My Genealogy Hound

GENERAL JOHN W. SCHALL, commander of the First Brigade, National Guard of Pennsylvania, is one of the best-known military men of the state. He made a distinguished record in the war for the Union forty years ago, and has also participated actively in later movements, including the Spanish-American war.

General John W. Schall, who served with distinction in the Civil war, and now holds the rank of brigadier general in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, is a son of Hon. David and Catherine (Andy) Schall. He was born June 22, 1834, in Berks county, Pennsylvania. The Schalls are descended from a prominent French Huguenot family, who were driven from France by the religious persecutions following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Members of the family made their way to the new world about 1748, and settled in Pennsylvania, where their descendants have become numerous. Hon. George Schall, paternal grandfather of General Schall, was a resident of Berks county during the greater part of his life, and was there largely engaged in the manufacture of iron. He was a Democrat, became prominent in politics, served in various official positions, and was a member of the state senate at the time of his death in 1831. He married Miss Catherine Oyster and reared a family of eight children, one of whom was Hon. David Schall (father), who was born at Oley, May 25, 1801.

David Schall received a superior education, and succeeding to his father’s interests, became a wealthy iron manufacturer, and maintained his connection with that important industry all his life. He was honored by his party with election to the office of associate judge of Berks county, which position he held for two terms. He was connected with the local militia, serving as major of his battalion. In religion he was a member of the Reformed church, with which he was officially connected for many years. He died at Dale, Berks county, January 22, 1877, at the age of seventy-six years, and his remains rest in the cemetery adjoining his church at that place. He married Catherine Andy, a native of Berks county, and a daughter of Jacob Andy. They had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and became active and useful citizens.

General John W. Schall was reared in Berks county and educated in private schools at Trappe and Norristown, after which he pursued an extended course of advanced study in the military academy at Norwich, Vermont. After graduating he was connected for several years with an engineering corps under John C. Trautwine, and later engaged in the dry goods business at York, Pennsylvania, where he subsequently became a member and first lieutenant of the York Rifles, a military organization. Immediately upon the call of President Lincoln for volunteers in 1861, the York Rifles proffered their services in a body, and were one of the first companies to enter the service fully armed and equipped. For this promptness in time of danger they were afterwards awarded medals by the state. They were commanded by Captain George Hay and were mustered into service April 19, 1861, as Company K, Second Pennsylvania Infantry, only four days after the President’s proclamation had been signed, and just one week after the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter.

At the expiration of their term of enlistment, three months, Lieutenant Schall returned and organized a company for three years’ service, but received authority from the secretary of war, Simon Cameron, to organize a regiment at York, Pennsylvania. Upon the formation of this regiment, the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, he was appointed colonel but declining to accept that rank he was made lieutenant colonel and served as such until May 9, 1862, when, a vacancy occurring, he was promoted to the colonelcy of his regiment. The early service of Colonel Schall was mostly in the mountains of West Virginia, and during Lee’s advance on Gettysburg he was engaged in a hotly contested fight at Winchester, under General Milroy, where he lost nearly his entire command in killed, wounded and prisoners, and reached Harper’s Ferry, after four days of fighting, with only sixty men and riding another colonel’s horse, his own having been shot from under him. Colonel Schall was subsequently transferred to the Army of the Potomac, Third Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, and served in that command until the expiration of his term of enlistment. At the battle of Cold Harbor, he was shot through the right arm, while commanding the brigade, but remained on the field until the fight terminated, and only then sought medical attention for his injuries. Colonel Schall was honorably discharged from military service, October 14, 1864, and upon that occasion was the recipient of a letter from his superior officer, General James B. Ricketts, commandant of his division, in which he said:

“Your time of service having expired with that of your gallant regiment, I cannot part with you without some expression of my high appreciation of your faithful service.

“Always zealous and reliable, you have shown the best quality of a soldier, which would bring certain promotion, had you decided to remain in the corps, which you have ornamented by your distinguished conduct throughout the arduous summer campaign, since crossing the Rapidan, in May last.

“I particularly recall your gallantry at Cold Harbor, where commanding a brigade, and wounded, you nobly refused to leave the field, and in the Valley where you shared in our glorious victories-Opequon and Fisher’s Hill.

“I part with regret from so good a soldier, and wish you every success in your future life.”

Soon after the close of the war Colonel Schall located at Norristown and engaged in the iron business. In April, 1875, he was appointed recorder of deeds for Montgomery county to fill a vacancy and. was subsequently elected twice to that position; serving in all for a period of seven years. In 1890 he was appointed postmaster at Norristown by President Harrison and served as such until 1894.

General Schall’s connection with the National Guard of Pennsylvania began shortly after the war. He served as inspector of the National .Guard under General John F. Hartranft, and after the latter’s election to the governorship was appointed an aide on the General’s staff, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. While General Hartranft was still in command of the division, in September, 1879, General Schall was elected colonel of the Sixth Regiment, and was re-elected several times. In July, 1894, he was appointed a command the First Brigade by Governor Pattison.

On September 3, 1873, General Schall was united in marriage with Mary A. Hooven, a daughter of James Hooven (now deceased), of Norristown. Politically the General is an ardent Republican, and has always taken an active and intelligent interest in civic and governmental affairs, at the same time keeping himself thoroughly posted on everything pertaining to military matters. His life has been active and many-sided, its history comprising high records as a soldier, official, business man and citizen. General Schall is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and was its adjutant general for 1902; and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Loyal Legion.