Dear Diane, My great-grandfather's brother was Conrad Waldsmith. He came to Ohio (3 brothers: Jacob, John, (my great grandfather), and Conrad around 1870 from Junita County, PA. The family immigrated from Germany in 1832. Conrad was born in PA around 1840. Conrad served in the Civil War twice. He first enlisted in 1862 for 9 months with his brother, Jacob. He then enlisted again in 1864. He was captured in Virginia and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Salisbury, NC. He caught dysentry there and also lost some toes to frost bite. He received a pension from the government. I have extensive pension records that describe his ailments and testimonies from friends and doctors verifying his ailments. They even describe his height, eye, and hair color. Conrad's wife in my records was Adessa or Mary Adessa. He had 3 sons born Frank Waldsmith 1871, Harry Waldsmith 1877, Charles Waldsmith born 1882. Conrad died around 1899 and his widow refiled for pension. He was buried in Glendale Cemetery and died 12-31-1899 of paralysis. His wife, Mary Adessa or Mary Odessa died 5-3-1913. Glendale cemetery is in downtown Akron. Ivisited it a couple of years ago when I made the trip to Akron. I also have documentation of Conrad Waldsmith being in Portage Twp, Summit County ,Ohio in 1870. The pension records are very interesting and contain a lot of human interest stuff. If you want a copy and think this is your relative, I would be glad to mail them. I noticed your e-mail address contained unc? Is this University of North Carolina? I live in NC, not too far from Salisbury, NC. I went and looked up his name at the prison records for Union soldiers there. He was there allright. Only he is listed as Conrad Wallsmith. Sincerely, Lois Waldsmith Gerhardt I just reread your e-mail as I was about to send this. The dates do not match up for Conrad. I believe there must be a connection somewhere because the Waldsmith family was a big clan in Ohio. My great grandfather, my grandfather , and my father were all named John Waldsmith. None of them died in 1933. The John Waldsmith , b 1832, family of which I am a descendent had these boys:George, John, Joseph, Herbert, and Curtis. I believe George had one son, Ralph, John had one son, John,. Herbert had one son, Robert. I do not know about Curtis or Joseph.