Major Franklin ZENTMYER

Notes:

DIED - Maj. Frank Zentmyer, of Huntingdon, wounded and taken prisoner
by the rebels at the battle of Fredericksburg, died of his injuries, at
Richmond, on the 31st. ult.

Democratic Standard, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, January 28, 1863

1860 Franklin Township, Huntingdon County census -
John Zentmyer, 52
Margret Zentmyer, 50
David Zentmyer, 25
Franklin Zentmyer, 24
Priscilla Zentmyer, 22
Porter Zentmyer, 20
Miles Zentmyer, 18
Margret R. Zentmyer, 15
John Zentmyer, 12
Benjamine Zentmyer, 10
George Zentmyer, 8
William McDint, 21

Zentmyer, Frank, Company I, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry
(34th Volunteers); rank in, Captain; rank out, Major
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Soldiers Monument

In the old Methodist Cemetery, (also known as Burket Cemetery) near the village of Warrior's Mark, is a fine monument of bronze, which was dedicated on the Fourth of July 1878, "Sacred to the memory of our deceased comrades, by the returned soldiers of Warrior's Mark and Franklin Townships." Active in securing the requisite funds (about eight hundred dollars) were B. S. Haughawout, J. E. Hyskell, Capt. O. S. Rumberger, George Weston and George Wills. The monument which is about twelve feet high, rests on a base of stone several feet in thickness, and is surmounted by a figure of the Angel of Mercy. On the front of the upper die of the monument is a figure of Abraham Lincoln, which was modeled after one of the last photographs taken of him. Underneath are inscribed his immortal words, "With malice towards none, with charity for all." On the other side of the die are profiles of Union soldiers and a stack of arms. A metallic sub-base contains, besides the inscription of dedication, representation of the national colors and a mounted soldier. The lower die contains the names of the following:
Lt. David Zentmyer, Maj. Frank Zentmyer, among many other names.

Warrior's Mark Cemetery
Source: History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties Pennsylvania, 1883
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5th Pennsylvania Reserves/34th Pennsylvania Volunteers

Charles City Cross Roads
Retiring a short distance, the men slept on their arms for a few hours, when they where aroused and taken across the Chickahominy. Here the regiment lay under arms until the evening of the 28th of June, when it marched via Savage Station, and crossing the White Oak Swamp, arrived on the evening of the 29th at Charles City Cross Roads. The Fifth and a battalion of the Bucktails were thrown forward close up to the enemy's line. Lest in the darkness friend should be mistaken for foe, the men were directed to bare the right arm to the shoulder. The pass word was "Bucktail" and the answer "five.

On the following morning, the brigade was withdrawn, and dispositions were made for repelling an attack from the direction of Richmond, and to protect the junction of the New Market and the Quaker or Turkey Bridge road. By half-past three in the afternoon the battle had fairly began, the rebels attacking with great fury. Soon after the contest opened, the enemy moved a heavy column to the right and came down with great impetuosity upon Seymour's brigade. Colonel Simmons was immediately ordered to move with the Fifth and the Eighth regiments to its support, the Fifth gallantly led by Lieutenant Colonel Fisher. This order was promptly obeyed, the men moving forward at a double quick and charge bayonet, but not a moment too soon for a furious attack with infantry and artillery was met just in time to stay and repel it.

In this charge the Seventh and Seventeenth Virginia regiments were nearly annihilated, the greater portion being either killed wounded or taken prisoners. Shortly afterwards the enemy issued from the woods in front in great force, and for nearly two hours the battle raged fiercely, the enemy making desperate efforts to break our lines and gain the road, on which were passing the immense supply trains of our army; but without success.

In the heat of the struggle, Colonel Simmons, leading his men with determined bravery and unequalled skill, fell mortally wounded and died in the hands of the enemy. A soldier by profession and a man of the strictest honor, a patriot from principle and brave to a fault, the Reserve Corps lost no more trusted leader, nor loved companion in arms. Here fell, too, Captain Taggart, of Company B, an excellent soldier, whose loss was severely felt. In the three battles, at Mechanicsville on the 26th, Gaines' Mill on the 27th, and Charles City Cross Roads on the 30th of June, the regiment lost eighteen killed, one hundred and fifteen wounded, and one hundred and three taken prisoners.

Resting upon the field until two A. M. of the 1st of July, the regiment proceeded to Malvern Hill, where was fought the last grand battle before Richmond, in the Peninsula campaign. The Fifth was under fire, but not actively engaged, and on the morning of July 2d, moved with the army to Harrison's Landing, where it went into camp. The vacancy occasioned by the death of Colonel Simmons, was filled by the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Fishery Major George Dare was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Frank Zentmyer, Major.

Second Battle of Bull Run
General M'Clellan's Peninsula campaign was now at an end, and General Pope, in command of the Army of Northern Virginia, was beginning to feel the weight of the enemy's force concentrating on his fronts The troops under M'Clellan were accordingly ordered forward to his support. Pope finding the line of the Rapidan untenable with his meagre force, withdrew to the Rappahannock, where, upon his arrival, he was joined by Reynolds with the Reserve Corps. Finding Jackson in his rear, Pope hastened with his little army to meet, and if possible overpower him before he could be reinforced. The Reserves moved via Warrenton and Gainesville to the First Bull Run battleground, arriving on Thursday, the 28th.

On the following day, the Fifth was deployed as skirmishers and was under a heavy fire of artillery during the entire day. On Saturday, August 30th, it engaged the enemy at four o'clock P. M., and the fight was maintained until six with unabated fury, when it was relieved.

In this engagement the regiment, being reduced by excessive fatigue and heavy details, numbered but two hundred men. The loss was one killed and twelve wounded. During this campaign it was under the command of Major Zentmyer, Colonel Fisher being absent in consequence of a severe injury occasioned by the fall of his horse.

Battle of Antietam
On the night of the 14th, the men slept on their arms, on the rugged mountain crest. At early dawn of the 15th, finding that the enemy had fled, the regiment moved down the mountain, and passing Boonsboro, bivouacked for the night at Keedysville.

On the 16th, it crossed Antietam Creek, and moving to the right, engaged the enemy at four P. M., and was engaged at intervals during the night. The battle was renewed at daylight on the following morning, and raged with unabated fury on that part of the line where the Reserves were posted during the early part of the day, the Fifth not being relieved until one P. M.

Finding his army badly crippled and unable longer to offer successful resistance, Lee withdrew across the Potomac, and on the 19th, the Fifth marched to the river, near Sharpsburg, where it encamped. The loss of the Fifth in this battle was two killed and eight wounded.

After considerable delay, the army again advanced into Virginia, and by command of the President, General McClellan was relieved and General Burnside ordered to succeed him. The latter determined to move upon Richmond by way of Fredericksburg. On the 11th of December, General Franklin, who commanded the left grand division, to which the Reserves were attached, crossed the Rappahannock some distance below Fredericksburg and formed in line of battle facing the enemy's entrenched camp.

A few weeks previous, the Fifth Regiment had been transferred from the First to the Third Brigade, which now consisted of the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth regiments. The Reserves, commanded by General Meade, early on the morning of the 13th, moved forward and occupied the first line of battle, with Doubleday's Division upon the left flank and Gibbon's upon the right, as supports. The Third Brigade occupied the left of the line, with the Ninth Regiment deployed as skirmishers. The dispositions had scarcely been made, when the enemy opened from a battery posted on the Bowling Green road, to the left and rear of the line. The Third Brigade was immediately faced to the left, forming with the First nearly a right angle. Simpson's, Cooper's and Ransom's Batteries were soon brought into position, which together with the batteries of Doubleday silenced and compelled the withdrawal of the enemy's guns. During the progress of this artillery duel, a body of rebel sharp shooters advanced along the Bowling Green road, but were soon dispersed by the marksmen of the Third Brigade, sent to meet them. The line now advanced, the Fifth Regiment occupying a position upon the left, nearest to the enemy's breast works. The struggle became desperate, but the Reserves, unaided, advanced with determined bravery, sweeping everything before them until they had penetrated and completely broken his lines. In this advance, the Third Brigade encountered a destructive fire from a battery posted on the heights on its left. In the face of this deadly fire the troops boldly crossed the railroad and ascended the acclivity; but so terrible was the storm of battle from both infantry and artillery that they were compelled to withdraw.

Here General Jackson, who commanded the brigade, was killed, and was succeeded by Colonel Fisher, of the Fifth, Lieutenant Colonel Dare assuming command of the regiment. The loss of the Fifth in this engagement was twenty killed, eighty-eight wounded and sixty-one taken prisoners. Major Zentmyer and his brother, acting Adjutant, were among the killed, and Lieutenant Colonel Dare among the wounded.

Source: Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.
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While Frank died at the notorious Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, it is not known where his remains are buried. A Memorial Stone sits in the Zentmyer family plot in the Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and lists his date of death as 27 December.

"Maj. Frank Zentmyer, of Huntingdon, wounded and taken prisoner by the rebels at the battle of Fredericksburg, died of his injuries, at Richmond, on the 31st."

Democratic Standard, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, January 28, 1863

"Maj. Frank Zentmyer.- The father of Major Zentmyer has received a letter from Richmond informing him of the death of his brave son. The Major lost a leg at Fredericksburg, was taken prisoner and sent to Richmond where he died on the 31st."

The Huntingdon Globe, January 21, 1863.

Notes:

From various sources he have good data that John was quite the entrepreneur. He farmed, bought and sold logs, and mined iron ore, having located his residences near the Springfield Furnace, Huntingdon Furnace, and the Juniata Iron Works, early blast furnaces in Huntingdon County.

"John Zentmyer was born in Franklin County, Pa., near the South Mountains, not far from Pen Mar, about 1806. (probably 1808 -Ed) In 1831 he went to Springfield Furnace, Blair County, (actually Huntingdon County, Blair County was not formed until 1846 -Ed) where he remained for some time, (four years -Ed) after which he moved to Spruce Creek valley to the farm now owned by the heirs of Robert L. Henderson. He then rented one of the farms of the Huntingdon Furnace Company, and in 1866 bought a farm in Porter township, Huntingdon county, where he resided until his death." -Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 118-119.

"He was well known as Major Zentmyer, having held that rank in the State militia. He married Margaret Gates, of Blair county, (see Blair Co. note above -Ed) who died about 1889. Mr. Zentmyer died in 1891; he and his wife are buried in a small graveyard on the farm." (However, there are currently no Zentmyer headstones in the farm cemetery, now called the Huyett Cemetery. The headstones are located in the Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, indicating a likely relocation of the graves. -Ed)

"Their children are: Isabella, wife of David Kinch, of Altoona; David (who died at the Battle of Fredricksburg -Ed); Frank, enlisted in Company I, Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, was wounded at Fredericksburg, and died in Libby Prison; Priscilla, wife of E. C. Kinch, resides near Altoona; Porter, secretary and treasurer of the Clearfield Manufacturing Company; Miles, attorney in Schuyler, Neb.; Margaret, wife of David C. Stine, Bellefonte, Pa.; John W., insurance solicitor, resides in Blair county; Benjamin, on the homestead; and George, who died young." - article provided by Dante Hebert, Kingston, Washington

"After a brief illness, Major John Zentmyer died on Wednesday evening at his home in Hartzlog [sic] Valley, Potter township, Huntingdon county. While the deceased had not resided in Blair county for some years past, yet he was well known throughout the county and especially among the older citizens. Born near Williamsport, Md., March 24, 1808, he came to what is now Blair, but was then Huntingdon county, in the year 1832, settling at Springfield Furnace. There in the same year he was married to Margaret Gates, who preceded him to the tomb some three years, after a long and happy married life. Major Zentmyer's death was sudden, for he had been always very strong in health. Some ten days ago, however, he contracted a heavy cold, which resulted in typhoid pneumonia, and this disease was the cause of his demise. He removed from this county to Hartslog Valley in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Zentmyer, nine children were born. The living children are: Isabella, wife of David Kinch, of Altoona; Priscilla, wife of E. C. Kinch, of Sinking Valley; Maggie, wife of D. C. Stone, of Bellefonte; Miles Zentmyer, esq., an attorney of Schuyler, Neb.; Porter R., superintendent of the Clearfield Creek Coal company, Madera, Pa., and John and Benjamin, residing on the old homestead. In politics Major Zentmyer was a staunch democrat and during the war was a candidate on that ticket in Huntingdon county for the legislature. He was not successful, however. In religion he was a Reformed and was a member of the church at Alexandria. Funeral will take place at noon to-day and the interment will be in the family burying ground on the farm." Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, March 13, 1891



It is almost certain that John Zentmyer knew Alfred Crewitt, whose daughter Jane would marry John's son Miles, as they both worked in the iron industry in Huntingdon County during the same period, and were both Presbyterians.

John married Margaret GATES 29 Mar 1832. Margaret (daughter of Johann Godlieb GÖTZ and Elizabeth GEAURNEY/GAUBY) was born 28 Mar 1810, Berks, Pennsylvania; died 14 Jul 1888, Alexandria, Porter Twp., Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The 1810 US Census shows David in Washington Twp, Franklin Co. Pennsylvania, which was the location of his father Christopher's farm. His son John's obituary states: "John Zentmyer saw the light of day in Williamsport, Maryland March 24, 1808. When he was quite young his parents removed to Waynesboro, Franklin County." -Huntingdon Monitor, 19 Mar 1891. The following additional sources convince us that David's home and tannery were originally in Washington Co., Maryland before he moved to be near his father. (Waynesboro is within Washington Twp)

-- ". . . Elizabeth Zentmeyer, who was born in 1803 near the Mason-Dixon line at the foot of South Mountain, in Washington County, Md. where her father was for many years engaged in the tanning business." -Biographical Annals of Franklin County
-- ". . . his mother, Elizabeth (Zentmyer) Hoover was born in Washington County, Maryland in 1803." -History of Cumberland Valley
-- ". . . Elizabeth Zentmyer, daughter of David Zentmyer, who conducted a tannery at the foot of the mountains between Rouzerville, Pennsylvania and Edgemont, Maryland." -Biographical Sketches, p.195
-- "His wife Elizabeth, a daughter of David Zentmyer, was born at the foot of the South Mountain--westside--where her father had been engaged in tanning for many years." -Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
-- "Near Pen Mar" -David Taylor Zentmeyer

David married Eve Ann WELTY 23 Jul 1803, Leitersburg, Washington Co., Maryland. Eve (daughter of Jacob WELTY and Anna Maria HOOVER) was born 21 Jul 1782; died 1 Aug 1858. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The name Johann Godlieb Götz was anglicized to John Caleb Gates.



"Johann Gottlieb Götz, a glass worker from Wilenburg, Germany, (Wilenburg on his headstone, Großsachsenheim on the ship's manifest -Ed) arrived in Philadelphia, PA, September 19, 1802 (actually 1804 -Ed) aboard the ship 'Margaret'. He brought with him a large leather-bound bible printed in the German language in Nürnberg in 1765. This bible was donated to the Krannert Memorial Library of the Indiana Central University, Indianapolis, Indiana, and is available to family members.

According to the ship's list of passengers, John Caleb Gates (Johann Gottlieb Götz) came to America, departing from Amsterdam, Holland, and was listed as a 'Glass Maker'. He was 20 years of age, 5 1/2 feet tall, with brown hair, and came by himself. Therefore, it is evident that he must have met his wife, Elizabeth Geaurny of France, (Elizabeth was actually born in Pennsylvania -Ed) in this country, and all children would, therefore, have been born here. According to Dr. I. Lynd Esch, descendant of Nathan Gates, John Caleb Gates owned quite a large acreage of land in the extreme northern end of Cambria County, PA and he believes some of it extended over into the south end of Clearfield County, PA." taken from the work of William S. Gates, Morgantown, West Virginia

Johann — Elizabeth GEAURNEY/GAUBY. Elizabeth was born 1 Jun 1783, Pennsylvania; died 18 Jun 1864, Flinton, Cambria, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Notwithstanding other unsourced data, the 1850 and 1860 US Census lists her birthplace as Pennsylvania, as does the Death Certificate of her son William C. Gates.

Notes:

There is much additional material related to Christopher on the York Co. and Franklin Co. pages on this web site.



The deed by which Christopher conveyed his farm to his son Daniel was also his will, a shrewd legal strategy, see 'Third' below. But it is an interesting document for several reasons.

First, John Wesley Zentmyer was a special grandson to Christopher and Barbara Zentmeyer. When the will was written in 1824, there was a special provision for John to receive two hundred dollars from the estate at Christopher's death. By 1824 Christopher had as many as eighteen additional grandchildren, none of whom were similarly provided for. The will also indicates that one John Zentmyer was living nearby at that time, and since Christopher's son John was living in Brownsville, Virginia by then, one must conclude the John residing near Christopher's farm must have been John Wesley Zentmyer. The will also provided for a shed to be built and finished adjoining John Zentmyer's house for Christopher to enjoy during the remainder of his natural life. So it appears John Wesley Zentmyer and his wife Eleanor cared for grandparents Christopher and Barbara into their old age, and were therefore rewarded in the will.

Second, the will illuminates for us the diversity of economic activity on the farm. There are references to crops of wheat, rye, corn, hay, and apples; a stable with cows, horses, cattle, and hogs; a weaver shop, and wool, so presumably sheep; and firewood production indicating logging.

Third, the will presented an interesting legal question, namely do certain economic provisions in a grant deed survive a foreclosure. The deed stated that "Daniel Zentmeyer engages to give to his father Christopher Zentmeyer yearly and every year during his natural life and the life of his wife Barbara twenty bushels of wheat, twenty bushels of rye, and twenty bushels of corn, also two good loads of hay, and one third of the rows of apple trees divided the short way and pasture two cows and one horse with his own cattle also to let them keep four hogs which are to run with his hogs." Neighbor George Harbaugh took title to the farm in 1828 after a foreclosure sale, and ceased fulfilling the provisions Christopher had specified in the deed. The Zentmeyers sued Harbaugh. The court held: "I look upon it as a covenant to pay rent in kind; and if it be, it is a covenant running with the land, and the defendant is clearly liable; for, upon such covenants, which concern real property, or the estate therein, the assignee of the lessee is liable for an action for a breach of covenant after the assignment of the estate to him." So Harbaugh was required to continue to supply the goods and services to Christopher as required in the deed, a much better result than had Christopher simply written a will.

Johann married Barbara LAUMAN 22 Apr 1777, St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania by Rev. Barton. Barbara was born Abt 1750, Pennsylvania; died Jan 1844, Washington Twp., Franklin Co., Pennsylvania; was buried Zentmyer Cemetery, Washington Twp., Franklin Co., Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Jacob married Anna Maria HOOVER 1779, Washington, Maryland. Anna (daughter of John HOOVER and Mary WATSON) was born 3 Oct 1759, Ringgold, Washington, Maryland; died 3 Feb 1821, Ringgold, Washington, Maryland; was buried Hoover Cemetery, Ringgold, Washington, Maryland. [Group Sheet]

Johann — Maria Margaretha BEETZ. Maria was born 09 Jul 1755; died 18 Jun 1805. [Group Sheet]