Adam Ickes and Elizabeth Ellen Harbaugh Ickes, Pleasantville

Up until now I've written about Adam and Ellen's Bedford County ancestors. I've finally worked my way down to Adam and Ellen themselves. They, along with their son, Horace, were the last of this branch of my ancestry to be born in Bedford County Pennsylvania. 

Just to review, Adam came from three paternal generations of Bedford County farmers.  His Bedford County roots began with his great-grandfather's land grant received for services rendered in the Revolutionary War. Adam was born and raised on his father, Conrad's, farm in West St. Clair Township. But farming didn't seem to flow through Adam's veins as he was much more of a natural born scholar.  Adam began his professional career as a school teacher. In fact, if the history books are correct, he could have begun teaching in the public school system as young as age 14 or 15. 

Schoolhouse near Pleasantville where Adam may have taught

In December of 1863, when he was 18 years old, he married Elizabeth Ellen Harbaugh.  Quite a bit was written about Ellen in my previous post about her mother, Elizabeth Callihan Harbaugh. Ellen was about a year and a half older than Adam. Their first child, John Elmer, was born 7 months following their marriage. (You can jump to your own conclusions.)

  

Just 3 months after the birth of John Elmer, Adam enlisted as a substitute in the Civil War.  From what I understand, by early to mid 1863 both the Union and the Confederate Armies had to instigate a draft system in order to maintain their troops.  A system was put into place that if a man of means was called up through the draft and did not want to serve he could pay another man to serve in his place.  The fee of $300 was mentioned with regard to this type of transaction as was an amount as high as $1000.  By way of comparison, $300 would be equivalent to more than $4300.00 today. I have no idea how much Adam was paid to act as another man's substitute in the war effort, but the money he received was probably instrumental in facilitating his first of many business ventures following the war.  I also don't think the decision for him to act as a war substitute was at all an easy one as Ellen's brother was a casualty of the Civil War just a few days prior to the birth of their son. As the mother of a 3-month old infant, sending her husband off to war had to have scared Ellen to death. 

Adam was mustered into military service for the Union Army, 91st Pennsylvania Infantry on 7 October 1864 at Chambersburg, PA by Captain Boyle.  He was a private in Company I.  His enlistment papers described him at 5'8" tall with a fair complexion, gray eyes, and light hair.

Among the family memorabilia Aunt Alle passed down to my dad, and then my dad passed down to me, were two buttons from Adam's Civil War uniform.

Aunt Alle's handwriting

Adam was a very prolific writer and later wrote in detail his "Reminiscences of the War" which I'll include in a subsequent post.  Suffice it to say here that he became part of the highly esteemed Army of the Potomac and fought in many major battles.  Though we don't know exactly where Adam was stationed, his Infantry and his Company were at the Appomattox Courthouse on 9 April 1865, the day Lee surrendered to Grant.  It was his 20th birthday. Adam was honorably released from military service on 6 July 1865 and began his march home.

When he returned home he resumed his teaching career.  But according to his daughter, Allegra, his career soon took a drastic turn. In April of 1867 he partnered with N.H. Wright who owned a mercantile business in the borough of Pleasantville. By 1868 he had bought out Mr. Wright's store. He later bought a store from T.P. Beckley, also in Pleasantville.  The Beckley store building had living quarters attached where he and his family resided.  He could have acquired even more property, as the 1877 Pleasantville map actually shows A. Ickes in three different locations in Pleasantville, one of them directly across the street from his father, Conrad.

Although he was no longer actively teaching, he didn't abandon education completely.  The history books indicate that with the incorporation of the borough of Pleasantville in 1871, he was one of the directors of the school system. His daughter wrote that he was a charter member of the Pleasantville Lodge #868 Independent Order of Odd Fellows and that he was very active in church work, serving the local Lutheran congregation as the organist and the Superintendent of the Sunday School.  In one of his essays (which I'll write more about later) he mentioned a literary society to which he belonged.

In the meantime, Adam and Ellen added more children to their family.  Conrad Stanton was born in 1866, Horace Bunn (my great-grandfather) in 1868, Sheldon Ross in 1871 who lived 3 months, Henry Beecher in 1872 who lived only 3 days, and finally a daughter, Allegra, born in 1873 (who lived to be 104).

Adam and his family seemed to have it all.  The war was long over. Adam  was a successful independent business owner. They were financially stable. Wasn't this, in complete actuality, living the ultimate American dream? Wasn't this exactly what Adam's great-grandfather, John, fought for as a Revolutionary War Patriot and what John's great-grandparents hoped for when they left their native Germany? Apparently Adam didn't see it that way. His dream wasn't quite yet realized. In 1884 Adam would make a decision that would ultimately change his family dynamic for generations to come in very profound ways. His motivation, I can only surmise, was a combination of a sense of adventure, a pursuit of even greater wealth, the thrill of risk taking , and it had to include a certain amount of naiveté.

Pleasantville was a tiny, conservative borough that serviced a local farming community.  Adam, as a local small business owner, serving on the school board, participating in church leadership, and being active in local social organizations  probably realized that was all that Pleasantville would ever be able to offer him.  (From my impressions of the town, not much has changed even today.) I don't know how he found out about Sam Kellner and his dry goods store in Sidney, Nebraska, but the Ickes family would embark on a new life only akin to five generations previous who left the Palatine region of Germany for a better life in the New World. What in the world was he thinking?

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Jonah Harbaugh and Elizabeth Callihan Harbaugh

Jonah and Elizabeth are two of my ancestors who leave me with many more questions than answers. I do know that death and heartache were profound elements of Elizabeth's life.

Jonah had a twin brother named after their father, John. His mother, Rachel, was a Quaker.  I don't know exactly how involved Jonah was with the local Quaker congregation, but his body was buried in the Quaker cemetery near Fishertown in Bedford County.  

Elizabeth was the 4th oldest of 14 children. She was an active member of the Dunkard church. In her later years she enjoyed bringing her grandchildren to church with her.

Jonah and Elizabeth were married sometime before 1840. Their son, George, was born probably around 1841 or 1842. On 4 July 1843, Jonah died, making Elizabeth a very young widow and single mother.  The first of many tragedies in her life.

To complicate things even more, their daughter (my 2nd great-grandmother), Elizabeth Ellen, was born exactly 2 months following Jonah's death. A little less than 2 years later, Elizabeth's mother died.  Think about that - as a very young widow raising 2 small children on her own, Elizabeth lost her mother. 

As I try to put myself within the culture of the day, I would think that extended family was just kind of a given and was, I guess, completely ubiquitous. Almost everyone, it seems, was within spitting distance of extended family members of some type or another.  That's not to say that those closest to you are somehow diminished or less important by any means, but at least there was always some type of back-up plan should ultimate tragedy occur.  This had to provide some kind of comfort and support.  At least, I would like to think so.

If you remember from previous posts, Elizabeth's mother was a Reininger and had married a Callihan. The Callihan and Reininger farms were adjacent to each other. 

As the families grew and the farms expanded, additional homes and dwellings would be built within close proximity to each other.  US census records can help tell the story and put some of the pieces together.  The 1840 census shows Jonah Harbaugh and his wife living among the Callihans and the Reiningers.

It was during the 1840s when Elizabeth lost her husband.  By 1850 she and her children were living apart. Elizabeth was living with her Uncle George Reininger and Aunt Susan in a house on the Reininger farm.  Aunt Susan was a Harbaugh, though I don't know if or how she was related to Elizabeth's deceased husband, Jonah. Also living in the house was Elizabeth's younger sister, Sarah, who was only 2 yrs. old when their mother died, as well as a young farm hand.

Elizabeth's 2 children, George and Ellen, were living with Jonah's parents, John and Rachel Harbaugh.  I don't know why Elizabeth didn't have her children living with her, I don't know how far away her parents were (though it wouldn't have been more than a few miles), and I don't know how often she saw them. I just hope this was an arrangement that was, for whatever reason, good for everyone.

By 1860 Elizabeth was living next to her brother George and his family.  Her daughter Ellen is living with her.  (The census taker didn't get their last names quite right, but no doubt this is Elizabeth and her daughter.)

By 1860 son George would be in his very early 20s.  There's a George W. Harbaugh listed in an 1860 census in Frederick, MD with some other Harbaughs from Pennsylvania.  He's working as a farmer. I'm not convinced at all that this is Elizabeth's son, so I'm not exactly sure where he was in 1860. 

I do know the 1860s were a very eventful and tumultuous time.  The 12th of April 1861 brought the beginning of Civil War. We don't know the exact date, but at some point in the early 1860s Elizabeth's son, George, enlisted in the Union Army. In December of 1863, her daughter Ellen married Adam Ickes. She was probably already pregnant on her wedding day.

On the 11th of July 1864 Elizabeth's son George died from wounds he had received in battle at Petersburg, VA on 16th of June. He was buried at Hampton National Cemetery, Hampton, VA. 

Just 7 days following her son's death (but probably prior to her being notified that her son had died), her first grandchild was born.  John Elmer Ickes, son of Ellen and Adam, arrived in the world on 18 July 1864.

But as the war between the states continued it further affected the family.  In October of 1864 son-in-law Adam enlists as a substitute in the Union Army.  Thankfully, on 6 July 1865  Adam is honorably discharged from service and returns home sometime afterward.

At some point during the 1860s Elizabeth marries a man with the last name of Smith. The marriage is somewhat short-lived as either Mr. Smith dies (which is most likely) or something else happens to dissolve the marriage.  We believe this to be the case because by 1870, as shown in the census, Elizabeth is living with her daughter Ellen and family in Pleasantville. 

Elizabeth was living with Ellen's family when Ellen gave birth to a son, Sheldon Ross, in Jan of 1871, who died less than 3 months later.  She was also there when Ellen gave birth to a son, Henry Beecher, in March of 1872, who died when he was just 2 days old.

The 1880 census shows Elizabeth still living with daughter Ellen and family in Pleasantville.

That's the last known record of Elizabeth Callihan Harbaugh Smith.  There is simply no record of her to be found after 1880.

In 1884 Adam moved his family to Nebraska.  I know from what Adam's daughter Allegra (Aunt Alle) recorded as well as documented evidence from Nebraska State census records that Elizabeth did not go to Nebraska with them.  

Elizabeth and Ellen didn't have a mother-daughter relationship in which the daughter cut the apron strings and pursued a life of her own away from everything parental.  These women's lives were closely intertwined through birth and death and war and uncertainty and heartache and loss. I can't imagine, after all that Ellen and Elizabeth had been through together, that Ellen would ever consider moving a lifetime away and not taking her mother with her if she were still alive.  Elizabeth must have died after 1880 and prior to 1884.  I just can't believe anything else.  But I really wish I knew for sure.

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Dunnings Creek Church of the Brethren

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian tradition with German origin.  It has also been known as the German Baptist Brethren and the "Dunkards" because of their belief in baptism by immersion.

The Dunnings Creek congregation began meeting around 1841 and a log meetinghouse was begun in the fall of 1843 and completed in 1844. It was built on land sold to the church by Christian Mock for $5 and was located a short distance southwest of Pleasantville.

Although the adjacent cemetery was often visited and cared for, after many decades of use the meetinghouse eventually fell into disrepair.  

Fast forward to the late 20th century when Clair Mock, great-great-grandson of Christian Mock, a long-time member, deacon, and volunteer of the Mock Dunkard Church, convinced a group of friends to help him restore the old church. It has since been used for Christmas services and other special events.

After taking several outside shots I placed my camera lens up against the window glass hoping to get some type of clear image inside. Imagine my surprise when the image came into focus and I spotted Brent within the shot.  The church door was unlocked and visitors were welcome inside. 

This was the church where the Callihans and the Reiningers were members.  This was the church adjacent to the cemetery in which Robert Callihan and Margaret Reininger Callihan, among other members of their family, were buried. It was a multi-generational church attended by many past generations of my family.  Remembering fondly the days of his youth, my great-grandfather, Horace Ickes, wrote, "I would walk 2 1/2 miles with my grandmother to her church, set way back in the woods.  The old Dunkard church." This was where they worshiped God, studied scripture, and prayed.  They prayed for each other. They prayed for their crops and for their animals. They prayed for beneficial weather and much needed rain. They prayed for their families and their children: the born, the unborn, and the dead.

Since 1844 at least 5 generations of my direct-line ancestors made cherished memories in this little log church set deep in the woods.

 And 2015 brought at least one more.

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Robert Callihan and Margaret Reininger Callihan

What can I say about Robert and Margaret?  Well, they grew up on neighboring farms. Robert was about 6 years older than Margaret.  When he was 23 and she was 17 they got married.  She was a June bride.  Less than ten months later their first child, Thomas, was born.  

No doubt their entire adult lives revolved around their family, their faith, and their farm.  Robert not only worked on his father's farm, he inherited it and worked the same farm land his entire life. Concerning their home, Horace Ickes, my great-grandfather, who was born in 1868 wrote, "The home of my boyhood was many years behind the times and slow in trying new methods and appliances. I remember very well when my great-grandfather, Robert Callihan on my mother's side, got his first cook stove and kerosene lamp, up to that time he cooked over the fire and used tallow candles for light."

A history of the local congregation of The Church of the Brethren, also known as the Mock Church (as the land on which it was built was owned by a member of the Mock family), indicates that Robert was appointed a deacon.  Robert and Margaret are both buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

Margaret spent her entire adult life birthing and caring for children.  Her first child was born when she was 18 yrs. old.  She gave birth to 14 living children over the span of 29 years.  All 14 of those children lived into adulthood.  Going by the birth dates of her surviving children, she could have given birth to other children who died in infancy or were stillborn, though we have no evidence or proof of any others.  Of course, I believe that all women need and deserve some time to themselves to pursue their own interests.  A career for a mid-19th century farmer's wife, I'm sure, was unthinkable. But maybe Margaret would have liked to have had a flower garden.  Maybe she wanted to try her hand at painting.  I don't even know if she was literate. I don't really know what kind of resources were available  to her to pursue some kind of self-interest when raising children was no longer her primary concern.  Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to find out.  Margaret died at the age of 47 giving birth to her 14th child.  Robert never remarried, even though he out-lived Margaret by about 31 years.

Mock Dunkard Church and Cemetery

  

Their 14 children provided them with a huge posterity.  Descendants of Robert and Margaret were photographed sometime around the 1900-1910 timeframe at  the Holsinger Church.  My direct ancestors left the area in 1884 and are not represented.

Photo courtesy of callihanfamilyresearch.org and Donald M. Callihan

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The Abolitionists

I actually don't have any ancestors in my direct line who are listed in the history books among the Bedford County abolitionists, but my ancestors were immediate family members and associates of those who aided the underground railroad.  I can't help but highlight the efforts of the Bedford County residents in this noble and selfless cause.

The Underground Railroad was a clandestine network of routes and safe houses ferrying escaped slaves from the South to Canada.  It began operating in Bedford County in 1835.  Bedford County was directly north of the Mason-Dixon line, so escaped slaves who would take the route through Bedford County would find themselves in free territory as soon as they crossed the border into Pennsylvania.  Once fugatives left the vicinity of the borough of Bedford the most popular route to follow took them through the Quaker community of Fishertown.

According to the history books, among the Fishertown residents providing assistance to runaway slaves was Nathan Hammond, more than likely the son or grandson on my 5th great-grandfather Nathan Hammond.  His son, Nathan, died in 1860 and was probably too old to be involved with the abolitionists.  He had more than one grandson named Nathan, so without a ton of research I don't know for sure which Nathan it would be.  According to the 1861 map, a N. Hammond estate was located atop a large hill accessed by what is now called Hammond Hill Road leading northeast from Fishertown.

When we visited there the expansive views were spectacular.

A plaque at the Quaker Burial Ground near Fishertown pays tribute to those who assisted the effort to help escaped slaves secure their freedom.

From Fishertown, runaways were often directed to Pleasantville (Alum Bank), assisted sometimes by George Harbaugh, brother of my 3rd great-grandfather, Jonah Harbaugh, to the home of Benjamin Walker where they would receive aid to travel further north.

Many others residents and land owners assisted and played vital roles in assisting the Underground Railroad in Bedford County, and several stories were preserved and retold.  Not everyone, though, shared in the great cause.  A story is told of two men, each from prominent families - the Mocks and the Crissmans - who sought only for their own personal gain:

"It was a short time prior to the Civil War when two slaves found their way into the so-called Quaker settlement, with the evident hope of procuring assistance in their journey northward. Somewhere in the vicinity named they met two men by name of Mock and Crissman, who, it seems, knew of a reward being offered for the capture of a certain two slaves, and who, under the pretense of being friendly to their interests, induced the negroes to be locked-up in an old school-house nearby, while arrangements would be made for their conveyance to some northward station. The captors at once went to Bedford and got into communication with their master, who promptly came on, identified his property, paid the prize money and returned home with his possession of human souls.

"This was one of the few instances, if not the only one, of like character which occurred in the neighborhood of the underground railway people of this section.

"To the sore disappointment of the poor slaves, we can well imagine, there would be added the oppression and vengeance of a tyrannical master when back on the old plantation.  On the other hand, to the treachery and deception of the captors there was added the contempt and reproach of every good citizen in which they lived. Neither of them prospered after this event. Mr. Mock soon afterward came to an untimely death by being shot at Alum Bank while attempting to escape from the custody of a squad of soldiers who had been detailed to preserve order at an election at St. Clair township, and who had him under arrest for disturbing the peace. Numerous afflictions and misfortunes followed Mr. Crissman during the several years which he lived afterward, and whilst he, no doubt, regretted his conduct and would have undone the deed if such were possible, he never regained the confidence or respect of the people." (History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, pgs. 381-382)

The account also indicates that the school-house in which the escaped slaves were imprisoned was located on the road leading from Osterburg about one-half mile from Alum Bank on the Rinninger farm.  That would be the exact location of the farm which was then occupied by the son of my 5th great-grandfather, George Reininger.  There is no indication whatsoever that any member of the Reininger family benefited or assisted in any way in the imprisonment of the two runaway slaves.

Old Schoolhouse near Alum Bank, Where Two Runaway Slaves Were
Penned Up and Held for Ransom

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All original content, images, commentary, etc. copyright © by Joy Denison 2015-2016.  All rights reserved. All writings, poems, speeches, essays, images, scans, likenesses, etc. by Adam Ickes (b 1845) as well as personal histories, images, and all other content by all persons referenced and discussed within the pages and posts in this blog may not be copied, shared, or reproduced in any way without expressed permission by the owner unless included here from other referenced sources or are historical records already considered to be in the public domain.