Family Tree Page for
Philip Frederick Custer
 
Mother
Elizabeth
Gossard
Birth - 1817
Death - Unknown
 
Father
David D.
Ribblett
Birth - Feb 15, 1812
Death - Unknown
Mother
Sophia
Fisher
Birth - Oct 19, 1806
Death - Dec 19, 1875
 1825
 
Father
Frederick B.
Custer
Birth - Sep 06, 1801
Death - Apr 26, 1882
 
Wife
Emily
Ribblett
Birth - Feb 27, 1842
Death - Feb 08, 1931
 Oct 05, 1862
Husband
Philip Frederick
Custer
Birth - Aug 04, 1839
Death - Apr 14, 1913
 

Jacob Barnhart
Custer
Birth - May 18, 1864
Death - Apr 24, 1949
Melissa
Custer
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
William Henry
Custer
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
Ida B.
Custer
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
Orange Bird
Custer
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown
Sophia
Custer
Birth - Unknown
Death - Unknown

 

Photos, Papers & Things
MRS. EMILY CUSTER
AGE 89, SUCCUMBS
AT HOME IN SALIX
_______________ 
Former Wesley Chapel Resident Dies;
Is Survived by 76 Grandchildren 

SALIX, Feb. 8.1931—Mrs. Emily (Ribblett) Custer, aged 89 years and 11 months, widow of Philip Frederick Custer, died Saturday evening at 6:45 o'clock at the home of her son‑in‑law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. William Rager, of this place. Death was attributed to diseases incident to age 

The deceased was a daughter of David D. and Elizabeth (Gossard) Ribblett, both deceased, and was born in Richland Township February 27, 1842 

She and Philip Frederick Custer were married October 5, 1862 the ceremony being performed by Moses Yoder, a Justice of . the Peace at Scalp Level. Ten days following the wedding Mr. Custer enrolled as a private in the 171st Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry.

After serving nine months he was honorably discharged and returned to Scalp Level, where he was employed for several months as a wheelwright and an Undertaker. He later moved to Vinco in Jackson Township, where he resided until his death on April 13, 1913. 

Mrs. Custer was preceded to the grave by two brothers, three sisters, two half-brothers two half sisters. 

Surviving are the following Children J. B. Custer, of South Fork; Malissa, wife of W. E. Rager, of Salix; W. H. Custer, of Beaver Falls, and O. B Custer, of Alabama. Two children—Ida, wife of Samuel Penrod, and Sophia—preceded their mother to , the grave. She a1so is survived by 20 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. 

Prior to her marriage Mrs. Custer united with the Mt Olive Evangelical church, where she remained a member until after the division of the Evangelical denomination, when she transferred her membership to the Conemaugh Evangelical church. 

Funeral services will be conducted at Wesley Chapel tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, in charge of the Rev. A. A. Hilleary pastor of the , Conemaugh Evangelical Church. Interment will be in the Wesley chapel Cemetery, in charge of Undertaker Howard Barefoot. Friends are requested to omit flowers.

NOTES FOR Emily Ribblett:

BIRTH: 27 Feb 1842, Conemaugh Twp., Cambria Co., PA

DEATH: 6 Feb 1932, Salix, Cambria Co., PA

BURIAL: Wesley Chapel Cem, East Taylor Twp., Cambria Co., PA

DEATH NOTICE FOR PHILIP

Trib 14 Apr 1913: PHILIP CUSTER DIES AT VINCO HAD BEEN ILL A WK Philip CUSTER, 73 yrs old, 1 of the most prominent citizens in Jackson Twp, d. 1:30 am at his home in Vinco following a wk's illness. His aged wife had been ill for several wks & the death of her husb., it is feared, may result seriously for her. Physicians who attended Mr. Custer are of the opinion that death resulted from poison taken into the system through patent medicine. Funeral serv.s for Mr. Custer will be held at the residence 2 pm Wed., when Rev. F. D. Ellenberger, formerly the 8th Ward, now Salisbury, Somerset Co., will officiate assisted by Rev. J. Q. A. Curry of Conemaugh. Interment will be in Wesley Chapel. Mr. & Mrs. Custer celebrated their 50th wedding ann. only last Oct, When their chldn, 20 gchldn & 6 ggchldn were present in addition to a number of acquaintances. He b. Richland Twp but spent the greater part of his life in Jackson Twp. He was a newspaper writer of some note & many articles of news from Vinco have appeared over his signature "Wheelwright". Philip CUSTER & Ms Emily RIBLETT m. Oct 5 1862 Richland Twp. by Moses Yoder Esq., Scalp Level, who was then the employer of Mr. Custer, & within 2 wks of that time Mr. Custer enlisted as pvt in Co. E., 171st Reg. P. V. I., in the Army of the Potomac for 9 mo.s. After his discharge, he again entered the wheelwright shop of Moses Yoder at a salary of $15 per mo. Mr Custer said he had his house rent free but had to pay $13 for his 1st barrel of flour. In 1864 Mr. & Mrs. Custer moved to Fairview, near Vinco & built a home. Mr. Custer never lost a dy's work nor missed a meal on account of sickness. He was Justice of the Peace for 5 yrs, always voted the Prohibition ticket ever since the org. of the party, was repeatedly placed in nomination for co. offices & engaged in many lines of business, including wagonmaking, conducting a planing mill, shingle mill, the undertaking business, farming, etc. He just recently retired from bus. at the age of 73 yrs later spending his time working at odd jobs about the farm. The CUSTER family consisted of 6 chldn, 5 living. 1 chld d. at the age of 7 mo.s.; Jacob H. CUSTER is a merchant at South Fork, M. Malissa w/o W. E. RAGER, Richland Twp; William H. is a member of the firm of C. H. McMillen & Co., harness makers of this city; Ida R. m. S. S. PENROD, a merchant of South Fork; O. Bird is a machinist & foreman of the structural dept. for the iron & coke works at Corey.

A Memoriam for Philip from the Vinco Lincoln Literary Society
OCCUPATION: See notes

BIRTH: 4 Aug 1839, Richland Twp., Cambria Co., PA

DEATH: 13 Apr 1913, Vinco, Jackson Twp., Cambria Co., PA

BURIAL: Wesley Chapel Cem, East Taylor Twp., Cambria Co., PA

 
Philip Fredrick Custer Served with the 171st Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry as stated in both his & his wife's obituaries above. According to History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates there is no Philip Fredrick Custer listed, there is, however a "Caster, Philip F." listed under Company "E" which has to be Philip.

171st Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers

This regiment was mainly from the counties of Bradford, Juniata, Lycoming, Somerset, and Tioga, and was organized at Camp Curtin, about the middle of November, 1862, with the following field officers:

  • Everard Bierer, of Fayette county, Colonel

  • Theophilus Humphrey, of Bradford county, Lieutenant Colonel

  • Robert C. Cox, of Tioga county, Major

Colonel Bierer had served as Captain in the Eleventh Reserve Regiment, and had been appointed commandant of Camp Curtin, with rank of Colonel, on the 28th of October.

On the 27th of November, the regiment left camp and proceeded by rail to Washington, thence by water to Norfolk, and thence by rail to Suffolk, Virginia. It was here assigned to Spinola's Brigade, of Ferry's Division, General Dix being in command of the Department. A school for instruction of officers was at once established, and the command subjected to thorough drill.

On the 28th of December, it broke camp at Suffolk, and marched to Ballard's Landing, on the Chowan River, and thence proceeded by transport to Newbern, North Carolina, arriving on the 1st of January, 1863. Spinola's Brigade, at this time, consisted of the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth, One Hundred and Seventy-first, and One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania regiments, and was known as the Keystone Brigade. It formed part of the Third Division, General Prince, Eighteenth Corps, General Foster. It here went into winter-quarters, and was engaged in fatigue and garrison duty.

Early in March, General Prince's Division, with the Third New York Cavalry, made a reconnoissance into Jones and Onslow counties, encountering a few roving parties of the enemy, and taking some prisoners, and returned to camp on the 10th. About the middle of March, the enemy, under General D. H. Hill, appeared in front of Newbern, but was easily repulsed. He then moved off to Washington, on the Tar River, which he closely invested. Its defense was directed by General Foster in person, who had proceeded thither for that purpose; but being vastly out-numbered, the little garrison could with difficulty hold its works.

General Prince at once headed a force for the relief of the place, which proceeded by transports, accompanied by gunboats. At Rodman's and Hill's points, some distance below Washington, the enemy had erected strong works, and mounted guns which commanded the navigation of the Pamlico River. On approaching these works, preparations were made to run through, but it was considered unsafe to do so, and the purpose was abandoned.

Two regiments were then ordered to land, and carry the Hill's Point Battery by storm, the One Hundred and Seventy-first being one. But before the blow was delivered, they were withdrawn. Prince then returned with his force to Newbern, and Spinola was sent out with a force to make his way across the country, and break the enemy's lines in rear.

On the 9th of April he arrived at Blount's Creek, where he found the bridge destroyed, the water dammed so as to flood an impassable swamp, and the enemy in position with artillery to dispute the passage. The troops were moved up on the right of the road, and the artillery at once opened on both sides. For some time the infantry was exposed to a heavy fire, but fortunately the enemy's shots were aimed too high, and passed harmless overhead. Deeming it imprudent to attempt to carry the position by direct attack, Spinola withdrew.

In the meantime, a gun-boat had succeeded in passing the batteries on the Pamlico River, and on this, Foster, on the 14th, ran down and returned to Newbern. He now concentrated his forces, and heading them in person, marched towards Washington; but on approaching, found that the enemy had raised the siege, and was in full retreat.

On the 23d, Spinola's Brigade was sent up the Pamlico River, to Washington, where it was posted for the defense of the place.

On the 29th of May, General Spinola was relieved of the command of the brigade, and was succeeded by Colonel Bierer. Towards the close of June, the brigade was ordered to Fortress Monroe, and upon its arrival there, was sent, with the exception of the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth, to White House, on the Pamunky River, to join in a demonstration towards Richmond, ordered by General Dix, for a diversion in favor of the army at Gettysburg.

Remaining in that vicinity until the 7th of July, it returned and proceeded to Harper's Ferry, arriving on the 9th. The rebel army was now in full retreat, and Meade following closely in pursuit. On the 11th, the regiment marched to Boonesboro, and thence to a position in a pass of the South Mountain, where it remained until after the enemy had escaped into Virginia, and the hope, fondly cherished, of crushing him in another decisive battle, had perished. It then proceeded to Frederick, and on the 3d of August, was ordered to Harrisburg, where, from the 6th to the 8th, it was mustered out of service.

___________________________
1The troops recruited for the One Hundred and Seventieth, failed to effect a regimental organization, and were, consequently, assigned to other commands.

Source:
Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871

Organization:

Organized at Harrisburg October and November, 1862.
Moved to Washington, D.C., November 27; thence to Suffolk, Va.
Attached to Spinola's Brigade, Division at Suffolk, Va.,
7th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to January, 1863.
1st Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to May, 1863.
District of the Pamlico, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1863.
Spinola's Brigade, 7th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1863.
Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July, 1863.

Service:  

Duty at Suffolk, Va, till December 28.
Moved to New Berne, N. C, December 28-January 1, 1863,
and duty there till April, 1863.
Expedition from New Berne to Trenton, Pollocksville,
Young's Cross Roads and Swansborough March 6-10.
Expedition to relief of Little Washington April 7-10.
Blount's Creek April 9.
Expedition to Swift Creek Village April 13-21.
Duty at Little Washington till June.
Ordered to Fortress Monroe, Va.
Dix's Peninsula Campaign July 1-7.
Moved to Washington, D. C, thence to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 7-9;
thence to Boonsboro, Md., and reported to General Meade July 11.
Pursuit of Lee July 11-24.
Ordered to Harrisburg, Pa., August 3.
Mustered out August 8, 1863.

Losses:  

Regiment lost 38 by disease during service.

 

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Compiled and Arranged from Official Records of the Federal and Confederate Armies, Reports of he Adjutant Generals of the Several States, the Army Registers, and Other Reliable Documents and Sources.Des Moines, Iowa: The Dyer Publishing Company, 1908

History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.
Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902.
Page 1173
Birth dates & death dates of living people have been withheld to protect identities.

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