July 6, 2008
John Hoptak, owner of the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Blog and a park ranger at Antietam National Park, was kind enough to direct me to a posting from his blog of one Henry Ege. Henry was a private in Company I of the 48th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers (the same unit as Abraham Eisenhauer!). Both Abraham and Henry enlisted at the same time and were mustered in on the same day. John believes they would have known each other! Even though I don’t have a picture of Abraham, it is unbelievable to look at the picture of Henry. I realize I am looking into the eyes of someone who once knew and served with my ancestor! They were both young men at the time (Abraham was 20 and Henry was 18) and who knows, perhaps even became quick friends when they first met.
I have copied the text of the post from John’s blog below and included the pictures. You can view the original here: http://48thpennsylvania.blogspot.com/2006/11/profiles-private-henry-ege-company-i.html
I am also including the Civil War Veterans’ Card File for both men from the Pennsylvania State Archives (I will also post in the future about the PA State Archives, which are an amazing resource). The card files show that the two joined at the same time (M.I. stands for “Mustered In”).
The text of John’s Post:
PROFILES: Private Henry Ege, Company I
When the American Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861, Henry J. Ege of Orwigsburg was just fifteen years of age, and was thus too young to volunteer. In February 1864, however, when the call once again went out for three-year volunteers, Ege, now eighteen, was quick to enlist. On February 23, the young laborer who stood 5’5 ½ with blue eyes and brown hair, was mustered into service as a private in Company I, 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The next month, Ege, along with the reenlisted veterans of the regiment as well as other new recruits, boarded train cars in Pottsville and set out for Annapolis, Maryland, where the Union Ninth Army Corps was then assembling.
On April 13, 1864, Henry Ege wrote the following letter to his mom and dad in Orwigsburg from the camp of the 48th at Annapolis:
Dear Parents
I take my pen in hand to let you know that we are all well at present time and hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the same state of happiness. I have not much news to tell you this time. I am out of money and would like if you would send me about five dollars as soon as you receive this letter. I would not have written for some money but we don’t know when we will get paid, a person feels lost if he has no money out here. General Burnside and Gen. U.S. Grant were here today, they are very fine looking Generals. The rest of the Orwigsburg boys are all well. I have no more news for this time. I had a letter from my school master C.H. Meredith. No more at present. Excuse bad writing for I had a bad pen.
Answer Soon
From Your Son
Henry J. Ege
Less than one month later, on May 12, 1864, Henry J. Ege was shot through the head at the battle of Spotsylvania and killed instantly. The eager eighteen-year-old volunteer was in the army less than three months. When the guns fell silent and the smoke cleared from the fields near Spotsylvania, members of the 48th Pennsylvania buried Ege on the battlefield along with at least twenty more of their comrades killed in action on that terrible day. To indicate the spot where Ege’s remains were buried, the soldiers of the 48th erected the wooden marker pictured here.
Ege lay buried near Spotsylvania for some time before his father traveled to Virginia to bring his son’s body back home to Orwigsburg for a permanent burial.
(Ege letter courtesy of the Frantz Family, Orwigsburg; Photographs courtesy of Mr. Al Morgan)
The images from John’s post and the card files from the PA State Archives:
As Always, Thank you John for all your help , your kind correspondence and for sharing your tremendous expertise! I also wanted to reiterate to all my readers, if you are at all interested in the Civil War, I recommend John’s 48th Pennsylvania Blog! It is a treasure trove of information written by a man who is working in the middle of it all - truly first class!
Posted in Civil War, Eisenhauers, Individuals, Veterans 
1 Comment »
July 4, 2008
Being that it is July 4th and the anniversary of the official beginning of our nation’s independence, I figured it was fitting to write a post in regards to the war which led to such.
First, I wanted to mention that the History Channel is re-running a great 2006 series they produced titled “The Revolution” all day long. It is a bit basic in its history, but explores some of the most interesting characters of this country’s creation as deeply as possible giving the limited time available in a tv-series. Check it out.
Second, to meet the goals set forth in the title of this post I will share some thoughts on ancestors of mine and other more distantly related Eisenhauers who fought in the Revolutionary War. I clearly do not have information on every Eisenhauer who possibly served in the war, and I doubt my information is complete, so please feel free to send me additional information that you have.
I will try to organize this as logically as possible and since I do not have a GEDCOM website up yet to show where each person lies in the family tree in relation to Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer, the immigrant of 1741, I will do my best to convey each individuals relation to him (and myself).
The majority (especially the basics) of the following information comes from “Eisenhower Lineage and Reference: 1681 - September 3, 1957″ by Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson (more information will be available in the future “Sources” section of this website, but I will refer to this source by her initials FBTR for the remainder of this post). Where information is from any other source I will do my best to cite it as such.
Introduction
To begin I will quote from Fannie’s manuscript:
By the time the Indian trouble had somewhat subsided other serious hostilities were developing which resulted in the Revolutionary War 1775-1783 through which we gained our freedom from English domination and became an Independent Nation. [Page 7, Section 1, FBTR]
She continues by giving a bit of background on the newly created American nation and then returns to the topic of the Eisenhauers:
There is little in the Revolutionary War documents in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., relating to the Eisenhauer, Eisenhower, etc., name, but, together with other reference sources, a fair account of the Eisenhauers in that rebellion is indicated at appropriate places in this record. [Page 7, Section 1, FBTR]
After that she mentions Eisenhauer participation in the War of 1812 and the Civil War, but I will save all discussion of that for another post.
John Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #8, FBTR] (b. May 6, 1749)
John Nicholas is a grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is the son of Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #2, FBTR]. He is an older full-blooded brother of George Michael Eisenhauer [Ref. #9, FBTR] and John Frederick Eisenhauer [Ref. #10, FBTR] whom are both mentioned below. He is my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather’s older brother, making him my great-great-great-great-great-great-grand-uncle (6th great grand uncle).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of John Nicholas and his Revolutionary War service:
John Nicholas Eisenhauer was a soldier during the Revolutionary War; the roster of N. C. soldiers in that war includes these references: Nicholas Icour, 198 No. 469, private; 224 No. 460, private; 228 No. 460, private; and 398 Continental, Nicholas Icour, No. 628. [Page 12, Section 2, FBTR]
George Michael Eisenhauer [Ref. #9, FBTR] (b. August 4, 1751)
George Michael is a grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is the son of Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #2, FBTR]. He is my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather (6th great grandfather).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of George Michael and his Revolutionary War service:
He is referred to as just Michael Eisenhauer in early records and is probably the Michael Eisenhauer who served in a Northampton Co., Pa., unit of Militia during the Revolutionary War; in the same unit was 10 John Frederick Eisenhauer who was also a son of 2 Peter Eisenhauer. Michael Isahower, as the name is shown on the record, was in the 7th Company of Captain Staker, 6th Battalion, May 9, 1785, listed on the returns made by Henry W. Archer, Lt. [Page 12, Section 2, FBTR]
John Frederick Eisenhauer [Ref. #10, FBTR] (b. October 6, 1753)
John Frederick is a grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is the son of Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #2, FBTR]. He is a younger full-blooded brother of George Michael Eisenhauer [Ref. #9, FBTR] whom is mentioned above. He is my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather’s younger brother, making him my great-great-great-great-great-great-grand-uncle (6th great grand uncle).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of John Frederick and his Revolutionary War service:
There are several Revolutionary War service references believed to be for this Frederick or John Frederick Eisenhauer: Fred Eisehaver, on roll of Capt. Peter Grubb Jr.’s Company, April 15, 1776; Private Frederick Eischaver, pay roll of Capt. Peter Grubb’s Company in Second Battalion of the Rifle Regiment in the service of the Province of Pennsylvania, commanded by Col. Samuel Miles, Esq., stationed near King’s Bridge, pay due 1-19-4; Private Fred Isehaver, muster roll of Peter Grubb’s Company, Second Battalion, Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, commanded by Col. Samuel Miles, Esq., mustered in Camp near King’s Bridge, Sept. 1, 1776; Private Fred Eischaver, muster roll (same as just given), Sept. 1, 1776; Fred Eischaver, muster roll of Capt. Peter Grubb’s Company of the Second Battalion of Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Daniel Broadhead, Esq., for the month of Sept. 1776, stationed near New York; Frederick Eisenhauer, muster roll of Capt. Benjamin Weiser’s Company of Northumberland Co. Militia, Second Corporal Frederick Eisenhauer; Second Corporal Frederick Eisenhauer, muster roll of Capt. Benjamin Weiser’s Company of Northumberland Militia at Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 1777; and Frederick Isenhauer, non-commissioned officers and privates in the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment Continental Line; Frederick Isenhauer killed in actino. Although records indicate he was “killed in action,” the present descendants say they were always told he was injured but was sent home where he died shortly afterward.
Documents in the pension case file of Anna Rodes, widow of Frederick Eisenhauer, who had remarried, contain these statements: filed April 8, 1839 by Hannah Rodes, then age 82, who had, since Eisenhauer’s death, married Reverend Gottleil Roth (also shown as Caleb Rodes, Rhoads, Roads, etc.) who had also been a soldier in the Revolutionary War and who died March 31, 1830; that the date of her marriage to Rev. Rodes was Jan. 6, 1779. Relating to Frederick Eisenhauer (Isenhour), that he was a resident of Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa., at the time of their marriage; that he served under Capt. Mills again Lord Howe in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown; that he was killed in action in the Battle of Germantown, shot on a scouting party and buried at Rising Sun, near Germantown, Pa. A German Sermon Book cover was severed and annexed to her claim for pension which helped provide these details. A present descendant reports that Hannah Kleinan was a dau. of a well-to-do Quaker farmer and through her marriage to Rodes had 11 or 12 children.
In 1776 “Frederick Isenhauer (Eisenhauer, Eisenhower, Isenhower, Ironcutter) was assessed as a single freeman in Penn Twp., Snyder Co., Pa., but his sta was short;” the same reference also stated he served as a private in the 13th Regiment Continental Line and was “killed in action.” [Pages 13-14, Section 2, FBTR]
Joseph Eisenhauer [Ref. #18, FBTR] (b. in the 1760’s)
Joseph is a great-grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is the grandson of Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #2, FBTR]. He is the son of yet another Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #6, FBTR]. This makes Joseph my first cousin 7-times removed (his grandfather, Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #2, FBTR] is our common anscestor).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of Joseph and his Revolutionary War service:
Muster roll of the 7th Class of the 10th Battalion of Northampton County Militia Command by orders of Samuel …, Colonel, March 31, 1781, by Capt. Casper Greenamyer: Srdg. Daniel Yoos, susbtitue for Joseph Isenhar. It is presumed this is the same Joseph. [Page 20, Section 2, FBTR]
NOTE: the ellipsis after “Samuel” in the quote above indicates an unreadable name which I could not deceipher from the copy of FBTR I possess.
George Martin Isenhower [Ref. #1212, FBTR]
George Martin is a grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is the son of Martin Eisenhauer [Ref. #4, FBTR]. This makes George Martin my first cousin 8-times removed (he descends from Hans Nicholas’ second wife, Anna Margareta Strubel, and is the son of my Martin Eisenhauer, the half-brother of my ancestor, Peter Eisenhauer).
Unfortunately, I do not have Section 4 of Fannie Belle’s book, which is the section covering descendants of Martin Eisenhauer. Nevertheless, he is mentioned in Section 2 in relation to his brother-in-law (see Page 22 of Section 2, FBTR for more infomation on the double-relation of some Eisenhauers). No doubt that there is better information regarding George Martin’s Revolutionary War service in the section I do not have. Until I obtain said section, the following information found in Section 2 will have to suffice:
The story has been well handed down through the generations that 1212 George Martin Isenhower and Professor Adam Null were brothers-in-law, that they were both soldiers in the same outfit from North Carolina during the Revolutionary War and were with General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Army, at the surrender of Lord Charles Cornwallis, Commander of the English forces, on Oct. 19, 1781 at Yorktown at the mouth of the York River in Virginia. History tells us that the bombardment of Yorktown began on Oct. 6, 1781 and continued until the surrend of the British on Oct. 19 and that Cornwallis’ sword was sent to American Major General Benjamin Lincoln who commanded the right wing of the Army at Yorktown and who was delegated by General Washington to receive the surrender of that city on Oct. 19, 1781. I was unable to find any references in the official military enlistment records in Washington, D.C. relating to either a George Martin or Martin Eisenhauer or any other recognizable spelling of name, however, due to war-related causes, the collection of those military records is reported to be incomplete. [Pages 22-23, Section 2, FBTR]
Johannes Eisenhauer [Ref. #3, FBTR] (b. June 24, 1727)
Johannes is a son of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is a brother of Peter Eisenhauer [Ref. #2, FBTR]. He is the great-great-great-grandfather of Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson, the writer of our exquisitie research source. He is my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather’s younger brother, making him my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grand-uncle (7th great grand uncle).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of Johannes and his Revolutionary War service:
According to 948 Paul Albert Bear, who, like myself is a great-great-great-grandchild of Johannes Eisenhauer, established Johaness Eisenhauer as the “John Eisenhauer, Court Marshall Man, 1st Company, 1st Batt., Lancaster Co. Militia” during the Revolutionary War. [Pages 4-5, Section 2, FBTR]
George Philip Eisenhauer [Ref. #507, FBTR] (b. December 17, 1754)
George Philip is a grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is a son of Johannes Eisenhauer [Ref. #3, FBTR]. This makes George Philip my first cousin 8-times removed (he descends from Hans Nicholas’ second wife, Anna Margareta Strubel, and is the son of Johannes Eisenhauer, the half-brother of my ancestor, Peter Eisenhauer).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of George Philip and his Revolutionary War service:
Served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. His pension case file was reviewed by the contents was a bit difficult to decipher, however here are some of the details: Phillip Isenhour (Philip Eisenhauer) occupation blacksmith. Family: wife and 4 children, Milly 9 years, Elizabeth 7 years, Cullen Joseph 4 years and Emily 9 moths. April 27, 1818 was of Mercer Co., Pa. Served in April 1776 in Capt. Louis Farmer’s Company, Col. Miles’ Regiment, 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Riflemen. Was in battles of Long Island, White Plains, Germantown and Trenton and “helped take the Hessions.” Discharged January 1, 1778. Reported his smith shop was burned twice, that he had a broken leg plus suffering from age and infirmity, that he would be 67 years old on June 3, 1819… [Page 9, Section 3, FBTR]
Leonard Eisenhauer [Ref. #509, FBTR] (b. March 23, 1758)
Leonard is a grandson of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer [Ref. #1, FBTR]. He is a son of Johannes Eisenhauer [Ref. #3, FBTR]. He is the younger brother of George Phillip Eisenhauer [Ref. #507, FBTR] mentioned about. This also makes Leonard my first cousin 8-times removed (he descends from Hans Nicholas’ second wife, Anna Margareta Strubel, and is the son of Johannes Eisenhauer, the half-brother of my ancestor, Peter Eisenhauer).
Fannie Belle Taylor-Richardson writes of Leonard and his Revolutionary War service:
Leonard Eisenhauer was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was taken prisoner at Jersey City according to information submitted many years ago by his grandson Newman Isenhour for a biographical record. However among the collection of Revolutionary War record of the Adjutant General’s Office in Washington, D.C., (where it ought to be) which were brought into the National Archives during World War II while I was an employee of the National Archives, none was found for Leonard Eisenhauer, however they report the collection of those records is not complete due to war-related causes. [Page 12, Section 3, FBTR]
Conclusion
This brief review of members of the Eisenhauer family is far from complete. First, Fannie Belle may not have been aware of all whom served as Revolutionary War records are generally incomplete, especially in regards to militias. Second, I may well have missed somebody in her documentation. Third, I would not be surprised if Martin’s line had more Revolutionary War vets, but I am not yet in possession of that resource. Fourth, this review only includes the lines of Eisenhauers whom descend from Hans Nicholas, the 1741 immigrant. If anyone has any information on the people I have mentioned here or others whom I have missed I would be more than willing to include it.
Again, I apologize for any inconsistencies or errors in my documentation above, please send all corrections. This is the best I could do with the free hours of my 4th. I know I have not included any information on some of the companies and regiments mentioned above. If I come accross any, I will be sure to include it in an update to the post or create another post and link to it. As always, please send me anything you know. Thank you.
Lastly, I want to say on this Independence Day that the memories of those who served in the Revolutionary War (not just the Eisenhauers and not just the well known history makers, but ALL Revolutionary War Veterans) deserve our gratitude. Without them things would assuredly be different, and today is a day to honor them.
Happy 4th of July to you all and God Bless America!
Posted in Eisenhauers, Individuals, Revolutionary War, Veterans 1 Comment »
I am a descendent of Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer. I am also a distant cousin of Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th President of these States United), an amatuer genealogist and a history-buff.
