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WHO WAS - Paul Messner
in Plum Township
Venango County, Pennsylvania
By H. W. Strawbridge - July 16, 1957

Paul Messner was born in Germany on March 3, 1838. He spent his childhood in that country and also learned the cooper's trade there.

In 1857 he came to America where he spent his first two years or so in this country isn't known, but he ventured to Plum Township around 1860.

In 1861 Paul was in the employment of A. J. Cowen who lived near Wallaceville. Just what type of work Paul did for Mr. Cowen is uncertain, but it was either farming, the cooper business or store clerking.

Although Paul was not a member, record indicates that he did attend the M. E. Church of Wallaceville in 1861 when the class leader was Hezekiah Thomas. Meetings were held at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoons in the original building of worship in that community.

On Oct. 6, 1861, Paul enrolled for Civil War service at Franklin in Company I of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry for a period of three years. He was mustered into service as a private on Oct. 18 in Harrisburg. Several young men in the Wallaceville and Sunville areas enlisted in this particular company.

A description of Paul, as contained in military records, shows him having been 5 feet, 9 and a half inches in height, with light complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair.

The Fourth Pa. Cavalry took part in a number of major battles and campaigns. On Jan. 5, 1864, Paul re-enlisted for another term. More than two-thirds of the men in the regiment re-enlisted.

Company I was at Turkey Run, Va., during the month of March, 1864. It was not in action on March 1 or 2. Paul had evidently been on detached service at the time because he was captured by the enemy at Burnt Ordinary, near Williamsburg, Va., on March 1. It happened during one of Gen. H. J. Kilpatrick's famous raids on Richmond.

In Andersonville Prison

Paul was sent to the Andersonville Prison, Ga., where he spent the remainder of the war. He had cleverly sewed his money all through his clothing so the Confederates would not detect it while he was in prison. This act saved his life and also the life of a comrade named Davison. They were able to occasionally buy the little necessities to keep living.

Still Paul became quite sick and never did fully recover from the rigors and hardships of the dreaded prison. He contracted scurvy and heart disease there.

After Lee's surrender, Paul was receipted for at Vicksburg, Miss., on April 21, 1865, as a paroled prisoner of war. From there he went to Benton Barracks, Mo., thence to Camp Parole, Md., arriving there on May 11. He was discharged at Harrisburg on May 13. His discharge papers gave the belated date of June 19.

He came back to Venango County and lived at the home of Col. T. S. Strohecker in Jackson Township. Col. Strohecker had recruited Company I of the 57th Regiment of Pa. Volunteers, and he had acquired a distinguished service record. This colonel and Paul were close friends.

Paul lived at the Strohecker residence for 14 months. He built a little grocery store just above the rise of the hill on Strohecker's land, and ran it several months. Some of the time Paul was sick from his prison experience and was attended by Dr. E. C. Westlake of Cherrytree.

Eats "Witch Woman's Egg"

On Easter, probably in 1866, a certain woman of the area whom many people thought to be a "witch woman", but who in all frankness was kindly and harmless, brought some sugared eggs to the Strohecker place. Paul and two other men were each given an egg, but they refused to eat the eggs, giving them a throw. However, Col. Strohecker ate his and felt fine, brushing aside superstition.

Miss Caroline Borger of Sunville, who was born July 15, 1838, worked for Mrs. Strohecker who kept borders in her home. Paul met Caroline there, and they later married on Nov. 15, 1866. Rev. W. C. Burchard, pastor of the Presbyterian Churches in Cherrytree and Sunville married the couple.

One day one of Col. Strohecker's daughters, Mary Etta, asked Paul if he would make a cradle for her doll. During his spare time he did, and this cradle still exists in the home of Mrs. Gertrude Jennings, 86, the last surviving daughter of Col. Strohecker. Mrs. Jennings lives on the old homestead and can recall Paul Messner, and also his last visit to the Strohecker home. He had walked down from Sunville, carrying his youngest daughter, Sadie, who was then six months old. Mrs. Jennings, then a girl, had knitted a hood and gave it to Sadie. This was in 1880.

Made Home in Sunville

On Oct. 4, 1866, Paul bought a lot in the Sunville community from John S. Davison for $100. He had a house erected and then he and Caroline moved there, where they lived the remainder of their lives.

They had five children: Charles H. Messner, Miss Ada L. Messner, Alton R. Messner, Mrs. Anna M. Oram and Mrs. Sadie B. Grove. Little Alton died on Feb. 6, 1876, aged 1 month and 7 days.

Paul had a cooper shop in Sunville which was located by an alley in the east side of the community. A good share of his barrels were hauled away by James F. Davison of near Bradleytown who took them to Oil Creek. Paul had taught the coopers trade to Crawford Billig, an ex-Civil War soldier, who lived above Wallaceville.

Occasionally Paul received letters from relatives in Germany. He would take the letters to Nicholas Ribb who lived on the hill west of Bradleytown. Ribb, also of German descent, and Paul would read over the letters together. This was related by Mrs. Elma Bumpus, 91, of Bradleytown who can well remember Paul. She also recalls of Paul attending some Literary Society meetings in Bradleytown. Once he was asked on a short notice to have an essay for the next meeting. He had to get busy quick and prepare it in time.

Mrs. Messner had joined the Presbyterian Church in Sunville on Nov. 1, 1857, years prior to her marriage. Paul became a member of the same church on Feb. 2, 1867, and both always remained faithful and attentive members.

Mrs. Messner kept hotel for years and also boarded pupils who attended the Sunville Academy.

Photo in Civil War Uniform

This photograph of Paul in his Civil War uniform is owned by Mrs. Rose Messner and sons of Hialeah, Fla., but who spend their summers in Sunville. Her husband was the late Dr. Paul O. Messner who died in October, 1950. He was a grandson of the original Paul.

In February, 1881, measles were in the Messner and Gilliland homes in Sunville.

For several years Dr. J. M. Dille of Cooperstown treated Paul for dyspepsia and a chronic kidney ailment. He was able to get a Civil War pension until his death.

During the latter 1870s, Paul commenced to fail more noticeably. He also developed anemia along with his other ailments. By late 1881 he was confined to his house, and in January, 1882, he took to bed. He made his will during the first week of March. He died at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22.

On that very night a Biblical cantata was given in the Academy building by Professor McCoy. While this was taking place, word reached the assemblage that the Matthews house in Sunville was burning down. This caused great confusion but nobody was hurt. It seems that Mrs. Jane Matthews had built up quite a hot fire to do a large ironing. This caused the house to catch fire.

House Roof Set on Fire

As if this wasn't enough, another alarming incident was to take place. On Friday while they were removing Mr. Messner's body from his house to the Presbyterian Church for the funeral, someone looked up and discovered that a spark from the chimney had set the Messner house roof on fire. This created some confusion, but it was put out without any damage.

Mr. Messner was given a full military service. The Cooperstown National Guards were in attendance as well as a group of ex-soldiers under Col. Strohecker. Former Civil War comrades around the Sunville vicinity were pall-bearers. The church was very crowded. Rev. T. D. Stewart, the Presbyterian pastor, officiated, assisted by Rev. W. H. Hover, the Methodist pastor.

Mrs. Messner continued living at Sunville, and she with her children were able to get a pension through the influence by Col. Strohecker.

She had heart trouble during her later years, and she died quite suddenly in May, 1906.

The Messner house burned down several years later when another family occupied it. No house is on the lot anymore.

Transcribed by Penny Kulbacki Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net

Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription ofinformation from both early and late (current contributors) work.