St Clair Cemetery, Mt Lebanon, Allegheny Co, PA

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Friday, July 23, 2010

What Heat Wave? Nah, It's the Deaths That are Heating Up!

The heat is on!

My little death indexing project based on the old Pittsburgh and Allegheny Co, PA, newspapers is growing.  We now have several hundred deaths from 1980 in it as well as some mining incidents.  I guess you could say that folks are just dying to get in!!

All said, today's new upload has over 5000 new entries ----

bringing our death index entries up to 46,684!

The marriage index now has 11,400 happy couples with the "not so very happy" couples at 678.

And we still aren't even breaking a glisten!  Of course, I'm sure the medicinal use of our ancestors' backyard industry helps! 

I would be remiss if I didn't give a big  "thanks" to the volunteers who are transcribing and assisting in getting the names into a spreadsheet.

Just in case you have missed the way to get to the death index project:

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm

Ahh,  genealogy.  Ain't it grand!!


©2010 AS Eldredge

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: "Just Didn't Know When He Was Licked"

The boys of Company D 149th PA Volunteers were oft heard to say that Captain James Glenn "didn't know when he was licked."

Captain James Glenn (1824-1901) was almost "reckless in his bravery" as he served his country during the Civil War.  Hailing from the area of Pittsburgh known as Carnegie, Glenn had no difficulty in organizing men to form the company in 1862.  Mention of some of these meetings was even noted in the diary that we (myself and two cousins) transcribed and published some six years ago in the Quarterly Journal of the Western PA Genealogical Society.

One note about his service was his promotion to take command of his Regiment after the fight at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.  His location during the battle was on Seminary Hill, which saw some of the most intense fighting. General Abner Doubleday mentioned James in his official report of the day stating  "When the troops at this point (Lutheran Seminary) were overpowered, Capt. Glenn of the 149th Pa. Vols, in command of my headquarter's guard, defended the building for fully 20 minutes against a whole brigade of the enemy (Perrin's), enabling the few remaining troops, ambulances,, etc. to retreat in comparative safety."

I thought it fitting today to remember all the troops, no matter whether they fought for the Grand Army or for the Confederacy. Some estimates of up to 50,000 American men lost their lives during this bloody battle. The anniversary of Gettysburg was just celebrated with a re-enactment of the three day battle in July 1863. 
I thought you might be interested in learning a bit more about the battle and of the re-enactment.

   
The Battle at Gettysburg
Harper's Weekly, July 25, 1863

http://www.civilwarliterature.com/2Battles/The14thAtGettysburg/The14thAtGettysburgHistory.htm 


The Gettysburg Civil War battle lives again
by Daniel Terdiman


-If you're a Civil War buff, or even an amateur historian, you no doubt know the history of the battle for Gettysburg. One of the most famous battles of the Civil War, it was also one of the bloodiest. Over three days of intense fighting, Federal troops led by Major General George Gordon Meade fought off Robert E. Lee's Confederate troops, and the battles in and around Gettysburg are often thought to be a turning point in the war.......http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20009651-52.html?tag=rtcol;txt

Ahhh, genealogy.  How our hearts ache as we remember the pain of American brother against brother in the Civil War.  Oh- and yes, James Glenn was my cousin and is buried at the "family" cemetery known as the St. Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.

©2010 AS Eldredge

Rest Sweetly, World War I Veteran

I just ran across this story of an Irish immigrant who was just laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery--some 92 years after his death!  Read the story of the World War I warrior.


Yes, he may have been a small man, but the service he and his fellow troops provided to this country are tremendous.  Thank you Private Costello and all veterans who have fought for America's freedom.

WWI Soldier Laid to Rest at Arlington National Cemetery
Megan Smolenyak

Private Thomas D. Costello lost his life on September 16, 1918 in France and received full military honors today at Arlington National Cemetery. Hastily buried after a World War I battle in an area known as Bois de Bonvaux near Jaulny, he remained undiscovered for 88 years until......http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/wwi-soldier-laid-to-rest_b_643757.html

Ahh, genealogy. Sometimes, you just gotta sit still and hear the sound of taps in your heart for those truly amazing men and women who came to America to be free and were willing to sacrifice it all for that freedom.

©2010 AS Eldredge