shoemaker, and resided in Annville.  He stood just over 5 foot 4 inches tall, had sandy hair, a sandy complexion, and grey eyes. During the war he was wounded on 31 May 1862 and later was promoted to Corporal.  He was wounded again on 3 May 1863.  On 1 January 1864, he re-enlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia.  The back of the card was not available, but some time before his discharge on 27 June 1865, he was promoted to Sergeant.

In 1890, he was living in Lykens and reported his service in the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry to the census, also reporting that during the war he was wounded in the shoulder.

John C. Miller married Sarah Louise Reyman.  She was born in 1833 and died in 1899.

According to the Pension Index Card shown above from Fold3, John C. Miller applied for an invalid pension on 19 July 1879, which he was awarded and collected until his death on 10 April 1901.

Finally, this brief notice appeared in the Millersburg Herald and then was reprinted in the Harrisburg Telegraph on 22 October 1886.  It tells of a major tragedy that occurred in the life of John C. Miller and Sarah Louisa [Reyman] Miller:

Warren Miller, the young man who was killed here in the freight wreck on Tuesday night, was a son of J. C. Miller, of Lykens, a bright and intelligent youth of seventeen years, and an only son and a favorite young man of the town.  He graduated in the Lykens High school last spring, and stood high in his class.  He had accompanied the freight crew on a trip to Harrisburg for the novelty of it.

That train wreck was more fully reported in the Harrisburg Daily Independent one day before:

FREIGHT TRAINS COLLIDE

A Fatal Railway Accident near Millersburg Yesterday

Shortly after 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon a serious railway accident occurred near Millersburg.  One young man named Miller was instantly killed, and three other men named Jones, Day and Meyers injured seriously.  The accident occurred through the alleged carelessness of a flagman.  A freight train from the Summit Branch Road was running on a siding, when fast local freight came along at a rapid rate, struck the cabin car of the Summit Branch train, crushing it and killing young Miller.  Conductor Day of the first train was wedged between the cabin car and the engine.  His injuries were not as serious as supposed.  The engineer of the fast local freight was hurt about the face.  Esquire Auchmuty held an inquest, the jury rendered a verdict that the accident was due to the carelessness of the train hands and censuring the flagman with neglecting his duty.  The news of the accident soon brought a large crowd to the scene and every assistance was rendered the injured men.  Young Miller was a son of Mr. John C. Miller, of Lykens, and about 17 years of age.

____________________________

News clippings are from Newspaper.com.

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Tags: Lykens Borough, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 29, 2017

Barnhardt Plotzer Sr.‘s name appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument as a veteran from the Civil War who was not a member of the Heiler Post.  Finding him in the records was not easy because of the various ways his name is spelled in those records.  For example, the first name has been found as Barnhardt, Barnhart, Bernard, Bernhard and Balthaser.  And the surname has been found as Plotzer, Platzer, Blotzer, and Blozer.

The two Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Cards shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives, while clearly for the same person, show that a Bernard Platzer (or Bernhart Platzer) served in the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company F, as a Private, enrolling on 3 March 1865 at Harrisburg, and mustered in at the same place on the same day.  At the time, he claimed to be 38 years old (born about 1827).  He stood 5 foot, 4 inches tall, had sandy hair and sandy complexion, blue eyes and indicated he was a miner, and was residing in Dauphin County.  One of the cards notes he was mustered out on 11 August 1865 while the other indicates that he was not on the muster out roll.  One of the cards indicates he transferred from Company F of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry on 24 July 1865.  Both cards note that the name was obtained from the muster rolls, not the enlistment records.  Finally, the bottom card states that the Bates record has his surname as Blozer.

The next step in trying to find information about Bernard Plotzer was to search the pension application files.  No Pension Index Card was located for him – which would probably indicate that he died before 1890, and that he had no surviving widow.

Using the various spellings of the surname, combined with the various first names, a search was completed on Findagrave, with no positive results.

Finally, the same was done on Newspapers.com, with a positive result coming up in a “50 years ago” column in the Harrisburg Evening News, 13 July 1926.

Bernard Plotzer, a boss miner in the Lykens Valley, died suddenly here [Harrisburg], presumably from heat, at the home of Frederick Swartz, Strawberry Avenue.  Plotzer had just recently returned from a visit to his former home in Germany and was on his way back to his family.

The clue having been obtained from the “50 years ago” column, the Harrisburg newspapers of July 1876 were searched, with the following story located in the Harrisburg Telegraph, 11 July 1876:

FOUND DEAD IN BED — Shortly after nine o’clock last evening Coroner Porter was called upon to hold an inquest at the residence of Frederick Swartz, on Strawberry Avenue near Fourth Street, on the body of Balthaser Plotzer.  He summoned a jury consisting of John F. Lesh, M.D., J. George Robber, John Straub, A. Kreidler, Jeremiah Jackson and George Faster, who, after viewing the body, proceeded to hear the evidence in the case.  The circumstances, as we obtained them, are as follows:  The deceased is said to be a foreman or boss miner of the Lykens Valley, and has a family residing at Lykens.  He was on his way home from a trip to Baden, and had telegraphed his safe arrival at New York to his family, and announced that he would be at home on Monday evening at five o’clock.  Yesterday morning Plotzer met a number of friends in this city and visited a number of places.  About half-past nine o’clock he went home with his friend, Mr. Swartz, and stated that he felt fatigued and nervous, and had the same sensation as if he were still on the boat which brought him across the ocean.  Mr. Swartz suggested that he should go to bed and rest himself.  Plotzer complied and Mr. Swartz showed him to his room.  In the evening when supper was ready, Swartz proceeded to the room of his guest and was surprised to find him lying in the bed dead.  He immediately called in a neighbor and sent for a physician.  The latter, upon arrival, pronounced life extinct.  The room in which Plotzer had been sleeping was very close, uncomfortable and poorly ventilated.  When discovered his face was perfectly black, and blood had issued from his nostrils and mouth.  The jury rendered a verdict “that the said Balthaser Plotzer came to his death at the house of Frederick Swartz, No. — Strawberry Avenue, on the afternoon of 10 July 1876, by suffocation, due to the position in which he was lying when found on the bed.”

Plotzer had a small gold watch in his possession, which he intended to present to his daughter, and had purchased some musical instruments for other members of his family.  He was about fifty years of age and stoutly built.  His remains were sent to Lykens today.

Having determined that the Balthazer Plotzer who died in Harrisburg on 10 July 1876 was the same person who was named on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument, as the person who served in both the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, it is now up to others to fill in the details about his family.  Who were his survivors?  There was a daughter mentioned in the obituary and since he as a “Sr.” (as noted on the monument), there had to be a “Jr.” of the same name.  Anyone who has additional information about this Civil War soldier is encouraged to add it as a comment to this post!

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Lykens Borough

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 27, 2017

Henry Barry Miller was born on 1 October 1840 and died on 5 April 1923.  He is buried at the Arlington Cemetery, Upper Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and at the grave site, there is a bronze emblem designating his Civil War service.  Records show that at the time he enlisted, he was a resident of Tremont, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

On 14 August 1861, Henry B. Miller enrolled in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C, at Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County Pennsylvania.  On 9 September 1861, he was mustered into service as a Private.  At the time he was 21 years old, was working as a machinist, and stated that his residence was Tremont.  He stood, 5 foot 4 inches tall, had sandy hair, a dark complexion and blue eyes.  On 1 January 1864, at Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, he re-enlisted.  And, on 30 July 1865, he received an honorable discharge.

On 19 May 1883, Henry B. Miller applied for a disability pension, which the record card (above from Fold3) indicates that he received.  An additional application, for an increase due to age, was submitted on 14 February 1907.  According to the card, he died on 5 April 1923 in Philadelphia.  No widow applied, possibly indicating that the wife preceded him in death.

In 1890, Henry B. Miller was living at 115 Pine Street in Philadelphia.  He reported his service in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, but did not state any disabilities.

Some additional information is available at his Findagrave Memorial.  On Ancestry.com, other information about him includes residence in Shamokin, Northumberland County, in 1880, where he was working as a coal miner, his wife’s name was Rebecca, and there were several minor children in the household. It is believed that Henry’s parents were John B. Miller and Leanis [Stover] Miller.

Much more information is needed to fill out the biographical sketch of this veteran.  Specifically needed are: an obituary, photo(s), information about his military service, and genealogical information about his family.  If any reader can supply any of the above, please do so by adding comments to his post or sending the information via e-mail.

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Tags: Tremont

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 24, 2017

The following illustrations were taken from Under the Maltese Cross – Antietam to Appomattox:  The Loyal Uprising in Western Pennsylvania, 1861-1865, compiled by Charles F. McKenna, and published in Pittsburgh in 1910.  Click on the title for a free download of this book, which is a history of the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry.

All of the sketches in this post are by Charles F. McKenna. McKenna was a member of the regiment, Company E, and his portrait appears above.

Sketch of Callen’s Grave, Bethesda Church

Theophilus S. Callen

Camp Humphreys

Hoe-Down – Camp Humphreys

Scene – Battle of Chancellorsville

Departure 123rd Pennsylvania Volunteers [123rd Pennsylvania Infantry] from Camp Humphreys for Home

President Lincoln and Gen. Hooker Reviewing Army

“Hoo-Doo-Ed,” on Road to North Anna

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 22, 2017

The name of William P. Miller appears on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument as a veteran of the Civil War who served at the rank of 1st Lieutenant, but was not a member of the Heilner Post.

The obituary of William P. Miller appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph of 25 March 1872 as a reprint from the Lykens Register of a few days prior.  Fortunately, the obituary was published by the Telegraph, because nearly all the existing copies of the Register were destroyed in a fire in 1900.

DEATH OF WILLIAM P. MILLER — The Lykens Register says:  On Friday evening, 15th inst., at his residence in this place, William P. Miller, Esq., aged 32 years, 9 months and 24 days.  Mr. Miller’s disease was consumption, from which he had suffered several years.  He served during the rebellion as First Lieutenant of Company H, 210th Pennsylvania Volunteers [210th Pennsylvania Infantry] (one year men), and was at the time of his death a Justice of the Peace in this borough, to which office he was elected last fall.  He was well known and had a large circle of friends.  His funeral, which took place on Sunday afternoon last, was probably the largest that ever occurred in this place.  It was attended by the Lodge of Odd Fellows (escorted by the silver cornet band), Wiconisco Encampment and Lykens Camp of American Mechanics, of which orders deceased was a member, all in regalia; also a detachment from Anthony Post, G.A.R., of Williamstown, in Zouave uniform, and the people of this place and Wiconisco almost en masse.  A salute was fired over the grave by the soldiery.  The funeral services were held at the Lutheran Church, where a feeling discourse was pronounced by Rev. Kloss, who consoled the grief stricken relatives and friends with the belief that their loss was not as one without hope, but that he for whom they mourned had been called from the changing scenes of this world to a blessed immortality. — Rev. S. A. Heilner also made a few remarks.

Mr. Miller leaves a wife and two children and a large number of relatives residing in this place.

Readers are urged to add additional information about William P. Miller by adding comments to this post.

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