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| Name | Narrative | Branch and Rank | Unit and Specialty | Conflict/Arena | Born/Died |
| Charles E. Allison | Charles E. Allison was born in 1847. He entered the Civil War on January 23, 1865 and served as a private in D Company, 40th NJ Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, for which he earned a $685 bounty from Delanco. His residence before and after the war is unclear. Charles died December 20, 1913 and is buried in the St. Andrews Graveyard in Mount Holly, New Jersey. | Union Army | D Co 40th NJ Vol Inf | Civil War | 1847 - 1913 |
| George Annan | George Annon served in the Union Army during the Civil War. | Union Army | Unit? | Civil War | ? |
| George S. Bishop | George S. Bishop was born in 1841. He enlisted in the US Army on September 1, 1862 and mustered into H Co of the 23rd NJ Volunteer Infantry on September 13, 1862. He fought at the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns and mustered out June 27, 1863. On January 1, 1864, George married Elizabeth W Gennett Bishop, who was born in 1844. In 1913 their home and contents burned on the eve of George’s anticipated trip to a military reunion at Gettysburg. The community raised a purse to help the family. George died on November 19, 1913. Elizabeth died in 1921 in New Albany NJ. Both are buried in the Christian Brethren Burying Ground in Delran. | Union Army, Pvt | H Co 23rd Reg NJ Vol Inf | Civil War | 1841 – 1913 |
| Richard Bowers | Richard was honored for his Civil War service on Memorial Day in 1928. | Union Army, Rank? | Unit? | Civil War | ? |
| Francis W. "Frank" Carter | Francis W. "Frank" Carter was born about 1842 in Philadelphia PA, the son of Abraham and Lavinia Carter. The family moved to Delanco and Frank worked as a farmer. They appeared in Delanco on the 1860 Census. Frank enrolled in the H Co. 101st PA Vol. Reg. Oct. 25,1861 at age 18, and mustered in Oct. 29, 1861. Frank re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864 at Plymouth, NC. He participated in the Siege of Plymouth NC. On April 20, 1864 the entire garrison of over 2,100 Union troops was captured. The regiments captured were the 16th CT, 85th NY, 103rd PA. and the 101st PA. They would be known forever as the "Plymouth Pilgrims". They were transported to Andersonville Prison in GA for many months, then, towards the middle of September 1864, prisoners began to be transferred to the new Florence Stockade located in Florence, SC. Conditions in the camps were miserable. Frank died at Florence Stockade Oct 7, 1864 of Dysentery and was buried as an unknown in Florence National Cemetery. The regiment lost during service 39 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer, and 281 enlisted men by disease. A total of 321. Frank’s family moved from Delanco back to Philadelphia prior to the 1870 Census. | Union Army, Pvt | H Co 101st PA Vol | Civil War | 1842 – 1864 |
| Andrew J. Collum | Andy Collum was born in 1846 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. At age 12 he launched a theatrical career in Vaudeville. At age 14 Collum enlisted in the Union Army as a drummer boy, using an assumed name and false age. He later joined a new regiment under his own name and age, serving a few months before the end of the conflict. His 1890 pension lists him as a Private in F Troop of 104 PA Regiment. He was reported to be an eyewitness to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in 1865 and claims to have been the last surviving participant to have done so. Collum was a representative of the Grand Army of the Republic at countless Memorial Day Parades in Riverside. Andrew was one of three Civil War veterans honored on Memorial Day about 1920 (photos in Delanco Archive) and honored on Memorial Day in 1938. After the war, he returned to the Vaudeville stage. Collum was known as a leading banjoist and had a comedy act and went on to manage a New York theatrical house. He also left a legacy of popular music to the American musical scene. It is not clear when Andy Collum moved to Delanco. But, when he retired from the stage, he operated a small bowling alley in Delanco on Walnut Street and a small pool hall around the corner on Mulberry. Andy married (1st) Emma Ida Madigan in New York on December 27, 1873. She was a circus bareback rider. Children: Andrew, Martha Mary "Mamie" Fenimore and Annie Collum. Andy married (2nd) Mary Jane on September 10, 1884. Children: Herbert A., Anita L. Ballinger, Wilbur G. "Hap" Collum, Norman, John W. II (1895), Blanche E., twins Hazel Yearly Zelly and David M., and Mattie. Mary Jane died in 1936. When Andy Collum died after a stroke in 1940, a headline billed him as "The greatest banjoist in the United States." At the time of his death, Andy was also the oldest member of the Elks, having joined BPOE Lodge No 1 in 1873. His daughter, Anita "Aunt Neddie" Ballinger was living in the family home in 1976. | Union Army, PVT | F Troop, 104th PA Reg | Civil War | 1846 – 1940 |
| James Corneal | James Corneal was born about 1843 in Philadelphia, the son of George J. and Adeline Mansfield Corneal. One of 14 children. James appears in the 1860 Census in Delanco. James enlisted in the Civil War and served in F Co, 12th Reg, NJ Volunteers, attaining the rank of Corporal. He died in Philadelphia, February 3, 1864 at age 20 or 21 as a result of serious illness in camp. He was initially buried in Franklin Cemetery in Kensington, Philadelphia (now defunct) with full military honors. He was reburied in Greenwood Cemetery with family. | Union Army, Cpl | F Co, 12th NJ Reg | Civil War | 1843 – 1864 |
| Charles Crawford Dunn | Charles Crawford Dunn served in the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment which mustered in/out at Camp Olden in Trenton. The Three-Month regiment was active April 26, 1861 to July 21, 1861 under the command of Colonel George W. McLean and tasked with the defense of Washington DC The Three-year battalion was active May 27, 1861 to July 11, 1865 under the command of Colonel Samuel L. Buck. It had a long battle history including the 1st and 2nd Battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Battle of the Wilderness and Appomattox among others. Charles is buried in the Dunn family plot in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. | Union Army | 2nd NJ Vol Inf | Civil War | ? |
| William H. Dunn | William Houston Dunn was born in 1842 in New Jersey. William joined the Union Army and served as a private in Co. G of the NJ 23rd Reg Volunteer Infantry. They mustered in at Camp Cadwalader in Beverly September 13, 1862. They were attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. It was originally named the Quaker Regiment, then adopted the name Jersey Yahoos. They were tasked with the defense of Washington, then saw action in Virginia. They mustered out in June, 1863. William married Lydia A. McNeely in 1864. They had six children. Lydia died in 1909. William died May 14, 1919 in Moorestown at age 75. They are buried in Bridgeboro Methodist Cemetery. | Union Army, Pvt | G Co 23rd NJ Vol Inf | Civil War | 1842 – 1919 |
| Richard G. Gennett, Sr. | Richard George Gennett, Sr. was born in Chester Township, Burlington County on July 8, 1846, the son of John M. and Margaret Roman Gennett. He enlisted in the 115th Pennsylvania Infantry on April 18, 1862. He later transferred to the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was wounded in the leg in the Battle of Gettysburg. He mustered out on June 22, 1864. He married (1st) Anna Ella Armstrong on October 6, 1866. They had eight children. Richard was honored in Delanco for his service during the Civil War on Memorial Day in 1928. Anna died in 1931. Richard married (2nd) Caroline Bice Scott on February 11, 1932. Richard died January 28, 1934 in Croydon, Bucks County PA. Carolyn died in 1935. Richard and Caroline were buried in Beverly National Cemetery. Richard’s parents and all siblings are buried in the Christian Brethren Burying Ground on Route 130 in Delran. | Union Army, Pvt | 115th PA Inf 110th PA Inf | Civil War | 1846 – 1934 |
| Van Buren Hansbury | Van Buren was born in Delanco in 1842 and was one of Delanco’s first commercial fishermen. He enlisted in the Civil War in 1861 at age 19 and reenlisted. He saw action at Bull Run and Yorktown, the 7-day Battle of Richmond. He was discharged in 1863 and returned to shad fishing in Delanco. He married Catherine. Van Buren opened an oyster and fish market on Franklin Street behind this residence that faced Burlington Avenue. Van Buren was a charter member of the Delanco Town Hall Association in 1884. He was active with Dobbins Methodist Church. He was honored for his service in the Civil War on Memorial Day in 1928. He died in Delanco March 10, 1929 at age 86 or 87. He was likely the father of Van Buren Hansbury, the commercial shad fisherman of Delanco. Both are buried in Monument Cemetery, Beverly. | Union Army | I Co, 5th NJ Inf. | Civil War | 1842 – 1929 |
| Charles Hullings | Charles Hullings was born June 15, 1844, the son of Josiah and Emily Shreuder Hullings. He had three siblings. Charles Joined the Union Army on August 26, 1862 and served until he was honorably discharged on June 27, 1863. He served in Co. G of the NJ 23rd Volunteer Infantry – the Jersey Yahoos. He was a wagoner with the rank of Private and saw action at Fredericksburg in 1862 and Chancellorsville in 1863. Charles was honored for his service in the Civil War on Memorial Day in 1928. | Union Army, Pvt | G Co, 23rd NJ Inf | Civil War | 1844 – 1928 |
| Benjamin Keebler | Benjamin Keebler was born November 2, 1848 in Germany. He emigrated to the United States and was a veteran of the Civil War, serving with E Co, 2nd New Hampshire Infantry and was one of three surviving veterans honored by Delanco on Memorial Day about 1920. (See photo in Delanco Archive). He married Mary E. Keebler in 1877. Ben was an honorary member of the Riverside Fire Department. He ran the old boiler room in the Keystone Watch Case Building and once saved the structure by quick work on an over-pressurized tank. His work so impressed owner, Theophilus Zurbrugg, that when Theophilus died, he left Ben $500 in his will. Ben was still listed as a veteran living in Delanco in a Veteran’s Day tribute in 1928. Ben died May 12, 1932 in Riverside at age 83 and was buried next to Mary in Bridgeboro Street Cemetery in Riverside. | Union Army, Rank? | E Co, 2nd NH Inf | Civil War | 1847 - 1932 |
| Henry Kreiner, Jr. | Henry Kreiner, Jr. was born in 1843 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the son of Henry and Rebecca Kreiner. The family were wharf builders by trade. The family had moved to Delanco by 1852. Henry served in K Co. 5th PA Inf. Henry used the name Harry in the 1870 Census. Henry Married Elizabeth of Hessian ancestry. In 1900 Henry is listed as a constable. Unclear what his role was in the Alligator submarine story. | Union Army, Rank? | Unit? | Civil War | 1843 – |
| Pierre Leon | Pierre Leon was an important resident of Delanco. He was born on August 23, 1838 in Nice, Departement des Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. He arrived in Philadelphia as an 11-year old stowaway aboard the Juniette in 1849, then signed on as crew and remained aboard to work for the next three years on the Juniette, as well as other ships that worked out of Philadelphia’s port. in 1859, Pierre was enlisted by inventor, Brutus de Villeroi to work as a civilian crew member aboard his salvage submarine "Alligator", the crew staying at the Delaranco Hotel while they were training. When the Civil War began, Pierre enlisted in the US Navy August 19, 1861 in Philadelphia and served for four years. During his service he listed his residence as Delanco. He would eventually serve on seven different warships during his tenure. Pierre served as a seaman aboard the river ironclad "USS St. Louis", which had its name changed in September 1862 to the “USS Baron De Kalb”, and rose to Captain of the Forecastle, with responsibilities overseeing the ship’s crew quarters, anchors and sails. While serving aboard the "Baron De Kalb", he was wounded by a bursting gun during the ship’s participation in the operations against the Confederate stronghold on Island No. 10, in the Mississippi River on March 17, 1862. He was awarded with a Congressional Medal of Honor April 3, 1862 for his bravery in action during the Union’s December 1862 Yazoo River Expedition. His citation reading, “Proceeding under orders up the Yazoo River, the "USS Baron De Kalb", with the object of capturing or destroying the enemy's transports, came upon the steamers "John Walsh", "R.J. Locklan", "Golden Age", and the "Scotland" sunk on a bar where they were ordered fired. Continuing up the river, she was fired on, but upon returning the fire, caused the enemy's retreat. Returning down the Yazoo, she destroyed and captured larger quantities of enemy equipment and several prisoners. Serving bravely throughout this action, Leon, as captain of the forecastle, distinguished himself in the various actions." His Medal was issued to him on April 3, 1862, and was one of four “Baron De Kalb” crewmembers to be awarded as such. He lost his Medal, however, on July 13, 1863 when the “Baron De Kalb” struck an underwater Confederate mine and sunk on the Yazoo River just below Yazoo City, Mississippi (in 1940 one of his children would request from the government a replacement for it). He also served aboard the "USS Black Hawk", gunboat "USS Romeo", "USS New Hampshire", "USS Princeton", "USS Nantucket: and the “Passaic”-class ironclad monitor “USS Nahant”. He was honorably discharged August 27, 1865. He resided in Delanco, New Jersey after the war and married Anna M. Mayer in 1866. He served for a time as Watchman for the Philadelphia Watch Case Company. He died December 7, 1915 and is buried with his wife, Anna in St. Peter's Cemetery in Riverside. | US Navy, Capt of the F'castle | USS Alligator, USS St. Louis, USS Baron de Kalb, USS Black Hawk, USS Romeo, USS New Hampshire, USS Princeton, USS Nantucket, USS Nahant. | Civil War Missippi River | 1838 – 1915 |
| Isachar B. Meeks | Isachar Meeks was a close friend of Alexander Rhodes. Isachar fought in the Civil War and returned to Delanco from the US Army in 1863. | Union Army, Rank? | Unit | Civil War | ? |
| Albert Hale Mershon | Albert Hale Mershon was born in 1839 to Daniel and Elizabeth Burkhard Mershon in Philadelphia. He served in the Civil War in the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He appears to have married, 1st, Katherine Merritt Clewges. Mr. & Mrs. Mershon were listed as residents of Delanco in Boyd's Blue Book for 1898 - 1899. Katherine died in 1909. Albert married, 2nd, Martha Rebecca in 1913. They had a yacht, "Katherine M." registered in Delanco in 1914. Albert was listed as an industrialist and Owner of Mershon Patent Shaking Grate Works. Albert and Martha appear to be the parents of M. Bertha, Mrs. Thomas C. Steel, and grandparents of Louis Davis Steel, Sr. of Delanco. Albert was residing at 345 E. Main Street, Moorestown when he died December 18, 1926. Martha died in 1942. Kathrine, Martha and Albert are buried in the Mershon mausoleum in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. | Union Army, Sgt | 15th PA Cavalry, | Civil War | 1839 - 1926 |
| Samuel J. Painter | Samuel Joyce Painter was born in 1844 and became a ward of the Taylor family. At age 16, Sam lied about his age in order to enlist in the US Army to fight in the Civil War. He became a member of G Company of the 23rd Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry – the Jersey Yahoos, which mustered at Camp Cadwalader in Beverly. He fought in the Battle of Salem Church, Virginia where he was severely wounded on May 3, 1863 and lost his right arm. He mustered out at Camp Cadwalader in Beverly as a private. After the war, he returned to Delanco and was employed as a bridgetender. Sam married Margaret Wells Bishop and had six children. The family lived at 400 Burlington Avenue about 1911. Sam reportedly fell in the Rancocas Creek in Delanco and drowned on October 20, 1917. Mary died in 1928, Both are buried in Asbury Cemetery in Cinnaminson NJ. | Union Army, Pvt | G Co 23rd NJ Vol Inf | Civil War | 1844 – 1917 |
| James O. "Oscar" Pennington | James Osgood "Oscar" Pennington was born November 2, 1839 in Milledgeville, Georgia, the son of Reverend Ephraim Pennington in Rowen County, North Carolina and Lucy Brown of Texas; Great grandson of Rev. Ephraim Chester Pennington. James enlisted with the Confederate Army on September 17, 1861, and served in C Co, 35th Georgian Infantry. He was tasked as a mail carrier and appointed Sergeant on August 24, 1862. On assignment carrying mail from Atlanta, he went north and ended up at Gettysburg. He engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 – 3, 1863. He deserted in 1864. One story reports he was received at Fortress Monroe Virginia on July 19, 1864. He took the Oath of Allegiance to the US and was sent to Philadelphia PA. Another account says he walked 155 miles to Bristol, Pennsylvania and found a Bristolian who rowed him across the Delaware River. James settled in Delanco, Burlington County. Ho married (1st) Josephine and (2nd) Anne Corr (Core) Johnsen who was born about 1839 in Vincentown, New Jersey. James and Ann raised 14 children. It is noted that many of their offspring became farmers in Delanco in the late 1800s. James died in 1911 in Rahway, New Jersey. | CSA Army, Sgt | C Co 35th GA Inf, Mail Carrier | Civil War | 1839 – 1911 |
| Benjamin F. Perkins | Benjamin Franklin Perkins was born on September 13, 1843, Son of Richard VS Perkins and his wife Anna Elizabeth; one of three siblings. He was a resident of Beverly, however there was no mention of him in Delanco village in the 1860 Census. Ben served as a Private in the Civil War. He married Kate Andrews of Tuckerton in 1866. He was living on Van Rossum Avenue in Beverly in 1911. He died on October 20, 1915 at age 73 and is buried in Monument Cemetery. | Union Army, Pvt | ? | Civil War | 1843 – 1915 |
Updated October 30, 2023