- Collection
- Collateral Appraisements
- Title
- Collateral Appraisements
- Object ID
- Coll App 1879 F001 M
- Date Range
- 1879
- Collection
- Collateral Appraisements
- Title
- Collateral Appraisements
- Description
- Appraisements of real estate for inheritance tax. Some personal property appraisals are also included. Appraisals include: name of decedent; location and description of real estate; description of personal property; valuation of real estate and personal property; and assessed tax. May also include names of heirs. Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by first letter of decedent's last name. Handwritten; from 1886, handwritten on printed forms.
- System of Arrangement
- Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by first letter of decedent's last name.
- Date Range
- 1879
- Date of Accumulation
- 1849-1913
- Year
- 1879
- Creator
- Register of Wills
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives West
- Storage Container
- Box 0010
- People
- McGill, James
- Subcategory
- Documentary Artifact
- Search Terms
- Collateral appraisement
- California
- Place
- California
- Extent
- 16 boxes (8 cubic feet)
- Object Name
- Appraisal
- Language
- English
- Condition
- Fair
- Object ID
- Coll App 1879 F001 M
- Box Number
- 010
- Additional Notes
- 1 item, 1 piece
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Request at research desk. Photocopy made by staff member.
- Classification
- RG 03-00 0312
- Description Level
- Item
- Collection
- David B. Hackman Collection
- Title
- David B. Hackman Collection
- Object ID
- MG0072
- Date Range
- 1850-1896
1 document
- Collection
- David B. Hackman Collection
- Title
- David B. Hackman Collection
- Description
- Collection contains the original and typed copies of correspondence describing life in the gold fields of California in the 1850s, an account of crossing the desert on the way west, and a journal describing the sea voyage home. Also, two newspaper images relevant to the gold rush and Mr. Hackman's obituary. He sent many letters home to his family in which he related the details of his experience, hardships of finding gold, the high prices and lack of provisions, observations of life in mining towns, his health, and asked for news from home. He also wrote letters to his sweetheart, Harriet B. Miller asking her to write him back, and his uncle, regarding family financial information.
- Admin/Biographical History
- David Baer Hackman (1827-1896) was the second child of David Heistand Hackman and Susanna Frantz Baer. He was a third cousin, once removed, of Milton Hershey. David left Lancaster in the fall of 1849 with the hope of finding gold in California. In the spring of 1850, he went to Ohio and joined others headed west. They boarded a steamboat in Cincinnati that was bound for St. Louis and then travelled by wagon train to Sacramento City, where they arrived in September 1850. David found enough gold to buy food and supplies, and then had modest success in 1853. In 1854, he decided to return home, this time travelling by steamer and train from San Francisco to New York via Panama.
- The adventure of travelling westward and his life in the gold fields of California are described in detail in David's journal and correspondence. He sent many letters home to his family in which he related the details of his experience, hardships, the prices and lack of provisions, observations of life in mining towns, and asked for news from home.
- David also wrote to his sweetheart, Harriet B. Miller (1829-1870), the daughter of Adam and Rebecca Miller of Manheim. Although he did not receive any letters from her, they reunited upon his return to Lancaster in 1854 and married soon after. They had one son named Augustus, who became a minister. Harriet passed away in 1870. David later married Ella C. (1851-1907) and they had five children, Frank, Mabel, Harry, Walter, and Edith.
- David's obituary shows that he was involved in the grocery, clothing, hat, and shoemaking businesses. In the 1860 Census he is listed as a hatter, and in 1880 as a saloon keeper. He was well-liked and respected in the community. David and Harriet are buried in Manheim Fairview Cemetery.
- Date Range
- 1850-1896
- Year Range From
- 1850
- Year Range To
- 1896
- Date of Accumulation
- 1850-1896
- Creator
- Hackman, David Baer, 1827-1896
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 02
- Search Terms
- California
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Finding aids
- Gold miners
- Gold mines and mining
- Lancaster
- Letters
- Manheim
- Manuscript groups
- Extent
- 1 box, 4 folders, 52 items, 484 pages to scan, .25 cubic feet
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Object ID
- MG0072
- Location of Originals
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Original materials in Folder 1, Insert 1 and Folder 3 may not be used. Patrons may use the transcripts provided within this collection.
- Copyright
- Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
- Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Other Numbers
- MG-72
- Classification
- MG0072
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Processed and finding aid prepared by DT, 1999; revised by JK, 2016. Added to database 30 October 2018.
Documents
- Collection
- Rich and Grove Family Papers
- Title
- Rich and Grove Family Papers
- Object ID
- MG0427
- Date Range
- 1835-1946
.
Rich and Fanny G. Rich
Insert 1 Postcard to Henry from Mother and Dad about the sights of Constantinople
and their English-speaking guide. Image of Mosquée du Sultan Ahmed et l’Hippodrome,
Constantinople. No date.
Postcard to Henry from Mother and Dad regarding their travel plans to London. Image
of
1 document
- Collection
- Rich and Grove Family Papers
- Title
- Rich and Grove Family Papers
- Description
- The Rich and Grove Family Papers contain correspondence and ephemera of the Rich and Grove families of Marietta. Autograph albums, school books, wedding invitations, cards, a flier for Accomac summer resort, and teaching certificates give a glimpse of the social and educational activities of family members. Deeds trace the ownership of property in Marietta from Dr. John Huston to Henry S. Rich. The correspondence is primarily from Annie Grove (1921) and Henry and Fanny Rich (1925) during their travels in Europe and North Africa.
- Date Range
- 1835-1946
- Year Range From
- 1835
- Year Range To
- 1946
- Date of Accumulation
- 1835-1946
- Creator
- Mapes, Fanny Rich, 1932-2020
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 10
- People
- Carroll, Mary
- Coble, David
- Dellinger, Samuel S.
- Ehler, S. Amandus
- Engle, Bella C.
- Engle, James Monroe
- Gottschall, Maria
- Gottschall, Peter
- Grosh, Alpha Virginia "Alfie" Grove
- Grosh, Esta Edward
- Grove, Amos
- Grove, Annie K.
- Grove, Sarah A. "Sallie" O'Brien
- Hanifan, Fanny Rich
- Hanifan, John Francis
- Harlan, Addie K. Rich
- Harlan, Charles
- Harting, James
- Heistand, Theopholis
- Huston, Albert
- Huston, Edwin L.
- Huston, John
- Huston, Thomas
- Kendig, Willis Gross
- Laming, Sallie
- Laming, William
- Mapes, Fanny Rich
- Mehaffey, James
- Ohmit, Benjamin
- Ohmit, Charlotte
- Reynolds, Robert Walter
- Reynolds, Sarah E. "Sallie" Engle
- Rich, Anna Martha
- Rich, Elmira
- Rich, Fanny Clark Grove
- Rich, Henry Spangler
- Shirk, Adalaide
- Shirk, William H.
- Spangler, Barr
- Spangler, Mary Ann Sultzbach
- Stauffer, Henry
- Stauffer, Margaretta "Margie" Huston
- Other Creators
- Rich family
- Grove family
- Subjects
- Autograph albums
- Deeds
- Invitation cards
- Letters
- Obituaries
- Poetry
- Postcards
- Scrapbooks
- Travel
- Search Terms
- Accomac Inn
- Autograph albums
- Correspondence
- Deeds
- Finding aids
- Invitations
- Letters
- Manuscript groups
- Obituaries
- Poetry
- Postcards
- Scrapbooks
- Travel
- Extent
- 1 box, 16 folders, .5 cubic ft.
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Object ID
- MG0427
- Location of Originals
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Related Item Notes
- Administrators' accounts for John W. Rich, 1892 (AdAcct 1892 F013 R)
- Guardian account of Addie K. Rich, 1892 (AdAcct 1892 F012 R)
- Petit jury notice and excuse for John W. Rich, 1878 (JAN 1878 F002 QS)
- See also the Photograph Collection
- Notes
- Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Rich and Grove Family Papers (MG0427), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- The items in Folder 10 require staff assistance.
- Copyright
- Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
- Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Accession Number
- 2007.MG0427
- Other Numbers
- MG-427
- Classification
- MG0427
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Added to 28 December 2021.
Documents
- Collection
- Geist Family Papers
- Title
- Geist Family Papers
- Object ID
- MG0294
- Date Range
- 1865-1961
Geist Family Papers include correspondence, tax
records, legal documents, and other items related to the Geist family. Some
correspondence is personal, while other letters relate to legal proceedings concerning
estates and inheritances. A number of wills and associated materials, generally related
to
1 document
- Collection
- Geist Family Papers
- Title
- Geist Family Papers
- Description
- The Geist Family Papers include correspondence, tax records, legal documents, and other items related to the Geist family. Some correspondence is personal, while other letters relate to legal proceedings concerning estates and inheritances. A number of wills and associated materials, generally related to adjudications involving family members. Numerous local tax notices and federal income tax returns largely pertain to Daniel W. and Bertha W. Geist. Other materials include notebooks and receipts from Daniel W. Geist's time at Millersville State Normal School, visiting cards, and newspaper clippings.
- Date Range
- 1865-1961
- Year Range From
- 1865
- Year Range To
- 1961
- Date of Accumulation
- 1865-1961
- Creator
- Geist family
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 08
- People
- Alexander, James K.
- Anderson, Howard
- Bachman, Julie C.
- Bard, Bertha
- Brown, George
- Bulleit, Edward Banister
- Dague, Isaac W.
- Dague, Lily C. Geist
- Diller, Luther R.
- Eshleman, John H.
- Fox, Christian, Jr.
- Geist, Adam
- Geist, Agnes
- Geist, Bertha Wanner
- Geist, Daniel W.
- Geist, Ettie G.
- Geist, Everett S.
- Geist, Harry Kohler
- Geist, Lilly Kate
- Groff, John M.
- Heisher, Daniel
- Hobson, Jesse
- Hobson, Maria
- Horst, Jacob G.
- Kjorlien, Alvin C.
- Leaman, William
- Lyte, Eliphalet Oram
- Martin, Luke W.
- Milledge, Stanley
- Miller, Helen Mildred Diller
- Miller, Leon H. B.
- Miller, Ruth
- Ott, Janet F.
- Overly, Herman Witmer
- Overly, Richard Geist
- Pond, B. C.
- Pool, Virginia L.
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
- Rush, Charles William
- Rush, Harriet Geist
- Shaub, Sadie
- Shirk, H. S.
- Shirk, Henry
- Shirk, Lawrence
- Stoner, H. K.
- Weaver, C. R.
- Weaver, George A.
- Werner, John Thomas
- Witmer, Clara
- Wolf, Lemon A.
- Wolfe, Helen
- Search Terms
- A. Geist and Son
- Adams County, Pennsylvania
- Albert Pick Company
- Births
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Blue Ball Bank
- Blue Ball, East Earl Twp.
- Calling cards
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania
- Correspondence
- Death
- Decedents' estates
- Earl Twp.
- East Earl Twp.
- Ephrata
- Estate settlement
- Farmers National Bank
- Finding aids
- Florida
- Franklin Twp., Adams County, Pennsylvania
- Funerals
- Gap, Salisbury Twp.
- Grand Forks Herald
- Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota
- Health
- Hotel Gladstone
- Hunters
- Inheritance
- Internal Revenue Service
- Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota
- Johnson City, Broome County, New York
- K. Aslesen Company
- Lancaster
- Lancaster New Era
- Leland-Parker Hotel
- Letters
- Manuscript groups
- Masons
- McClure House
- Miami, Florida
- Millersville
- Millersville State Normal School
- Millersville University
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minot, Ward County, North Dakota
- Mountville Farm Women's Society
- New Berlin, Ephrata Twp.
- New Holland
- Newspaper clippings
- Ocean City, Cape May County, New Jersey
- Parades
- Patterson Hotel
- Pennsylvania State Normal School
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Postage stamps
- Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
- Receipts
- Republican Party
- San Francisco, California
- Schools
- Stamps
- Stevens, East Cocalico Twp.
- Stocks
- Tax returns
- Taxation
- Trusts and trustees
- United Commercial Travelers of America
- Vienna Bakery Company
- Visiting cards
- Washington, DC
- West Cocalico School District
- Wheeling, West Virginia
- Wills
- YMCA
- Young Men's Christian Association
- Extent
- 1 box, 12 folders, .5 cubic ft.
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Object ID
- MG0294
- Location of Originals
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Notes
- Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
- Copyright
- Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this collection must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
- Accession Number
- 2002.Hawbaker
- Other Numbers
- MG-294
- Classification
- MG0294
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Added to database 19 January 2022.
Documents
- Collection
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Title
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Object ID
- MG0828
- Date Range
- 1839-1932
- Collection
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Title
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Description
- The General Thomas Welsh Family Papers is a collection of original correspondence, official documents, and ephemera. Many of the papers were created by or directed to Thomas Welsh between approximately 1843 and his death in 1863. They provide glimpses into his youth, his experiences in the Mexican War, his life in Columbia between the wars, and his rise in rank to Brigadier General during the Civil War.
- The collection contains correspondence with his wife and family from 1861-1863. There are also official correspondence and documents related to Welsh's military service, autobiographical pieces, correspondence following his death, obituaries, and family papers into the early twentieth century. Other items in the collection include genealogy pages from the family bible, photographic images of Thomas Welsh and family members, two scrapbooks, newspaper issues and newspaper clippings, written notes from recollections of one of Welsh's daughter, and a biographical sketch of Welsh written by his son.
- Admin/Biographical History
- Thomas Welsh (1824-1863) was a Lancaster County native (born and raised in Columbia), who rose from hardscrabble origins to local fame, first as a Mexican War hero, and then as a brigadier general during the Civil War. He was well known and well respected as a no nonsense officer, for his leadership and gallantry in battle, for his dedication to the service of his country, and for his concern for the welfare of his men.
- Welsh lost his father at the age of 2, and went to work to support his family at age 8. He had very little formal schooling, and was largely self-educated. In 1843, at age 19, he left Lancaster County for Washington City, then went west as an itinerant carpenter/laborer to Cincinnati, Little Rock, and Fort Smith.
- When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, he enlisted in a Kentucky regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of Buena Vista (1847) from which he never fully recovered. Returning home to Columbia, he re-enlisted as a second lieutenant, assigned to the 11th U.S. infantry regiment in Mexico City. Within days of his arrival in Mexico City, he was declared unfit for service on account of his battle wound, and sent home again.
- Back in Columbia as a civilian, he dabbled in politics, and received a patronage job in the Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works (the rail and canal system connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). After several years, he opened up a grocery and dry goods store in Columbia's canal basin. He also became an insurance agent. In 1857, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and his reputation grew as a community leader. By 1860, he was president of the Borough Council, a founding member of the Columbia Board of Trade, Vice President of the Columbia Cricket Club, and a canal boat operator, in addition to a dry goods merchant, insurance agent, and Justice of the Peace. He had a wife, 5 surviving children, and legal guardianship of his sister's 4 children.
- When Confederate forces shelled Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas Welsh raised and organized the first company of volunteers from Lancaster County, and took them into the field as their Captain. Within days, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, which served out its 90-day enlistment in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Returning to Harrisburg, he was appointed Commandant of Camp Curtin, the problem-plagued processing center for new recruits. In short order, Welsh cleaned up the camp's poor sanitary conditions, improved the health of the camp, and implemented soldierly discipline and training.
- In October 1861, he resigned from his camp duties, and as Colonel of the 45th Pennsylvania, led his regiment into the field. After brief service outside of Washington, they were sent to South Carolina in December, where they were posted to Otter Island. After the battle of James Island, they were recalled to Newport News, in July 1862, then sent to guard Aquia Creek.
- In September, now in brigade command in Burnsides' 9th Corps, Welsh chased Lee's Confederate army west into central Maryland. His brigade broke the enemy line in Fox's Gap, on Sept. 14, then 3 days later achieved the furthest Union advance at Antietam, reaching the edge of Sharpsburg, and nearly cutting off Lee's only avenue of escape. Welsh's gallantry earned him a field promotion to brigadier general, which Congress confirmed on March 13, 1863.
- The 9th Corps (Welsh now in command of the 1st Division) was sent west in the spring of 1863, then dispatched south to support Grant's investment of Vicksburg. After Vicksburg fell, they turned east and defeated Confederate General Johnston at the Battle of Jackson. Welsh contracted malaria in the southern swamps, and died in Cincinnati upon their return north. One of his men later recalled, "Had he lived, Welsh would undoubtedly have attained a much higher command. 1
- 1. Beauge, Eugene, in Albert, Allen D., Ed., History of the Forty-Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865, Williamsport, PA: Grit Publ. Co, 1912, p. 79.
- System of Arrangement
- The collection is arranged in series:
- Series A Thomas Welsh before the Mexican War
- Series B Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Series C Between the Mexican War and the Civil War, 1848-1861
- Series D Civil War
- Series E Post-Civil War
- Series F Miscellaneous Family Papers
- Series G Papers from the families of Gen. Thomas Welsh and Blanton C. Welsh
- Date Range
- 1839-1932
- Year Range From
- 1839
- Year Range To
- 1932
- Creator
- Wiggin, Richard C.
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 19
- People
- Welsh, Thomas
- Welsh, Annie Eunice Young
- Welsh, Blanton Charles
- Welsh, Effie
- Welsh, Lilian
- Welsh, Mary Young "Mazie"
- Buchanan, James
- Subjects
- Letters
- Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Military orders
- Military promotions
- Personal correspondence
- Political campaigns
- Presidents--Election
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- United States. Army--Military life
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Search Terms
- Civil War
- Correspondence, Personal
- Letters
- Mexican War
- Military life
- Military orders
- Military promotions
- Political campaigns
- Presidential elections
- Speeches
- United States Army
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Condition
- Fair to good
- Condition Date
- 2020-12-18
- Condition Notes
- Items are in fair to good condition.
- Object ID
- MG0828
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact archives@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
- Copyright
- Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact archives@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
- LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
- Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Some items are photocopies from other collections--researchers must obtain permission for reproduction and publication from the owner of the original material.
- Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pa.
- Classification
- MG0828
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Almost all of the papers have been passed down through successive generations of Welsh's descendants, from Thomas Welsh's wife and children to his granddaughter, Emilie Benson (Welsh) Wiggin, to her daughter Nancy Jane (Wiggin) Townsend. After Nancy Townsend's death, her son Charles Townsend passed them on to his cousin, Richard Wiggin (grandson of Emilie Benson Wiggin) in 2015.
- A few papers passed out of the family's possession and found their way into other collections. Richard Abel of Columbia, PA began collecting Welsh papers and artifacts some years ago, and subsequently transferred this collection of Welsh materials to Richard Wiggin in 2012.
- Collection
- Tourist Brochures
- Title
- Tourist Brochures
- Description
- Collection of brochures relating to tourist attractions, museums, historic sites, events, stores, farmers' markets, hotels, and restaurants in Lancaster, Lebanon, and York Counties. Visitors' guides and road maps provide additional information about points of interest. Items in the collection date back to the late 1920s and continue to the present, but most are from the mid-twentieth century.
- Year Range From
- 1929
- Date of Accumulation
- 1929-present
- Creator
- LancasterHistory (Organization)
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 03
- People
- Albert, Donna
- Anderson, V. F.
- Best, J. Donald
- Buchanan, James
- Burnley, Patricia Kling
- Clark, Earl
- Clark, Molly
- Coleman, Robert
- Eberly, Hiram M.
- Fulton, Robert
- Grubb, Peter
- Hampton, Cindy
- Hand, Edward
- Heine, Paul L. H.
- Heine, Paul, Jr.
- Heisey, M. Luther
- Hess, James E.
- Horst, Mel
- Loose, John Ward Willson
- Kauffman, B. L.
- Keener, A. E.
- Kingston, Joseph T.
- Heisey, M. L.
- MacNeill, H. T.
- Monaghan, Thomas J.
- Motto, Marilyn
- Procter, Edward C.
- Pyle, Carl E.
- Ross, Betsy
- Shenk, Aaron S.
- Smucker, Alma
- Smucker, Paul
- Stoltzfus, Louise
- Sutter, John Augustus
- Trach, M. A.
- Tortora, V. R.
- Search Terms
- 340-23 Club
- A. Bube's Brewery
- Amish Country Motel and Restaurant
- Amish Dutchland map
- Amish Farm and House
- Bill Bard Associates
- Bird-in-Hand Farmer's Market
- Brunnerville Iron Foundry
- Candy Americana Museum
- Catacombs
- Central Hotel
- Christian Herr House
- Columbia Bank Museum
- Columbia Cultural and Historical Association
- Columbia Dungeon
- Columbia Farmers' Market House
- Conestoga Motor Inn
- Conestoga Traction Company
- Cornwall Iron Furnace
- Doneckers
- Donegal Presbyterian Church
- Donegal Mills Plantation
- Duck's New Holland House and Hotel
- Dutch Haven
- Dutch Wonderland
- Dutchland Music Theatre
- Elizabethtown College
- Ephrata Cloister
- Flory's Tourist Rest and Camp Site
- Foodergong Lodge
- General Engraving Company
- General Sutter Hotel and Gold Nugget Saloon Restaurant
- Gold Nugget Saloon Restaurant
- Groff's Farm Restaurant
- Guided Auto Tape Tour for Lancaster
- Hammond and Company
- Hans Herr House
- Hebrew Tabernacle Reproduction
- Heritage Center Museum
- Heritage Map Museum
- Herr Foods, Inc.
- Herr's Potato Chips
- Hex Barn
- Historic Lancaster Walking Tour
- Holiday Inn
- Lancaster Host Resort
- Host Farm
- Hotel Brunswick
- Hotel Wheatland
- Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge
- Intelligencer Journal
- James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland
- Klein Chocolate Company
- Kreider's Tourist Farm Home
- Lancaster Automobile Club
- Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
- Lancaster County Central Park
- Lancaster County Council of Churches
- Lancaster County Heritage
- Lancaster County Historical Society
- Lancaster County Outlet Shopping Guide
- Lancaster County Planning Commission
- Lancaster Downtown Investment District Authority
- Lancaster Hilton Inn
- Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society
- Lancaster-York Heritage Region
- Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
- Leacock Presbyterian Church
- Lititz Historical Foundation
- Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
- Maps
- Marken and Bielfeld Inc.
- Masonic Homes
- Masonic Villages
- Mennonite Information Center
- Miller's Smorgasbord
- National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors Inc.
- National Central Bank
- North Museum of Nature and Science
- Old Mill Stream Campground
- Old Village Store
- Olde Lincoln House
- Original Brunswick Pennsylvania Dutch Tours
- Pamphlets
- Pathway Publishers
- Patton School
- Pennsylvania Dutch Harvest Frolic
- Pennsylvania Dutch Country Visitors Bureau
- Discover Lancaster
- Pennsylvania Folklife Society
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
- People's Place
- Photo Arts Press
- Plain & Fancy Farm and Dining Room
- Police Museum
- Postcards
- Robert Fulton Birthplace
- Rock Ford
- Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association
- Sentinel Printing House
- Sickman's Mill
- South Central Pennsylvania Travel Council
- Stevens House
- Strasburg Railroad
- Susquehanna Valley Tour
- Tourism
- Trinity Lutheran Church
- Underground Railroad
- Veitch Printing Corporation
- Verdant View Farm
- Vernon Martin Associates
- Village Restaurant
- Wagonland
- Warwick Haus
- Wheatland
- Wilbur Chocolate Company
- Wilbur Chocolate's Factory Candy Outlet
- Wilbur-Suchard Chocolate Company
- York County Heritage Trust
- Extent
- 1 box, 18 folders, .25 cubic ft.
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English; Pennsylvania German
- Object ID
- MG0095
- Location of Originals
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- No restrictions.
- Copyright
- Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Classification
- MG0095
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Processed by AL and HST, July 2007. Finding aid prepared by HST, August 2007. Updated 9 January 2008, HST.
- Collection
- Military Collection
- Title
- Military Collection
- Object ID
- MG0078
- Date Range
- 1764-present
1 document
- Collection
- Military Collection
- Title
- Military Collection
- Description
- This collection contains documents beginning with the American Revolution and continuing through the War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. There are account books, notes and written letters, vouchers, inspections of camps, receipts of payments, honorable discharge certificates, lists of absentees, envelopes used during the Civil War, and lists of unpaid fines during the service of the Pennsylvania Militia soldiers. There are also newsletters and articles relating to World Wars I and II and the Korean War for advertisement and description of items including the history of the Philadelphia Naval Base.
- Date Range
- 1764-present
- Date of Accumulation
- 1764-present
- Creator
- LancasterHistory (Organization)
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 03
- People
- Alexander, Peter
- Andre, John
- Andrews, George
- Auxer, Jacob
- Barton, David R.
- Baughman, George
- Bausman, Frederick
- Bethel, Samuel
- Bevins, George
- Biddle, George
- Bietz, George
- Billman, William L.
- Bitner, Abraham
- Bowers, George
- Bowers, Lerina
- Bowers, M. F.
- Bradd, John
- Brant, John
- Brenner, Henry
- Brush, George
- Buchanan, James
- Calwell, James
- Cassidy, John
- Cockley, David
- Coleman, Robert
- Comstock, Elmo
- Comstock, Willard
- Conyngham, G.
- Cooke, Jacob
- Crider, David
- Dallas, A. L.
- Demuth, William D.
- Diffenderfer, Jacob
- Diller, Adam
- Duchman, John H.
- Eshleman, John
- Eugstler, Philip
- Ewing, William
- Fulton, Eleanore J.
- Gardner, Daniel
- Garrison, Lindley M.
- Gidy, Peter
- Graeff, Matthias
- Haerrs, Dane
- Hamilton, William
- Hamilton, Robert
- Hand, Edward
- Haughman, George
- Hayes, Rutherford Birchard
- Heitler, Richard R.
- Hiester, Gabriel
- Hubley, Adam
- Irvine, William
- Jackson, Cyrus E.
- Jacobs, Barnet
- Jameson, Samuel
- Johnson, Edward
- Johnson, Relief
- Johnson, Thomas
- Kearns, Christian
- Keller, Adam
- Kendig, Adam
- Kendig, Benjamin F.
- King, Alexander
- King, Robert, Jr.
- Kirkpatrick, William
- Kissel, Frederick
- Landis, Bertha Cochran
- Landis, Charles
- Light, John
- Lloyd, Thomas
- Longenecker, John
- Lutz, John
- McCarty, Isaiah
- McConnel, Abraham
- McElhattan, Alexander
- McKean, Thomas
- McSherry, J. L., III
- Megrady, Patrick
- Mifflin, Thomas
- Morgan, Thomas
- Morrison, A. K.
- Morrison, Alexander W.
- Morrison, Samuel W.
- Neal, Thomas
- Nicholson, John
- Ohlen, John
- Paster, Peter
- Patterson, James
- Price, Rebecca L.
- Price, Robert C.
- Reigart, Adam
- Reigart, Christopher
- Reinoehl, Adolphus
- Roath, E. D.
- Ross, James
- Russell, A. L.
- Sample, Nathaniel W.
- Scarritt, Jeremiah M.
- Scott, Hugh
- Shippen, Joseph
- Skiles, William
- Skillings, Charles W.
- Smith, John M.
- Smith, Richard
- Snyder, Eberhart Michael
- Snyder, Eugene
- Speel, Alexander R.
- Strickler, M. M.
- Sutherland, Thomas Jefferson
- Thompson, R. W.
- Wager, Philip
- Weller, John
- White, John
- Witmer, David M.
- Witmer, Sarah
- Wolf, Joseph
- Work, Joseph
- Wright, Horatio G.
- Zahm, Mary
- Zeilin, William F.
- Buchen, Martin L.
- Hildebran, James
- Pratt, J. E.
- Elias, C. Harry
- Martin, E. K.
- McClain, Frank B.
- Hewitt, A. G.
- Negley, J. S.
- Subjects
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States--History--War of 1812
- Mexican War, 1846-1848
- World War, 1914-1918
- World War, 1939-1945
- Korean War, 1950-1953
- Letters
- Business records
- Programs (Publications)
- Search Terms
- Business records
- Civil War
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Correspondence
- Discharge certificates
- Envelopes
- Finding aids
- Jackson Riflemen
- Korean War
- Lancaster Militia
- Letters
- Manuscript groups
- Mexican War
- Military history
- Military records
- Monuments
- Newsletters
- Pennsylvania Militia
- Programs
- Receipts
- Revolutionary War
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument
- War of 1812
- World War I
- World War II
- Reunions
- Extent
- 2 boxes, 25 folders, 1 cubic ft.
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Object ID
- MG0078
- Location of Originals
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Related Item Notes
- Curatorial Collection
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Restrictions are noted at the item level.
- Copyright
- Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
- Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Other Numbers
- MG-78
- Classification
- MG0078
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Processed and finding aid prepared by DD, Summer 2000. Updated by HST, 2010, 2011.
Documents
- Collection
- Bushong Diary Collection
- Title
- Bushong Diary Collection
- Object ID
- MG0278
- Date Range
- 1850-1862
- Collection
- Bushong Diary Collection
- Title
- Bushong Diary Collection
- Description
- This collection contains the diaries of Gilbert and Edith Bushong.
- The first diaries in this collection (Folder #1), written by Gilbert Bushong who is 14 years old, are dated from 3m 17 1850 - 5m 29 1852 and April 20, 1853. The topics covered are the everyday events of family life and farming activities. He also writes about school life, and butchering hogs, and trips to visit family and friends.
- The second part of this collection (Folder #2-5) was written by Edith Paxson Bushong and dates from December 31, 1858 - April 5, 1862, after Gilbert presents her with a new diary journal on his return from a trip to Lancaster. Edith writes mostly about the welfare of her family and friends, including news of marriages, births, illnesses, and deaths.
- She also writes about life on the farm, her housework routine, and news of the Civil War, including the battle at Gettysburg.
- Admin/Biographical History
- Gilbert Bushong was the son of Henry Bushong and Esther Valentine. He was born on 2 December 1836 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died on 10 December 1911 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer in Eden Twp., Lancaster County. Gilbert was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and an abolitionist who helped, with family members Henry and Jacob Bushong, to run the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves during the Civil War at Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.
- Edith D. Kinsey Paxson was born on 14 January 1836 and died 2 December 1914 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was the second daughter of Elwood H. Paxson and Elizabeth Moore White. She married Gilbert Bushong on 20 December 1855. The Bushongs owned a farm along what is now Valley Road, Route 372, on the eastern side of Eden Twp. and received their mail at May Post Office. They are buried together at Sadsbury Meeting Cemetery in Chester County.
- Children of Gilbert and Edith Bushong:
- 1. Dr. Charles Henry Bushong (1 October 1856-20 December 1903). He was married twice, to sisters who were twins, Anna W. Keene and Nora E. Keene. One died and he married the other.
- 2. Frances E. Bushong (18 May 1858-16 November 1861).
- 3. Marion E. Bushong (20 March 1860-March 1937). She married Sanders M. Collins on 20 December 1884. Their children were Edith Bushong Collins (1886-1966) and Wallace Collins (b. 1899). Edith never married. She kept house for her father and was a school teacher. Wallace married Marion Chandler.
- 4. Marvin E. Bushong (7 June 1878-27 October 1936). He married Lydia Rakestraw on 10 September 1903. Their children were Henry Rakestraw Bushong (b. 28 July 1904) and Gertrude (b. 4 August 1909). At 21, Marvin was appointed a Justice of the Peace of Eden Twp. and in 1908 was elected Clerk of Quarter Sessions at Lancaster County. Later, he was associated with the Pennsylvania Water and Power Company, and in 1933 was vice-president of the Safe Harbor Water Power Corp.
- Date Range
- 1850-1862
- Year Range From
- 1850
- Year Range To
- 1862
- Creator
- Bushong, Gilbert, 1836-1911
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 08
- People
- Albright, Esther
- Alexander, James
- Alexander, Rachel
- Bacon, Martha
- Bacon, Tom
- Baer, Joel
- Baily, Rachel
- Bair, David
- Barnhouse, Pusey
- Barton, Mavis
- Beatol, Ely
- Beecher, Henry Ward
- Bernard, Louisa
- Bolton, Mary
- Bolton, Sallie
- Bolton, Susanna
- Bonsall, Daniel
- Bower, Hiram
- Bowers, H.
- Bromell, Isaac
- Brown, Elas
- Brown, John
- Bushing, Francis Elwood
- Bushong, Jesse G.
- Bushong, Anna W. Keene
- Bushong, Charles Henry
- Bushong, Edith D. Kinsey Paxson
- Bushong, Edith K.
- Bushong, Edwin
- Bushong, Esther Valentine
- Bushong, Frances E.
- Bushong, Gilbert
- Bushong, Henry
- Bushong, Henry Rakestraw
- Bushong, Israel
- Bushong, Jacob
- Bushong, John
- Bushong, Lydia Rakestraw
- Bushong, Margaret
- Bushong, Marion E.
- Bushong, Marvin E.
- Bushong, Mary
- Bushong, Nora E. Keene
- Bushong, Gertrude
- Carter, Benjamin
- Carter, John
- Carter, Tish
- Cato, Jesse
- Chanley, Hannah
- Clarkson, Mary Ann
- Coats, Simmons
- Colfax, Schuyler
- Collins, Edith Bushong
- Collins, Marion Chandler
- Collins, Marion E. Bushong
- Collins, Sanders M.
- Collins, Wallace
- Cooper, Elwood
- Cooper, H. W.
- Cooper, Mary
- Cramer, Cyrus
- Cramer, Sheldon
- Davis, Abner
- Dewberries, Nathan
- Dickinson, Annie
- Dingee, Hannah
- Dubell, Lydia Ann
- Dubree, Nathan
- Eavensen, Mary
- Eavensham, Alvin
- Eavensham, Martha Ellen
- Eavenson, Albin
- Eavenson, Alvin
- Eavenson, Elwood
- Eavenson, Emily
- Eavenson, Jones
- Eavenson, Mary
- Eckhart, William
- Eckman, Isaac
- Evenson, Pierce
- Everett, Hamilton
- Everett, Rebecca
- Everson, Reese
- Ferguson, Annie
- Field, Mary
- Fisher, Conrad
- Garrettson, Oliver
- Garrison, P.
- Garrison, William Lloyd
- Gauge, Elizabeth
- Gilbert, Abama
- Gilbert, Alben
- Gilbert, Amos
- Gilbert, Bell
- Gilbert, Catherine
- Gilbert, Emily
- Gilbert, Florence
- Gilbert, Hannah
- Gilbert, Harding
- Gilbert, Howard W.
- Gilbert, Jesse
- Gilbert, Joshua
- Gilbert, Mary
- Gilbert, Newton
- Gilbert, Omar
- Gilbert, Sallie
- Gilbert, Sarah
- Gillton, Theodore
- Gockley, Annie
- Gockley, Sebastian
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- Green, Louisa
- Griest, Ellwood
- Hanna, Edie
- Harding, Isaac
- Haslem, William
- Hauches, Phebe
- Hauser, Edie
- Hawkes, Joseph
- Hayes, Mrs. William
- Hayes, Nathaniel
- Heaslem, William
- Heidelbaugh, Margaret
- Heidlebaugh, Albert
- Heidlebaugh, Milton
- Heidlebaugh, Samuel
- Heidlebaugh, Susan
- Hensel, George
- Herr, Anna
- Hicks, Rachel
- Hobson, Jane
- Hobson, Phebe
- Hobson, Thebe
- Hobson, Thomas
- Hodson, John
- Holson, Irene
- Hood, James
- Hopkins, Hannah
- Hopkins, Maria
- Hopkins, Samuel
- Hopkins, Stanton
- Hoskens, John
- Houston, Joseph
- Hunt, John
- Hunter, Joe
- Hunter, John
- Hunter, Mary
- Jackson, James
- James, Harriet
- Johns, John
- Johns, Scott
- Johns, Susan
- Johnson, Hannah
- Johnson, Henry
- Johnson, Jacob
- Johnson, Martha
- Johnson, Mattie
- Johnson, Moses
- Johnson, Rachel
- Johnson, Sarah
- Johnston, Henry
- Johnston, Moses
- Jones, Emerson
- Jones, Emma
- Jones, Jael
- Jones, Mary
- Kauffman, Lewis
- Kennedy, Hal Patterson
- Kent, Nancy
- Kent, Vince
- Kern, Frank
- King, Anna
- King, Jerry
- King, Samuel
- Kirk, Benjamin
- Kirk, Sarah
- Kuhn, Lizzie
- Lamborne, Alicia
- Livingston, John B.
- Love, Alfred H.
- Lyle, William
- Marsh, Mary
- Marshlands, Belle
- Massey, Isaac
- Massey, Mary
- Massey, Samuel
- Matthew, Lydia
- Matthews, Thomas
- McClintick, Martha
- McGill, Eliza
- McGill, Sarah
- Mercer, Rachel
- Miller, Frank
- Miller, Joseph
- Minnich, Isaac
- Moore, Gainer
- Moore, Isaac
- Moore, Mary
- Morrison, Caroline
- Morrison, Emma
- Morrison, Henry
- Morrison, Joseph
- Moses, Thomas
- Murry, Harvey
- Neal, Susan
- Newswanger, Joseph E.
- Oran, James
- Parke, William
- Paxson, Alice
- Paxson, Alvin
- Paxson, Elizabeth Moore White
- Paxson, Elwood H.
- Paxson, Frankie
- Paxson, James
- Paxson, Matilda
- Paxson, Mavis
- Paxson, Tillie
- Peart, Lewis
- Peart, Rebecca
- Peart, Roland
- Pennock, Maggie
- Pickering, M. H.
- Pickering, Elias
- Pierce, Edith
- Pierce, George
- Pierce, Levi
- Proctor, Caroline
- Rakestraw, Abraham
- Rakestraw, Carrie
- Rakestraw, Connie
- Rakestraw, Eliza
- Rakestraw, Ester
- Rakestraw, Henry
- Rakestraw, Liddy
- Rakestraw, Mary
- Rakestraw, Sarah
- Rakestraw, William
- Resh, James
- Reynolds, John F.
- Rich, Sallie
- Risk, James
- Risk, Mary
- Ritz, Jack
- Roberts, Anna
- Roberts, Henry
- Roberts, Martha
- Robinson, Moses
- Rockey, Mrs. Jacob
- Royer, Hannah
- Rusel, James
- Russell, Mary B.
- Scott, Barbara
- Scott, John
- Sheldon, Hannah
- Sheldon, William
- Slate, Henry
- Slater, John
- South, Benjamin
- Sprecher, Jonathan
- Sproul, Anne
- Stauffer, Jacob
- Stauffer, John
- Stauffer, Mattie
- Stauffer, Mrs.
- Stauffer, Peter
- Stevens, Thaddeus
- Stowe, Mrs.
- Stuart, Mary
- Sutter, Joe
- Swisher, Patrick
- Taylor, Jacob
- Taylor, Joseph C.
- Thomas, Ann
- Thomas, Callie
- Thomas, Caroline
- Thomas, John
- Thomas, Orza A.
- Thompson, George
- Thompson, Harriet
- Valentine, Anna L.
- Valentine, Emmaline
- Valentine, Francis
- Valentine, Joseph
- Valentine, Rachel
- Valentine, Rebecca
- Valentine, Thomas
- Walker, John
- Walker, Washington
- Walter, Jesse
- Walters, George
- Watson, Matilda
- Way, Martha
- Webb, John P.
- Webster, Elizabeth
- Webster, Ezra
- Wells, Gilbert
- Wells, Joseph
- Wells, Mary
- Westley, Ellen
- Westley, Joseph
- Westly, John
- Whinney, Sarah Pusey
- White, Addie
- White, Clara
- White, Lettie
- White, Oliver
- Whitson, Ester
- Whitson, George
- Whitson, Jacob
- Whitson, Matilda
- Whitson, Merce
- Whitson, Micah
- Whitson, Moses
- Whitson, Thomas
- Whitson, Webster
- Whitson, William
- Wilhelm, Mrs.
- William, Henry
- Williams, Carrie
- Williams, Edwin
- Williams, Frank
- Williams, Henry
- Williams, Sue
- Wilson, Tillie
- Winston, George
- Withers, Anna
- Withers, Augustus
- Withers, William
- Zook, Morris
- Other Creators
- Bushong, Edith K., 1836-1914.
- Subjects
- African Americans--History
- Agriculture
- Bereavement
- Canning and preserving
- Enslaved persons--Emancipation
- Farms
- Health
- Housekeeping
- Mental health
- Quakers
- Seances
- Slavery
- Spiritualism
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Search Terms
- Agriculture
- Barr's Bookstore
- Bereavement
- Births
- Canning and preserving
- Civil War
- Columbia - Wrightsville Bridge
- David Bear's Dry Goods
- Death
- Diaries
- Emancipation
- Farming
- Funerals
- Gardening
- Health
- Housekeeping
- Illnesses
- Lancaster County Mutual Insurance Company
- McGlaughlin's Auction
- Mental health
- Octoraro Relief Association
- Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind
- Persons of color
- Quakers
- Quarryville Aid Society
- Sadsbury Friends Meeting
- Seances
- Slavery
- Spiritualism
- Travel
- York Furnace
- Extent
- 1 box, 5 folders, .25 cubic ft.
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Object ID
- MG0278
- Location of Originals
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Associated Material
- Family Papers, 1833-1872 at Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Restrictions are noted at the item level.
- Copyright
- Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
- Credit
- Bushong Diary Collection (MG-278), Folder #, LancasterHistory.org
- Classification
- MG0278
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Custodial History
- Processed, finding aid started by PK, Spring-Summer 2010; Finding aid completed by NS, RS, 2013.
- Collection
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Title
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers, Series B Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Object ID
- MG0828_SeriesB
- Date Range
- 1846-1848
- Collection
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Title
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers, Series B Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Description
- The General Thomas Welsh Family Papers, Series B contains fourteen documents, which cover the period 1846 through 1848 and chronicles Welsh's military service during the Mexican War. The series consists of letters written by Thomas Welsh to various family members, friends and government officials (including James Buchanan) describing his experiences as a volunteer soldier, the wounds he received at the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 and his efforts to secure a pension for the injuries he received in battle. The series also includes documents related to his subsequent appointment as a second lieutenant, his ongoing support for the war despite the injuries he received and his desire to continue to serve in the peacetime army.
- Admin/Biographical History
- Thomas Welsh (1824-1863) was a Lancaster County native (born and raised in Columbia), who rose from hardscrabble origins to local fame, first as a Mexican War hero, and then as a brigadier general during the Civil War. He was well known and well respected as a no nonsense officer, for his leadership and gallantry in battle, for his dedication to the service of his country, and for his concern for the welfare of his men.
- Welsh lost his father at the age of 2, and went to work to support his family at age 8. He had very little formal schooling, and was largely self-educated. In 1843, at age 19, he left Lancaster County for Washington City, then went west as an itinerant carpenter/laborer to Cincinnati, Little Rock, and Fort Smith.
- When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, he enlisted in a Kentucky regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of Buena Vista (1847) from which he never fully recovered. Returning home to Columbia, he re-enlisted as a second lieutenant, assigned to the 11th U.S. infantry regiment in Mexico City. Within days of his arrival in Mexico City, he was declared unfit for service on account of his battle wound, and sent home again.
- Back in Columbia as a civilian, he dabbled in politics, and received a patronage job in the Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works (the rail and canal system connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). After several years, he opened up a grocery and dry goods store in Columbia's canal basin. He also became an insurance agent. In 1857, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and his reputation grew as a community leader. By 1860, he was president of the Borough Council, a founding member of the Columbia Board of Trade, Vice President of the Columbia Cricket Club, and a canal boat operator, in addition to a dry goods merchant, insurance agent, and Justice of the Peace. He had a wife, 5 surviving children, and legal guardianship of his sister's 4 children.
- When Confederate forces shelled Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas Welsh raised and organized the first company of volunteers from Lancaster County, and took them into the field as their Captain. Within days, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, which served out its 90-day enlistment in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Returning to Harrisburg, he was appointed Commandant of Camp Curtin, the problem-plagued processing center for new recruits. In short order, Welsh cleaned up the camp's poor sanitary conditions, improved the health of the camp, and implemented soldierly discipline and training.
- In October 1861, he resigned from his camp duties, and as Colonel of the 45th Pennsylvania, led his regiment into the field. After brief service outside of Washington, they were sent to South Carolina in December, where they were posted to Otter Island. After the battle of James Island, they were recalled to Newport News, in July 1862, then sent to guard Aquia Creek.
- In September, now in brigade command in Burnsides' 9th Corps, Welsh chased Lee's Confederate army west into central Maryland. His brigade broke the enemy line in Fox's Gap, on Sept. 14, then 3 days later achieved the furthest Union advance at Antietam, reaching the edge of Sharpsburg, and nearly cutting off Lee's only avenue of escape. Welsh's gallantry earned him a field promotion to brigadier general, which Congress confirmed on March 13, 1863.
- The 9th Corps (Welsh now in command of the 1st Division) was sent west in the spring of 1863, then dispatched south to support Grant's investment of Vicksburg. After Vicksburg fell, they turned east and defeated Confederate General Johnston at the Battle of Jackson. Welsh contracted malaria in the southern swamps, and died in Cincinnati upon their return north. One of his men later recalled, "Had he lived, Welsh would undoubtedly have attained a much higher command. 1
- 1. Beauge, Eugene, in Albert, Allen D., Ed., History of the Forty-Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865, Williamsport, PA: Grit Publ. Co, 1912, p. 79.
- System of Arrangement
- The collection is arranged in series:
- Series A Thomas Welsh before the Mexican War
- Series B Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Series C Between the Mexican War and the Civil War, 1848-1861
- Series D Civil War
- Series E Post-Civil War
- Series F Miscellaneous Family Papers
- Series G Papers from the families of Gen. Thomas Welsh and Blanton C. Welsh
- Date Range
- 1846-1848
- Creation Date
- 1846-1848
- Year Range From
- 1846
- Year Range To
- 1848
- Creator
- Wiggin, Richard C.
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 19
- Storage Container
- Box 0001
- People
- Welsh, Thomas
- Subjects
- Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Search Terms
- Mexican War
- Extent
- 14 items
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Condition
- Fair to good
- Parent Object ID
- MG0828
- Object ID
- MG0828_SeriesB
- Notes
- Added to PP 12/19/2020 by HST
- Provenance: Passed down through the family, Blanton Charles Welsh to Emilie Benson (Welsh) Wiggin to Nancy Jane (Wiggin) Townsend. Acquired from: Chuck Townsend, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2016/05/15.
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
- Copyright
- Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
- LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
- Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Some items are photocopies from other collections--researchers must obtain permission for reproduction and publication from the owner of the original material.
- Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Classification
- MG0828
- Description Level
- Series
- Custodial History
- Cataloged by Richard C. Wiggin prior to donation.
- Collection
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Title
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers, Series E Post Civil War
- Object ID
- MG0828_SeriesE
- Date Range
- 1866-1925
- Collection
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers
- Title
- General Thomas Welsh Family Papers, Series E Post Civil War
- Description
- The General Thomas Welsh Family Papers, Series E is a collection of eight documents, which covers the years 1866 through 1925 and consists primarily of recollections by various family members of the life of Thomas Welsh. The series also includes a family history and poems written by Thomas Welsh and his daughter Effie Welsh.
- Admin/Biographical History
- Thomas Welsh (1824-1863) was a Lancaster County native (born and raised in Columbia), who rose from hardscrabble origins to local fame, first as a Mexican War hero, and then as a brigadier general during the Civil War. He was well known and well respected as a no nonsense officer, for his leadership and gallantry in battle, for his dedication to the service of his country, and for his concern for the welfare of his men.
- Welsh lost his father at the age of 2, and went to work to support his family at age 8. He had very little formal schooling, and was largely self-educated. In 1843, at age 19, he left Lancaster County for Washington City, then went west as an itinerant carpenter/laborer to Cincinnati, Little Rock, and Fort Smith.
- When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, he enlisted in a Kentucky regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of Buena Vista (1847) from which he never fully recovered. Returning home to Columbia, he re-enlisted as a second lieutenant, assigned to the 11th U.S. infantry regiment in Mexico City. Within days of his arrival in Mexico City, he was declared unfit for service on account of his battle wound, and sent home again.
- Back in Columbia as a civilian, he dabbled in politics, and received a patronage job in the Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works (the rail and canal system connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). After several years, he opened up a grocery and dry goods store in Columbia's canal basin. He also became an insurance agent. In 1857, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and his reputation grew as a community leader. By 1860, he was president of the Borough Council, a founding member of the Columbia Board of Trade, Vice President of the Columbia Cricket Club, and a canal boat operator, in addition to a dry goods merchant, insurance agent, and Justice of the Peace. He had a wife, 5 surviving children, and legal guardianship of his sister's 4 children.
- When Confederate forces shelled Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas Welsh raised and organized the first company of volunteers from Lancaster County, and took them into the field as their Captain. Within days, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, which served out its 90-day enlistment in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Returning to Harrisburg, he was appointed Commandant of Camp Curtin, the problem-plagued processing center for new recruits. In short order, Welsh cleaned up the camp's poor sanitary conditions, improved the health of the camp, and implemented soldierly discipline and training.
- In October 1861, he resigned from his camp duties, and as Colonel of the 45th Pennsylvania, led his regiment into the field. After brief service outside of Washington, they were sent to South Carolina in December, where they were posted to Otter Island. After the battle of James Island, they were recalled to Newport News, in July 1862, then sent to guard Aquia Creek.
- In September, now in brigade command in Burnsides' 9th Corps, Welsh chased Lee's Confederate army west into central Maryland. His brigade broke the enemy line in Fox's Gap, on Sept. 14, then 3 days later achieved the furthest Union advance at Antietam, reaching the edge of Sharpsburg, and nearly cutting off Lee's only avenue of escape. Welsh's gallantry earned him a field promotion to brigadier general, which Congress confirmed on March 13, 1863.
- The 9th Corps (Welsh now in command of the 1st Division) was sent west in the spring of 1863, then dispatched south to support Grant's investment of Vicksburg. After Vicksburg fell, they turned east and defeated Confederate General Johnston at the Battle of Jackson. Welsh contracted malaria in the southern swamps, and died in Cincinnati upon their return north. One of his men later recalled, "Had he lived, Welsh would undoubtedly have attained a much higher command. 1
- 1. Beauge, Eugene, in Albert, Allen D., Ed., History of the Forty-Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865, Williamsport, PA: Grit Publ. Co, 1912, p. 79.
- System of Arrangement
- The collection is arranged in series:
- Series A Thomas Welsh before the Mexican War
- Series B Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Series C Between the Mexican War and the Civil War, 1848-1861
- Series D Civil War
- Series E Post-Civil War
- Series F Miscellaneous Family Papers
- Series G Papers from the families of Gen. Thomas Welsh and Blanton C. Welsh
- Date Range
- 1866-1925
- Creation Date
- 1866-1925
- Year Range From
- 1866
- Year Range To
- 1925
- Creator
- Wiggin, Richard C.
- Storage Location
- LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
- Storage Room
- Archives South
- Storage Wall
- Side 19
- Storage Container
- Box 0001
- People
- Welsh, Thomas
- Subjects
- Autobiographies
- Letters
- Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Poetry
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Search Terms
- Autobiographies
- Civil War
- Family history
- Genealogy
- Letters
- Mexican War
- Poetry
- Extent
- 8 folders
- Object Name
- Archive
- Language
- English
- Condition
- Poor to excellent
- Condition Date
- 2020-12-29
- Parent Object ID
- MG0828
- Object ID
- MG0828_SeriesE
- Notes
- Added to PP 12/29/2020 by HST
- Provenance: Most items passed down through the family, Blanton Charles Welsh to Emilie Benson (Welsh) Wiggin to Nancy Jane (Wiggin) Townsend. Acquired from: Chuck Townsend, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2016/05/15.
- Access Conditions / Restrictions
- Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
- Copyright
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- Credit
- Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Classification
- MG0828
- Description Level
- Series
- Custodial History
- Organized by Richard C. Wiggin prior to donation.