Luzerne County PA Archives Biographies.....Shiber, Frederick September 10, 1879 - October 1, 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Eugene Shiber gshiber@comcast.net January 14, 2011, 7:45 pm Source: Public records and family information. Author: Eugene J. Shiber Biography Frederick O. Shiber 1879 - 1913 Frederick was born on Harrison St. in Wilkes-Barre, Pennslyvania, 10 September 1879. He was the third child, and second son, of James William and Julia (nee Pryor) Shiber. His parents were members of the Central Methodist Church at Academy and Franklin Sts where William was a trustee and young Frederick attended bible classes. His father was a plastering contractor: naturally, Frederick worked as a plasterer. On 11 May 1898, Frederick, 19-years old, enrolled in the 9th Pa. Vol. Infantry, in Wilkes-Barre and was assigned to Company F, and was assigned to Camp Hastings, at Mount Gretna, Pa. where the unit was mustered into Federal Service. A week later the 9th Pennsylvania was on the move. It was ordered south, to the former Civil War battlefield of Chickamauga, Georgia, where Camp Thomas was being created. The unit arrived three days later and set up camp near Lytle Hill. The 9th Pennsylvania was now part of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division of the 1st Army Corps. Unfortunately, the conditions at Camp Thomas steadily worsened, as the camp became more and more crowded and growing into a city of 30,000 men. Sanitation was poor, and disease spread rapidly. As the spring changed into summer, it became clear that some changes had to be made because the men in the camp were losing the battle against disease. On 5 August 1898, the location of the camp was changed, but the change was only temporary since, on 20 August, orders were received for the unit to relocate much farther -- to Camp Hamilton at Lexington, Kentucky. The unit departed the unhealthy Camp on 25 August, and arrived at Camp Hamilton two days later. While there, according to his record, Frederick's came down with Typhoid Fever (Remittent Fever--in the line of duty), from 30 August to 5 September 1898; then returned to duty. The war's fighting ended with an armistice between the United States and Spain on 13 August 1898, and on 8 September the 9th Regiment was ordered to Wilkes-Barre to be mustered out. They arrived to an enthusiastic welcome, and a supper at the National Guard armory on 19 September. Afterwards, the unit was given thirty days furlough, then was mustered out of federal service on 29 October 1898. Frederick returned home to 20 Lehigh Street to live with his parent, and began working with his father again. It is believed that Frederick grew restless, and the Philippine Insurrection had just begun, so on 7 July 1899, nearly 21, he enlisted again, but into the 22nd Regiment Pa. Infantry, However, the 22nd Regiment had already landed in the Philippines in June 1899. The exact "how", "when", and "where" Frederick got to the Phillippines is not known, but his records indicate rgat he was there by late August 1899, and had been to Co. K, 3rd Battalion. Research has uncovered several entries from official military campaign records involving Company K, 3rd Battalion: 3 Sep. 1899 – two companies , K and F were sent up the Rio Grande river on the east bank. 9 Sep. 1899 – Co. K was sent on the Santa Ana road. 14 Sep. 1899 – two companies , K & F were sent up the Rio Grande river on the west bank. 21 Sep. 1899 – Co. K was sent on the Santa Ana road. 1 Jan 1900 -- Eight companies of the regiment occupied the towns of Arayat, Candaba, and San Luis. 20 Feb. 1900 -- Company K, under Lieut. Hannay, left at one o'clock a. m., and marched to the barrio of Mandili, where a force of insurgents was reported to be. The barrio was reached at 4 a.m., and was surrounded. Two Filipinos were wounded in attempting to escape. About a hundred men, two American horses, nine Remington rifles, and considerable correspondence were captured. Forty- eight men were released, while the rest were taken to Candaba. This band were members of a force formerly under command of Col. Simon Kabigting, who was reported as having been killed by his own men. 14 Oct.1900 -- Lt. Hannay, commanding detachment of company K, had a skirmish with insurgents near Pinag Singalon; captured two rifles, eight prisoners, and recaptured one private, 24th infantry, held as a prisoner. 28 Dec 1900 -- General Funston,with Lieut. Sheldon and a detachment of the regiment, surprised a detachment of insurgents near Cabiao; killed six, wounded one, captured one rifle and six insurgents. Lieut. Hannay, with a detachment, company K, struck a band of insurgents near San Julian; killed one, captured one rifle. 19 May 1901, the insurgent general Lacuna and his entire command surrendered to General Funston at San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. This ended armed resistance in the department. On 30 Jun 1901, Company K, was stationed at Gapan, Luzon Island, Philippines. Then in August 1901, Companies I, K, and L, were moved to Manila. It was there in Dec 1901, that orders were received for the regiment's return to the States. So on 24 Jan 1902, Co's. I, K, L,and M of the 3rd Battalion embarked on the "Rosecrans" and sailed.from Manila to San Francisco, CA. The Rosecrans entered "Frisco" harbor on the evening of February 25 1902. After a 2 1/2- year campaign, Frederick was back in the States. The regiment at once moved into camp at the Presidio, CA, remaining there until the various companies moved by rail to their assigned posts. The 3rd Battalion, which included Co. K, was relocated to Fort Crook, Nebraska on 11 March. Garrison duty was now the rountine, as were drills and parades, target practice, military athletics, summer exercises, fall maneuvers, schools for officers and men, and the necessary studies, all combined to make strenuous service. Each year all companies stationed at Fort Crook marched, by battallion, one hundred and eighty miles to and from their target range on the Omaha Indian reservation. In addition, in 1902, these companies marched four hundred miles to and from Fort Riley, Kansas. The regiment was concentrated at Fort Riley in September for fall maneuvers. On 22 Oct 1902, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 22nd Infantry Regiment returned to Fort Crook, Nebraska. On 17 March 1903, while in the army, Frederick somehow found and married Lillian Remphrey, age 18, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The Reverend J.T. Logan officiated. The church name was not specified in a pension affidavit. One must assume that he was given a military leave. Lilly was born on 11 March 1885 in Hancock, Michigan. Her parents immigrated from England. According to the 1900 Census she resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was listed as a student in the Girls House of Refuge. Exactly how they met remains a mystery. Lilly stayed with Frederick's parents on Lehigh Street in Wilkes Barre until he was discharged on 6 July 1903. Little information is available about Frederick and Lilly until the 1910 Census. The document shows that they had four childen: Julia Arline, 10-12- 1903; Frederick Olin Jr, 10-26-1906; Lillian Beverly, 11-13-1907; and Bertha Elizabeth, 9-13-1909. We do know, from family information, that there were two additional twin-children: Martha Shirly and William H., born 3-1-1912. The latter died five months later on 8-5-1912 from tubercular meningitis and was buried in grave 1585 at the Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes Barre, Pa. On 1 October 1913, Frederick sucumbed from pulmonary tuberculosis and stomach troubles at the young age of 34. He was interred tow days later in Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in grave 1585. After Frederick's death, Lilly met with hardship trying to raise five children, ages ten through one. Her decision was to place the two youngest children, Bertha (4) and Martha (1) in the "Soldier's Orphan School" in Wilkes Barre, Pa. This fact is recorded in the 1920 Census. The 1930 Census list Lillian, Bertha and Martha residing at 419 Hazle Street, Wilkes Barre, Pa. Lillian fell victum to cervical cancer on 24 May 1937 in Naticoke, Pa. and was interred on 27 May in Hollenback Cemetery, grave 1585. Of particular interest is the following statement taken from the 24 July 1914 affidavit of Charles F. Steward, Clinton, Indiana, to support Lillian Shiber's claim for a widow's pension: "I soldiered with Frederick O. Shiber, the soldier above named, for three years from 1899 to 1902 in Co. K, 22 nd Regt US Infantry and was with him most of the time during which time he had a great deal of sickness. We were about two and a half years in the Philippine Service. He suffered at different times with stomach trouble of (unclear) kind, dysentery, chills and fever and was at the Post Hospital at different times. I think it was in the Spring of 1900 while in Candaba, on Luzon Island, he had a general breakdown and was sent to the Post Hospital where he had three hemorrhages of the lungs, and was sent from Candaba to Manilla to one of the Reserve Hospitals." This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 9.5 Kb