Looking for more info - PA 98th

[DC1221]

I've found some very basic information about my great-great-great grandfather, Adelbert Helker (first name spelling varies depending on source, Attleburg, Adalbert, etc). He served in Company F of the 98th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a mostly German group recruited in Philadelphia. Enrolled Aug 24, 1861, wounded May 6 1864 at the Wilderness, discharged Aug 27 1864 at the end of his term.

Most of my research has been done using Ancestry, and a little from the NARA website. I was able to find the attached card showing pension application and certificate numbers. I'm wondering if there is any way to find those specific files. I'm curious about his injuries and service in general. I have not been able to find any info beyond what I've listed here from any of the state files Pennsylvania has made available online.

 

[lupaglupa]

There are several ways for you to get a copy of the pension application your ancestor filed. You can go to Washington and request it from the National Archives; you can make a request at the Archives website and have a copy sent to you; or, you can hire a firm to pull the record for you. Using a private firm is generally faster.

 

[DC1221]

There are several ways for you to get a copy of the pension application your ancestor filed. You can go to Washington and request it from the National Archives; you can make a request at the Archives website and have a copy sent to you; or, you can hire a firm to pull the record for you. Using a private firm is generally faster.

Thank you. Today I've reached out to both DC and St Louis archives to see what they have.

 

[Bob Velke]

The pension file in question is at NARA in D.C. (not St. Louis). We can retrieve a color copy for you within about a week for $50 regardless of the number of pages (or 10% off with a free membership to our site). See my signature.

NARA will make a black/white Xerox copy for $80 for the first 100 pages and $0.70 per page thereafter.

 

[Stryker65]

Deleted.

 

[DC1221]

The pension file in question is at NARA in D.C. (not St. Louis). We can retrieve a color copy for you within about a week for $50 regardless of the number of pages (or 10% off with a free membership to our site). See my signature.

NARA will make a black/white Xerox copy for $80 for the first 100 pages and $0.70 per page thereafter.

Sounds like I'll be making an order or two tomorrow!

 

[RebelWeber]

I believe the 98th Pennsylvania was recruited from primarily St. John's Catholic Church in Roxbrough in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I also further believe there are some members of the unit buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

 

[DC1221]

I believe the 98th Pennsylvania was recruited from primarily St. John's Catholic Church in Roxbrough in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I also further believe there are some members of the unit buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

Was St John's a German congregation? I've found a lot of information listing the 98th among some of the other German speaking regiments from PA.

 

[BCS1973]

The nice thing about PA regiments is that they all have a written history commissioned by the state (Bates). At the very least it is a good start. See link below.

S. P. Bates' "History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865"

www.pa-roots.com

 

[DC1221]

The nice thing about PA regiments is that they all have a written history commissioned by the state (Bates). At the very least it is a good start. See link below.

S. P. Bates' "History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865"

www.pa-roots.com

Yes! I have a PDF of the 98th section on my desktop and reference it frequently. I also was able to find a handwritten draft in the personal papers of the regiment's colonel, John F. Ballier.

 

[RebelWeber]

Was St John's a German congregation? I've found a lot of information listing the 98th among some of the other German speaking regiments from PA.

St John's in Manayunk was German as was St Mary's of the Assumption also in Manayunk

 

[DC1221]

The pension file in question is at NARA in D.C. (not St. Louis). We can retrieve a color copy for you within about a week for $50 regardless of the number of pages (or 10% off with a free membership to our site). See my signature.

NARA will make a black/white Xerox copy for $80 for the first 100 pages and $0.70 per page thereafter.

Moderators please delete this comment if not allowed, but I have to give a big thank you to Bob for this service. He very quickly found and returned the records to me, but even handled a small issue that I caused by ordering them from NARA on my own. Highly recommended.

I was able to read all of my ancestor's pension and medical reports, his entire service record, learning what his specific injury was, as well as confirming an absolute ton of genealogy information I had previously found. It was very sobering to read about his injury (shot in the arm at Wilderness, May 5 1864) and see his disability getting worse over time. Seeing the quality of his signature degrade as he got older was very sad. He was a mason and essentially unable to support his family without the disability pension.

Because of the quality of these records I'm now in the process of requesting a headstone for him from the VA. He is buried local to me, but with no marker.

 

[lupaglupa]

I'm so glad you got all this information!

 

[BCS1973]

Also, you may wish to check out the GAR museum in Philadelphia and see what info if any they have on the 98th. Just a thought

Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum

garmuslib.org

 

[Story]

Because of the quality of these records I'm now in the process of requesting a headstone for him from the VA. He is buried local to me, but with no marker.

What was his address when he enlisted?

 

[Story]

I was able to find the attached card showing pension application and certificate numbers.

Did you find anything in the Widow's Pension application files? As I recollect, they were filed by Regiment as well.

 

[Story]

Oops, belay that. Adelbert outlived her.

He's buried down at Holy Redeemer. DoD 1918, why am I thinking Spanish Flu?

PVT Adelbert Helker (1834-1918) - Find a Grave...

Adelbert Helker(April 26, 1834 - March 10, 1918) Adelbert died at home, having lived at 1024 West Dauplin Street, Philadelphia, PA. He had worked as a stone mason. The informant on his death certificate was his wife, Theresa Helker.Aged 83 years, 11 months, 12 days._______________________Served...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Story]

What was his address when he enlisted?

Adalbert died at home, having lived at 1024 West Dauplin Street, Philadelphia, PA.

 

[DC1221]

Also, you may wish to check out the GAR museum in Philadelphia and see what info if any they have on the 98th. Just a thought

Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum

garmuslib.org

I certainly will. His obituary mentions that he was a member of a local GAR post.

 

[Allyn]

Have you contacted St. John's church? Or the church from which he was buried? If he was indeed a member, there should be quite a variety of primary source material available. Church records can be a goldmine, providing baptisms and birth dates, parents' names, marriage records, burial information, etc. Some German Catholic churches kept familienbücher, i.e., records of members/families, often including origins in Europe, dates of arrival, children's births, etc. Won't give you military information, but might add a lot to your family narrative. Some churches have a fee schedule, others just ask for a donation for work done.

Or, check at the website for the Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, https://chrc-phila.org/ Many early church records have been digitized, plus there is a newspaper collection. Lots of things to try, but might require a bit more hands-on research than relying on Ancestry.com!