Elizabeth Culp, known to the locals as Aunt Polly Culp (no, we don’t know why), was intertwined in most of the major families of Gettysburg and familiar to almost everyone. Born to Heinrich Reiff and Barbara Eyster in 1780, she was the oldest of at least eight children. She grew up in Rockland Township, Berks County, PA, until she was 12 when her parents purchased land in Menallen, Adams County. German and English were likely both spoken in the home (her father’s headstone is inscribed in German), but the family was deeply committed to the United States of America. Heinrich, better known as Henry around town, served in the militia in Revolutionary War; in the War of 1812, he served in Cobean’s Battalion (as did Jacob Weikert, a contemporary of Henry). He was recognized as a patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution for paying the Supply Tax to support the Revolution.

Elizabeth met and married Peter Culp, one of the sons of Christophel Culp. The Reiffs and Culps were both immigrant families of German heritage; they likely shared a common faith (even today, Menallen has many members of sects originating in Germany). Peter and Elizabeth purchased Christophel’s farm from him. The farm’s acreage included at least a portion of what is now known as Culp’s Hill.

Childbearing and rearing was not easy for the family. At least three of their children died in their youth (possibly a fourth did, as well—records are unclear). An 1819 clip in the local paper reported the tragic deaths by dysentery of three-year-old Elizabeth Culp on a Friday and six-year-old Daniel the next day.

Elizabeth was almost fifteen years younger than her husband Peter. Peter must have grown ill in his early sixties because the couple sold the farm to their son Henry. A short time later, Peter died in 1841. Elizabeth, or Aunt Polly as the townspeople called her, moved to a house on York Street in Gettysburg. Her great nephew, Jeremiah, and his wife Rebecca Culp, lived a few doors down at 141 York Street.

Aunt Polly was 83 when the Civil War came to her home. Like most houses in the area, hers became a temporary hospital. Years later, Sarah King (it appears) contributed to the local paper her experiences from the battle. She noted on the third day that a wounded man from a Michigan Cavalry unit was brought to the home of Jacob and Rebecca Rinehart (King’s parents) where Rebecca gave him initial treatment. They then helped move him to the Isaac Miller farm, and after a week of treatment there, the Millers brought him to the home of Aunt Polly where she ministered to him until he was able to return to Michigan.

The man was known only as Smith over the years . . . until the above article was published. Roughly a week later, Private Oscar Smith wrote to the Pennsylvania newspaper to recount his experiences with Aunt Polly.

Aunt Polly would live another three-and-a-half years before passing in 1867 at age 86.