BIO:  Jacob F. GUNDRUM, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, Hanover Borough and Penn Township, Pg 63

JACOB F. GUNDRUM, teacher and composer of music, and justice of the peace of 
Hanover, was born in Alsfeld, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 22, 1837, and 
is a son of Jacob and Sophie (Strecker) Gundrum.  His father was a preceptor in 
his native country over fifty years, and upon his retirement received from his 
king a gold cross, order of merit.  When quite young he began the study of music 
in his native city, and at the age of sixteen years he entered the seminary at 
Freidberg, near Frankfort-on-the-Main, from which he graduated in the class of 
1856.  The same year he taught music a few months and then came to America, and 
went directly to Wisconsin, where one of his sisters resided, with whom he 
remained until the war broke out.  In April, 1861, he enlisted at Mineral Point, 
Wis., in Company I, Second Wisconsin Volunteers, for three months, but re-
enlisted shortly after for three years, June 11, 1861.  He was soon transferred 
to the band, and with his regiment he participated in the battles of Blackburn’s 
Ford, July 18, 1861, and the first Bull Run, at the latter receiving a slight 
wound.  He served with the regiment until September, 1862, when all bands were 
mustered out.  During this part of service he took part in all the engagements 
which Gen. McDowell had in Virginia, until the second battle of Bull run, after 
which he returned to his own State to organize a brigade band, and re-enlisted 
November 9, 1863, in the brigade known as the “Iron Brigade of the West,” and 
with the brigade was in all the battles from that time until the war closed, 
receiving an honorable discharge June 12, 1865.  February 5, 1865, he was 
married at Gettysburg, Penn., to Susan Herr, a native of Lancaster County, and 
had five sons, two of whom died in infancy.  The living are Harry F., Charles A. 
and J. Willie.  After the close of the war he came to Gettysburg, where he began 
teaching music, forming a class also at Hanover, to which latter place he 
removed in 1867, and has since resided there, teaching music and dealing in 
pianos and organs.  Although in politics a Democrat, he was elected in 1861 
justice of the peace of Hanover Borough for five years.  He is a member of the 
G. A. R. and of the society of the “Iron Brigade.”  His wife died November 12, 
1882.  Mr. Gundrum has also been a successful composer of music.