;

Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

A Brief History of the Kissinger G.A.R. Post #376 at Gratz

| December 14, 2015

Gratz is a small community in Upper Dauphin County that in 1883 formed a local G.A.R. post.  Much of the history of that post has been lost over time and now needs to be re-created through available resources, among those resources, the Harrisburg and other archived newspapers and the national Grand Army of the Republic […]

Jacob Dietz – Draftee in 177th Pennsylvania Infantry

| November 24, 2014

Jacob Dietz (or Jacob Deitz) was born 8 May 1833 in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Johannes “John” Deitz (1793-1859) and Catharine [Stein] Deitz (1799-1873).  He died on 1 December 1907 at Ralpho Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and is buried at St. Peter’s Church Cemetery, Paxinos, Northumberland County.  He never married.  During […]

Samuel P. Klinger – Farmer of Northumberland County

| September 7, 2014

Previously, two men named Samuel Klinger had been identified to be included in the Civil War Research Project.  In researching Samuel P. Klinger of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, who was born on 16 September 1824 and died 4 February 1903, it was discovered that he was also a Civil War veteran – thus bringing the total […]

Samuel Spotts – Drowned in James River at Harrison’ Landing, Virginia

| June 14, 2014

Military and pension records for Samuel Spotts (1841-1862), who is also found in the records as Samuel Spatz,  indicate that he died by drowning in the James River, Virginia, on 7 July 1862 at Harrison’s Landing. Samuel was a member of the 35th Pennsylvania Infantry (also known as the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves) and had been […]

William Shartel – Merchant and Hotel Keeper

| June 8, 2014

On 14 July 1860, more than two years before he was was drafted into service in the Civil War, William Shartle (1835-1874), applied for membership in the Gratz Borough, I. O. O. F. (International Order of Odd Fellows).  In his application, he declared that he was 25 years old, was living in Jordan Township, Northumberland […]