Civil War Blog

On April 12, 2011, our country will begin a commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War (1861-1865), the bloodiest war in our history.  In preparation for that commemoration, the Gratz Historical Society has begun a research project on the soldiers who fought in that war. The project started with the pension application files of 300 soldiers from the Upper Dauphin-Lykens Valley area, but it quickly became obvious that there were many more veterans than previously thought. Now, more than 2000 Civil War veterans have been identified!

Many of these veterans served honorably but their graves are not marked with the customary G.A.R. star (Grand Army of the Republic).  Others never applied for pensions or joined post-war patriotic organizations. Some moved out of the area, while others moved into the area following their military service. Some also were “cousins” of those in the Lykens Valley – fighting on both sides, sometimes in the same battle against each other.

Many descendants of these soldiers have come forward with information and materials about their ancestors. These materials have enriched the Civil War Collection at the Gratz Historical Society – which now numbers more than 50,000 items – all which are digitized and readily available for research.

The digital records are organized in files labeled with the name of each veteran.  Each veteran file contains some or all of the following:

• Photographs of veterans and their families

• Roles of the women – wives, mothers, sisters, daughters – before, during and after the war

• Photographs of gravestones

• Obituaries of the veterans and members of their families

• Genealogies of the veterans and their families

• Military records with muster dates, regiment and company information, battles fought (and sometimes pictures of the battles), and the National Archives microfilm references.

• Pension records with applications made by the soldier and widow, copies of medical certifications, marriage information, military record information, and National Archives pension application references.

• Census returns showing the soldier and his family

• Military gravestone application record

• Prisoner of war records

• Veterans home records

• Regimental histories

• References to objects in the Gratz Historical Society collections or books published by the Society

• Letters from soldiers sent to their loved ones at home or letters they received

• Diaries – there is a complete diary kept by one soldier for most of the war

• Monuments and tributes

• Historical sites pertaining to the veteran

• G.A.R. Post records

• Stories

• etc.

These member and community-shared items enable us to discover what happened to the citizens of the Lykens Valley more than 150 years ago – how and in what ways they supported the war and or avoided it, and how they were affected by it.

For the purpose of defining the geographic area of this study, a modified portion of a map from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is provided below:

The area of study is a large triangle, the Lykens Valley falling within its heart.  The entire area within the triangle has to be considered because of the free movement of people in and out of the Lykens Valley area.  Anyone who at any time was associated with any of the communities both within and along the sides of the triangle was considered for this study.

The “points” of (A) Herndon in Northumberland County, (B) Tremont in Schuylkill County and (C) Clarks Ferry in Dauphin County create the triangle.

The western side is the Susquehanna River with Millersburg about mid-way between Clarks Ferry and Herndon.

Along the northern side is the Mahantongo Mountain with its gaps at Pillow and Klingerstown, allowing access to the Lykens Valley from the Northumberland County townships just beyond the gaps.

The southern side of the triangle is Peters Mountain – a formidable barrier which in effect separates Dauphin County into two parts.

Two east-west roads (Route 25 and Route 209) bisect the triangle and run from Millersburg at the river to Tremont in the east.  Between these roads for about half their distance is Short Mountain.  Where Short Mountain ends is “The Crossroads” connecting Routes 209 and 25.  These roads allowed free movement of people in and around the Valley and enabled commerce and communication in the Civil War period just as they do today.

Although the natural boundaries did confine many of the people of the Lykens Valley for generations – others found ways in and out.  Many of the soldiers identified in this study may have been born abroad and were immigrants drawn by work in the coal mines or farms.  Others were born in the Lykens Valley and left to seek their fortunes in the West – Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, and Iowa.  A surprising number were related to each other by blood or marriage and were descended from the same group of the original settlers to the Lykens Valley.  Today, the names that are found in abundance in the Civil War files, are the names of many current residents – undoubtedly descendants of those veterans.

This geographic area, while broad, falls within the mission of the Gratz Historical Society which was founded with the purpose of serving the northern end of Dauphin County with the aim of discovering and preserving records and materials to illustrate the history of the area, collecting artifacts of the region, fostering an interest in its history, and collecting and preserving genealogical records of the settlers of the area.

Members and friends of the Gratz Historical Society can continue to send or bring in items relating to the Civil War to add to the research project.  Stories are especially welcome. The Society now has the capability to make copies of pictures and other records (digital scans) if you want to keep the originals. The Museum also accepts donations of items.

Members are encouraged to use the Civil War Collection for research. Stop at the Society Library on Wednesday between noon and five during the spring, summer & fall months to see the materials in person. For those anxious to get started right away, contact Norm Gasbarro, who is directing this project.  E-mail: normgas@gratzpa.org, or by regular mail at 1900 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Apt. #1403, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Norm is usually available at the Society Library on alternate Wednesdays in season, but it is best to check in advance as to his schedule.

For the Veterans List, click here.

9 Responses to “Civil War Research Project”

1. Jan Snyder Leibin says:

   April 9, 2011 at 12:05 pm

   Cousin Liane Glasrud notified me of this, wish I had known sooner. Her ancestor “TJ” Thomas Jefferson Tobias was younger brother of my great grandfather John Tobias. Apparently John Tobias who lived in Frailey Twp, Schuylkill Co served in civil war but I can only find his national archives record as class 2 in congressional district 10 when he was approximately 44 years old, born in 1821. His first wife Nancy Anna Rowe died in 1850 then he married my great grandmother Hannah Hoffa Tobias (1828-1868), their son William J Tobias my Grandfather (1862-1943). After Hannah’s death he then married Rebecca unknown, then Paulina Rebemann Bauer (1829-1892). John Tobias buried in Donaldson-Tremont cemetery, as are wives Hannah and Paulina, as well as my Grandparents William J. and Ida Klick Tobias. Wish I did have pix of John or Hannah, but unfortunately do not have any, if anyone else does would love to see it. Interested in any other info you might have, sorry I just now found out about this effort. Will be happy to share information.

   Reply
2. Britt Isenberg says:

   April 29, 2011 at 6:25 pm

   Hello,
   I’m originally from Millersburg and have an ancestor that fought in the 50th PA named Samuel Schwalm. Ever since I was a kid I’ve been a Civil War buff and I think it’s great that you guys have these resources so publicly available. I know it’s been a trying time in my effort to get all I can together about the 50th PA. Anyways, the link above is to a new website I’m working on and just thought I’d share it with you. It’s a long ways from complete, but it’s been started anyways. I may be researching some more individuals in the coming months and looking for photographic record and I’ll be sure to stop by and say hello! Thanks so much again and I’ll link your site to mine!
   Take care,
   Britt

   Reply
3. Ann Tomlin Lynn says:

   November 13, 2011 at 6:38 pm

   My attempts to find more information on THOMAS NELSON THORNBURG, who fought with the Union in the Civil War have been few and far. I do know he was mortally wounded and died a short time later at Gettysburg. Would you please advise me how I might find more about my great great grandfather?

   Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.

   Reply
4. John Graff says:

   December 11, 2011 at 11:55 pm

   I have enlistment records, muster records, pension applications, and pay records of my two Great Grandfathers who fought in the civil war.

   Molidore Graff
   Enlisted Aug 12th 1862
   Co B 68th regiment Pennsylvania Infantry
   Mustered out June 9th 1865

   John Brandt
   Enlisted Aug 20th 1864
   Co L 5th Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry
   Mustered out May 19th 1865

   Reply
5. Dr James Patrick Murphy says:

   March 4, 2012 at 11:48 am

   Hi, I’m looking to see if Moran Patrick 1st. Lieut. Co. A. 69th.Pa. is my relative. My family of Moran’s are from Glenviggin Townland of Sixtowns Northern Ireland. James Moran ( My great grandfather) could possibly be the brother of Patrick Moran. James lived and died on Glenviggin. As you know Charles McNally was from the same townland ( Glenviggin)

   Please let me know if this could be the case.

   Thanks.
   Dr Jim Murphy

   Reply
6. Kathryn Elbert says:

   April 5, 2012 at 3:56 pm

   I have been researching my great-great grandfather, Christoph Seibert, who had enlisted in Co. B of the 96th Regiment Pa Volunteers (Pine Grove Sharpshooters). He was transferred to the 44th, 2nd Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps on the 29th of Oct. 1863 and was sent to the U.S. General Hospital at Washington D.C.. How can I find out why he was sent to the hospital? If this was and injury rather than an illness, what battle was he injured in?

   Reply
7. Danny Conroy says:

   May 31, 2012 at 12:15 pm

   I am trying to find out more info on Pvt John Becker from Comp. A – 73rd regiment. After his capture he spent time in Andersonville prison. As far as I know he lived in New Jersey and New York, I don’t know why he enlisted in the 73rd regiment in Pa. Do you know if this regiment was from a certain area in Pa. where he might have been living??? I also noticed his occupation was listed as tailor and after the war it was listed as barber. Was it common to learn this occupation in prison? Any info would be great, thank you so much.
   Danny Conroy

   Reply
8. alice sandercock says:

   May 21, 2013 at 10:47 am

   I have a book on the civil war published in 1880. the book is entitled The mammoth cyclopaedia Volume 111. Published weekly by F. M. Lipton New York. Do you know anything about this book? One of the articles is the civil war in America by captain George B Herbert with anecdote’s of the rebellion. and portraits and numerous other illustrations. This book belonged to an uncle. I am originally from Pennsylvania.

   Reply
9. Krista Martino says:

   June 13, 2013 at 9:23 pm

   I’m trying to find out more about exactly what happened to my Great Great Great grandfather, Hiram F. Groff, and his company, just before the bloody days of the Battle of Gettysburg. He was drafted from Mifflin County and mustered into Co K 26 Reg Pa Militia as a private at Harrisburg, Pa on June 20,1863. All I know for sure, due to having his original papers in our family archive, is that he was taken as a P.O.W. by the Confederates on June 28th and was released and mustered out of the army on July 30, 1863, after being forced to sign a Parole of Honor, stating he would not fight again until he was recommissioned. So far, the closest information I’ve gotten was that his company may have encountered the Confederates around June 26-27th, while patrolling a road leading to Gettysburg and shots were exchanged, on June 27th, 1863, but I can’t be positive that’s how it went. Would anyone know where I could find more information on his company and what happened to them?

   Reply

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