Author: Gordon Laws
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Cemetery Hill: The Birthplace of Evergreen Cemetery
Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Hill are forever joined in history because of the great battle fought on their grounds—but they also share a common family history going back generations. Prior to becoming hallowed ground, Cemetery Hill was known locally as Raffensperger’s Hill, a prominent rise just south of Gettysburg. In the early 19th century it…
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Culp’s Hill: Battle and Family Heritage at Gettysburg
Culp’s Hill and the Culp family remain inextricably intertwined with the story of Gettysburg. The Culp family’s presence in Gettysburg dates to the town’s very founding in the late 18th century. In 1787 – just one year after Gettysburg was laid out – a German immigrant named Christopher “Christophel” Kolb (later Americanized to Culp) purchased a 239-acre farm…
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David Troxell: Gettysburg’s Historic Harness Maker
Today, David Troxell is known mostly for having a house that still stands and for the shell that still sticks out of it, but he was far more than his brief involvement in the battle. David was born on September 4, 1809, to John Troxell (1781–1855) and Catherine “Kitty” Ackerman Troxell (1786–1870). The Troxell family…
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The Life and Legacy of Rebecca Keefer Markey
Almost certainly among the people sheltering in David Troxell’s basement during the battle was Rebecca Keefer. Rebecca Rosenberger (later known as Rebecca Markey or Rebecca Keefer) was born March 7, 1802, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Abraham Rosenberger Jr. (1754–1821) and Catharine (Catherine) Keefer (1778–1863). Rebecca’s family was part of the…
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David Forney: The Artist Who Etched History at Elephant Rock
In 1849, a 21-year-old artist named David Forney spent an afternoon in nature south of his hometown (likely around the Rose farm and the Michael Bushman farm). He was apparently sketching and painting, and when he was finished for the day, he carved his first initial, his last name, and the year into the rock…
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The Life and Legacy of Dr. John Edward Herbst
John Edward Herbst was born on February 24, 1828, into one of the long-established Pennsylvania German families of Gettysburg. He was the son of Rev. John Herbst Sr., a German Reformed minister and farmer, and Juliana Kurtz Herbst. Raised in a household that valued faith, education, and public service, John Edward was destined for a…
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Life of Reverend John Herbst: Faith and Farming in 19th Century Pennsylvania
Reverend John Herbst was born in 1793 in York, Pennsylvania, a son of John Heinrich Herbst (who went by Henry) and his wife Catherine. The Herbsts were part of the early Pennsylvania German community that helped build Adams County. Raised with strong traditions of faith, farming, and hard work, John was one of ten children…
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Ed McPherson: Gentleman! Orator! Scholar!
Today, most people know the name Ed McPherson from McPherson Ridge, the site of heavy fighting on Day 1 of the Battle of Gettysburg. But Edward McPherson was far more than the name of a farm one of Gettysburg’s most prominent 19th-century figures—a lawyer, journalist, politician, and government reformer whose life intersected with some of…
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Burials on the John Edward Plank Farm
The John Edward Plank farm page has now been updated with all known Plank farm Confederate burials. The vast majority of these were moved after the war either to the hometowns of the families or to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond or to another major cemetery in the South. Most of those listed on the page…
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The Life and Legacy of Peter Thorn in Gettysburg
As the legend goes, Peter Thorn was escorting his bride, Elizabeth Catharine Masser, on September 1, 1855, when all the bells in Gettysburg began to ring. Elizabeth asked Peter why all the ringing, and he explained that they were acknowledging the dedication of the Evergreen Cemetery. Of course, a short time later, Peter would be…