Harrisburg Chapter Marker Dedications
Where Our Patriots Rest
To honor and preserve the legacies of Patriots buried in the Harrisburg area and Dauphin County cemeteries, the following sites were marked by Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, since the beginning in 1906. These dedications continued every decade up to the nation’s bicentennial in 1976.
Select a cemetery to learn about the dedication and see photos.
- 1906 Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard Gateway
- 1914 Silver Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery Gates
- 1924 New Side Churchyard Cemetery
- 1926 Harrisburg Cemetery Tablet
- 1927 Coxestown River Road Marker
- 1930 Hoffman’s Church Cemetery
- 1931 Hummel Memorial Cemetery
- 1931 Dauphin Cemetery
- 1937 Saint David's Reformed Church Cemetery (Killinger’s)
- 1941 Harrisburg Cemetery Gate
- 1943 Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery
- 1965 Fort Hunter Boxwood Garden Set
- 1968 Salem United Church of Christ
- 1969 Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cemetery
- 1976 Stroh Family Cemetery
- 1991 Coxestown River Road Marker (rededication)
- Unknown Derry Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard Gateway
Oct 8, 1906
Also known as Old Paxtang Presbyterian Meeting House Cemetery
3500 Sharon Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17111
Harrisburg Chapter’s first major work in the community was erecting a pillared gateway to the Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard dedicated to frontier defenders, the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812 soldiers who are buried here. It was decided to erect a gateway at the entrance of the cemetery to mark the place where these heroes sleep. The iron gateway is composed of two limestone pillars on which bronze tablets were placed bearing the names of soldiers buried in the graveyard. The gateway was completed in early August 1906. The dedication ceremony was held at the Paxton Church at 3:00 p.m. on October 8, 1906.
The plaque placed on the right pillar of the gate reads “Frontier Defenders and Soldiers of the French and Indian War” and lists the names of those buried “and others whose names are unknown.” The plaque on the left pillar reads “In memory of the Heroes of the Revolution, and Soldiers of the French and Indian War buried in the Paxton Churchyard." The names and rank of sixty Soldiers and Patriots are engraved upon the tablets. Among the men buried here is the founder of Harrisburg, John Harris 2nd.
Photo Credit: Pam Neill, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery Gates
May 30, 1914
444 Silver Spring Road, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17050
Harrisburg daughters were busy a decade later, but this time they collaborated on a gateway and adorning plaques which they erected and unveiled on May 30, 1914. The plaque on the right reads “War of 1812 William Kirtland, Sr., Dr. Isaac Wayne Snowden and others whose names are unknown.” The plaque on the left reads “The Heroes of the Revolution and the War of 1812 buried in Silver Spring Churchyard” and lists their names. The impressive gateway and plaques were erected by Harrisburg and Carlisle Chapters, NSDAR, and The Harrisburg Chapter of the Daughters of 1812.
Mrs. Bache Smead of Carlisle presented the gateway to the church and John Parker accepted it for the trustees.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Stratton, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
New Side Churchyard Cemetery
Jun 19, 1924
Newside Road (near Union Deposit Road), Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17111
What started as a letter of inquiry tuned into a marker and tablet. John Stewart of Indiana sent a letter addressed to the Governor of Pennsylvania asking about the location of ancestors buried in New Side. The Governor gave the letter to Miss Cora Lee Snyder, Regent of Harrisburg Chapter, who rallied her daughters, and they created this plaque which was unveiled June 19, 1924. The unveiling also coincided with Harrisburg Chapter’s 30th anniversary celebration and reads “This tablet marks the site of the New-Side Churchyard given by Captain John Sherer to the congregation of which Rev. John Roan was Pastor from 1745 to 1774. Here lie the Pioneers, Defenders of the Frontier Soldiers of the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.”
Photo Credit: Pam Neill, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Harrisburg Cemetery Tablet
Nov 8, 1926
521 North 13th Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17110
Harrisburg Chapter Daughters honored the memory of one of their Real Daughters, Mrs. Hannah Hess, when a tablet was unveiled at her grave at the Harrisburg Cemetery at 3 pm on Monday, November 8, 1926. Mrs. George E. Foss, Regent, presided and tea followed the meeting. Among the guests were Mrs. Hess' son, Frank J. Hess, of Philadelphia, who for many years was one of Harrisburg's leading merchants.
Mrs. Hess was born in Peachbottom Township, York County, PA on Dec 13, 1816, married Amos Hess in 1854, and moved to Harrisburg in 1867. She joined Harrisburg Chapter in 1898 and passed away in 1908. Hannah is the daughter of Zenas Macomber, DAR Patriot # A072978, who served as surgeon and lifeguard to General George Washington during the entire period of the American Revolution.
Photo Credit: Pam Neill, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Coxestown River Road Marker
May 19, 1927, then Oct 19, 1991
North Sixth Street and Heister Road, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17110
Erected on May 19, 1927, this original plaque was stolen. The plaque was replaced and rededicated on October 19, 1991, as a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herman F. Kinter. The plaque reads “This boulder marks the site of Esther Town which was laid out by Dr. John Cox in 1756, and named for his wife. At that time it was the most northern town of the English race on the Susquehanna River. Esther Town or Coxestown was the base of supplies for the army of General John Sullivan in 1799.”
Photo Credit: Teri Fegley, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Hoffman’s Church Cemetery
Nov 23, 1930
St. Peter’s U.C.C., South Crossroads Road (South of Route 25), Gratz, Dauphin County, PA 17030
This plaque was erected on November 23, 1930, and reads “Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in grateful appreciation of the service of these Soldiers of the Revolutionary War who are buried here.” The site was located and verified by Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR.
Photo Credit: Teri Fegley, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Hummel Memorial Cemetery
May 21, 1931
Also known as Old Lutheran Cemetery, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
26 North Ally (North Rosana Street), Hummelstown, Dauphin County, PA 17036
This plaque was placed May 21, 1931, and reads “Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Harrisburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This tablet is in commemoration of the Soldiers interred in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Hummelstown, Dauphin County, PA, who served in the Armed Forces of the Revolutionary War and dedicated their valor, patriotism, and fidelity.”
Photo Credit: Pam Neill, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Dauphin Cemetery
May 22, 1931
Also known as Sunnyside Cemetery
Floral Lane, off Routh 225, Dauphin, Dauphin County, PA 17018
The plaque was placed on May 22, 1931, and “Erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Harrisburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This tablet is in commemoration of Soldiers interred in the Dauphin Cemetery, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and who served in the Armed Forces of the Revolutionary War and is dedicated to their valor, patriotism, and fidelity.”
Photo Credit: Linda Hartzell, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Saint David's Reformed Church Cemetery
Jun 14, 1937
Also known as Killinger
1072 State Route 25, Killinger, Dauphin County, PA 17061
On June 14, 1937, a plaque was placed at Route 25, Village of Killinger, and it reads “Revolutionary Soldier Martin Shoffner 1759-1826. Placed by Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR.”
The inscripton reads:
Hier ruhet
Martin Shoffner
geboren 27 September 1759
in Neuholland Lancaster
County. Getauft und Confirment
als ein glied des Reformarten
Kirch. Starb 28 Februar 1826
Alt 66 Jahre 5 monat u 1 tag
Which translates to:
Here rests
Martin Shoffner
born 27 September 1759
in New Holland Lancaster
County. Baptized and Confirmed
as a member of the Reformed
Church. Died 28 February 1826
Age 66 years 5 months 1 day
Harrisburg Cemetery Gate
Jun 12, 1941
Also known as Mount Kalmia Cemetery
521 North 13th Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17103
Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, erected a plaque on June 12, 1941 at 13th and Liberty streets, and reads “In honor of the Revolutionary Soldiers buried at the Harrisburg Cemetery and others whose names and services are unknown” and lists their names.
Photo Credit: Teri Fegley and Linda Hartzell, Daughters, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery
Jan 21, 1943
School Street (off Route 147), Halifax, Dauphin County, PA
Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, placed a plaque on January 21, 1943, which reads “George Lemon Born: May 11, 1758 Died: March 15, 1843. George Lemon (Leaman), Revolutionary Soldier.”
Photo Credit: Teri Fegley, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Fort Hunter Boxwood Garden Seats
Sep 19, 1965
5300 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17110
Four stone benches' presented by Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, to the Fort Hunter Museum were dedicated in honor of Captain Archibald McAllister, a Revolutionary War soldier, on September 19, 1965. This was the same day the marker, photograph below, was placed. The location of the stone benches is unknown.
Photo Credit: Linda Hartzell, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Salem United Church of Christ
Jun 11, 1968
231 Chestnut St, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA 17101
On June 11, 1968, an evangelical and reformed marker was placed reading “Old Salem Church standing on land granted for religious purposes in 1785 by John Harris. The Salem United Church of Christ erected in 1822. It replaced one built of log in 1787, the first church structure in present day Harrisburg. Town marker... Penna. Hist. and Museum Com.” Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, arranged for the marker to recognize this historic church. The bell in its tower came from London and was brought from Philadelphia by wagon to Harrisburg.
The original marker to the right side of the door, placed June 11, 1968, by Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, is missing.
Photo Credit: Teri Fegley, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cemetery
Oct 1, 1969
West Earl Township, Leola, Lancaster County, PA
Plaque was placed October 1, 1969, and reads “Christian Musselman, Jr. Born 1752-Died 1823.” The plaque has since gone missing.
This is a copy of the information card to Mrs. Stern, PA State Historian in 1969.
Christian Musselman Jr. Born 2-21-1752 Died 10-16-1823
Wife – Magdalena Born 8-29-1760 Died 9-12-1823
Buried – Groffdale Mennonite Churchyard (Both)
Graves located west of New Holland, Earl Township, Lancaster County.
Information
“The Revolutionary marker was placed on grave of Christian Musselman, Jr. on October 21, 1969 by Regent of Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR. He is the ancestor of member Mrs. C. L. Kent, (Louise Musselman).”
“As there were several other Christian Musselmans from Lancaster County and surrounding counties during the Revolutionary period it is important that this one, who is the first proven soldier, be recorded as – Christian Musselman, Jr., Earl Township, New Holland, Lancaster County, PA.”
There are Musselman soldiers of other first names in DAR Index. This one is the first of the name “Christian.”
Photo Credit: Robert Auman, ancestry.com, used with permission
Stroh Family Cemetery
May 20, 1976
Fishing Creek Valley Road, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA
According to NSDAR Historian General, Harrisburg Chapter placed two "government markers" on May 20, 1976, and the medallions found in front of both headstones are these "government markers.” There may have been some confusion around the terms used when the chapter applied for permission to install the “medallions" in 1976 when they called them “government markers." As the Historian General’s office explains, a "government marker" is often a headstone provided by the VA like those at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery or a bronze flat marker placed near a headstone detailing a veterans service.
The following paragraph description of the men's service in the Lancaster County Militia, which was in Harrisburg Chapter's records, dated May 20, 1976, was submitted to NSDAR as justification to place the two “medallions.”
George Stroh b. June 2, 1741 d. May 15, 1819, Private in Captain Murray’s Company, 10th Battalion Lancaster County Militia. Christian Stuckey d. November 25, 1828 Age: 82 years, 11 months, 4 days, Private in Captain Koppenheffer's Company, Timothy Green’s Battalion, 11th Battalion Lancaster County Militia.
Photo Credit: Teri Fegley, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
Derry Presbyterian Church Cemetery
date unknown
248 East Derry Road (at East Mansion Road), Hershey, Dauphin County, PA 17033
A plaque was placed by Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR, and reads “Revolutionary Soldier Thomas McNair 1737-1830.” The larger plaque on the right was placed in 2006 by Derry Church Heritage Committee.
Photo Credit: Pam Neill, Daughter, Harrisburg Chapter, NSDAR
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