On the Edge of Discovery: The Orphans of the Battlefield

Posted on May 15, 2012 by chestercophoto

The soldier fell beside the road; he knew he was mortally wounded. Taking his last breath he gazed at an ambrotype image of his three little children. Oh if only….

The Battle of Gettysburg had taken its grim toll and the next day the soldier was found clutching the ambrotype. No time to figure out his identity, he and thousands of others needed to be buried and quickly.

The ambrotype was taken from the dead soldier by a tavern keeper’s daughter who discovered his body. She took the ambrotype to her father who put it on display in the tavern. Dr. John F. Bourns, who stopped by the tavern on his way to assist with the wounded in Gettysburg, was intrigued by the image. He wanted to see if he could identify the soldier by publishing it.

When Bourns returned to Philadelphia, he had photographer H. C. Phillips copy the ambrotype for publication as a carte-de-visite or photographic visiting card (CDV). He also had an article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer October 19, 1863 describing the image and asking for information. The touching story was picked up by other newspapers around the north. The image soon became an iconic symbol of all the children who were orphaned by the war.

Although the technology was not available at the time to publish photographs in the newspaper, the description was good enough that one day Dr. Bourne received a letter. Philinda Humiston thought that the ambrotype sounded like one she had sent to her husband a few months ago. She had not heard anything from him after the Battle of Gettysburg. Dr. Bourns sent her a copy of the carte-de-visite to verify the picture. There Mrs. Humiston saw the faces of her children, Franklin age 8, Frederick age 4 and Alice age 6. The fallen soldier was her husband, Sergeant Amos Humiston of the 154^th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The CDV of the Humiston children became one of the most widely circulated images finding its way into many family albums. A ballad titled “The Children of the Battlefield” popularized its story. The copy of the CDV in CCHS collection is in an album from the Talbot/Jones family.

The proceeds from the initial sale of the CDV were given to Mrs. Humiston who was struggling to support her family. Later, Dr. Bourns sold it as a fund raiser for the establishment of the National War Orphan’s Homestead in Gettysburg in 1866. The Humiston children attended the school, and Philinda Humiston found employment there.

Today if you go to Gettysburg, you can see an historical marker and the grave of Sergeant Humiston whose story has touched so many.

If you want to learn more about this story, Mark H. Dunkleman has done a masterful job researching this story in his book: Gettysburg’s Unknown Soldier: The Life, Death and Celebrity of Amos Humiston.

Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On The Edge of Discovery: The Mystery of Civil War Nurse Rebecca Pennypacker Price

Posted on May 4, 2012 by chestercophoto

Mrs. Rebecca Lane Pennypacker Price

When the Civil War began, the people of Phoenixville responded to their country’s call in a big way. The Phoenixville Artillerists were organized by Captain John R. Dobson (Company G. First Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry) and Mrs. Rebecca Price organized the Union Relief Society of Phoenixville. Little did she image as she sewed uniforms for the men that she would later became a nurse for the wounded at Gettysburg.

In CCHS library collection is a fascinating memoire written by Mrs. Price in the 1890s to share the story of her service during the Civil War with her son.

Mrs. Price and about 100 women from Phoenixville, sewed shirts, knitted “pulse warmers” and gathered non-perishable foods for the servicemen. They heard from other organizations that donations were not always distributed to the neediest. Thus, the Union Relief Society decided to send representatives – Mrs. Price and Miss Mattie Jones to accompany and distribute the food and clothing.

Knowing that two women would not be welcomed on the battlefield, David Reeves of Phoenix Iron Works obtained a pass for them from Governor Curtin. The two women got on the train in Phoenixville with a load of boxes and barrels of goods. It was no easy path to Wind Mill Point in Virginia where a field hospital had been established for the Army of the Potomac.

Here the women went to work cooking meals, distributing clothing and visiting the sick. They originally thought they would be there for about two weeks, but ended up remaining many months until all the patients were discharged.

In one notable incident, a patient named Harry Cook, asked Price for some lemonade. The surgeon forbid him from having any, saying that it would kill him. The surgeon did not expect this patient to live. When the doctor was gone, Price gave Cook the lemonade. The next day the Surgeon could not believe how the patient had rallied – “It’s like a miracle” he said. Then it was revealed what Price had done. The Surgeon then gave her a free hand to minister as she saw fit.

Pass issued to "Beckie Price" to travel to Harrisburg July 11, 1863

That was only the beginning of her work; one of her subsequent trips took her to Gettysburg to the Eleventh Corp Hospital. Here she soon found herself holding an umbrella over a patient who was having an amputation. She pitched in wherever needed and was unconcerned with her own comfort and safety.

The big mystery is where is her photograph? The newspaper halftone image included here came from The Repository, published in Louisville, Ohio, August 25, 1907. A researcher there was hoping that CCHS had a copy of the original photo. He had discovered an article telling the story of how Price had nursed Major August Vignos after his arm was amputated at Gettysburg. His clothing was so blood soaked it was thrown away by the doctors. When it was time to leave the hospital, Mrs. Price gathered together enough garments and a pair of slippers to send him on his way home. After the war the two corresponded and exchanged CDVs.

Undoubtedly she corresponded with many others, so her carte could be in many family albums in the northeastern U.S.!

If you have her image in your collection please let CCHS know, we would love to include the story of the plucky nurse in the forthcoming exhibition “On the Edge of Battle: Chester County in the Civil War” this fall. Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On the Edge of Discovery: Local Man Witnesses Lincoln’s Assassination

Posted on April 27, 2012 by chestercophoto

The Apotheosis of Lincoln, carte-de-visite, 1865

Kennett Square native, Isaac G. Jaquette, Jr, witnessed Lincoln’s shooting in Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, five days after the surrender at Appomattox was a defining moment in America’s history that plunged the nation into a deep state of mourning.

A telegram from U.H. Painter’s collection says it best:

West Chester April 15 [1865]

To Phila. Inquirer,

Our jubilant and joyous feelings over our late victories have been suddenly averted by the sad and horrible intelligence of the assassination of our beloved Chief magistrate every place public or private in the town is closed, bells tolling a solemn sound and the manifestation of grief beyond all description. Signed S. M. P. [Samuel M. Painter]

This widely distributed CDV (carte-de-visite or photographic visiting card) of Lincoln ascending to heaven the in the arms of Washington found its way into the albums of many Chester County residents. According to photo historian William Darrah, this carte was known as “the apotheosis [glorification] of Lincoln” and was on the market one week after the assassination. CCHS’s copy has no photographer information, indicating that was probably a pirated copy. Photographs of Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth and the other conspirators sold briskly.

That brings us to the story of a local person who witnessed history unfold. Isaac G. Jaquette, a saddler from Chatham, had served in Co H. 42^nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, known as the Bucktails. He had been wounded at Chantilly Virginia and was discharged by Surgeon’s certificate September 15, 1862. After the war he received an appointment as a clerk in the Adjutant General’s Office of the War Department and moved his family to Washington, D.C.

It was on that fateful night in April that Jaquette was seated in the dress circle opposite Lincoln’s box in Ford’s Theatre. He could see the Lincolns with Major Rathbone who accompanied them when General Grant was called away on short notice to New York.

Jaquette recounts the scene in an article published in the Daily Local News, July 28, 1892, “The play was nearly through when the report of a pistol was heard…Lincoln had dropped his head on his arms apparently to rest them when suddenly there was a great shriek from Mrs. Lincoln, then a man jumped over the front of the box..”

Jaquette describes seeing Booth leap to the stage, injuring himself in the process. At first he thought it must be part of the play, but then pandemonium breaks out.

“I and some others went up into the box after the President was carried out…” Jaquette describes seeing the preparations Booth had made to accomplish the deed including a whole cut in the wall that was wallpapered over to disguise it. He found a heavy stick which he used as a brace to hold the door closed once he entered the box. “The stick..had dropped to the floor, and as they carried the President out his blood had nearly covered it. I picked it up and took it home.” It was common for people in that era to collect “souvenirs” but this very gruesome one was in reality an important piece of evidence in the case against Booth and his accomplices.

A week after the assassination, Jaquette learned that the soldiers were searching his rooms for the bloody stick. When he returned home, Jaquette was arrested. Detective Baker interviewed Jaquette, thinking he was another accomplice, instead he found a willing and credible witness. The pair went to Ford’s Theatre where Jaquette showed the detective what he observed when he visited the President’s box just after the shooting. Luckily, Jaquette was released and later was a witness at Booth’s trial. The stick was retained as evidence.

This and other fascinating stories will be part of “On the Edge of Battle: Chester County in the Civil War” this fall. Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On the Edge of Discovery: Civil War POWs near West Chester?!

Posted on April 17, 2012 by chestercophoto

It is amazing how much of Civil War history of Chester County, PA can be told through the CDV (carte-de-visite or photographic visiting card) collection at CCHS. I pulled out a file indexed on Prisoners of War and held in my hand a piece of the history of Camp Elder, not far from West Chester. This group of photos is sure to be featured in On the Edge of Battle: Chester County and the Civil War opening October 18, 2012.

N. W. Wheeler, Lieut. 1st W. Virginia Cavalry (later Captain) was one of the POWs at Camp Elder in 1863.

Although no Civil War battles were fought in Chester County, PA, the Battle at Gettysburg was too close for the comfort of the residents. According to personal accounts, the sound of gun fire resounded on the local hills. Hard to believe they could hear the cannons from 115 miles away? Think about it, there was no noise pollution from traffic and airplanes. Remember how quiet it was after 9-11 when there was no air traffic for a week? I can believe it.

After the Battle of Gettysburg some of the wounded and prisoners of war came to Chester County. Here were six CDVs of men who were sent to Camp Elder. I had heard of Camp Elder, but looking at the CDVs and learning their story was fascinating.

After Gettysburg, both sides had taken large numbers of prisoners, neither side was prepared to feed and house so many men. So according to an honor system, each side was to guard its own prisoners and promise to not permit them to return to duty until a prisoner exchange agreement could be worked out.

Captain McIrwin of Illinois, Commandant of Camp Elder

This is a real deal for the soldiers who did not have to face going to any one of the deplorable Confederate prisons such as Andersonville, etc. However, they did not see it that way. They wanted to fight and resented the company of emergency militia from Philadelphia who guarded the camp.

The most interesting account of Camp Elder has been recounted by John Heed which can be found in the West Chester Daily Republican on December 16, 1891. In 1863 Heed was a young boy, working on the farm of Enoch T. Williams on Little Shiloh Road in Westtown Township clearing brush. It was a lonely job, with only the cows and birds nearby, any maybe a passing townsperson in a carriage once and a while. Suddenly, on the road were 2,000 men in uniform! Heed jumped behind a tree, thinking that maybe they were the Rebels invading the county! Soon he was to discover that they were Union Prisoners of War, who were sent to camp on the land he was clearing.

You can read his whole detailed account in the newspaper story reproduced at the end of this blog.

The six CDVs in CCHS collection were donated by Anna Mary Heed Earle, the daughter of John C. Heed. He swapped CDVs with the soldiers he befriended, some at the time, and others through correspondence after the war.

George Clime of Lebanon County served with the State Militia and was a POW at Camp Elder

Camp Elder only lasted a month, when Union commanders decided that the Confederates were not meeting the terms of the agreement and released the POWs back to fight with their units.

Some of the wounded soldiers were taken into private homes to recuperate. The soldiers and townspeople made a lasting bond and continued to correspond through the years. The experience of meeting the soldiers made an impact on John Heed that he remembered all his life, symbolized by the treasured cartes-de-visite. Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On the Edge of Discovery: Chester County Civil War CDV Photographers

Posted on April 6, 2012 by chestercophoto

Isaac Pennypacker Renshaw, photo by Ralph F. Channell of Phoenixville

Who were the photographers who made CDVs (photographic visiting cards) for the people of Chester County during the Civil War? Some were itinerant staying for a few months, while others established studios in the larger towns and villages. Here is a listing of some of the photographers collectors will find from Chester County.

Photographer E. R. Frederick had a studio in Penningtonville (which became Atlgen in 1875) between 1864-1866.

John M. Branson, served both Coatesville and Valley township from 1862-1865.

Downingtown had S.S. Griffith’s traveling wagon stop to take tintypes and CDVs there in 1862.

Thomas Lewis made CDVs in Kennett in 1862-1863. While in Kennett Square W. G. Hannum operated a long running studio from 1857 – 1874. He briefly partnered with John Branson during the 1860s.

Thomas Lissett traveled around New London and southern Chester County in his traveling wagon between 1863 and1865. It was easier for him to travel to his customers in this region of rural crossroad villages.

Alexander McCormick was the studio in Oxford, operating from 1862 – 1896.

The steel town of Phoenixville kept a number of photographers busy as men left for war. Lewis Horning, conducted a studio there in 1862. He was followed by Isaac Clegg in 1863 and M. B. Yarnell in 1863-1864. William West was there briefly in 1864. Ralph F. Channel opened his studio in 1864 and kept his formula for success going into the 1880s.

Unionville was busy enough to support two photographers, W. G. Barton in 1862 and Robert W. Butler in 1863.

The town of Waynesburg, which changed its name to Honey Brook in 1876, was a good stop for a number of photographers. D. Haas and Samuel Lucus took portraits there in 1862. Wallace & Craig opened a studio in 1864, which Alexander Wallace continued alone in 1865.

Being the county seat, West Chester was the photographic hot spot of the county. Nathan Parker had been in business there since 1856, welcomed the soldiers from Camp Wayne to his studio. When Parker died August 17, 1861, Samuel R. Fisher purchased his studio and continued the business to 1863.

Unidentified Civil War Officer, CDV by Eber Woodward before 1864. Can you help us identify him?

Another studio in the town at the time was that of Eber Woodward who was established in 1854, mainly as a daguerreotypist and ambrotypist until the CDV came along. Woodward was a major studio through 1867.

There were a few buildings in West Chester that owners fitted up with sky-lights to rent specifically for photographers. One such site was above Worrall’s Book Store at 7 E. Gay Street saw a succession of renters: Duval & West in May of 1864; C. Alfred Garrett until 1865; Shrieves and Battin in November of 1865; and Battin & Finney in 1866.

A.A. Anderson opened up his “Union Gallery” at 13 W. Gay St. over Thomas Travilla’s Store in 1864. It must have been a preferred spot because C. Alfred Garrett moved in when Anderson moved out in 1866.

Please note that the streets were renumbered in 1879, so these addresses do not match present day street numbers.

The building on the southeast corner of High and Market Street, sometimes known as the Darlington Building or Darlington’s Store had space for a photographer’s studio on the top floor. The succession of renters included: Charles Duval who advertised as photographic chemist in 1863; F. McCutcheon in 1864, who used R.T. West and S.R. Fisher as operators; Odiorne & Shrieves in 1865; and J. S. Beecher in 1867 advertised “None so cheap, none so good.”

Taylor's Advertisement from the Village Record June 27, 1863

One of the most prominent studios in West Chester was that of Thomas W. Taylor. He reopened for business in June of 1863 after serving in Co. E. 124^th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. During his nine months service Corporal Taylor saw action in Chancellorville and Antietam. His studio was at in Townsend’s building known as the “Old Stand” on the south side of Gay Street between High and Church Streets. Taylor was in business there into the 1890s.

Others who made CDVs in West Chester briefly were Edward Pyle, R. B. Mulford, R.M.J. Reed and E. Smedley.

I hope that this information may be helpful for collectors who wish to supply a date to CDVs in their collections. If you have any names I don’t have, please let me know. We hope to place a new list of Chester County photographers on the website soon.

Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On the Edge of Discovery: IRS is Watching You

Posted on March 30, 2012 by chestercophoto

Cartes-de-visite (CDVs or photographic visiting cards) were so profitable during the Civil War period that studios sprang up to support the high demand. In West Chester alone during that time there were at least 17 studios making CDVs. Their popularity did not go unnoticed by the IRS. This newly created office was looking for luxury items to tax to fund the defense of the Union. According to an Act of June 30, 1864 all CDVs, watches, pianos, carriages and silver plate were taxed.

Back of a CDV showing tax stamp dated 1865 and photographer's logo.

Every photographer was required to register with the IRS and pay a $25 license fee. A two cent luxury tax was charged on all CDVs made between August 1, 1864 and August 1, 1866. According to the law, a stamp was to be affixed to the back of each CDV with the photographer’s initials and date cancelling it. Not every photographer added this useful information – many simply marked an “X” or did not inscribe it. These tax records are extremely useful for researching photographers during that period.

A CDV mount with pre-printed frame for the tax stamp.

West Chester photographer Eber Woodward’s income made a steady climb during the Civil War years as every soldier and his family needed to exchange CDVs. Woodward had begun his career as a daguerreotypist and ambrotypist in 1854. He adapted his business to public tastes and made “plain photographs” and the popular CDV in the 1860s. According to the IRS Assessment list for 1863-64 Woodward’s income was $118. In 1864-65 his income increased to $538, in 1865-66 to $1082 and in 1866 to $1680!

In 1865 Woodward, was cited by the IRS for failing to affix the tax stamps on the CDVs that he sold. West Chester Lawyer Joseph J. Lewis was appointed by Abraham Lincoln as Commissioner of the Office of Internal Revenue in the Treasury Department. Lewis was tipped off by a tax collector that Woodward was not affixing the stamps to his photographs. According to a letter in CCHS library dated May 11, 1865 from Lewis to West Chester tax collector William Baker, Woodward had collected the required taxes from everyone, but believed that affixing the stamps marred his photographs. The arm of the law had no sympathy for aesthetics and ordered him to affix the stamps.

A CDV by Woodward with the tax stamp affixed.

If you are interested in the IRS tax stamps issued during the Civil War, the CCHS library has a CD made by collector and photo historian Bruce Baryla that gives their whole history or see his website at http://www.pipeline.com/~ciociola/baryla/civilwar.htm

Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On the Edge of Discovery: So What is a Carte-de-visite?

Posted on March 23, 2012 by chestercophoto

Writing Letters, CDV by T. W. Taylor, West Chester, PA ca. 1864

One of the great fads of 19^thcentury material culture, the carte-de-visite or CDV was at its zenith in America during the Civil War. The tiny portrait, only 2 ¼ x 3 ½ inches mounted on a card 2 ½ x 4 inches, was an ideal size to fit into a soldier’s pocket and was easy to mail enclosed in a letter. Sales of the CDVs were fueled by the need of every family to hold close their absent members through these handy photographs, as well as collecting portraits of famous people of the day. How did the CDV come about?

The custom during the nineteenth century was to present your visiting card when you called on a friend or business associate. People in that era had a basket or silver tray (depending on your status) in the foyer, where the cards were strategically placed, so that other callers could see who your friends were. Today we have Facebook for that!

A number of ingenious people in Europe came up with the idea of putting a small photograph on the visiting card. In England, the Duke of Parma and Hugh Diamond made photo CDVs, while in France two amateurs, E. Delessert & Count Agaudo had the same idea. But it was Andre Adolpho Eugene Disderi who took out the patent on the carte-de-visite in 1854 and is remembered in the photographic histories. At first the idea seemed to be a flop, until Disderi took a portrait of Napoleon III and his family which was issued in the carte-de-visite format. Suddenly everyone wanted their own carte-de-visite and the opportunity to purchase ones of the important people of the day.

During that time, portraits of famous people were not readily available to the public in newspapers. Usually portraits were only available through engravings published in books and magazines.

Photographers worked hard to attract famous people to their studios, sometimes paying them for a sitting. The return was large for publishing portraits of politicians, actors, authors, clergy, artists, scientists, military leaders, abolitionists and the infamous.

It is well known that in England, Queen Victoria was an avid collector of CDVs of all her courtiers. The photo album was born to fill the need of organizing and displaying CDVs. No Victorian home was complete without a photo album displayed prominently in the parlor.

Pennock-Coates Family Album. Dewees Roberts on the right and his sister, Mrs. Charles Coates with her children Charles & Dewees.

Here at CCHS there are over 200 albums in the collection, filled with CDVs of local people and the world leaders they admired. The format was not only limited to portraits – in the collection are images of local businesses and churches, famous horses and prize winning swine. The CDV was popular in the U.S. from about 1858 until the turn-of-the century.

Unidentified woman and dog, CDV by W.F. Haverstick, West Chester, PA, 1896.

West Chester photographer Nathan Parker advertized in the Chester County Times May 4, 1861 that he had taken portraits of the First West Chester Rifles and the National Guards who left for duty to protect the Commonwealth and gave free photos to the families and sweethearts left behind. He also advertized for sale photographs of President Lincoln and Governor Curtin. Next blog you will learn more about the photographers who made CDVs during the Civil War years in Chester County. Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

On the Edge of Discovery: Treasures from a Soldier’s Pocket

Posted on March 16, 2012 by chestercophoto

You always find the most remarkable things when you are not looking for them. While checking through the carte-de-visite collection for some good examples of portraiture during the Civil War period, I came across an image of a little boy that was faded and water stained. I was amazed by what I saw written on the back. It read: “This Photo was carried through the War by Lindley E. Way From 1862 to 1865.” Wow! This photo was in Way’s pocket – I wonder what kind of action it had seen?

I rushed to the newspaper clipping file in the library to find Lindley Way’s obituary published in the Daily Local News, March 7, 1879. He had served with Co. H. 42nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers which was a company raised out of Kennett Square, PA known as the “Bucktails.” According to the article, he had seen action in the major battles of the Civil War: Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Hope Church, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church, two in Petersburg and at Weldon Railroad he was captured and sent to Andersonville Prison where he spent the rest of the war. While there he became sick with consumption (tuberculosis) which finally caused his death on February 25, 1879.

: Pennington Way, photo by Eber Woodward, West Chester, PA, ca. 1862

Looking at the stained photo again, I thought how often Lindley Way had taken the photo from his pocket and longed for his family at home. The picture of the little boy is his youngest half- brother, Pennington Way. A genealogy titled: Descendants of Robert and Hannah Hickman Way of Chester County, PA, volume I by D. Herbert Way supplied me with an overview of the family history. Way’s father had married a second time after his first wife Eliza Hoopes Way died after giving birth to Lindley. The family lived in Chatham in London Grove Township.

Checking the backs of other Way family CDVs, I discovered seven more with the same inscription! They depicted his father, John Way, his sister Elmira Way Snyder and his half-sister Eliza E. Way, two unidentified young girls, an unidentified woman and a published CDV of Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas! It is possible the young girls were two of his six sisters, the woman could be his step-mother who as 15 years younger than his father. Curious why he carried the published picture of the Washington D.C. socialite Adele Cutts Douglas!

It is interesting to note that four of the photographs were taken at Eber Woodward’s studio in West Chester and bear sequential negative numbers. This indicates that the family was photographed together on the same day – either before Way left to go to war or to be sent as a gift in letters.

Several mysteries, yet to be solved, emerged from the research. According to the Way genealogy, John Way and his first wife were members of New Garden Friends Meeting, their family graves are in the Meeting cemetery. After the war, Lindley married Caroline Bell Darlington at the West Grove Presbyterian Church in 1873. The couple had one daughter named Beatrice in 1877. Does this mean that Lindley was disowned for participating in the war or for marrying out of meeting?

Also conflicting details emerged about Lindley Way’s imprisonment. According to the March 7, 1879 obituary, Deputy Sheriff Baker who served with Way stated that Way had been in Andersonville Prison throughout the war. According to the Way genealogy, Way had also been in Libby and Belle Isle Prisons also.

Bates “History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers” clarified his service record. Way mustered into service in Co. H 42^nd PA August 7, 1862 and transferred to Co. H. 190^th May 31, 1864. He was taken prisoner August 14, 1864 until March 2, 1865. He was discharged from service May 15, 1865.

Deputy Sheriff Baker told some interesting stories about Way’s bravery during the war in the March 7, 1879 article: “At Spottsylvania he was one of a party of fifteen who dug holes in the sand with their dinner plates, in advance of the lines and for three hours silenced a rebel battery that had been dealing death and destruction in the Union ranks, but were finally driven from their positions by a strong force of rebel infantry.” He also noted that Way used the Spencer rifle – that was well known as a highly accurate weapon – Way fired it so fast that it became too hot to hold.

Looking at the stained photographs, had these images of his family sustained his spirits while he was imprisoned? Had they given him the hope and comfort he needed until his release? Certainly this is why each one was documented so carefully, so that those in the future would know just how significant they were to him.

Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist

Photo Archives seeks photos of USCT Soldiers

Posted on March 9, 2012 by chestercophoto

Chester County Historical Society is seeking images of African American Civil War soldiers either in uniform or civilian dress for display in the On the Edge of Battle exhibition this fall. We are creating a wall of images of soldiers and the people of Chester County for the exhibit; we would like to copy your originals for the display.

Unidentified African American Soldier, from a carte-de-visite ca. 1864 from the Boyer Family Album

According to Douglas Harper’s Index to Chester County Soldiers and Sailors there were 126 Chester County men who enlisted in the United States Colored Troops and the Massachusetts 54^th in 1863. Our researchers are finding more names to add to the list. Chester County Veterans Cemetery list in the CCHS Library reveals about 260 men who served in the Colored Troops who were buried here.

A listing of these individuals is being compiled and is available in CCHS library. We hope to add more information and photographs of these individuals. Many of the family names are familiar in Chester County such as Spriggs, Jay, Glasgow, Proctor and Purnell. Many had interesting lives after the war, such as Benjamin L. Whipper who became the first black policeman in the Borough of West Chester. Whipper was the cook for Col. Guss’s 97^th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1863, he enlisted in the USCT 127^th Regiment Co.D.

Please contact Photo Archivist Pamela Powell if you have any information or images to contribute at photo@chestercohistorical.org or call 610-692-4800. Your participation is greatly appreciated!

On the Edge of Discovery: Who is George?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by chestercophoto

Preparing for the forthcoming exhibit, “On the Edge of Battle” I have the fascinating experience of looking at every photograph in the collection connected with Chester County in the Civil War. The photograph of “George” presents an intriguing mystery.

In this ninth plate ambrotype, we see a young African American man wearing a corduroy suit complete with a watch fob. The portrait is presented in a case with red flocked lining. What is curious are the questions raised by two explanatory notes inside the case. One reads: George. Killed in Civil War. Came to say Good bye to Catherine Johnson. He came to West Grove where CAH was teaching to say Good Bye. The second label reads: Raised by Abram Hoopes in Avondale.

Who is George? What unit did he serve in? Who are Abram Hoopes and Catherine Johnson?

First I tried finding a match in Douglas Harper’s, Index of soldiers from Chester County, looking for an African American recruit from Avondale who had been killed in the war. The only one I found from Avondale was Samuel R. Wilson of the Massachusetts 54^th Co. B, who was captured at Ft. Wagner and later died in a prison in Alabama in 1865.

I only found two possibilities with the first name of George from that same source. George Wilson was a 29 year old farm laborer from Lower Oxford who enlisted with the USCT in the Third Regiment, Co. C. He died at Morris Island, S.C. in 1863. The other was George Merriman, a 22 year old farmer from West Chester who served in Massachusetts 54^th, Co. B who was wounded at Fort Wagner, S.C. on July 16, 1863 and died from his wounds on August 1.

Harper’s list turned up three other Chester County men with the first name of George who were not killed in the war. Looking at the lists of African American Civil War veterans buried in Chester County cemeteries – there are 16 with the first name of George!

Now I tried working on the other clues. Who were Abram Hoopes and Catherine Johnson? I was really hoping to find Abram Hoopes on the 1850 Census with “George” in his household – that would be sweet! But no such luck. The census did reveal an Abraham Hoopes living in London Grove Township, with a Catherine A. Johnson as a child in his household! This tells me that I have the right household at least.

In 1850 Avondale Borough was not yet incorporated. Abraham Hoopes (1781-1852) was married to Mary Lynn (1785-1833) in 1814 and the couple raised five children on their 400 acre farm. Many hands were needed to run a farm of that size, and in 1850 we find Abraham Hoopes on the property with his two youngest children, Howard and Mary (ages 25 and 24) along with six other unrelated people. Two young girls, Mary and Catherine Johnson were in the household at the time. It was not that unusual at that time for young girls to be hired out to help in households. Unfortunately, “George” was not in the household that year.

Catherine A. Johnson was 8 years old in 1850, which means by 1863 when African Americans were able to enlist, she would have been about 21 – a plausible age for a schoolteacher.

I knew that the 1840 Census would not be as helpful, because only the head of the household is named while the other household members are just counted. Here I found two free black men in the household between the ages of 10 and 24 years. If only they were named!

Some mysteries may never be solved, but I would like to hope that tucked away in a Chester County attic somewhere is the answer! If you have any information please email me at photo@chestercohistorical.org. Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist