Adam and Eve Brandt

Adam and Eve Metzger Brandt, great-great-grandparents of Zella Miller Irvin, are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Monroe Township.

The cemetery is located at the intersection of York Road and Boiling Springs Road.

Adam's headstone reads:

"In Memory of Adam Brandt
born Nov 29 AD 1751
& departed this Life the 15th of August AD 1838
Aged 86 Years 8 Months & 15 days"
Next to the headstone is a Revolutionary War marker. There are several records in the PA State Archive's Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File with the name Adam Brandt or Adam Brand. It is unclear, at this time, which of these files is associated with this Adam Brandt. All of the Adam Brandt/Brand Abstract Card Files are labeled "Inactive Duty, Militia." It is likely that our Adam supported the war effort without engaging in active service. More research is required to determine the full extent of Adam's participation in the American Revolution.

Eve's headstone reads:
"In Memory of Eve Brandt who
was born the 14th of November 1752
& died the 10th of February 1830
Aged 77 Years 2 Months & 27 days."

The dates of birth and death on the headstones are consistent with the Brandt Bible records located at the Cumberland County Historical Society and with the Adam Brandt will on record at the Cumberland County courthouse.

For Our Famine Slain: A Poem From March 1865

The following poem appeared in the Carlisle Herald And Expositor on March 10, 1865, eight days after the death of Samuel Hollinger in Richmond from disease and neglect while detained as a prisoner of war. It is not known when word of Samuel's death reached home but the appearance of this poem preceded the return of recently exchanged and furloughed soldiers from Samuel's regiment. News from the prison camps, both good and bad, arrived in Carlisle throughout March, 1865.
The author of the poem was not identified.

Poetical

for the Herald

IN MEMORIAM

He shall not die unsung, nor yet unavenged.

Within a Southern prison, where the heavy air was rank,

And the gloomy walls were mouldering, in the darkness damp and dank:

When famine gaunt and gloomy, sat brooding night and day,

And human beings huddled, like shivering beasts of prey,

Lay a pale-browed youthful soldier whose face so saintly bright,

Seemed to have caught its beauty from the far off land of light.
The heavy lids drooped lower, his cheek grew pale and wan,
And the light from out that kindling eye, forever more was gone.
And day by day more slowly his feeble pulse beat,
Till the angel of Death in pity came with lagging feet.
He murmured sweet and childish things, and repeated his infant prayer,
While a comrade whispered his mother's name and smoothed the dark waves of his hair.
Then over his pallid features passed a smile as sweetly bright
As a beam from the open portal of the radiant land of light.
Then gathered 'round him those pale, sad men, and chanted a funeral psalm,
While the deep despair of their captive hearts gave place to a holy calm.
The sternest spirits grew tearful and mild as they bowed their heads to pray,
And the gloom of the living charnel house grew bright with celestial day.
Oh for one fold of the dear old Flag to shroud him for his rest.
Oh for one star from out its host to lay upon his breast,
Oh for a mother's or sister's kiss to press on those lips of clay,
And a tender hand to hide those eyes afar from the light of day.
O'er his grave no friend may weep but the mocking bird will sing,
And the southern flowers wake to life, with the breath of coming spring.
And the crash of War will come to that spot accursed of God,
Whence the cries of our starving brothers have risen from every sod;
Swift as from out the murky sky, the livid lightnings spring,
Shall be heard 'midst the bloom of the orange bowers, the clang of the sabres' ring.
The stately Palmetto shall bow its head, while the storm is sweeping by,
And the light of many a burning home, shall gleam in the lurid sky.
But he will not wake, or start from his rest when the flying squadrons come,
Or at morn and evening list to hear the beat of the reveille drum;
The angel of Freedom shall watch when he sleeps and never a slave shall tread,
A spot of earth whose bosom bears, the graves of our patriot dead.
Strike man of the iron heart! strike man of the willing hand!
For the Union our Fathers gave us and an undivided land.
But wield ye a surer, deadlier blow when ye strike for our Famine slain,
Whose graves as the stars above them, are thick on the southern plain.
Strike for the living and the dead! to the traitor heart with your steel!
And pour the blaze of your murderous fire where his shattered columns reel;
Press to his lips the cup we have drained - the cup of crimson gore,
'Till the blood of our murdered brothers shall plead from the ground no more.
Carlisle, March 4th, 1865

Sarah Hollinger's Pension Claim

Sarah Hollinger filed for a Widow's Claim For Pension soon after Samuel's death in a Richmond hospital. Here is here claim that she placed on April 24th, 1865. One of the witnesses, Addison O'Donnel, may have been Sarah's brother. The pension was granted at a rate of $8.00 each month.

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This record is part of Samuel Hollinger's pension file and is available through the National Archives and Records Administration.

Samuel Hollinger's Military Records File

The following documents can be found in Samuel Hollinger's military record file. All Union military service records are held by the National Archives and Records Administration. For a fee, records can be obtained by mail-order.

Samuel Hollinger's Volunteer Enlistment Paper

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Samuel's Prisoner of War Memorandum

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Samuel's Discharge Papers

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Samuel Hollinger's Death in a Civil War POW Camp

Abram K. Hollinger's father, Samuel, died while in the service of the Grand Army of the Republic near the end of the Civil War.
The Hollinger family resided southeast of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Daniel Hollinger was a German Baptist Brethern or Dunker minister. When Daniel's wife, Catherine, gave birth to their third son on November 20, 1822, they named him Samuel. Samuel married Sarah O'Donnel on August 7, 1844. He was, by trade, a carpenter and a maker of wagons. [1][2]

In September of 1864, Samuel put aside his carpentry tools and enlisted for one year of army service. He was 42 years of age. Described on his enlistment papers, Samuel stood 5'8" tall with grey eyes, black hair, and a dark complexion. At Camp Curtin, he was assigned to Company F of the 209th PA regiment. His was among the very last companies formed of Cumberland County volunteers. [2]

The 209th was deployed to the battle lines at Bermuda Hundred, VA. On November 17th, while on picket duty and along with eighteen other privates and three officers, Samuel was captured. He was held in Richmond until, on December 4th, he was transferred to Salisbury, North Carolina. [2][3]
Samuel very nearly survived the horrors of a civil war prisoner of war camp. Malnourished and deprived of proper medical treatment,  he suffered from chronic diarrhea. But he was still alive when a prisoner trade was negotiated. All Salisbury prisoners were to be returned. The camp was emptied and closed by the end of February, 1865. The healthiest prisoners were promptly released into Union custody, but those too infirm for rapid transit were brought to Richmond before release. Samuel, among the sickest of the prisoners, died in a Richmond hospital on March 2nd, 1865. [2] Samuel may have been among the many anonymously and hastily interred in Richmond. No record of his burial has yet been recovered.

 

In 1867, the citizens of Carlisle erected a monument called Soldier's Memorial in the town square. All Cumberland County soldiers who died in service are listed by regiment and company. Samuel's name appears on the south side of the memorial.

Sources:
1. The Hollinger Genealogical File at the Cumberland County Historical Society
2. Military File from the National Archives and Records Administration
3. Bates, Samuel; History of PA Volunteers, 1861-5

The Death of Elmer Miller

The following article appeared in Harrisburg's The Patriot on December 19, 1914.

After nearly a year's illness, Elmer E. Miller, aged 53 years, of 1108 Plum street, died suddenly shortly before noon yesterday. Death was due to Bright's disease from which he has suffered for several years. He is the father of Eugene E. Miller, for four years the greatest quarterback in American college ranks.

Mr . Miller's death came suddenly after he had been laughing and talking with his wife.

Mr. Miller was born in Center Square, Cumberland county, in 1861. He attended the Cumberland Valley Institute and later worked for several years in his home town. In 1886, he was married to Susan Ann Ellinger, at Bowmansdale. He came to this city in 1903 and has since worked as a wire splicer for the Harrisburg Light, Heat and Power Company.

One son, Eugene, is employed at Bawlff, Alberta, Canada, and will be unable to arrive home in time for his father's funeral. No funeral arrangements will be made until some communication is received from him.

Surviving Mr. Miller are the following sisters: Mrs. John B. Mohler, Mechanicsburg; Mrs. Ida Hair, York; Mrs. Albert Swartz, Mechanicsburg; Mrs. Grant Westhaver, Mechanicsburg; Mrs. Miller and seven children: Mrs. David C. Byers, Greencastle; Eugene E., Canada; Mrs. Lena J. Dunlap, Mary E., Charlotte G., Harry Grove, and Zella C., all of this city.

Although Mr. Miller never participated in athletics his son won country-wide fame. He was an all-around athlete and one of the cleanest players in any game. He was a star athlete while at Central High and later when he entered State College made the varsity in his freshman year. He played all four years and missed only one game in that time. He was captain in his senior year and was the choice of many for All-American honors.

Mrs. Lena Dunlap was a member of the Central High Girls' basketball team. In her junior year she acted as captain and in her senior year was manager.

____________________________________________

NOTES:

-Center Square, referred to as Elmer's place of birth, was near the intersection of Gettysburg Road and Lisburn Road. The 1872 map of Upper Allen Township shows that George H. Miller owned the house on the southwestern corner of this intersection.

-Mrs. John B. Mohler was Elmer's sister, Matilda.

-Mrs. Albert Swartz was Elmer's sister, Sarah Hellen.

-Mrs. Grant Westhaver was not Elmer's sister. She was his neice, Naomi, the daughter of Elmer's deceased sister, Susanetta.

-Mrs. David C. Byers was Elmer's daughter, Laura.

The Will of Adam Brandt

Those of my generation, the grandchildren of Zella Irvin, would call Adam Brandt great-great-great-great-grandfather. Adam died on August 13, 1838. His will was recorded on page 45 of Will Book L at the office of the Register of Wills of Cumberland County.

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The last will and testament of Adam Brandt dec'd} The last will and testament of Adam Brandt of Monroe Township, Cumberland County, State of Pennsylvania. I, Adam Brandt, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner following. First It is my will and I do order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be done after my decease. Second It is my will and I do order and direct that my son David shall have the mortgage I now hold against him for eight hundred dollars released to him for its value without interest, which with charges against him in my book shall be deducted from his share of my real and personal estate. Thirdly It is my will that my son Jacob Brandt shall have and his heirs and assigns forever, one hundred and forty seven acres and thirty three perches of land in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, State of Ohio, which I value at four dollars per acre (for which I paid) and charged him with in my book, together with other charges in said Book, which he the said Jacob is to account for and which is to be deducted out of his share of my real and personal estate. Fourthly It is my will that my son Adam Brandt shall have the land he now holds by deed of conveyance from me, in Fairfield County Ohio, which amount is charged in my book, which charge with other charges in said book is to be deducted out of his share of my real and personal estate as well as the mortgage I hold against him to be taken at its amount without interest. Fifthly I do give and bequeath to my son Martin an equal share of all my real and personal estate deducting from his share the whole amount that remains charged against him in my book. Sixthly I do give and bequeath unto my son John and his heirs and assigns all that tract of land whereon he now resides in the County of Cumberland Pennsylvania (it being the mansion tract) containing one hundred and thirty four [acres] and one hundred and three perches (more or less) which I order to be valued at forty five dollars per acre, and he to pay the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars yearly according to an article of agreement dated the second day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven between me and my son John and now in the hands of John Brandt miller reserving to himself in said tract of land, his full share of all my real and personal estate, which is to be equal with my other sons, deducting therefore the amount he stands charged with in my book. Seventhly I do give and bequeath to my daughter Barbara now intermarried with Jacob Pentz the land they now hold in the State of Ohio, Fairfield County, the deeds of conveyance from me, the amount of which they stand with me in my book, which charge with other charges in said book is to be deducted from the share of my daughter Barbara as herein after mentioned. Eightly I do give and bequeath to my daughter Eve now intermarried with George Bielman an equal share of my real and personal estate as herein after mentioned deducting therefrom the amount charged her in my book to be paid in cash out of the first proceeds of my property. Ninethly It is my will that the amount of each of my daughters legacy shall be two thousand six hundred and sixty one dollars, and that the legacy of each of my sons shall be three thousand and sixty dollars, and if my estate as aforesaid shall amount to more than enough to pay the same then the surplus to be divided equally among all my children, but if it should not amount to enough to pay the sums before specified as legacies, then it is to be divided in the same way allowing my sons each four hundred dollars more than either of my daughters. Tenthly, In addition to the above bequests, I do will to my daughter Eve my large Bible, and to my grand-daughter Francis Brownawell my eight day clock, without charge in either case. Eleventhly It is also my will that all my personally shall be sold immediately after my decease. Twelfthly It is also my will that there shall be no interest charged from any of my children on any book account, note or otherwise. And lastly I do nominate and appoint my son-in-law George Beilman to be my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament,  hereby revoking all other wills or bequests by me heretofore made and declaiming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty fifth day of March A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty seven AD 1837.

                                                                                                  Adam Brandt (seal)