Eclectic Ann: 05/12/25

Monday, May 12, 2025

Jonathan James Clevenger - Civil War Veteran

The Biography of

Jonathan James Clevenger

Civil War Veteran

Ann M Sinton

Copyright, 2020, Ann M Sinton

Jonathan James Clevenger

1832 – 1909

Civil War Veteran

Jonathan Clevenger, who also went by his middle name James on some records and was known as “Uncle Jimmie”, was born on Mar 29, 1832 in Belfast, Bedford Co, Pennsylvania. He was the 5^th of 8 children of Aaron Clevenger & Elizabeth Carbaugh. In 1840, Jonathan is counted with his father’s family in Belfast Township. By 1850, Jonathan was shown as an 18 year old laborer on a farm but still in Belfast Township, which was now part of the newly formed Fulton County.

In 1855, Jonathan is said to have married Elizabeth Margaret Dishong in Jackson, Cambria Co, Pennsylvania. By 1860, the Clevengers are farming in Jackson Township in Cambria Co, near Johnstown and are counted with 4 young children living with them – Elizabeth Margaret, Mary Ellen E, Eliza & Frederick. Elizabeth Margaret & Mary Ellen are children from Elizabeth’s first marriage to Daniel Albaugh who died in 1853. Jonathan’s real estate is worth $400 and his personal worth is $125. The family had added another child, Jacob, in 1861, and children, Henry &John in 1863.

Records differ slightly about what happened next for Jonathan. He did enlist in the Pennsylvania Infantry in Hollidaysburg, Pa and was a member of two different Regiments, the 57^th and the 84^th. Feb 29, 1864 & Mar 29,1864 are the enlistment dates given. Upon his enlistment he was to be paid a bounty of $300 as a volunteer recruit. The bounty was to be paid in 4 installments. At the time of his mustering out of the Army on June 29, 1865, he owed the government $21.73 for clothing and was still due $160 of bounty payments. Due to the Civil War ending on Apr 19, 1865, Jonathan would serve for only 17 months of the 3 years he signed up for. Jonathan would at first be a member of the 57^th and joined them at the time when the veterans of the regiment were on furlough due to their 3 year enlistment ending and then re-enlisting, but after many losses by the regiment, it was consolidated with the 84^th in January 1865, who also suffered great losses of manpower. He mustered out on June 29, 1865 near Washington DC, surviving the war.

1864 Muster Roll- Line 11

57^th Pa Infantry state Colors. The 57^th was organized in the fall of 1861. In Jan 1865, it merged with the 84^th Regiment and mustered out on June 29, 1865.

The 84^th Pa Infantry State Colors. The 84^th was formed in November 1861 and merged with the 57^th in Jan 1865, mustering out in June 1865.

http://www.pacivilwarflags.org/search/searchFlags.cfm

Muster Cards

Pension Card

Even tho there is record of an application for Pension, none could be found for Jonathan. He was possibly not eligible for one because there is no record of a wound from the war or disease caused by his service.

After the war, son Noah arrived in March of 1867 or 8 and daughter Aramina arrived in 1868. 1870 finds the family living in Jackson Township in Cambria county near Ebensburg. Jonathan is farming once again and the family consists of 6 children – Eliza, Frederick, Jacob, Henry, John and Noah. Jonathan now owns real estate valued at $1000 and had a personal estate of $125. The census also lists a farm laborer, Noah Dishong age 24, and a domestic servant, Elizabeth Albaugh age 18, living in Jonathan’s household. Aramina is missing from this census but shows up later at her sister’s home. There was one last child born, Emma in 1874.

1880 was an odd census year for the Clevenger family. It shows daughter Aramina, age 9, living with her married 24 year old sister Eliza Clevenger Patrick. Aramina’s death certificate states she was born in 1868, so she should be about 11 or 12 in 1880. Also in 1880, the 13 yr old son Noah is counted with the family of his married 1^st cousin Noah Dishong who also had worked for and lived with Jonathan 10 years previous. In 1880, 17 yr old son John is living with his aunt & uncle Mary A (Dishong) & George Bowser in Jackson Twp, Cambria Co. The19 yr old son Jacob was found listed as a laborer in the household of his uncle & aunt Frederick & Elizabeth(Bheam) Dishong in Jackson Twp. 24 yr old son Frederick was listed as a servant in the household of (no relation) Ebenezer and Mary(Berkebile) Cardiff in Taylor, Cambria Co. 17 yr old Henry and 6 yr old Emma were not found in this census. And neither were their parents Jonathan & Elizabeth. Emma’s obituary claims that she was orphaned at a young age. It would seem that these children were all spread out to live with relatives except for Frederick. Dishong is the maiden name of their mother Elizabeth. This would also explain finding various ages for these individuals in the records that I have found. So where were Jonathan and Elizabeth and the two missing children, Emma and Henry in 1880?? One can only imagine the many scenarios.

The 1890 census is not available as it was lost in a fire. I think it would have help this out a bit.

In 1900, Jonathan is widowed, his wife supposed to have died in 1900, and living alone on his mortgage free farm in Licking Creek Township in Fulton county and going by the name of James J Clevenger.

Jonathan passes away on June 24, 1909 at the home of his brothers Jacob & Adam, in Todd, Fulton Co, Pa from gangrene of the right foot. He is buried at Union Cemetery in McConnellsburg, PA 2 days later where his wife is also buried. According to his obituary, he was survived by his 8 children Eliza, Fred, Jacob, Henry, Armina, John, Noah and Emma.

Obituary in the Fulton County News, July 1, 1909

Jonathan J Clevenger grave

Military Burial Record

Jonathan Clevenger was the 3^rd great grandfather of Cullen Flanders.

Side Story - Despite the break up of his family, all of the children of Jonathan seemed to have led normal adult lives, marrying and having families of their own, except Noah. Noah created a tragedy for his family. While he did marry in 1894 and have children, his first wife, Carrie Trout, was just 16 1/2 and Noah was 27 at the time, permission was given to marry. They would have 7 children between 1896 and 1911. In 1912, news reports stated that Noah had been molesting his 14 year old daughter Lettie. This was corroborated by the girl and other relatives who reported the offense. He was arrested and would plead guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to 10 – 15 years in prison and was recorded entering the Western State Penitentiary on April 10, 1912. In 1919, he would apply for clemency, but was refused. The 1920 census shows him still an inmate. He probably served at least the minimum 10 years, then in 1928, at age 61, he applied for a marriage license with Mary Emma Bowser, age 30, who coincidentally was the same age as his molested daughter. They were married and had at least one child in 1930. In 1937, his wife, pregnant and having contracted the flu, died. Noah died in 1955, age 88. Lettie would go on to marry and have two sons, she died in 1982 at age 85.

Ann M Sinton, 2020

Gottlieb Hahn - Civil War Veteran

Gottlieb Hahn is the third ancestor of my son in law to have served in the Civil War. He also enlisted late in the war and sadly died on his way home in 1865.

The Biography of

Gottlieb Hahn

Civil War Veteran

Ann M Sinton

Biography of Gottlieb Hahn (1826 – 1865)

Civil War Veteran

Gottlieb was born in Altdorf, Germany on Aug 9, 1826, the son of Andreas Hahn and Maria Dorothea Henne. His father made an application for emigration in March 1855 and arrived in May 1855. Gottlieb immigrated with them and they settled in Shade Twp., Somerset Co, Pennsylvania. I have found only one sibling of Gottlieb, Anna Maria, who was born in 1829 in Germany.

Gottlieb and his wife Catharine Civilla Hiller were married on Jan 1, 1855 in Richland Twp, Cambria Co, Pa. by the Rev John Stull. The first census the family is found in is in 1860. By this time, Gottlieb had married and has 3 young children, Matilda, Catharine and Anna. His wife is also a native of Germany. Gottlieb’s father, age 65, is living in the household with them. Gottlieb’s occupation is a farmer and he owns real estate valued at $1200 with a personal estate worth $214.

In 1863, a fourth child, John is born. About the same time Gottlieb is registered for the Draft and about a year later he is enlisting at Chambersburg on Sep 26, 1864 in Co C 52^nd PA Infantry at age 38. On Jan 31, 1865, his last child is born, Elizabeth.

1863 Draft Registration, Line 2

Civil War Muster Roll, Line 18

Gottlieb Hahn's Muster Card

The 52^nd’s first State Color. This regiment was organized in Oct 1861.This flag was raised over Fort Sumter as the first Union flag in the fort since April 1861. It was also raised over Fort Ripley, Castle Pinckney and then over Charleston.

This was the 52^nd’s second State Color received by the regiment sometime after April 26, 1865. They mustered out on July 12, 1865.

http://www.pacivilwarflags.org/regiments/indivRegiment.cfm?group=51-100&reg=52nd%20Infantry#:~:text=Hennessy%20raised%20the%20regiment's%20flag,service%20on%20July%2012%2C%201865.

Gottlieb’s military career is short, only about 6 ½ months. His physical description is as follows: 5’8” tall, Light complexion, Blue eyes and Sandy hair. On Nov 1, 1864 his regiment was at Camp Biddle in Carlisle, Pa. By Nov 14, 1864, his unit was stationed at Morris Island, South Carolina performing picket duty as boat infantry in the harbor. The only fighting the unit saw while Gottlieb was with them was on Oct 13, 1864 at Fort Wagner, SC. By March 1865, Gottlieb was listed as sick and absent from his regiment at Charleston or New Bern, SC. until Apr 3, 1865.

Pension Records

Pension documents state the Gottlieb was admitted to the hospital for chronic rheumatism and stomach cramps. A comrade testified that he fell ill on a Friday and was still ill on Sunday while his regiment left for their next assignment. He was placed on the transport ship, Northern Light, bound for New York. Gottlieb died aboard ship on Apr 14, 1865, just six days before the end of the war, of acute peritonitis before reaching home never meeting his youngest child Elizabeth.

from Gottlieb's pension file - his death

He is buried at Cypress National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Gottlieb came to America with the hopes of building a future, but only was afforded 10 short years of life here. Gottlieb’s name is among those on the Somerset county Defenders of the Union Civil War monument.

Photos by Maryann Slick, Gottlieb’s 3^rd great granddaughter

His wife at age 38, is left with 5 children, applied for his military pension. One witness stated the Gottlieb was a man of good character and habits and was respected by everyone in his company. He was a sober man and had been guilty of no indiscretion that could have caused his sickness. There is nothing in the pension file that states whether or not the widow of Gottlieb Hahn ever received any payment.

Catherine Hiller Hahn and her 5 children are found still living in Shade Twp in 1870. Her real estate is now worth $1500 and her personal estate is $625. No one in the family is shown with a job so her assets and proceeds from her farm must be enough to care for her family. In 1880, the family is still intact, with 22 year old daughter, Catherine, working and son John working on a farm. Catherine never marries again, and passes away on July 17, 1912 at age 84 in Shade Twp. She is buried in Otterbein Cemetery in Hooversville, Pa.

At the time of Catherine Civilla Hahn's death , she was collecting $12 a month pension for Gottlieb's service.

Interesting side story – Gottlieb’s daughter, Anna, would later survive the Great Johnstown Flood of 1889 at age 30 and live to be 100 years old as stated in her obituary.

Gottlieb is Cullen Flanders’ great great great grandfather.

The following are excerpts from the Somerset Daily American published on Jan 21, 1946 – an essay by Elaine Swank. This essay won third place in a Bar Association Contest was entitled – “ Home Life in Early Somerset County”. This essay is mainly about home life for Gottlieb Hahn and his wife Civilla.

“” Near the middle of the nineteenth century, Catherine Hiller departed from her home in Germany to come to America. After thirty-six days on the Atlantic ocean, Miss Hiller arrived in her new country. A year after her arrival she married Gottlieb Hahn, a plasterer and stone mason whom she had known before she left Europe. At this time, Mr Hahn was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The young couple began their married life on a farm near Johnstown.

For nine happy years the Hahns lived on this farm but one day a friend visited and told of the opportunities in the West. The friend’s stories _____ Mr Hahn’s interest so much that impulsively he sold the farm and made plans for traveling. The Civil War however, caused him to cancel his plans and ideas. He, as well as many other able-bodied men, answered the call to join the Northern army. Before leaving, he purchased a small tract of land and a cabin in Shade township near the _______ village of Wilbur. The house was not so well built as the one in which they had previously lived, but to the Hahns it was home. It was a place where the three children, Catherine, called Katie, Matilda known better as Tillie, and John could grow up in happy times and security.

The Log cabin which had been built many years before was placed in a pictorial setting. The neighboring hills stood as a _____ shelter. Crisp green leaves on the aged trees _______ ______ from the _____ _____. Tall grasses abutted the cabin ______ and looked impatiently as if to see all that happened. “”

“” After living in the cabin for a year, the Hahns found it necessary to add another room. Now they tried the left as a store room. Otherwise, the house had not undergone many changes.””

“”Mrs Hahn selected sample grains and took them to Hooversville to John___ Hoover’s Grist Mill where the grains were ground into flour for daily use. “”

“” Mrs Hahn’s farm was one of the few farms with a good orchard, apples, which grew in abundance, were the favorite snack of the family and also a source of income. Many of them were sold as soon as they were picked, others were made into cider and sold as vinegar. “”

“”The coming of cold weather raised the question of winter clothing. During the summer months, the children had little use for heavy winter garments. Now clothing had to be made for each member of the family. A small field of flax and wool sheared from a flock of sheep supplied the chief materials for the clothing. As in other households, and in, Mrs; Hahn’s the spinning wheel hummed continuously for many days.

Mrs Hahn busied herself with making clothes for herself and her children. Sitting before her spinning wheel, she often let her mind wander to the time when this cabin was first built. Many times her thoughts centered on the lives of the first settlers here. They made all their own clothing. Although much of it was inadequate for their needs.””

“”The clothing of the women and children has changed very little, Mrs Hahn, making linsey petticoats, realized this,_____. She glanced toward a corner on which lay neatly made mittens for Katie and Tillie.

In the evening, friendly Mr Fidler brought the Hahns two healthy young rabbits which he had killed while hunting. Mrs Hahn cooked the meat. In a large kettle over the huge fire; when a\the meat was well cooked, she added vegetables to the rich broth. She served the mixture at the old rough table. The children sat on stools, which, like the table, were made of split logs; they ate from earthenware dishes.

After supper, the children gathered before the cozy fire and listened with eagerness to stories from the Bible and Aesop’s Fables, which their mother quietly read.””

“”During January 1865, a child was born to Mrs Hahn. The mother named the baby Elizabeth because that was a name of which Mr Hahn was fond. However, Elizabeth was never able to see her father. That same year. Mrs Hahn heard that her husband had died of typhoid in a hospital in New York. Although grief-stricken, Mrs Hahn ____for the welfare of her family. She was no longer able to participate in the events of the countryside. There was work which had to be done in order that food and shelter could be secured.

One of the events which attracted the attention of Mrs Hahn’s family and the whole countryside was a wedding. “”

“” I remember being to two weddings, my sister Katie’s and my daughter Ivy’s says Mrs Elizabeth Hahn Berkebile. Oh you were at three –ours. Adds Mr Calvin Berkebile, her husband.

Sundays, Mrs Hahn, being a God loving mother, went with her children to church services. At first, these _____ were held in the neighbors homes where rows of benches were the only seats for the congregation. Later, they attended the Otterbein church.

Katie, Tillie, John and Elizabeth Hahn, along with the Fidlers, Yoders and Petermans, went to school three to five months of the year.””

“”In the fall, the neighbors helped Mrs Hahn with the butchering. In the year 1880, when the meat was all hung in the smoke house, one of the boys lighted a fire to cure the meat. During the evening, the fat dripping from the meat ignited and the blaze struck the building. Before it could be stopped, the fire spread to the cabin. Frantically, Mrs Hahn and the children escaped. Elizabeth, who was then fifteen, was suffering from scarlet fever. That night the entire cabin and almost everything in it were completely destroyed by the fire.

October 13, 1885, when she was twenty years old, Elizabeth became the bride of Calvin Berkebile, a son of a neighboring farmer. They were married in Hooversville. Mr Berkebile was a farmer, but had other abilities too. For about fifteen years he was a butcher. He also spent several years working in the mills of Pittsburgh and Johnstown. At one time, he had a news stand in Hooversville. “”

Anthony Striley - Civil War Veteran

Anthony Striley is also an ancestor of my son in law. He himself is the father in law of another Civil War veteran, Albert Hosea Flanders, whom I wrote about previously. Anthony served for less than a year, as he enlisted late in the war.

The Biography of

Anthony Striley

Civil War Veteran

Ann M Sinton

Copyright, 2016, Ann M Sinton

Biography of Anthony Striley (1826 - 1909)

Civil War Veteran

Anthony Striley was born on Nov 12, 1826 in the Baden-Wuerttemberg region of Germany. He was the son of Meinrad “Henry” Streile and Margaret Jaeger(Schaffer). Anthony’s name has also been spelled "Streily" and "Straley”. Apparently, Anthony’s parents were immigrants as well. His father died in Pittsburgh in 1869.

The 1850 census is the first time we see the family enumerated in any US Census. They are living in the 8^th Ward of Pittsburgh, PA. Henry, the father is shown as a laborer born in Germany, age 55 with his wife Margaret and 8 children. Anthony is the oldest, 22, and the only one born in Germany. This would place the family in America by 1832 as the next child would have been born here that year. The 1840 census for the family was not found.

Anthony married Jane Taylor on Nov 14, 1850 at St Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Jane was born on Jan 9, 1834 in the Birmingham section of Pittsburgh. Their first child was born on June 7, 1854 in Birmingham.

By the 1860 census, Anthony is married to Jane Taylor with one child, Mary age 6. Mary would eventually marry Albert Flanders, our other Civil War Veteran. Anthony’s occupation at this time is glass blower and his estate is worth $100.

In 1863, Anthony registered for the Draft and was listed as a glass presser. His son, Joseph was born on July 10, 1863 in Pittsburgh. A year later Anthony would be in the Army.

Anthony was also late to join the war effort, enlisting as a Private on Aug 31, 1864 in Co L of the 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (204th Volunteers), a one year enlistment term. He apparently enlisted in response to a Government Bounty of $100 given to individuals for enlisting. According to Anthony’s Military Service Record File, he contracted a fever and spent the beginning of his enlistment in the hospital at Alexandria, VA., only returning to his Regiment in Nov 1864. He was paid $32 for his two months upon release from the hospital. Confusingly, he is also said to have been admitted to the First Division General Hospital on Oct 28, 1864 for intermittent fever. And then returned to duty on Dec 7, 1864. His pension file states that he was first treated at the Methodist Church Hospital in Alexandria, then transferred to St. Paul’s Church Hospital also in Alexandria. He was treated for a Neuralgia, which was eventually the approved disability which awarded him his pension.

His Regiment’s most notable activity may have been Burial duty on the Bull Run battlefield in the spring of 1865, where they buried 2000 dead. They also had frequent skirmishes with Col John Mosby’s Raiders. The regiment was ordered back to Pittsburgh and there he mustered out on June 30, 1865. See the pages at the end of document for details on his Regiment’s service.

Above, a lone burial at Bull Run and below a burial party at Cold Harbor

Union Heavy Artillery

https://www.geni.com/projects/Union-Heavy-Artillery-US-Civil-War/40402

Union 13 inch Mortars – above mounted on railway car

According to Anthony’s Pension file, after the war he lived in Venango county from 1865 - 1876. However, the 1870 census shows him living in Tionesta Township in Forest Co with his growing family of three children, Mary Jane age 16, Joseph age 6 and Ann B age3. Anthony is listed as a laborer age 40 and his wife Jane age 36. It is also noted that he is a US Citizen. Ann or “Lizzie” was born in Sept 1965. Jane was likely expecting their fourth child at the time of the 1870 census, Isabel arrived on July 18, 1870. Followed by two more children, Agnes born Oct 26, 1873 and Frances born about 1878.

From 1876-1881, the family was located in Oil City, Pa., which the 1880 census confirms. Anthony is enumerated twice however. On the 4^th of June 1880, his mother, Margaret age 78 is shown as head of household and living in Pittsburgh with Anthony listed as well. Anthony’s occupation in shown as a glass blower. On June 10^th, 1880, he is shown living in Oil City, Venango Co, PA with his wife and family of now 6 children. Occupation is also glass blower. His children at this time are: Mary Jane age 26, Joseph age 17, Lizzie age 14, Isabella age 10, Agnes age 7, and Frances age 2. His wife Jane is age 46. He may have been visiting his mother and just happened to be there when the census taker came.

Various City Directories for Pittsburgh show Anthony’s place of residence and occupation. He was listed as a laborer or a glass blower/presser in most cases. For most of the 1880’s, Anthony lived in Pittsburgh. He is listed in the 1889 City Directory for Pittsburgh as a glass presser living at 114 Climax St. His pension file shows a residence in Pittsburgh from 1881-1901.

Mechanical Glass Press

Thompson Glass Works in Uniontown, Pa

By 1890, Anthony has moved south to Uniontown, PA and is shown in the Veteran’s Schedule with a disability of heart palpitations and rheumatism. No other census information is available for 1890. In July of 1890, Anthony quickly applied for an Invalid Pension under the recently approved Dependent and Disability Pension Act of 1890. The Dependent and Disability Pension Act was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison on June 27, 1890. The act provided pensions for all veterans who had served at least ninety days in the Union military or naval forces, were honorably discharged from service and were unable to perform manual labor, regardless of their financial situation or when the disability was suffered. Unlike his son in law, Albert Flanders, Anthony was approved for a pension on his first application and was awarded an $8 a month pension. Over the years, Anthony reapplied for increases in his pension and by the time he died he was collecting $20 a month. His disabilities included a hernia, disease of the mouth and stomach, neuralgia, rheumatism and the loss of most of his teeth. Each application required a medical exam and affidavits from doctors and acquaintances who could vouch for Anthony’s disabilities and military service.

In 1900, Anthony age 73 and his wife Jane age 66 are living with their daughter Agnes age 25 in Uniontown, PA. His occupation is day laborer. It would appear that there are only 5 of Anthony & Jane’s 6 children living in 1900. Anthony reports that he immigrated to the US in 1829 and has lived there for 71 years.

Anthony states in his pension file that he lived in Duquesne from 1901 to the present which was 1907. But in 1905, Anthony is listed in the City Directory as living with his daughter, Agnes, in McKeesport, PA near Pittsburgh.

Anthony would pass away on Feb 5, 1909 from Pneumonia and senile degeneration at age 82. He is buried in the St Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Duquesne Twp, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

Anthony’s wife Jane, would apply for a widow’s pension soon after his death. She was awarded $12 a month. She was required to prove her marriage. Jane would pass away just 2 ½ years later, on Aug 23, 1911. Her daughter, Agnes, with whom she lived, would try to get reimbursement for various expenses related to Jane’s death, but was refused as Jane left enough of an estate to cover these expenses.

Anthony & Jane (Taylor) Striley are my son in law’s great great great grandparents.

Albert Hosea Flanders - Civil War Veteran

My soldier biographies became a bit shorter as I went along, but still have the highlights of their service and lives. This is the first of four veteran ancestors of my son in law.

The Biography of

Albert Hosea Flanders

Civil War Veteran

Ann M Sinton

Biography of Albert Hosea Flanders (1834 – 1907)

Civil War Veteran

The Flanders family is an old Essex county, Massachusetts family that can trace it’s roots all the way back to a Stephen Flanders who was born in 1646 in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Albert Hosea Flanders is his 4^th great grandson and was born on July 31, 1834 in Quincy, Massachusetts the son of Hosea Hatch Flanders and Melinda Emmaline Doak.

The earliest record of Albert would be the 1840 Census showing him listed as one of three male children under the age of 5 with his father Hosea Flanders age 30-40 in Quincy, Norfolk Co, Massachusetts. This census also counts one female child age 10-15 and one female age 5-10. Albert’s mother Melinda shows up as a female age 30-40. There is also another female age 50-60 listed. This could be a grandmother of Albert but no name is shown because this census only names the head of the household.

At some time after 1840, the family moves to Boston and Albert’s father would die there in 1846. Albert is 12 years old at this time.

Our next record of Albert should be the 1850 Census, but I have only been able to find his mother living in Boston with two children. Albert would be about 16 years old. There are many possibilities, such as, he is living in another location in order to find work to help support his fatherless family.

On Aug 23, 1856, Albert marries Charlotte Maria Holbrook in Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. At the time of his marriage he is living in Belchertown, Massachusetts and his occupation is recorded as a Plater.

In the 1860 census, Albert and Charlotte are living in Greenwich, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts with two small sons, Frederick Albert age 3 and William H age 1 who were both born in Greenwich. His personal estate value is shown as just $30 and no occupation is listed. And baby William would die sometime that year.

No other records are found for the time between 1860 and Albert’s being drafted to serve in the Civil War on Sept 20, 1864 for a one year period. However, two more children were added to the family, a daughter, Caroline Emma in 1862 in Boston and a son Albert Myron in 1863 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Caroline would pass away at some time before 1870. At the time of his draft, his occupation is shown as a machinist, his eyes were gray, his hair brown and height was 4’11”. It is not known why Albert and family moved to Pittsburgh or why he waited to be drafted and did not enlist any earlier. Some general information about the time period follows. Albert’s experience may not have followed these exact circumstances since his service did not begin until late in the war, but it does give the reader a feel for the time period.

At the start of the Civil War in April 1861, the call for recruits went answered by men of all walks of life, patriotism being the main motivator for enlistment. Regiments were formed by state and enlistment periods ran anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. When attempting to form local units, public gatherings were scheduled complete with speeches, flag waving, bands, and veterans of previous wars. Some states were able to provide some of the uniforms for the men but women’s sewing groups were counted upon to clothe their soldiers as well. Gray was a favorite color in the early part of the war, causing much confusion during some battles as both North and South used the color. Equipment ran the gamut from obsolete muskets to the modern Sharps rifle. The initial encampment of the company was usually located in their home community which would allow family visits. The first activity would be the election of officers for the company. Captains and Leuitenants were chosen by the men. Training while the company was still in the home area varied. When the time came for the company to depart, the men were granted a furlough to say their goodbyes to family and friends. The actual departure of the unit was a public affair usually marked by a parade thru town. The men would then board a train or boat that would carry them to their final training destination.

At Camp Curtin, a major training location near Harrisburg, drill and discipline were taught to the new recruits. The day began with reveille at about 5 or 6 a.m. There was roll call, breakfast call, sick call, call for guard duty, then drill call and dinner call - all before noon. The men had a short period of free time after their meal then came more drilling. Companies were dismissed in late afternoon, but their work was not over. The men had to brush their uniforms, polish shoes and brass in preparation for the nightly retreat exercises which included another roll call, inspection of the troops and a dress parade. Supper call followed this and then yet another roll call after which the men were ordered to their quarters. Taps was the final call of the day. The drills for new recruits were made up of mostly handling arms and practicing maneuvers. Often mock skirmishes were held. The men’s main shelter was the tent. There were several types, some held 12 men and some as little as 4 men. The men were also issued a haversack. This held his cartridge box, bayonet, blankets, canteen, and knapsack. The knapsack held clothing, stationery, photos, personal hygiene items, books, and other personal items. There were also food implements either packed on the knapsack or hooked to the soldier’s belt. On top of everything was the winter overcoat, an extra burden, often discarded to lighten the weight of the pack which could weigh as much as 40 or 50 pounds. Once the initial wave of emotion wore off, the day to day routines quickly became the source of complaints over everything from camp conditions to missing family. Many desertions took place as the war continued. Privates in the Union Army were paid $13 per month, by the end of the war it was only up to $16. Regulations called for soldiers to be paid every two months, but they were lucky to receive their pay at four month intervals.

The Harrisburg, Pa Railroad Depot during the Civil War – from Harpers Weekly

Albert Flanders traveled from Pittsburgh with the other recruits by railroad to Harrisburg to report to Camp Curtin.

The Colors of the 88^th Infantry

Albert mustered into service on Oct 5, 1864 and is listed on the rolls of Co H of the 88^th Pa Infantry as a private. At the time, the 88^th was under the command of the 2^nd Army Brigade, 3^rd Division, 5^th Army Corps and continued there until the end of the war. The 88^th participated in many important battles previous to Albert’s enlistment, such as Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg and the siege at Petersburg. It lost most of it’s original enlistees throughout this time. Albert probably joined his Company on Nov 11, 1864 when the 88^th received 200 conscripts to boost their fighting force. During Albert’s enlistment the engagements he would have participated in were Weldon Railroad in Dec, Hatcher’s Run/Dabney’s Mills in Feb, Hatchers Run again in March, and during the Appomatox Campaign he was taken prisoner near Hatcher’s Run on March 31, 1865.

The 88^th’s Service during Albert Flanders Enlistment:

Warren's Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865.
Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29.
White Oak Road March 30-31.
Five Forks April 1.
Pursuit of Lee April 2-9.
Appomattox C. H. April 9.
Surrender of Lee and his army.
Moved to Washington, D.C., May 1-12.
Grand Review May 23.
Mustered out June 30, 1865.

The Battle of White Oak Rd was probably the battle where Albert Flanders was captured.

Albert was somewhat lucky not to have been captured any earlier, as he is said to have been sent to Salisbury Prison in North Carolina. According to a family bible in the possession of descendents, Albert is said to have been captured twice and may have escaped the first time. The winter at Salisbury that year was unbearable and the prison overcrowded as detailed below.

The prison consisted of a collection of buildings enclosed by a wooden fence on an almost 6 acre site meant to house only 2500 men. When Albert arrived, there were 10,000 men housed there. By that time all of the buildings were used solely for hospital purposes. There was a shortage of medicine and food due to a Naval blockade. The 10,000 men were forced to spend a cold wet winter out in the open. The death rate was 28%. The survivors had to fight dysentery, pneumonia, smallpox, lice, scurvy, and dengue fever in addition to the starvation. Salisbury rivaled Andersonville in it’s living conditions and reputation. As recorded in several diaries kept by men held prisoner at Salisbury during the time Albert was also there, the conditions were nothing short of horrific. Meals regularly consisted of rice soup. Meat, flour, and bread were not a daily part of the fare. A loaf of bread would have to be shared among many men. Meals were served once a day. Rations were routinely cut back by this point in the war and by late Nov 1863, the prisoners were receiving ¼ rations. The winter weather took it’s toll as well, even tho they were in the south the winters were cold and wet. Not a day would go by that didn’t have dead men carried out and buried in mass burial trenches.

Albert would not have to spend much time here because thru a recently approved exchange program he was paroled and sent to Camp Parole, near Annapolis, Maryland less than a week after his capture. Salisbury Prison was eventually burned to the ground and is now the Salisbury National Cemetery.

Drawing of Salisbury Prison

After being exchanged at Camp Parole, Albert was paid two months back pay and given a 30 day furlough from Apr 10 – May 10, 1865 after which he returned to his unit to be mustered out of the army on May 27, 1865 somewhere near Washington DC. During the time of his furlough, Lee would surrender. Albert’s unit was present at Appomatox for the surrender.

After his return home to Pittsburgh, several more children joined the family. John William in 1866, Elizabeth abt 1869, and Frank in 1870. The 1870 census shows the family living in the Allentown section of Pittsburgh and Albert is working at the Spike Works. Several of their children would die before the next census, Frank in 1871 , Nellie in 1873, and Elizabeth age 11 would die in 1880.

In 1880, more children were listed bringing the total to 10. Nellie born and died in 1873, George Wesley born in 1874 and William born in 1876, all in Pittsburgh. Only 4 of Albert and Charlotte’s children would survive to adulthood – Frederick , Albert, John William, and George.

Unfortunately, Albert’s wife, Charlotte, died on Sept 1, 1883 in Pittsburgh leaving him with several children to care for. He would remarry about 3 years later to Mary Jane Striley, 20 years younger than Albert and whose father Anthony was also a Civil War Veteran. Mary Jane was born in the Birmingham section of Pittsburgh on June 7, 1854 and they were married in 1886. They would have three children – Mary Jane in 1887, Charlotte in 1889 and Anthony in 1891.

The 1890 census has been lost but the Veteran’s Schedule of that Census survives and Albert is shown living in West Liberty with a Fetterman Post Office at that time.

Albert Flanders applied for his Pension five times before it was finally approved. His first application, on Sept 4, 1890, stated that he was a resident of Pittsburgh. This residence was Fetterman, Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania as of 1891. His first physical exam was performed on Aug 12, 1891. Albert claimed deafness and asthma. He was 5’1/2” tall, 110 lbs and age 56. No deafness was found so the pension was denied.

Albert’s 2^nd application is dated May 26, 1892 and claims asthma, bronchitis and deafness contracted in 1880 while employed at Dilworth Porter & Co. a spike factory in Pittsburgh. He was described as age 57, 110 lbs, 5’2 ¾” tall. No disability was found and this application was denied.

Albert’s 3^rd try was dated May 1, 1894. He claimed asthma, deafness, and chronic bronchitis. This pension was also denied on Sept 24, 1894.

The 4^th application on Nov 19, 1894, stated the same claims of illness. He had a physical exam on Apr 15, 1895. He is described as age 60, 5’2” tall, 110 lbs. His complaint was that upon lying down after a few hours he has shortness of breath and a coughing attack. He also claims that his right hand and arm were injured 17 years ago as well as his left eye. He was considered “wholly disabled” for manual work but the pension was still rejected.

In 1900, the family is still living in West Liberty, with only the three young children of Albert and Mary Jane remaining at home. The children go to school and Albert and Mary Jane can read and write. No occupation is listed for Albert.

Albert’s 5^th and final application was submitted on May 1, 1905. He was described as 69 years of age, 5’2” tall, 127 lbs, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. This application was accepted and the pension was approved for senile disability(old age), defective sight, general disability and rheumatism. He was awarded $12 a month. Later, the approval was changed to only a partial disability and the monthly amount was reduced to $10 a month.

Less than two years later, Albert would die on Jan 3, 1907 while living in West Liberty Boro, Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania. He was dropped from the pension rolls, but his widow, Mary Jane (Striley) Flanders filed an application for a widow’s pension on Jan 12, 1907. Her address at the time was RFD 1, Carnegie, PA. She was awarded $8 a month plus an additional $2 per month for each child. There was one child listed, Anthony who was born on Jul 26, 1891.

Mary Jane had to submit various documents proving her marriage and child as well as death of Albert’s first wife. Documents state that Mary Jane and Albert were married on Jan 10, 1886. That Albert’s first wife, Charlotte, died on Sept 21, 1883 of cancer and tuberculosis. That Albert died in West Liberty on Jan 3, 1907 of emphysema and asthma and was born in Massachusetts on Jul 31, 1834. His father was Hoschia Flanders of Holland and his mother was Millendia E Doak of Massachusetts. After further research, the correct spelling of his parents names are: Hosea Flanders & Melinda Emmaline Doak. Albert and Mary Jane’s proof of marriage states that they were married Jun 10, 1886 at St Joseph’s Church in Mt Oliver. Their parents names were listed as Henry Flanders and E.nee Doak and Anthony Striley and Jane Taylor. Her son’s proof of birth states the Anthony was baptized on Aug 9, 1891 at St Mary of the Mount Church and he was born on Jul 26, 1891.

Mary Jane's widow pension was increased to $12 a month on Apr 19, 1908. Mary Jane moved from #2020 West Liberty to Eutaw place on Mar 25, 1915. On Apr 7, 1915, Mary Janes address is listed as #3 Eutaw Place, East End, Pittsburgh, PA. In the move to this address, her pension certificate was lost and as a result she had to apply for a replacement. As of Oct 4, 1921, Mary Jane was receiving $30 a month. On Dec 9, 1921, a letter was sent stating that Mary Jane had died on Oct 13, 1921 of a cerebral hemorrhage and general paralysis. At the time of her death , Mary Jane was living at 2314 West Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh with her daughter, Mary’s , family. Her daughter Mary Jane Kledges reported her death and Mary Jane was dropped from the pension rolls on Dec 17, 1921.

Private Albert Hosea Flanders and his wife Mary Jane Striley are the great great grandparents of my son in law, Cullen Flanders. And interestingly, Albert is also my 6^th cousin 5 times removed thru common ancestors, Christopher Osgood who was born in 1571 in England and Peter Coffin who was born in 1580 in England.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Jonathan James Clevenger - Civil War Veteran

Gottlieb Hahn - Civil War Veteran

Anthony Striley - Civil War Veteran

Albert Hosea Flanders - Civil War Veteran

Week 46 - 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Wartime