;

Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Gratz During the Civil War – Zacharias Laudenslager House

| October 12, 2011

The original purchaser of Lot #46 from Simon Gratz in 1818 was Joshua Ossman.  In 1820, Ossman left Gratz and sold the lot to Charles Coleman who owned it until he died in 1839 whereupon it is listed through his estate until 1852 when it was obtained by Jacob Laudenslager (1796-1869).  During the estate period, […]

Gratz During the Civil War – Solomon Wolf House

| October 6, 2011

During the Civil War, the owner of this property known as Lot #64 was Solomon Wolf (1811-?), an immigrant from Prussia, who was said to have tried many occupations including farmer, huckster, saddler and liquor dealer – all from this property and the adjacent property, Lot #62.  In 1846, Wolf had purchased the house and […]

Gratz During the Civil War – William Scheib House

| September 24, 2011

The house on this property, Lot #47, was built in the 1820s by Joshua Osman who purchased the lot from Simon Gratz in 1818.  Some time around 1824, Peter Crabb (1787-?), a blacksmith, purchased the property from Osman, and probably built the small building in the rear which he used as a blacksmith shop.  Peter […]

Gratz During the Civil War – George Ossman, Boot and Shoe Maker

| September 23, 2011

Lot #29 was held by the heirs of Simon Gratz for many years, but in 1853, they sold it to George Ossman, who at the time lived in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The first part of the house was constructed prior to Ossman purchasing the land.  By 1855, a two story house was listed […]

Gratz During the Civil War – Rudolph Dornheim Properties

| September 22, 2011

The house on Lots #93 and #95 at the most western end of Gratz was one of the newest houses in Gratz at the time of the Civil War. One of the first owners of the property was William Weidel, a potter.  He and his brother George Weidel (1784-1856) , also a potter, were early […]