Grand Army of the Republic (G. A. R.)

The Grand Army of the Republic was founded as a Fraternal Military Society for the Union Veterans of the Civil War in Decatur, Illnois on April 6th, 1866 in order to preserve the Union, honor the War Dead, provide relief for the Veterans' Children and Widows and to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. It's last member died in 1956.

Post Number 12 was founded in the Roxborough Section of Philadelphia in 1874 by Col. John Harper and John F. Parker. The very first meeting was held in the "Old Fellows Hall" at Lyceum & Ridge Avenues The G. A. R. Hall was then located at 422 Fountain Street on the site of an old fire house.

Our great great grandfather John G. Keller was a member.

James Silverthorn

Born in the state of Pennsylvania in the year 1878, he married Grace (Gallagher) and had three sons, Charles, Raymond and Edward.

According to the 1900 Census Records, his wife Grace was born in Scotland. (Grace was the eldest child of Patrick & Hannah Gallagher) She was born in route from Ireland in Scotland before immigrating with her parents to Philadelphia in 1880.

According to the 1910 Census Records, James was listed as a Crane Operator in an Iron Mill (most probably Pencoyd).

In the 1920 Census Records, John & Sally Keller (Grace's brother-in-law & sister) lived with the family.

The latest Census Records available to date are the 1930 records which lists James living with sons Raymond & Edward on 3925 Terrace Street in the Manayunk Section of Philadelphia. Grace died in 1930 before the Census was taken.

Future posts will include the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 Census Records of James Silverthorn.

James & Grace (Gallagher) Silverthorn's Three Sons

Charles Silverthorn was born July 16th, 1900 and died February 1972. Charles was a resident of Lafayette Hill, Pa. at the time of his death. His wife Mary was born November 29th, 1899 and died November 1972 and was also a resident of Lafayette Hill, Pa. at the time of her death.

Raymond Silverthorn was born August 15th, 1902 and died December 1966. He was a resident of Roxborough at the time of his death. He was also a very good friend of my grandfather William Gallagher II as well as a cousin.

Edward Silverthorn was born July 3rd, 1909 and died January 1988. he was a resident of Roxborough at the time of his death.

All three sons were born and raised in Manayunk. At this time I do not know if Raymond or Edward were married.

Records Of Charles Silverthorn

1880 Census Record

1870 Census Record

Civil War Pension Record

Click to Enlarge & View

Charles Silverthorn

In the 1890 Special Census of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Widows of the Civil War in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania lists Charles Silverthorn (e) as being in Company A, 119th Pa. Infantry.


Charles Silverthorn was born in Philadelphia Pa (1826), son of Charles & Rebecca Silverthorn. He was married to Elizabeth (Chayner). According to the 1870 Census Records, he lived with his wife and seven children along with his mother-in-law, (Ann Chayner) in the Manayunk Section of Philadelphia. His children were listed as Kate, Charles, Elizabeth, Maria, Joseph, Rebecca and John. In the 1880 Census Records, he was listed as living at 218 Fountain Street with his family, the previous census record (1870) did not have an address listed.

A Small World Indeed

3907 Ridge Avenue (red brick house left of the white stucco house) View taken from Laurel Hill Cemetery.

I received the below comments on some of my blog posts from Marijane, a woman who shares some family history background with our family. Not only did her ancestors live in the 3907 Ridge Avenue house as the Schroeders then Gallaghers once did but her ancestor worked at Laurel Hill Cemetery and even lived on the cemetery grounds itself.

It is a small world indeed, is it not?

I am thrilled to have met Marijane "via" interent and when she comes down to Philadelphia to photograph the South grounds of Laurel Hill for her own family records, we hope to meet up.

"I loved your history of East Falls. My ggrandfather raised his kids at 3907 ridge Avenue. He worked at Dobson & his kids went to St. Bridgets. His father-in-law lived and worked at Laurel Hill Cemetery until his death in 1881. Thanks"

"My gggrandfather started to work at Laurel around 1840. He was in charge of the South Gate... While he helped Hugh Scott clear his land he met Drennam who became the first supt. Then his son became the next super. I don't know how it came about that my John Conway ended up living in the house on the grounds. His daughter, Louise Conway Denby, played the piano and organ for the funerals at the Chapel before it was pulled down. I have lots of family buried in the old section.I have to come down (I live in Doylestown) and take pictures of the South gate and the house for my Conway family history.It would be fun to meet you and share the history of the area. Your history is fabulous!! "

The Fountain Inn & Saloon

This was the name of our ancestor Henry B. Ritter's hotel, saloon and stable. As a matter of fact on November 19th, 1870, there was a fire which destroyed the hotel's stable that was caused by an arsonist. The establishment was located on Main Street just below Shurs Lane in the Manayunk Section of Philadelphia.

In the 1870 & 1880 Census records, it appears Ritter & his family lived next to the place of business on Main Street. I will list those records at a later date.

For further information about Manayunk & Roxborough, refer to the book "Bygones, A Guide to Historic Roxborough-Manayunk" by John Charles Manton. On pages 69 thur 81, it lists all the fires in the area from 1870 to 1975. The listing for the fire at The Fountain Inn is on page 69.

World War I & II Records Of William Joseph Gallagher I

Click to enlarge & view. World War I Record of William J. Gallagher, son of Patrick & Hannah (Dougherty) Gallagher, brother of Grace (Gallagher) Silverthorn, Mary (Gallagher) Cannon and Sally (Gallagher) Keller, husband of Mary (Keller) Gallagher, father of William J. Gallagher II and Anna Marie (Gallagher) McCaffery, grandfather of William J. III, John, Eugene, Mary and Ann Marie. Record indicates home address, place of employment, next of kin, date of birth, date of draft and physical characteristics.

Click to enlarge & view. World War II Record of William J. Gallagher I. See above for further information in regards to the record.

World War I & II Records of John Gotleib Keller II

Click to enlarge & view, World War I Record of John G. Keller, son of John & Elisabeth (Voigt) Keller, brother of Mary (Keller) Gallagher and husband of Sally (Gallagher) Keller. Please note that Sally was also known as Sarah (legal name) and Sadie (nickname). Document states home address at time of draft along with physical characteristics and place of employment.

Click to enlarge & view. World War II Record of John G. Keller II. See above for further record information.

Genealogy Update

I know it has been a few a weeks since I researched and/or posted anything about our "family history". I have talked about everything from baby showers to girl's clothing to the weather.

Where is the history?

It is "a coming".

The article in the local neighborhood newspaper was published a week earlier than expected so I need to scan and share it with all of you. The article is about our great great grandfather John Keller and his cousin Henry Voigt.

In addition to the article, I have the remaining history of the Ritter Family to share with you along with the name, address, ect. of the Hotel & Saloon, our ancestor Henry & Mary (Voigt) Ritter owned in Manayunk.

And of interest to all of you, I received a comment from a Marijane who I would love to hear from again because it appears her ancestors lived at 3907 Ridge Avenue before our Schroeder then Gallagher ancestors. Her great great grandfather worked at Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1881. So, if you read this Marijane, please contact me. I would love to know what your grandfather's name was.

Final Segment Of the March Storm For Those Who Are Not Bored Too Tears "7:28pm"

Yeah, it is still raining ice. However, Bill & I decided to spend this March Winter Ice Storm around the corner at our local Irish pub where I ate Ham & Cabbage (one day early) and had a couple of vodka & cranberry drinks.

I was going to take a picture of this latest storm. However, the battery in my camera decided to die so there is not any proof that this storm even existed today.

Just take my word on it. OK?

Bill just informed me that vodka was made from potato juice. Could that be remotely true because I did not know Russia had an abundance of potatoes. True Irish form would have meant that I would have chosen "beer" tonight instead of vodka.

Oh well, tomorrow is St. Patty's Day. I guess I can drink beer tomorrow.

Yet Another Storm Update "3:07pm"

This has got to be a bad joke. It is now "pouring ice", not rain but ice.

Hmmm, is anyone listening up there? Hello?

My flowers are crying as in really sobbing.

My dog will still not go outside.

It is cold here.

Second Storm Update 2:08pm

Oh, the ice keeps "a falling" from the heavens above as to place at least two inches of frozen stuff on the street, sidewalk and most importantly my car thus far. There will be some serious scraping tomorrow, I am sure.

And doesn't God know it is St. Patty's Day tomorrow? That is my day. A day which I watch QVC for the simple fact that I must and I mean must add some more Galway crystal to my collection among other things of Irish. I also enjoy all the Irish folks and music they have on each year. Then there is that simple fact that yes my name is Pat and yes I am Irish among other things like German and Polish.

Tomorrow, Bill & I have a party to attend so listen here "oh rotten weather of mine, knock it off now".

Storm Update 11:55am

This weather is all my son Shaun's fault. He wanted to drive up to Rhode Island this weekend to buy a boat he saw. He decided to buy this boat when the weather was in the high 70's in the beginning of the week.

He jinxed us all. Because he wanted to buy a boat, the heavens decided to play a game and open up to pour an icy mess upon our city today and let me just say so far the sleet has been non-stop. Doesn't God know that my dog will not go outside to do her business in this type of weather, that I must force her little doggy ass outside while she is kicking and screaming, "hell no, I won't go", that she whimpers while clawing the back door just to come in without the benefit of pottying first.

Ok, we get it. You can stop the sleet now and return us to the warm breeze of spring.

It Must Be March

This morning, we are in the middle of an ice storm. Yesterday, it was nice enough outside to wear sandals. Two days ago, the flowers in the garden began to bloom.

I guess they call this March in the Northeast Section of the country.

Did I mention, I cannot wait until summer?

Recovering

Poor Puggles lost her womanhood this past week. However, she got to rest and recover in the comfort of our bed. That is what a few abdominal sutures will get you around here.

This also may be the first and last time, we ever get to see her this calm.

The First Sign Of Spring In My Garden

Neighborhood Newspaper

There was an article in last week's Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhood newspaper about some of the local small forgotten graveyards/cemeteries. The reporter announced he was going to do a series of articles over the next few weeks about these forgotten cemeteries which prompted me to contact this reporter on whether he would be interested or not on an article about some of my own family members especially those who are interred in the tiny German Lutheran Bethany Churchground.

I mentioned writing an article about my great great grandfather John Gotlieb Keller who fought in the Civil War's 24th Pa and 15th Ny Regiments and who survived the Battle of Gettysburg only to die as a result of burns obtained later on in a steel mill accident.

He was interred in Bethany along with his wife Elisabeth, mother Susannah, brothers Jacob & Frederick and their Voigt cousins.

This reporter emailed me the other day and "yes" he was interested in an article that profiled John G. Keller. I wrote the article and sent it "via" email yesterday. Hopefully, we will all be able to see it in print in the next few weeks.

I remember my mother telling me how a reporter many years ago wanted to write a profile about the Keller/Voigt families because of their relationship to the Civil War/Gettysburg/Little Big Horn. He approached my great grandmother Mary Keller Gallagher about writing such an article but my great grandmother was too modest and preferred not to brag about the military histories of both her father (John G. Keller) and cousin (Henry C. Voigt). Needless to say, the article was never written. My great grandmother died in 1959. Therefore, I never had the chance to meet her. However, my grandfather, her son, William J. Gallagher II talked openly and proudly about his family for the many years I did know him and it is his words/memories I shall never forget and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to tell the story of my family because I am so very proud of who they were and how they chose to live their lives.

Today, we hear so much anti-government anti-military talk in the news and in the general conversation of others that I cannot help but think how it must have been for our ancestors during the time of the Civil War, Indian Wars, World War I & II, Korean and Vietnam Wars, all which members of our family served proudly not to mention the current Iraq War which my youngest son served in.

While in Florida, I sat and listened to many conversations all which were very anti-government anti-military. I said and I quote "Unless you served in the military, you do not have an opinion". I really meant that statement because all those who spoke had never served in the military nor even had a father, brother or son who had served.

Seriously, what gave them the right to judge?

I was especially "taken aback" on the comment of the 18 yr old (who shall remain nameless) involved in that conversation when he turned around and made the following reply to my statement, "Why do you like war? Would you like one of your sons killed in one? "

Wow, how naive and stupid, I thought. I can only conclude that I am glad it was not the character or cowardliness of someone like him whom this country needed to lean on & trust to defend our freedom because if it were we would still be a subject of Britain.

And for the record, I never served in the military and though I may not agree on all the current polices of this administration, I firmly believe that we should have a certain amount of respect for our elected officials because not to do so only reinforces the behaviors of our enemies.

And we must always support our troops.

And that is my two-cents worth of Gallagher Preaching.

1880 Census Record John & Elisabeth Keller

Click to enlarge & view. John G & Elisabeth Keller with their three daughters in a 1880 Census Record. They lived at 128 Walnut while his brother Jacob and his wife also named Elizabeth lived next door at 126 Walnut with their two sons and one daughter.

1860 Census Record for John G Keller & Family

Click to view and enlarge. Take note that John was the second born son of Susanna. As per German custom, he was known by his middle name of Gottleib. He had an older brother by the name of Jacob and a younger brother by the name of Frederick.