A Veteran of Two Wars Dead.
Major Robert Litzinger Passed Away at 11 O’clock This Morning
Major Robert Litzinger, a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars, died at his residence, No. 423 Franklin street, at 11 o’clock this morning, after an illness of several weeks. His death was caused by disease of the liver, incurred first in the Mexican service and returning during 1862, when in the Union Army.
Major Litzinger was born at Ebensburg on November 28, 1831, and was therefore at the time of his death sixty six years and five months old. He was a son of Charles Litzinger and wife, the latter having been before her marriage, Catherine Mullen, of Munster Township. She died when Robert was an infant and his father married again. The deceased had but one full brother- John- who died in Mexico after the close of the war with that country. He had four half-brothers-Charles, Thomas, James, and Jackson-all of whom are dead and buried at Ebensburg; also two half-sisters-Sue, who is also dead and buried in Ebensburg, and Clemenza Philomena, wife of Wellington R. Slick, whose death occurred in this city a few weeks ago.
In early youth Mr. Litzinger learned the trade of a printer in the office of the Mountain Sentinel, conducted by John G. Given at Ebensburg, and was thus engaged when he enlisted in the Cambria Guards, which left the county seat to take part in the Mexican War on January 2, 1848. He went as a fifer, and was on the day he departed from home just sixteen years and one month and four days old. His brother John, who was a couple of years his senior, went out as a drummer.
After his return from the Mexican War Mr. Litzinger was again engaged in the work of a printer at Ebensburg. Later he went to Belsano, where he clerked in a store for the late Hon. A.A. Barker, and subsequent to that he was in partnership with Mr. Barker in a store at Strongstown, Indiana County.
In 1861 he enlisted in a military company of the United States at Pittsburgh as Company A, of the Eleventh Reserves. He was chosen Captain of company at its organization and had attained the rank of Major, when after about a year’s service illness in the form of an abscess on the liver compelled him to resign and he returned to his home. Recovering, he reenlisted as Captain of Company C, Two Hundred and Ninth Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He returned to his home at Strongstown, and subsequently to Ebensburg, where he remained engaged in printing and dealing in lumber until 1873. In that year he came to Johnstown and was employed for some time in the Tribune office. Later he secured a position with Cambria Iron Company in the shipping department where he had been engaged whenever his health would permit for the past twelve or fifteen years.
In 1849 Mr. Litzinger was married at Loretto to Miss Mary Cannon, teacher in a private school at Ebensburg, who was a daughter of Mr. Fergus Cannon, a prominent citizen of Indiana. Six children were born to the union-one boy and five girls. The former and two of the latter are dead. Mrs. Litzinger died on May 11, 1889, from injuries sustained the night before by falling down stairs at the home of the family on Lincoln street. Her remains lie in Grandview Cemetery, where those of her husband will be interred on Sunday afternoon, following religious services at the house at 2 o’clock.
Currently a resident of Burke, Virginia - I'm originally from the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been a student of the Pennsylvania Reserves since 1997 and thoroughly enjoy telling their story. By trade I'm a former IT Professional but presently working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.
