Signed by 2 prominent Gettysburg citizens who were prominent during the battle!
Issued to and signed by a member of the famous Culp family of Gettysburg!
7 1/4 x 3, imprinted check, filled out in ink. Two cents, U.S. Internal Revenue tax stamp at upper left of the check, with a bust view of President George Washington. Gettysburg, PA., Dec. 19th, 1872. Gettysburg National Bank, Pay to Jeremiah Culp. Twelve Dollars and 34/100. Signed at lower right by D. Kendlehart. Endorsed on the reverse by Jeremiah Culp, and S.G. Cook. Light fold wear and age toning. Desirable Gettysburg document signed by two of its prominent war time citizens!
Jeremiah Culp:
The recipient of this check, who signed it on the reverse, Jeremiah Culp, was born in Adams County, Pa., on May 4, 1822. Jeremiah married Rebecca F. Howell, and had 12 children. He owned and operated a carpenter shop located at 141 York Street, which was used as a hospital and operating room during the battle, and its aftermath. His carpenter’s bench made a good operating table, and a pile of amputated arms and legs were left outside of the building just under the window.
Jeremiah also served as the draft officer for the area and consequently had the names of the local men who were eligible for the war. When the Confederates took over the town on July 1st, they sought out Jeremiah Culp, and found him at his 141 York Street residence/shop. Demanding he give them the names of these eligible men, Culp refused to cooperate with the Rebels and successfully argued his way out of the dilemma.
Jeremiah and Rebecca had a baby boy, that was born in their York Street location, on July 4, 1863. Known as the "Battle Baby," he was named Jeremiah "Meade" Culp, with his middle name being given to him in honor of the Union Commander at Gettysburg, General George G. Meade.
Continuing with the patriotic tradition that they started with the birth of their first son, they named their second son, Harvey "Reynolds" Culp, who was born in 1865, in honor of Union General John F. Reynolds, who was killed on the first day's fighting, July 1, 1863. Jeremiah Culp passed away on April 1, 1887, in Gettysburg.
David Kendlehart:
(1813-91) A prosperous businessman in Gettysburg, he was president of the city council on June 26, 1863, when Confederate General Jubal A. Early, entered Gettysburg, and demanded goods and money from the town. Kendlehart refused, but offered for the stores to be opened so the town's civilians could supply what they could of the general's demands. He later slipped out of town and maintained a low profile during the battle until the morning of July 4th, when he entered the Union lines and informed Union Commander, General George G. Meade of the Confederate withdrawal from the streets of Gettysburg.
Kendlehart, also the owner of a shoe business on Baltimore Street, met General Early as he rode into town less than a week before the outbreak of battle, and demanded to speak with the borough’s mayor. The Confederate general’s inquiry proved fruitless however, as Burgess Robert Martin’s wife informed General Early that Martin and most of the councilmen had already left the town in advance of the arrival of the Confederates army. The responsibility of representing the borough in negotiations with Early therefore fell to Mr. Kendlehart. Early demanded that Kendlehart furnish the rebel troops with thousands of pounds of provisions, shoes, hats, and U.S. currency. Kendlehart’s refusal to supply the rebels, citing limited authority of the Borough, and the impossibility of securing so much material in a small municipality such as Gettysburg.
His tactful argument may have saved the town from ruin in retribution for his noncompliance. Although he refused to hand over the supplies, Kendlehart removed responsibility from the borough, and did, however, suggest that the Confederates go from household to household asking the citizens of Gettysburg to furnish whatever they could. Kendlehart would leave Gettysburg proper that evening to remain hidden two miles outside of the borough at McAllister’s Mill until the end of the battle, at which point the leaderless citizens exercised their own political agenda with General Early. The money in the town bank was hidden, families hid their food and possessions, residents protected their free black neighbors from capture, and most of the Gettysburg citizens lied about having anything of value when the Confederate soldiers asked. The Rebels gained very little from the town’s unified defiance, marveling at how such a population could possess so little.
David Kendlehart died on April 30, 1891, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pa.
WBTS Trivia: The town of Gettysburg, Pa. was established by James Gettys in 1786.
Culp's Hill, played a major role during the battle and saw much fighting throughout the 3 day battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 2, 3, 1863. |