OBIT: George KENSINGER, 1886, Blair County, PA

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Death of George Kensinger.

One of the most noted characters of Woodbury township, a man who was
well known to three or four generations, has passed into the beyond.
A correspondent at Williamsburg, a man who was himself a gallant
soldier in the war against Mexico, sends us the following:

Another of the old guard has been gathered to his fathers.  George
Kensinger, a veteran of the Mexican war, died at Cove Forge on
Thursday, September 23, in the 89th year of his age.  He was an old
man comparatively when he became a member of Captain Caldwell's
company M, Second Pennsylvania volunteers, in 1847.  It is needless to
say that he did his duty and in his later days was full of Mexican
memories.  It was his great pleasure to entertain a group with the
recital of an exploit of his on the "Garita de belen" - the city gate
- which was as follows:  The enemy's shot had carried away a portion
of a gun carriage and in order to keep the cannon in position it was
necessary for some one to sit astride the gun. This George did and
came out safely without a scar through a storm of shot and shell,
making the garita just as his captain was struck down by a shell.
Yes, at the city gates of Mexico Captain Caldwell, of the Wayne
Guards, fell mortally wounded.  His remains were sent to his home in
Mifflin County.

George Kensinger was without family and for many years lived the life
of a hermit or recluse, having his home in the mountain adjacent to
Cove Forge, where he was amply supplied with all things necessary to
his comfort by that prince of almoners, John Royer, during the
latter's life time.  After Mr. Royer's death, S. R. Schmucker, esq.,
saw that the wants of the old warrior were attended to.  He was buried
on Saturday in the new cemetery, with military honors, and now in the
89th year of his age, he sleeps his last sleep to dream of war no
more.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, September 30, 1886, page 3