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Subj: Asylum (Durell) - Photo - 1862 War Dept. Death
Certificate
Date: 1/26/2003 3:45:37 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: rjm001@epix.net (Dick McCracken)
To: JoyceTice@aol.com (Joyce Tice)
Joyce,
Here's another unusual artifact of the Civil War.
An 1862 "Death Certificate" provided by the War Dept., in the possession
of Richard J. McCracken: "In Memory of: Melvin B. Keyzer of the 6th
Penna. Cavalry, Co D who died at Columbia Heights, April 27th 1862. A
Brave and Gallant Soldier and a True Patriot----His toils are past, his
work is done, And he is fully blest, He fought the fight, the victory won,
And enters into rest."
The inscription is placed on a tombstone, with a grieving lady on the left, and military unit marching off in the upper right. Behind them can be seen the Statue of Liberty. Title of the certificate is "The Soldier's Grave." The certificate is softly hand colored.
Melvin Keyser, son of Philip and Hanna VARGASON Keyser, was born April 1836, probably in Asylum Twp, Bradford County. Unmarried. Melvin was my great granduncle. Hanna VARGASON was the daughter of Isaac Verguson of Standing Stone and Sarah SHORES of Shores Hill, Wysox Twp. Hanna was the sister of Delos Vargason, Chief Clerk of Bradford County in the late 1800's.
Hanna's father, Philip Keyser, married second Mary Jane TAYLOR, daughter of
William W. and Hanna Taylor of Mainesburg, Tioga Co., Pennsylvania. They farmed
in the Covington and Cherry Flats area for a number of years before returning to
Asylum Twp, Bradford County. Philip and Mary Jane
TAYLOR Keyser are my great-great-grandparents.
--
Dick McCracken
Towanda, PA