Tag: Gettysburg Women’s History
-
Discover the Trostle Farm: A Civil War Survivor’s Story
Near the farms of the Roses, Michael Bushman, George Bushman, and the Slyders sits the Trostle farm. The Trostle farm is a favorite among tour guides—tourists can pause in the street running past the barn and be directed to find the famous hole in the barn made by a shell on July 2, 1863. The…
-
How Caroline Shenabrook Challenged Social Norms in 1869
The 1869 court case brought by Caroline Shenabrook may have been a landmark moment in the decline of Isadore Keefer. It remains a powerful illustration of the function of law in this era in dealing with “moral offenses.” But who was Caroline Shenabrook and what became of her after the case?
-
Cases of Moral Offenses: Fornication and Adultery in Adams County
In 1869, a case of adultery coupled with a case of fornication and bastardy were brought before Adams County courts. The adultery charge resulted in acquittal, but the latter charges led to convictions and the judgment that the man involved, Isadore Keefer, had to pay some measure of support for his child to the child’s…
-
Civil War Stories: Juliann Benner’s Courage on the Homefront
If Henry Benner was a war hero and civic leader, his sister Juliann Benner was his equal on the homefront and in a couple of different communities. She endured the death of her other brother, the capture of Henry, the severe wounding of her husband, and the deaths of several children, all while supporting her…
-
Till Mellinger: The Missing Woman in the Chambersburg Brothel Shooting
The story of Frank McLaughlin and Till Mellinger echoes other sexually charged crimes of the era, and like those crimes, it has a huge hole in the plot—who was the woman? And like Captain Wade’s former victim, we know almost nothing about the woman in the Kobler house case. In June 1859, Matilda “Till” Mellinger…
-
Catherine Wills: Gettysburg’s Unsung Heroine
Catherine Jane Smyser, known affectionately as “Jennie” and in history as Catherine Wills, was born on August 12, 1834, in Pennsylvania. She was the eldest child of Daniel Martin Smyser and Catherine Barbara (Miller) Smyser. Catherine’s father was a prominent lawyer-turned-judge who had practiced in Gettysburg and later served on the Pennsylvania judiciary in Norristown.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Elizabeth Thorn: The Pregnant Grave Digger of Gettysburg
In her waning years, Elizabeth Thorn wrote for the Gettysburg Compiler an account of her experiences at the Battle of Gettysburg. Her husband, Peter, had joined the 138th Pennsylvania, leaving her pregnant and with three children at home. Her only male family member was her aged father. The Thorns were the caretakers of the Evergreen…