JSHA releases three new historical publications

Timing of the find couldn't have been better.

Letters from a Civil War soldier, his portrait, uniform buttons, and discharge papers discovered at an estate auction in Turbotville, Northumberland County, have enabled a local historical society to release a new book in 2011 honoring its kin and commemorating the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.

"The Civil War Letters and Experiences of Samuel Schwalm of the 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment" is just one of three new releases from the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, Inc., (JSHA) this year. The other two offerings include five volumes of "The Descendents of Johannes Schwalm and Allied Families" and "The Hessians: Journal of the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, Volume 14, 2011".

Two members of the editorial staff, Donald Reed, of Lancaster, and JSHA Vice-President N. Daniel Schwalm, of Shamokin, recently shared details of how the publications came about.

N. Daniel Schwalm attended the estate auction of Elizabeth Miller in Turbotville in June 2007 and was interested in the purchase of the Civil War items of Sgt. Samuel Schwalm. Although he wasn't successful in his bidding for the pieces, N. Daniel Schwalm contacted the buyer afterward and asked if he could at least take photos of the items for JSHA's records. The buyer agreed to sell the lot to the JSHA. According to JSHA, Elizabeth Miller's grandmother was Alice Marie Schwalm, daughter of Samuel Schwalm.

JSHA member David L. Schwalm, of Halifax, studied the lot and letters and wrote articles for the latest book, called "The Civil War Experiences of Samuel Schwalm and The Civil War Experiences of Samuel Schwalm -Revisited". David L. Schwalm is a descendent of John Schwalm, a brother of Samuel's. David Schwalm is a partner in the law firm of Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP, Harrisburg.

John David Hoptak, a Schuylkill County native, also wrote the introduction "With Stripes Unmarred and Stars Undimmed: A Brief History of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry in the Civil War" that is included in the 54-page book. Hoptak is an Interpretive Park Ranger at Antietam National Battlefield.

The publication details Samuel's experiences in the Civil War and features original, hand-written and transcribed letters between Samuel and Elizabeth Klinger Schwalm, and photos.

Samuel enlisted at age 34 with four young children and a fifth on the way. He lived at the lower end of what's now Valley View. Most of the Schwalm descendants in the "valley" are from this couple, according to Reed.

Since 1976, Reed began conducting his research for the five-volume compilation, "The Descendents of Johannes Schwalm and Allied Families" - which is also available as a CD. It contains biographical information from public documents and census records regarding over 16,000 descendants and their spouses, according to Reed. Many of the Schwalms married Reeds, Schadels, Millers and Klingers, he said, and those families are among many also listed in the book.

The volumes cost from $25 to $36, depending on the number of pages. The CD with all the volumes included costs $25.

The journal prices vary, depending on the year, from 1977-present. Annual membership in the JSHA costs $25, which includes the annual journal for free. The Samuel Schwalm publication is $18 for non-members. For more information, visit the website www.jsha.org, or write JSHA, P.O. Box 127, Scotland, PA 17254.

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