My great-grandfather, Mark KELLEY, was born in the town of Danube, Herkimer County in 1830. On 8 August 1862 he enlisted in the New York 117th Infantry Regiment in Boonesville, NY. He participated in various Civil War campaigns, including the capture of Fort Fisher. He completed his military service in June 1865 at Raleigh, NC. Mark returned to New York and married Catherine YORK in the town of Clinton. The family eventually settled in Philadelphia PA where Mark passed away in 1885. Ed Berger, Poway, CA

My ggg-grandfather Boltis Argersinger was born in 1790. He enlisted for service in the War of 1812 at Palatine N.Y. He was a Private in Captain Peter G. Gettman's Company of the 137th NY Militia commanded by Col. Frederick Gettman. He was discharged at Sacketts Harbor along with a relative John Argersinger. He migrated to Michigan in the 1840's and died in 1872. He is buried in Hillsdale County, Michigan.

Winslow Shaut served as a Private in Company "K" of the First New York Regiment of Light Artillery. He enlisted on 22 August 1864 at Herkimer, NY and was honorably discharged at Elmira, NY on 28 June 1865. He died in the Soldiers' Home in Bath, NY on 15 January 1910.

Captain James Wolf Crane, 46th Regiment, Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Company D, served in the Union Army during the Civil War. His service included: participation in the march and skirmish known as the Yazoo Expedition, May 13, 1864; commanded his company in the Battle at Jackson Cross Roads, Mississippi, July 6 and 7, 1864; the siege and charge of Fort Blakely, Alabama, April 9, 1865; and occupation of Mobile, Ala. following the surrender of Confederates north of Mobile during May, 1865.

Excerpts from the History of Company D, New Organization, and its biography of him: "The company was recruited by Captain J.W. Crane...in Dec. 1863...He was probably the oldest man in his regiment to hold commission. He was a man of strong convictions, honest and upright in his dealings with his comrades; kind and generous to the comrades of his command and the whole regiment, and would rather suffer himself than wrong any one of the command...Loyal and patriotic, he endured the hardships of a soldier's life at the age of 56 years, which in itself speaks more eloquently for this noble man than any eulogy pronounced by his friends..."

His parents were Caleb Camp Crane and Mary Steele. He was born May 21, 1808 in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., NY. He married Almira Lawson, also born in Montgomery Co., as were the first several of their children. Between 1836-40 they moved from Amsterdam and resettled in Stephenson County, Ill, where the remainder of their children were born. He was a farmer for some years but later, in Freeport, he "engaged in the livery business...was captain of a Militia Company and was quite active in military movements..." He died Sept. 21, 1873 from injuries incurred in an accident caused by a runaway team of horses. Submitted in the memory of his gr-gr-gr-gr-grandson, Joshua Michael Erickson-Crane, 1983-1999, the last male born to our branch of the Crane Family Tree.

Jacob Sminkey (Schminke is correct spelling) was born Feb. 12, 1837 in Sand, Germany. He came to Cedarville, N.Y. in 1855. He married Anna Ibel, also from Sand, Germany and they had three children there. Jacob entered the army in 186l and served with the 34th. N.Y. Volunteer Infantry, company G. He served for two years. Their first child, Mary, is buried in the Cedarville Universalist Church cemetery. Jacob and Anna came to Iowa and settled on a farm, which is still in the family. They had seven children.

I have in my possession an 1864 .58 cal. Springfield musket which was issued to Andrew W. Lewis December 18, 1863; due to the time of the year, he was issued the next year's model. Pvt. Lewis promptly carved his name and regiment identification into the side of the rifle stock; evidently wanting to make a clear statement this this is "my" musket and anyone else keep their cotton picken' hands off. Of course, this subsequently helped me to identify the history of the firearm.

Lewis enlisted at Utica, NY and was enlisted by J. VanAmburg; Lewis' signature was notarized by Eugene Stearns. He listed his age as 18 and place of birth as Herkimer County, New York. His nearest relative was his father Res. (abbrev.) Lewis, residing in Lowell, Oneida Co. NY. Lewis stated he was single and his occupation was that of a farmer; he was subsequently assigned as a teamster with Co. K of the 2d NY Hvy Artillery; perhaps due to his familiarity with farm horses. Lewis was described as 5' 10", grey eyes, dark hair and light complexion. Even with that description, I've still not been able to identify him in the pictures of his regiment and company on file in the Library of Congress. Lewis mustered out of the service on June 30, 1865, his regiment having seen considerable duty in the Wilderness campaign.

As a personal aside, I participated in the 100th anniversay re-enactment of the Battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse and used Lewis' musket one hundred years to the day that he was wounded at that battle (with a reproduction barrel for safety purposes). The 1890 "Surviving Soldiers, Sailors & Marines, & Widows, etc" Special Census shows that Andrew Lewis was receiving payment of $8 a month for his wounds. Lewis eventually settled in Ney, Defiance County, Ohio. I was told by a distant descendant of his that he migrated there with his brothers from New York in a covered wagon to start a new life; but have no more information to confirm this story. I am not related to the gentleman about whom I write. The musket was purchased about 60 miles from Lewis' Ohio home. The second hand/antique dealer gave me a reduced price on the firearm because some unthinking person had carved up the stock....little did he know the story it would eventually tell. By the way, I "and" Andrew Lewis' musket participated in the centennial anniversary of Lee's surrender at Appomatox Courthouse just as the 2d New York Heavy Artillery had some one hundred years before! Tom J. Edwards. Darlington, SC.

(Note: Andrew is not on the early roster; he either joined at a different time than the men on the list, or was not listed as a Herkimer resident because he enlisted a short distance away in Utica, Oneida Co. Other Lewis's on the early roster are fellow wagoner/teamster John S. Lewis and Corp. Francis A. Lewis, both of Frankfort, Herkimer County. They are probably relatives and Tom hopes to hear from anyone with the "smoking gun".)

Martha.....success!! this is the first time I've mailed a photo through cyberspace and I am pleased to know it arrived in good order. Yes, you may add it to your web site. Here is some additional information....the carving, or inscription, reads "Andrew Lewis Co. K 2nd NYA 1863". This 1864 contract Springfield .58 caliber musket was issued to Private Lewis in December, 1863. Interestingly enough, the sideplate has the date 1864 stamped on it.......the "next year's model" of musket was being issued to the enlistees in December, 1863; hence, the "1863" Lewis carved in the stock. His military records reveal that he (and his regiment) fought in the Peninsular Campaign. He was wounded at Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor and was at Appomatox when Lee surrendered.....if only that musket could talk, what stories we might hear. I used the same musket in the re-enactment of these events 100 years to the day during the centennial; substituting a reproduction barrel for safety.

Updated 6/22/2000 - Excerpts from Andrew's pension record. Andrew died in Utica, N.Y. in 1913.

John CLARK , of Tribes Hill, NY, was enlisted in the 95th Regiment, NY Volunteers during the Civil War. He died as a POW in Salisbury, NC about 12-31-1864. We have several original letters written by him during his tour of duty. He married Maria VOSBURGH, daughter of Victor & Catherine Vosburgh on 10-28-1848. John Clark was our gg-grandfather.

Jacob LEPPER, of Amsterdam, was born 11-23-1825, died 4-29-1903. He enlisted in the 32nd Regiment, NY Volunteers on 2-28-1862. He was wounded in the Seven-Days Battle at West Point, VA on 6-25-1862. He was discharged on 7-25-1862. After recuperating, he re-enlisted and joined the 10th NY Volunteer Calvary on 9-15-1862. Jacob was a farmer. He married Margaret HANSON on 12-3-1846. They had six children. He was our gg-grandfather. His father was Joseph Lepper, Jr., and his mother was Rebecca FAIRCHILD(S). His grandfather was Joseph Lepper, Sr and his Grandmother name was Mary HOOK.

My ancestor John Peter Lambert Sr. enlisted in the Continental Army and served in Captain Lipe's company New York Regiment, commanded by Colonel Samuel Clyde. He served in Tryon County. Peter Jr. enlisted from Cooperstown in 1776 at 16 years old. George his brother enlisted at Minden 1778 and served with New York Troops as a spy. Peter received a survivor's pension # S22868.

My ggg-grandfather John Millar arrived from Scotland in 1800-1803. Married a Pittsfield girl in 1804, started family, served in War of 1812, and died in 1816 from result of his service. Pittsfield, New York was his home and burial place for the time he was in this country. It is sad the cemeteries in New Berlin-Pittsfield area are so deteriorated! Ben Millar, P.O. 3334, Long Beach, Ca. 90803

Justus Rice was from Little Falls and served in the Civil War with Company F of the 152nd New York Volunteer Infantry. He was my Grandmother's Grandfather.

John C. Miller was from Herkimer County, possibly from Fairfield or Herkimer. He served in the Civil War and fought at Gettysburg and has his name on a memorial there. He was my Grandfather's (Charles Fredrick Miller) great-grandfather. Randy Bunce.

George Lintner/Georg Lendner, in German, was originally from Zweibruidken, Bavaria. It is unclear exactly when he came to this country. It is known that he married Elizabeth Hilbert in 1770 and made his livelihood in Montgomery County. It is known that George fought in the Revolutionary War as a private in the Battle of Oriskany. He served under Capt. Klock under the command of Gen. Herkimer in the 1st regiment Tyron County Militia. He survived the battle and his name is noted on the monument commemorating the Battle of Oriskany.

Georg was born in 1739. Elizabeth, his wife, also German, was born 1743. George's occupation was as a yeoman, or independent farmer, below the gentry class. An exciting story describing his family's narrow escape from an Indian border raid can be found in Simms, "Frontiersmen of New York", pgs 366-370. There were five known children: Albertus, John, Abraham, George Jr., and Elizabeth. Georg died 1/27/1826, and was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetary. Thank you for including Georg. I am glad to have discovered him and have his memory honored in this way.

Cornelius ACKER was born in Herkimer County, New York March 15, 1817 to Michael and Mary PHILLIPS Acker. He remained in Herkimer Co until he was 21 years old. In 1847 he enlisted and served his country in the Mexican War, and was discharged at its close in 1848. In 1861 he enlisted in the Forty Second Illinois Infantry, and served about six months in suppressing the rebellion, but was then discharged for disability arising from injury received during the Mexican War.

My 4th great-grandfather, Luther BATTLES, served as a Private, Chapin's and Hutchin's NY Militia, in the War of 1812 from Herkimer. He was for a time stationed at Sackets Harbor, and received a pension for his service (SC #25465). He was born 17 Oct 1792 in Herkimer, the son of Deland Battles and Sarah GRIMES who had migrated from New Hampshire and settled in Herkimer. Luther m. 1817 Arethusa PORTER, a daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Alexander Porter (who may have died in Herkimer in 1833). Luther and his family later migrated to Wilson's Mills, OH, where he died in 1883.

My grandfather, Monroe E. Caple born 1843, enlisted Dec,. 18th, 1863 and served in Company L, 2nd Regiment, NY Heavy Artillery until discharged July 31, 1865 as a Sergeant. He lived in Mohawk village, and later Ilion township.