;

Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election of 1866 – The Defeat of a White Supremacist

| September 16, 2016

The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election of 1866 pitted a Union General and war hero, John W. Geary, against a avowed racist and white supremacist, Heister Clymer.  Geary headed the Republican or Union ticket and Clymer headed the Democratic or Copperhead ticket. Unlike the Presidential Election of 1860, official vote totals by townships and boroughs were available […]

Jacob Klinger and Sarah [Reed] Klinger – Death at the Almshouse and a Murder Story

| September 7, 2016

Today’s post begins the story of one of the most brutal and sensational murders ever committed in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania – that of Sarah Ann [Reed] Klinger, the widow of Civil War soldier Jacob Klinger. It is believed by some that the Jacob Klinger who served in the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry in the Civil War […]

Where is Peter Crabb Buried?

| August 19, 2016

Peter Crabb, one of the earliest settlers of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was an African American who was born in Pennsylvania about 1787.  He was the father of two known Civil War soldiers, John Peter Crabb and Edward Crabb, both previously profiled here.  At the present time, there are two working theories on where Peter […]

Widow of Philip W. Keiter Dies in Harrisburg, 1914

| August 8, 2016

Philip W. Keiter was born on 22 June 1833 in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, and died on 6 June 1883.  During the Civil War, he served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia, Company C, as a Sergeant, a company that was formed from what was pre-war known as the “Home Guards” or the Gratztown Militia. […]

Philip Koch, Buried at Erdman – Was He A Civil War Veteran?

| July 25, 2016

Philip Koch was born about 8 April 1813, the son of Heinrich Koch and Catherine [Ploutz] Koch, of Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Philip’s baptismal record is found in the records of the Zion (Klinger’s) Lutheran Church at Erdman, 22 May 1813. In 1850, Philip Koch is found in Lykens Township.  He was married to […]