Blacksmiths in the Civil War

[PatriciaS]

I'm trying to find information about my husband's great grandfather, Frederick Henry Schroeder. His obituary states that he was a blacksmith for President Lincoln. An article in the Yolo County, California Historical Society's paper says that he was " reportedly Lincoln's favorite shoer". I'm sure both of these statements came from family members at the time of his death. Where can I find information about blacksmiths in Washington,DC at this time? Would they have been regular soldiers? He was a German immigrant who arrived in the USA in 1859.Both reports also state that at the time of Lincoln's death he was a guard
"policing and active in the search for the assassin". I'd like suggestions as to where I could find further information. Thank you.

 

[Northern Light]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk from Canada. I can't help you other than to suggest ancestry.com, but I am sure there will be someone along before too long. Calling @unicornforge

 

[major bill]

I am not sure blacksmiths would be in the Army. The Army did have solders who did such but not sure they would have been "policing" and an active part of a search. Army forges would have not been taken on searches unless so needed and why take a "black smith" without the forge? This does not mean it could not be true, but it sounds a bit off to me.

 

[PatriciaS]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk from Canada. I can't help you other than to suggest ancestry.com, but I am sure there will be someone along before too long. Calling @unicornforge

Thank you. I am on Ancestry often. I'll just keep trying.

 

[PatriciaS]

I am not sure blacksmiths would be in the Army. The Army did have solders who did such but not sure they would have been "policing" and an active part of a search. Army forges would have not been taken on searches unless so needed and why take a "black smith" without the forge? This does not mean it could not be true, but it sounds a bit off to me.

Those were my thoughts also. Thanks for your reply.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[E_just_E]

I am not sure blacksmiths would be in the Army. .

This is identified as a picture of an Army Blacksmith and Forge in Antietam (details here) :

 

[Seduzal]

Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina. Good luck in your research.

 

[E_just_E]

Welcome from PA, btw!

 

[major bill]

You should get his military records and look for 'farrier' on the paper work. "Farrier" is the Army term for a black smith.

 

[E_just_E]

You should get his military records and look for 'farrier' on the paper work. "Farrier" is the Army term for a black smith.

Not really. Farriers were people who were attending horses and fit horse shoes that were made by blacksmiths. Farriers were not smiths. Some smiths were farriers.

 

[major bill]

An "artificer" should have made the horse shoes and the "farrier" putting them on. So yes if the ancestor was shoeing Lincoln's horse would he have been a farrier or an artificer?

 

[frankconrad]

Most rural Blacksmiths did all of the above. all could do a little of the other. Just better in one area.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I'm trying to find information about my husband's great grandfather, Frederick Henry Schroeder. His obituary states that he was a blacksmith for President Lincoln. An article in the Yolo County, California Historical Society's paper says that he was " reportedly Lincoln's favorite shoer". I'm sure both of these statements came from family members at the time of his death. Where can I find information about blacksmiths in Washington,DC at this time? Would they have been regular soldiers? He was a German immigrant who arrived in the USA in 1859.Both reports also state that at the time of Lincoln's death he was a guard
"policing and active in the search for the assassin". I'd like suggestions as to where I could find further information. Thank you.

Hello PatriciaS.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I forgot to add, you may enjoy these threads:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/being-a-blacksmith-in-the-civil-war.120562/#post-1255506

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/blacksmiths.130977/#post-1467821

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/support-services-blacksmith.115632/#post-1158730

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/antietam-md-blacksmith-shoeing-horses.74480/#post-493287

 

[PatriciaS]

You should get his military records and look for 'farrier' on the paper work. "Farrier" is the Army term for a black smith.

I've not had much luck trying to find him in military records. There are"zillions" of Frederick Schroeders out there.

 

[PatriciaS]

I forgot to add, you may enjoy these threads:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/being-a-blacksmith-in-the-civil-war.120562/#post-1255506

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/blacksmiths.130977/#post-1467821

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/support-services-blacksmith.115632/#post-1158730

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/antietam-md-blacksmith-shoeing-horses.74480/#post-493287

Thank you. I'll try them.

 

[PatriciaS]

Thanks. I'll check these out.

 

[WJC]

I'm trying to find information about my husband's great grandfather, Frederick Henry Schroeder. His obituary states that he was a blacksmith for President Lincoln. An article in the Yolo County, California Historical Society's paper says that he was " reportedly Lincoln's favorite shoer". I'm sure both of these statements came from family members at the time of his death. Where can I find information about blacksmiths in Washington,DC at this time? Would they have been regular soldiers? He was a German immigrant who arrived in the USA in 1859.Both reports also state that at the time of Lincoln's death he was a guard
"policing and active in the search for the assassin". I'd like suggestions as to where I could find further information. Thank you.

Welcome!
Like your husband's great grandfather, one of my family members, Christian Friederich Eberle, came from Württemberg in 1856 and was a Blacksmith in Battery I, First US Artillery from 1860 to 1867.
Modern armies have many soldiers whose primary duties are equipment maintenance and repair. A large part of that effort is keeping tanks, troop carriers, motorized weapons, troop carriers, etc. in service. Prior to WW1, the equivalent of a motor vehicle was the horse or mule. Just as they were in civilian settings, blacksmiths were an essential part of military units, particularly artillery and cavalry units. A riding horse or draft horse lost usefulness if it lost a shoe.
These Army blacksmiths, like their modern-day counterparts, were trained soldiers, since they often were required to take part in actions.
Lincoln's 'personal' blacksmith may or may not have been in the military. If he was a civilian, the 1860 Census records show occupation, and might help locate possible civilian candidates. If you haven't done so yet, ask the Yolo County, California Historical Society or the author where they found the information.
Please keep us posted on your findings. I look forward to reading your comments in one of our many threads!

 

[PatriciaS]

Welcome!
Like your husband's great grandfather, one of my family members, Christian Friederich Eberle came from Württemberg in 1856 and was a Blacksmith in Battery I, First US Artillery from 1860 to 1867.
Modern armies have many soldiers whose primary duties are equipment maintenance and repair. A large part of that effort is keeping tanks, troop carriers, motorized weapons, troop carriers, etc. in service. Prior to WW1, the equivalent of a motor vehicle was the horse or mule. Just as they were in civilian settings, blacksmiths were an essential part of military units, particularly artillery and cavalry units. A riding horse or draft horse lost usefulness if it lost a shoe.
These Army blacksmiths, like their modern-day counterparts, were trained soldiers, since they often were required to take part in actions.
Lincoln's 'personal' blacksmith may or may not have been in the military. If he was a civilian, the 1860 Census records show occupation, and might help locate possible civilian candidates. If you haven't done so yet, ask the Yolo County, California Historical Society or the author where they found the information.
Please keep us posted on your findings. I look forward to reading your comments in one of our many threads!