Area History: A Centennial History - Mahanoy City 
CHAPTER XI -BMILITARY HISTORY IN BRIEF 
Pages 74-77

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sryan@enter.net 

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CHAPTER XI - MILITARY HISTORY IN BRIEF
PAGES 74 - 77

A CENNENTIAL HISTORY:
THIS MATERIAL IS TRANSCRIBED FROM THE 1963 CENTENNIAL BOOKLET ENTITLED
“MAHANOY CITY, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 1863-1963, A HISTORY”.
THE HISTORIANS WHO COMPILED THIS HISTORY WERE:
JOSEPH H. DAVIES, CHAIRMAN
CHARLES H. ENGLE
ELWOOD M. YOUNG

Transcribed by:
Shirley E. Thomas Ryan
June 22, 2002

CHAPTER XI

MILITARY HISTORY IN BRIEF

THE CIVIL WAR

Mahanoy City was in its infancy while the Civil War was in progress.  However, since it 
was the gathering point for the region, quarters for “enlistment, recruiting and drafting” 
were opened on West Centre Street.  A tent was erected at the northwest corner of Centre 
and Locust Streets and was used for an office.  Another ten at the northwest corner of 
Main and Centre Streets, provided living quarters for the recruiting officers.

During the time of the draft, the government sent a large body of soldiers to assist those 
who were already here.  They tied their horses to a fence which enclosed a corral of deer 
owned by Edward Boyer, who had a store in the center of the block.  An early resident, 
Fred Moyer, recalled that the soldiers’ horses nibbled the fence to the extent the timbers 
were weakened and the posts collapsed.  He recalled also having seen the first volunteers 
leaving Mahanoy City for service with the Union Army.

The veterans of the Civil War organized Severn Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in May 1868, 
naming the Post for Captain Isaac Severn, a townsman.  They began the custom of decorating 
the graves of departed comrades when but half-a-dozen were buried in the three cemeteries 
then existent, The German Protestant, St. Canicus and St. Fidelis.

THE SILLIMAN GUARDS

On March 13, 1875, a military company was organized in the community.  It was named 
“The Silliman Guards” in honor of Edward S. Silliman, Sr., prominent townsman who was 
among its ardent supporters and most generous contributors to the fund raised to purchase 
its equipment.

The first officers were Captain, John F. Schoener; Fist Lieutenant, Frank Wenrich and Second 
Lieutenant, S.S. Hoppes.

The 1881 history states:  “The rank and file of The Silliman Guards number sixty-three men.  
The company purchased their own equipment, at a total cost to themselves and their friends 
of about $3,000, to which fund, E.S. Silliman, president of the Fist National Bank, was a 
liberal contributor.  During the strike and riots of 1877, the Guards were called out and 
served at Harrisburg and Pittsburgh from July 16th to August 19th.  As conservators of law 
and order the company has been eminently a success, proving a standing menace to the lawless 
element, the course of which in the city and vicinity made its organization a necessity, 
while the prudent management of its officers has prevented collisions that, under less 
cautious leadership, might have been of frequent occurrence and disastrous results”.

The early history notes also that the Guards attended the State encampment during the 
Centennial exposition and one held at Camp Meade in 1880.

Shortly after its organization, the unit was admitted to the National Guard of Pennsylvania 
as Company C, 7th Regiment.  Several years later the National Guard was reorganized and it 
became Company E, 8th Regiment.

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

The news of the dynamiting of the battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, February 15, 1898, 
reached Mahanoy City by telegraph that evening.  It led to the United States declaring war 
on Spain on April 15 of that year.  Immediately men began to enlist for service, Company E, 
Pennsylvania National Guard, of town, within a short time secured sufficient enlistments to 
bring its number to the full quota.  Many local men enlisted in the Regular Army and some 
joined the Pennsylvania Governor’s staff.

The departure of Company E on April 28 was a signal for scores of people to go to the Reading 
Station at 6 a.m. to see the soldiers entrain.  Captain Andrew Gomery headed the company 
although he was too weakened condition to be accepted for army service after arriving at 
Camp Gretna, the mobilization point.  Captain William Harris became office in charge.

On Sunday, May 1, 1898, a telegraphed message again conveyed the tidings that Admiral George 
Dewey had won a complete victory over the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay in the Philippines.  
Bells pealed and whistles shrieked in celebration of the news.

Page 75 - 

Photo of Silliman Guards.. Company C, 7th Rgt, N.G. PA.

Page 76 - 

In 1903, Lieutenant Richmond Hobson, the hero of the sinking of the Merrimac in Santiago 
harbor, lectured here and was given a reception at the Mansion House.

Few of the local soldiers saw service abroad during the Spanish-American War.

Edward J. Fogarty, later a Chief Burgess, drilled the Home Guards at the West End Park each 
evening.  Dr. James H. Hagenbuch posted bulletins in the window of his drugstore 
(site of the Village Inn) to keep citizens posted of developments after the newspapers had 
gone to press.

Samuel Richards was the first soldier to return and a parade was held in his honor.  He rode 
in an open carriage drawn by two horses and the reception committee accompanied him.

James I. Blakeslee Camp No 26, United Spanish-American War Veterans, named for Lieutenant 
Blakeslee of Delano, who later became the Fourth Postmaster General of the United States, 
under President Woodrow Wilson, was organized in 1898 shortly after the return of Company E 
to town.

MEXICAN BORDER

Trouble at the Mexican boarder, including several raids into Texas by the bandit, Pancho Villa, 
led President Wilson, on May 9, 1916, to order the mobilization of the entire National Guard 
of 140,000 soldiers, which was dispatched to the border.  Co. E., under command of Captain 
Abraham Hinch, left Mahanoy City on June 24, 1916, and remained at the boarder until early 
in 1917, when it returned home arriving on February 11.  A large parade and a banquet was 
tendered the members by an appreciative citizenry.

WORLD WAR I

Company E, recruited to full strength, entrained from Mahanoy City for cantonment on September 
10, 1917.  Upon reaching Camp Hancock, Georgia, it was divided under several commands. At the 
Cost of World War I it was disbanded formally with the mustering out of the servicemen.

In addition to the men from the community and vicinity who were members of Company E, a large 
number enlisted in the Regular Army and the other branches of the service.  The total number 
of men who entered the nation’s armed forces from the borough and Mahanoy Township was 1,332.

During World War I, the following nurses from the community were in the service of their 
country:  Miss Ida M. Davies, Miss Mary Thomas, Miss Anna Krazinsky, Miss Lena Kleindienst 
and Miss Mary Williams.

The closing days of the war were marked also by the influenza epidemic.  Nevertheless, an 
excited citizenry paraded the streets during the early morning hours when word of the 
Armistice was received.

The return of Company E, on May 8, 1919, and other enlisted and drafted men was the occasion 
for many celebrations.

The following servicemen from Mahanoy City made the supreme sacrifice during World War I:

William Barbaris, John Bedding, Joseph Benedict, Harry J. Boyle, William E. Burke, 
Michael J. Christoff, Angelo Consorte, John Cooper, Jr., Hayden P. Davis, Frank Dochney, 
John Dodds, John Dolney, Joseph P. Donahoe, Patrick Doris, Edwin Dreisbach, Joseph Hall, 
William J. Harris, William Karnaras, Joseph Kasperavicz, Michael Lucyk, Michael F. Moran, 
John Muldoon, Daniel McCulla, William F. McLaughlin, John Rabishonfsky, Leo Raczkowski, 
George Reese, Edward G. Romanosky, Richard Sheehan, Stephen Waak, John Wargo, Joseph Wassel, 
Claude Wertz, David Yourouski (Rowse), and Francis Weeks.


WORLD WAR II

During World War Ii, men from Mahanoy City and its environs served in all parts of the world 
and their experiences were many and varied.  Much might be written concerning them, and they 
merit a special volume.

One of the unusual incidents of the war years relating to the community was the naming of a 
ship for Mahanoy City.

The SS Mahanoy City Victory, was launched February 26, 1945, at the Bethlehem Fairfield 
Shipyard near Baltimore, Md.  A 10,700-ton vessel, it was 457 feet long and had a speed of 
from 17 to 18 knots.

Page 77 - 

It was christened by Miss Roseann Konsavage, a student in the sophomore class at the 
Mahanoy City High School who won the honor as the result of winning an essay contest 
sponsored by District 9, United Mine Workers of America and the Solid Fuels Administration.

On its first cargo run the USS Mahanoy City made a trip to Odessa, Russia, and returned to 
New Orleans, La, to be converted into a troop carrier for returning men to the States from 
overseas.

On September 30, 1945, the Mahanoy City started on its first troop-carrying voyage to 
Marseilles, France, and returned with units of the 413th AA CA and the 496th Air Service Group.

Captain Henry C. Bauer, who followed the sea for thirty-four years, was the skipper of the 
Mahanoy City.  Transport Commander of the ship was Captain James M. Whitson, of Dallas, Texas, 
former Field Artillery officer, who during the war had vast experience in embarking and 
debarking troops.

In the Record-American, issue of December 14, 1945, is to be found detailed information 
relating to the ship.

WOMEN IN THE SERVICE

Serving in the Army Nurse Corps were Lieutenant Colonel Nellie Close and her sister, 
Lieutenant Ann Close, of Gilberton, who later located in Mahanoy City; 
Lieutenant Margaret Horne and her twin sister, Lieutenant Mary Horne, 
Lieutenant Bernice Janov, First Lieutenant Irene Liachowitz, Lieutenant Julia McGroarty, 
First Lieutenant Mary A. Waba, Lieutenant Ann Yock, Lieutenant Helen Coyle.

In the Women’s Army Corps were Louis Long Mathis, Mary Urban, Kathryn Hughes, Ruth Hughes, 
Marian Dower, Marian H. Filer, Dorothy Osadchak, Agnes Roberts, Anna Straka.

In the Waves were Rose Wisgardi Urban, Clara J. Leski, Mary Dearcot Matthews, Amelia Lusckus 
and Louis Sticher.

Serving in the Marine Corps Reserve were: Sgt. Teofilia Boczkowski, Cpl. Marie Kreig.

In the Navy Nurse Corps were Ensigns Catherine Christman and Rosemary Dorning.

Mary Britz served in the WAFS.

Serving in the SPARS were S2/C Irene B. Deesing and PO3/C Florence Strause.

The following roster of Mahanoy City’s Hero Dead in World War II was published in the 
Record-American on May 20, 1946:

Pvt. Jerome J. Szemantowicz, 2nd Lt. Paul Petrucka, S2/C John J. Shovlin, 
MM1/C Joseph M. Shott, FC3/C John W. Foley, S/Sgt. Andrew Peregrin, Pfc. William C. Bogdan, 
Sgt. William Berwick, Tech. Sgt. Edward A. Bankes, Sgt. John A. Brocker, 
2nd Lt. William Kaleda, AS2/C Wilbur L. Brill, Pvt. Albert Hasenbein, Pfc. John J. McGill, 
Pvt. Andrew W. Petcavage, Pvt. John J. Gromalski, 2nd Lt. Joseph J. Zagorski, 
Cpl. Michael Hydock, Pvt. James H. Hagenbuch, Pvt. WiIliam Litwaitis, Pvt. Michael Trojchak, 
2nd Lt. Basil Kaczmarczyk, S/Sgt. Joseph F. Kufrovich, T/5 Nicholas M. Rich, 
Sgt. William Blackwell, Pvt. Anthony J. Parulas, Pfc, James F. Post, Pvt. John T. Budrow, 
Pvt. Joseph A Gonzales, Pfc. Albert J. Pranis, S/Sgt. William T. Foley, Captain Francis Pieri, 
Cpl. John S. Sofranko, S/Sgt. Stanley Szematowicz, Pfc. John R. Smarr, Sgt. Peter Medwick, 
S/Sgt. Carl W. Bialet (White), T/S James D. Haley, Sgt. Frank Barone, 
lst Lt. Bernard P. Silkowski, T/4 Samuel J. Graham, J. Graham, Pfc. John M. Burshefsky, 
Pfc. Joseph C. Kubilus, T/Sgt. Michael Chalkan, Jr., 2nd Lt. Mark Noonan, 
Pvt. Joseph A. Urban, Cpl. William Boyle, Pfc. David E. Jenkins, S/Sgt. Frank B. Kleckner, 
Pvt. John P. Pelarcik, Cpl. Joseph Litsch, Jr., Pfc. Harrison J. Fetterman, 
lst Sgt. Anthony P. Uritis, Pfc. Alphonsus H. Chiginsky, S/Sgt. Clarence R. Marshall, 
Sgt. Earl A. Herring, Pfc. John Lowatti, Sgt. Francis E. Truskowski, 
Y3/C Anthony E. Miskavage, AOM1/C William H. Lutz, Captain Robert Lowe, 
S1/C Thomas J. Bolish, Ph/M Leonard J. Petcavage, GM2/C Edward R. Conrad, 
S/Sgt. Theodore Sisak, lst Lt. Bernard J. Susavage, Pfc. Leonard J. Matulavage, 
Sgt. Edward J. Kiselewski, Cpl. Joseph S. Elko, Sgt. George J. Alberici, 
Sgt. Michael Kustra, S/Sgt. John P. Skodis.


KOREAN WAR

Mahanoy City servicemen who lost their lives during the Korean War included: 
Corporal Louis F. Miskavage, Private Vincent T. Long and Pfc. John Gnall.

Page 78 - 

*Photo of Roll of Honor -  TRIBUTE TO WORLD WAR II VETERANS
Community Citizens Serving Our Country
Caption…As the war continued, wings with additional names were placed on each side of the 
main section.

(Transcribers note:  The Roll of Honor was located at the northeast corner of Second and 
Centre Streets where Wagner’s Gas Station was located).


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