Kehrwecker family papers

The Kehrwecker Family Papers is an extensive series of Civil War era correspondence, primarily the letters of Frederick and John Kehrwecker, covering the period from Sept. 1861 until mid-July 1863, with a few additional letters into the 1880's. Additionally, the collection includes a small number of printed items, legal papers, maps, photographs, and an oral interview with Anna Kehrwecker (born 1858), a younger sister of Fred and John, recorded Dec. 27, 1959, when she was 101 years old.

The most extensive correspondence series is the sequence of letters from Frederick Kehrwecker, serving in Co.E, 31st O.V.I., to his brother John. Beginning the day after he mustered-in on Sept. 1, 1861, Frederick's 24 letters give descriptions of camp life, training, activities of friends, troop movements, and battles. The 31st Regiment, O.V.I. was involved in two major actions during the course of Frederick's letters. The Siege of Corinth, Mississippi is described in the letters of May 11-June 2, 1862, and the participation of Company E in the Battle of Trinity Station is mentioned in the letter of Aug. 6.

The small pocket diary which belonged to Frederick contains very few entries of substance. Several pages consist primarily of personal accounts from March through August 1862. However, there are brief entries detailing activities for May 6 and June 14 at Corinth, Mississippi, and Sept. 2 and 11 at the Hospital at Nashville, Tenn. Frederick died at Nashville on Sept. 28, 1862.

John Kehrwecker's correspondence includes letters to his brother Frederick, to one of his sisters, to other members of his family, and to a friend, Levi Maxwell. The two early letters written to his brother describe events around Westfield Township and activities of friends and family before John joined the army. In the letters of July 29 and August 20 John tells of being mustered in to Co.C, 96th O.V.I., giving the names of other local men in the service. With the death of Frederick in September 1862, John's correspondence continues in letters to others. The letter of Jan. 7, 1863 to Levi Maxwell describes the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, including heavy losses suffered by another regiment, the 16th Ohio, in that battle. The Battle of Arkansas Post is described in the letter of Jan. 13, 1863 to his family, including names of family friends killed. Two letters to his sister (June 13 and 26, 1863) and one to his brother George (July 4, 1863) describe the Siege of Vicksburg and the surrender of the city. John died on July 17, 1863 of disease at Vicksburg.

The collection includes a small series of letters written to John from friends at home and in the service with other regiments. The letters of J.H. Rhodes with Co. K., 43rd Regt. O.V.I., describe activities around Corinth, Miss. The letter from Lewis Hack of July 30, 1862 mentions events at Camp Chase, Ohio while finishing a 100 day tour of service with Co. C, 85th Regt. O.V.I. The remaining letters are all from women back home in Cardington. Of particular interest in these letters are two different accounts of the same pro-Vallandigham "Butternut" rally held in Cardington, one from John's sister (July 15, 1863) and the other from "Miss Jane" (July 17).

The remainder of the correspondence in the collection are German language letters to John George Kehrwecker. The earliest of these are addressed to him at locations in Pennsylvania, soon after he emigrated to the United States. This correspondence is divided into three series; Civil War era letters; items from C.F. Felger of Arcola, Indiana; and other German correspondence. The Civil War letters include two significant items from John G.H. Metzner, who served in the 96th O.V.I. with John Kehrwecker. One letter recounts the participation of the regiment in a battle early in 1864, and the other describes the conditions in Mobile, Alabama during the siege of that city in March of 1865. The correspondence from Christof Friedrich Felger, an old family friend, describes activities of family and mutual friends, as well as agricultural activities in the area of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The last series of German correspondence are letters to America from family members who remained at the old home in Schutzingen, Germany. The letters are of interest in establishing the relationships of the extended Kehrwecker family, with references to members emigrating to America, agricultural conditions at home (a wine growing region), and general activities of family and friends.

The balance of the collection includes miscellaneous legal papers, maps, certificates, photographs, and printed material. One printed item of note is a small pocket-sized devotional book in German published in 1862 for soldiers serving in the Union Army. Among the photographic items is a picture of John Kehrwecker in uniform, probably taken in 1862.

Finally, the collection includes a taped interview with Anna Kehrwecker, conducted on Dec. 27, 1959 when she was 101 years old. The content of the interview deals primarily with life around Cardington, Ohio during the late 19th century. While Anna recalls seeing the Lincoln Funeral Train pass Cardington, most of her answers regarding her brothers or the Civil War are sketchy. Anna died five months after the interview on May 25, 1960.