Always an Educator

Photo from Melissa Murphy Oliver

She was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher. She was Sarah Ellen Steinly Murphy (1888-1968): the daughter of Lewis Steinly (1847-1923) and Susanna Housel (1860-1942), the sixth child of 14 children. She grew up in Greenville Township of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and in Allegany County, Maryland, near Cumberland.

Sarah, according to Phyllis Walker Pasterczyk, a granddaughter, attended Normal School in the community of Somerset, Pennsylvania (which is directly north of where Sarah lived).  A “normal school” was a school to train teachers. The length of the “normal school” curriculum was usually one to two years.

I have tried, without success, to find the Normal School in Somerset. I did find one for in Stoystown, Pennsylvania (in Quemahoning Township), but that probably would have been too far to travel. However, there was a Somerset Collegiate Institute in Somerset. I have not able to find out any information about this educational institution and its curriculum; but perhaps, this is where Sarah went for her training.

Townships in Somerset County

It is known Sarah taught for several years before she got married at the age of 19.  So, doing the math, she was quite young when she was a teacher. The 1940 U.S. Federal Census shows that she had an 8th grade education. Assuming she went to Normal School right after the 8th grade, she would have only been about 16 years old when she began her teaching career.

Sarah’s first teaching job was in a one-room schoolhouse in Pocahontas, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, followed by teaching positions at Miller School and Wetmiller School. All the schools were in Greenville Township. She taught all eight grades. As is usual with teachers at that time, she would have had to clean the school house, bring in wood for the pot belly stove, bring in water from the pump for drinking and hand washing.

Phyllis, relying on information from one of Sarah’s daughters – Regina Murphy Kirchner (1919-2017), reveals that Sarah had to walk to and from school each day. Most teachers at that time lived with a local family who lived near the school. It is not known if she did this or not. However, I suspect she might have as to walk to and from the school from her parents’ home might have been too much of a hike.

Typical Somerset County one-room school

Sarah lost her husband, James Bernard Murphy (1882-1927), and a son James Lewis Murphy (1910-1927) to a coal mine explosion in 1927 when she was only 38 years old.  Sarah was left with eight children to raise. One child, Eleanor Frances Murphy (1908-2003) had graduated from high school in 1926 and was married in 1928. So technically, there were only seven children to worry about. As coal miners did not have pension or death benefits, and Social Security did not exist, one can only imagine how Sarah managed to support her family: I am sure she had help from her family as there is no record or family recollection of Sarah continuing her teaching career after her marriage to James in 1907. But, she did not stop her interest in education.

After her children were grown and had children of their own, Sarah would visit the various families. Phyllis has a favorite memory of her grandmother, stating: “When I was in grade school and grandma would come stay with us, she’d sit down with me when I got home from school and help me with my homework. She made the homework much more interesting. Once homework was done and dinner was over, we’d play cards: 500, rummy, and other card games. She loved to play cards.”

It would seem that Sarah was always an educator, and that is a wonderful legacy for her family.

Photo provided by Phyllis Walker Pasterczyk
Great-grandmother of daughter-in-law
Melissa Murphy Oliver

Civil War Relatives, Part 3

On April 12, 1861—150 years ago—the Civil War started at Ft. Sumter, South Carolina.  In thinking about that fact this week, I thought it would be interesting to see what members in the family tree served during the Civil War.  In previous blogs I looked at my family and my husband’s family.  Now, it’s my daughter-in-law’s, Melissa Murphy Oliver's, family.  Melissa’s family had a lot of relatives that served during the Civil War.  I personally believe that one of the primary reasons for this was that with few exceptions, they came from Pennsylvania.  Pennsylvania, of course, was the epicenter for one of the most famous battles:  Gettysburg.  Additionally, the southern border/state line of Pennsylvania was the Mason-Dixon Line—the demarcation of the North and South boundary.

Here is a listing of some of the members from Melissa's family that served in the Civil War.

Baer, Elisha (1834-1896)—enlisted as a Private on August 27, 1864 in Company D, 200th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  He mustered out on May 30, 1865, in Alexandria, Virginia, with “Distinguished Service.”  The 200th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and participated in many engagements, primarily in Virginia.  Even though Elisha’s service was for less than one year, he participated in five battles.

Beal, Conrad Jr. (1830-    )—on September 26, 1864, Conrad enlisted in the Pennsylvania 93rd Infantry, Co. H.  He was wounded on March 25, 1865, at during a battle at Petersburg, Virginia.  On June 7, 1865, he mustered out with “Distinguished Service.”  Conrad’s infantry unit was assigned to Peck's Brigade which was present at the siege of Yorktown and active at the battles of Williamsburg, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. In all, Conrad fought in 35 battles.

Beal, Hiram (1830-1908)—on September 1, 1864, Hiram enlisted in Co. D, 79th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  He mustered out on July 12, 1865, in Washington, D.C., with “Distinguished Service.” Hiram’s Infantry Regiment fought battles in Tennessee and Georgia.

Bittner, Jeremiah (1840-1898)—enlisted on June 3, 1864, as a Private in Co. D, 87th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  He mustered out on 29 June 1865 in Alexandria, Virginia, with “Distinguished Service.”  The first assignment for Co. D was spent on guard duty along the Northern Central railroad from the Pennsylvania state line to Baltimore. Afterwards, it joined the Army of the Potomac.  Jeremiah fought in 32 battles in Maryland and Virginia.

Hershiser, Henry J. (1832-1907)—on December 25, 1861, Henry enlisted as a Private in Co. C, 54th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  During 1865 he was mustered out with “Distinguished Service.”  Henry fought in 23 battles in Virginia and West Virginia.

Housel, Solomon Michael (1836-1914)—served as a corporal in Co. K, Pennsylvania 171st Infantry from November 1, 1862, to August 16, 1863.

Knepper, Amos W.  (1841-1935)—enlisted on August 14, 1862, as a corporal in Co. E, 133rd Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  He was mustered out on May 26, 1863, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Amos served along side his brother Henry Franklin Knepper.

Knepper, Hiram (1839-1901)—on February 25, 1865, he enlisted as a Private in Co. H, 15th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.  Hiram mustered out on September 16, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Knepper, Henry Franklin (1839-1922)—served along side his brother Amos W. Knepper as a Private in Co. E, 133rd Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania from 1862-1864.

Knepper, James Sanks (1829-1870)—enlisted on February 5, 1865, with Co. A., 148th Indiana Infantry in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The Infantry served for six months in the Civil War with a regiment organized at Indianapolis, Indiana; the unit mustered out on September 5, 1865.  This particular regiment was kept constantly employed doing guard and garrison duty in the interior of middle Tennessee.

Miller, Aaron J.  (1847-    )—enlisted in 1861 as a Private in Co. K, 5th Regiment, 204th Volunteers, and Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.  Aaron mustered out as a corporal in 1865. This Company was assigned to duty along the Manassas Gap Railroad, protecting supplies for General Sheridan.  Additionally, they engaged in many battles.

Stahl, Augustus Finely (1845-1920)—enlisted in August 14, 1862 as a Private in Co. E, 133rd Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  He was mustered out in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 26, 1863.

Staub, Henry H. (1849-    )—enlisted on September 7, 1864, as a private in Company F, 210th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  He mustered out on May 30, 1865, in Washington, D.C., with “Distinguished Service.”  As soon as the Regiment was organized it left for the front and joined the Army of the Potomac.  Henry fought in nine battles, all in Virginia.

Woodward, Absalom (1826-1900)—On July 2, 1863, Absalom, enlisted for a period of six months in the Union Army in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and served in Co. A, Dale’s 1st Battalion Cavalry.  He received his honorable discharge in Pittsburgh on December 26, 1863, and was suffering from a respiratory illness at the time. On August 13, 1864, at Montgomery Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, he re-enlisted for a period of one year as a Private in Co. F, 206th Pennsylvania Volunteers.  He was entitled to a government “bounty” of $100, one-third of which was paid on enlistment.  On September 12, 1864, he was listed as a private in Capt. Kinter's Company (which subsequently became Company F) of the 206th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry.  He was mustered out at the close of the war in Richmond, Virginia, on June 26, 1865, having been paid only to December 31, 1864.  He had received $38.63 for clothing in kind or money advanced and was still owed $33.33 of his bounty.

Yutzy, Joseph Clay (1843-1918)—enlisted on October 29, 1862, as a private in Co. H, 54th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania.  He was mustered out on May 31, 1865, with “Distinguished Service.”  He was captured on October 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, Virginia, and held as a prisoner of war until March 11, 1965.  Prior to being captured, Joseph participated in over 30 battles and skirmishes.

Yutzy, Samuel D.—enlisted as a 1 Sgt. in Co. K, 171st Regiment Volunteers Pennsylvania.  Samuel was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on January 31, 1863; he mustered out with the Company, on August 6, 1863.