thoroughly drilled and disciplined. The commissary department had not yet been fully organized and the men would have suffered for lack of provisions had it not been for the generosity of the citizens of York in contributing supplies. They moved to Camp Chambers, three miles from Chambersburg, May 27, and later were assigned to Wyncoop's Second Brigade, Kein's Second Division of General Patterson's Army of the Shenandoah. This army was organized to operate against the forces in the Shenandoah Valley, who were threatening the adjacent parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania. It moved by rail to Hagerstown, Maryland, June 7, marched thence to Funkstown, and took up a position to operate against the enemy established at Harper's Ferry under General Joseph E. Johnston. It moved to Williamsport, July 1, and on the following day participated in the skirmish at Falling Waters, forded the stream, and marched into the country of the enemy, who was driven back to Winchester, where he remained entrenched, Patterson's army arriving at Martinsburg, Virginia, July 3. The regiment was then detached from the brigade and ordered to Williamsport to guard the main depot of supplies and the approaches thereto, remaining on guard and garrison duty until July 25, when, its term of service having expired, it was ordered from Hagerstown to Harrisburg, and there mustered out, July 29 and 30, 1861. After bearing a faithful part in all the operations of his command, as above outlined, Major Decker was honorably discharged with his company at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1861, and immediately re-enlisted to serve three years or during the war, and was mustered in at Harrisburg, September 5, 1861, as a private in Captain John P. Suter's Company A, Fifty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel J. M. Campbell commanding. He was honorably discharged at South Branch, West Virginia, February 10, 1864, by reason of re-enlisting the same day as a veteran volunteer, to serve another term of three years, or until the close of the war, in the same company and regiment. This regiment rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it was organized and mustered into the service, and on February 16, 1862, left camp for Washington, District of Columbia, encamped near Bladensburg cemetery, was armed with Belgian rifles, and was thoroughly drilled and disciplined. It was ordered to Harper's Ferry, Virginia, March 29, 1862, reported to Colonel D. S. Miles, and was stationed on guard duty along fifty-six miles of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, between Cumberland, Maryland, and Martinsburg, Virginia. For nearly a year it was entrusted with the important duty of guarding this great thoroughfare through territory mainly hostile, protecting the few loyal inhabitants, scouring the country and fighting the guerrilla bands of Edwards, White, Imboden and McNeil, capturing many prisoners, horses and arms, and participating in engagements at Back Creek Bridge, Virginia, September 22, and Mengares Mills, Virginia, October 25, 1862. Company K, stationed at Little Cacapon, and Company B, stationed at Paw Paw, were surrounded by an overwhelming force of the enemy, under Imboden, October 4, 1862, and captured after a sharp fight. Upon the organization of the Eighth Army Corps of West Virginia, the regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division. Companies B and K were exchanged in December, and returned to the regiment, and the command was relieved from guard duty, moved from Romney, January 6, 1863; attached to the Fourth Brigade, First Division, and marched April 3rd, in pursuit of the enemy, fighting at Burlington, Virginia, April 3, 1863; Purgitsville on the 6th; and Gowan's Ferry on the 7th. July 6 it moved by forced marches in pursuit of Lee's army, retreating from Gettysburg; engaged the enemy at

Heagueville, July 17; and at Cherry Run, July 19, 1863, then returning to Romney. August 15 it was removed to Petersburg, West Virginia, and employed in fortifying; engaged the enemy at that place, September 1. November 6 it moved to Springfield, and was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division. In the spring of 1864 it marched under Sigel, later under Hunter and Crook, bearing a gallant part in the battles of Newmarket, Virginia, May 15, 1864; Piedmont, or Mount Crawford, June 5; Lexington, June 11; James River, June 14; Blue Ridge or Peaks of Otter, June 15; Lynchburg, June 17 and 18; Liberty, June 19; Salem, June 22. It marched across the mountains to Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha river, suffering untold hardships, and moved thence by Parkersburg, West Virginia, to Martinsburg, Virginia, arriving July 14. Joined in the pursuit of Early; fighting at Snicker's Gap, or Island Ford, Virginia, July 18, 1861; Kernstown or Winchester, July 23 and 24; Martinsburg, July 25. Participated under Sheridan in his brilliant campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, including the battles of Cedar Creek, August 12, 1864; Charlestown, August 17; Halltown, August 19; Berryville, September 3; Opequon, or Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 22; Strasburg, October 13; Cedar Creek, or Middletown, October 19, 1864. Moved to City Point, Virginia, via Washington, District of Columbia, and on February 7, 1865, the Third and Fourth Pennsylvania Reserves were consolidated with the Fifty-fourth, under Colonel A. P. Moulton. They were assigned to the Second Brigade, Independent Division, Twenty-fourth Corps, Army of the James, with which it participated in Grant's final campaign, fighting at the White Oak Swamp, Virginia, March 23, 1865; Hatcher's Run, April 1; Fort Gregg, April 2; High Bridge, Virginia, April 6, 1865, where a small force engaged in a desperate struggle with the vastly superior numbers of the enemy; they were surrounded and taken prisoners, and marched four days. without rations, with the fleeing rebel army. They were released at the surrender at Appomattox, Virginia, sent to Parole Camp, Annapolis, Maryland, and there mustered out.

For gallant and meritorious service Mr. Decker was promoted as follows: From private to third sergeant, 1861; first sergeant, 1862; first lieutenant, December 14, 1864; captain, February 12, 1865; major, April 3, 1865. He was not mustered on his major's commission, owing to the close of the war. In the battle of Lynchburg, Virginia, he was severely injured by the bursting of a shell and confined to the hospital at Clarysville, Maryland, for about three months. He then rejoined his command in the Shenandoah Valley. With this one exception he was at all times with his command, bearing a loyal part in its campaigns and battles, and achieving a gallant record as an officer and a soldier. He was captured with the regiment at High Bridge, Virginia, April 6, 1865; released at Appomattox, April 9; sent to Annapolis, Maryland, and there received a final honorable discharge with his company, May 31, 1865, by reason of General Order No. 77, at the close of the war.

HON. EDWARD E. HOHMANN, prominently identified with the business interests of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, having represented his county in the state legislature for several terms has obtained many of his characteristics of thrift, industry, integrity and ambition from his German ancestors.

George N. Hohmann, father of Hon. Edward E. Hohmann, was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 12, 1812, died October 15, 1872. He was a tailor by occupation, and emigrated to the United States in 1848. He lo

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cated in New York City, where he spent six months, and after another six months spent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he went to Bedford county in that state, and from thence to Johnstown, Cambria county, where he settled permanently in 1852. He opened a tailor shop on Main street, on the site on which his sons are at present (1906) conducting their business. His brother, Christian H. Hohmann, was a well known composer of music, and it thus happened that George N. dealt in musical instruments as well as followed his trade. The musical compositions of Christian H. Hohmann are in use in all the conservatories of music in Europe. George N. married, 1846, Elizabeth Muller, born September 19, 1819, died October 17, 1905. Their children were: George H.; Elizabeth K.; and Edward E., see forward.

Hon. Edward E. Hohmann, second son and third and youngest child of George N. and Elizabeth (Miller) Hohmann, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1862. He enjoyed the advantages of a good education, attending first the public schools and later Duff's College in Pittsburg. At the completion of his studies he returned to Johnstown and associated himself in the musical instrument business with his brother, George H., under the firm name of Hohmann Brothers, doing an extensive business now in sheet music as well as in instruments. Their methods are progressive and enterprising, and the business is in a most flourishing and satisfactory condition. Mr. Hohmann is a member of the Lutheran church. He has always taken an active and intelligent interest in the public affairs of the community, and has done much toward their improvement in many ways. In political affairs he has been especially prominent. A leading Republican, he was elected a member of the state legislature in 1902, and re-elected in 1904, to the great satisfaction of his constituents. He declined a third nomination, although it was certain that it would be unanimous. While he represented his county in the state legislature, he advocated a movement to have a new county formed out of parts of Cambria, Somerset, Westmoreland and Indiana counties, which county was to be known as Conemaugh county, with Johnstown as its county seat. Although not successful, as he was opposed by the most prominent element in the Republican party, still it was defeated by only at vote of fifty-nine to sixty. By so doing he won the admiration of his constituents, as he fought the cause of the people. He was urged to accept a renomination, but would not. He is connected with the following organizations: Past grand master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and now a member of the supreme finance committee; member of the Order of Heptasophs; member of the Order of Iroquois; and past president of the Fraternal Congress.

He married, October 2, 1884, Ida B. Wilson, daughter of James M. and Esther (Horn) Wilson, and they have one child: Vivian B., born September 24, 1885.

WILLIAM C. LEWIS. In May, 1834, William Lewis with his wife and their children sailed from England for America, and July 4 of the same year landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At that time William C. Lewis was a boy fourteen years old, and was taken from school and his books to cross the Atlantic ocean and thenceforth live in the country where his mother was born, but far away from her native home in Boston, Massachusetts. After staying for a time in Philadelphia, the family moved to the interior of Pennsylvania and settled at Hollidaysburg, then in Huntingdon county, but now the seat of justice of Blair county. Here the son would have continued his studies, but educational facilities in the