OBIT: Charles Wellington ZOOK, 1929, Roaring Spring, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell

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_________________________________________ 

CHARLES W. ZOOK, VETERAN, EXPIRES
Was One of Blair County's Outstanding Citizens, Serving His Country 
Throughout a Long Life.

  Charles Wellington Zook, Civil war veteran, former postmaster, and 
borough official and one of Roaring Spring's best and most widely known 
citizens, died at the Mercy hospital at Altoona on Sunday morning at 
5.35 o'clock of complications. He was admitted to the institution in 
Altoona on Tuesday, Jan. 22. During the past few years his health had 
been somewhat impaired, although he still continued to be about and 
attend his daily duties, traveling about the town and spending 
considerable time in the business places of the borough until about two 
weeks ago when he was confined to his home on East Main street, until 
being admitted to the hospital.
  Charles W. Zook was the son of Elias and Mary A. Pote Zook, both 
deceased, and was born in Bedford county, June 3, 1844. He was a 
grandson of Samuel Zook, who moved from Franklin county to Bedford 
county and, as a youth, had few advantages and from an early age had 
his own way to make in this world. He spent considerable time on his 
books whenever the opportunity presented and in this manner prepared 
himself for teaching in the public schools, which work he followed for 
some time. He was employed in the cabinet making business where he 
intended to learn the trade, prior to the Civil war, although soon gave 
up the idea at the outbreak of the war and at once made application to 
enlist and was accepted and entered the army as a soldier and in 
August, 1861, was enrolled as a member of company E, 8th Pennsylvania 
reserves which later became a part of the Army of the Potomac, 
commanded by General Meade and later by General Reynolds. Soon after 
entering the army he saw hard service and in one of the most important 
engagements was seriously wounded and later was honorably discharged 
after spending several months in the hospitals.
  After returning home from the service in the army he was chosen to 
fill a post in the Altoona postoffice as clerk under Postmaster George 
W. Patton and after retiring from that position he engaged in business 
for himself at Bakers Summit where he also served as postmaster until 
1881. From there he moved to Woodbury, Bedford county, where he served 
as justice of the peace in Middle Woodbury and Bloomfield townships and 
was also a member of the board of education at that place. From 
Woodbury he moved to Roaring Spring in 1882, where he was appointed 
postmaster, which position he held and served with distinction until 
1913.
  During his life in the borough he served as a member of the board of 
education and for some time served as secretary of the body. He also 
served two terms as tax collector for the borough and was always 
greatly interested in the welfare and upbuilding of the community and 
wherever he lived he took an active part in the managing of the affairs 
of the community.
  Up to about two weeks ago he made his trip to the business section of 
the borough and spent considerable time in transacting his daily 
routine business. He was an enthusiastic baseball fan and followed the 
local team on their regular schedule wherever it might be and was 
always a regular attendant at the local field. During the past three 
years his activity had been somewhat curtailed due to failing health 
although still able to be about. His last official position which he 
held was relinquished about nine years ago, when he retired from all 
active work.
  He had a war record of which he was probably prouder than any other 
single act of his life and was always glad to relate events which he 
witnessed during his service as a soldier in the United States army. He 
enlisted from Claysburg, Blair county, on Aug. 23, 1861, to serve three 
years, or until the end of the Civil war, and was mustered into the 
United States service at Harrisburg on the same day as a private of 
Captain E. P. Shoenberger's company E, 8th Pennsylvania reserves, 
volunteer infantry, under the command of Colonel George S. Hayes.
  This regiment was organized at Pittsburgh on June 28, 1861, and 
arrived at Washington, D.C., on July 23. The reserves took the field in 
October, crossing into Virginia, where they were engaged in outpost 
duty for several months. In May, 1862, the division advanced to 
Fredericksburg, but returning immediately embarked for the peninsula 
where it joined General McClellan's army, then in front of Richmond. 
Two weeks later the regiment took part in the Seven Days' battle and at 
the close of the battle their numbers were decreased 230 men in killed, 
wounded and missing.
  Returning to the Rappahannock, the division was transferred to 
McDowell's corps, after the first corps. Through the summer and autumn 
of 1862, the 8th fought in every engagement and then the remnant of the 
gallant regiment marched to the field of Fredericksburg. Then the 
reserves under Meade charged a strong position of the enemy and though 
successful at points, were finally repulsed, the 8th losing 180 men or 
one-half of its number.
  In February, 1863, the remainder of the gallant 8th, was ordered to 
the defense of Washington and although withdrawn from active service, 
were ordered to rest and recruit their shattered ranks. The 8th 
remained there until the spring of 1864, when it joined the Army of the 
Potomac. During its term of service it participated in the following 
engagements: White Oak Swamp or Glendale, Virginia, June 3, 1862; 
Mechanicsville, Virginia, June 26, 1862; Gaines Mills, Va., June 27-28, 
1862; Bull Run of Manassas, Va., Aug. 30, 1862; South Mountain, 
Maryland, Sept. 14, 1862; Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; 
Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; Wilderness, Va., May 5-7, 1864; 
Spottsylvania, Va., May 8-18, 1864.
  In the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., he was seriously wounded, 
suffering from a gunshot wound in the right foot. The injury resulted 
in the amputation of the foot. He was confined to the Patent Office and 
Judiciary Square hospitals at Washington, D.C., Governors Island and 
Central Park hospitals in New York, and General hospital at New Haven, 
Conn. Prior to his injury he took an active part in every engagement, 
bearing a loyal part and performing meritorious and faithful service. 
From the Central Park hospital at New York he was honorably discharged 
on Nov. 15, 1863, by reason of disability from wounds received in 
battle.
  Mr. Zook was united in marriage to Miss Sara Harker at Roaring Spring 
on Sept. 5, 1867, and resided in the borough and in the cove their 
entire lives. Mrs. Zook and a son, John, died a number of years ago and 
since that time Mr. Zook had been living with his other children in his 
home at East Main street which at this time houses the Roaring Spring 
postoffice.
  One son and three daughters survive, all of whom are residents of 
Roaring Spring: Warren E. Zook and Miss Anna Zook, with whom he resided 
and Mrs. Leo A. Garber on New street, and Mrs. Frank K. Lorenz on 
Roosevelt avenue.
  With the death of Mr. Zook the veterans of the Civil war who formed 
the Lieutenant H. N. Lower post, No. 82, G.A.R., are reduced to a mere 
handful. The post was organized many years ago with Mr. Zook as one of 
the charter members and for some time served as an officer and as 
commander of the post. He also served as quartermaster and was, for a 
time adjutant of the post in 1882.
  Mr. Zook made all possible efforts during his active life to hold the 
post together, although, due to the age of the members of the 
organization very few meetings were held in recent years.
  The funeral services will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock 
at his late home on East Main street, with Rev. George S. Womer, D.D., 
pastor of the Trinity Methodist church, of which Mr. Zook was a member, 
in charge of the services. Interment in Greenlawn cemetery at Roaring 
Spring.
  The body was taken to his home in the borough on Sunday morning, by 
Undertaker Grant Hite of Roaring Spring and prepared for burial.
  Surviving Mr. Zook, in addition to the immediate members of his 
family are a half-brother, J. H. Mohr of Sioux City, Ia., and three 
half-sisters, Mrs. Mary Biddle and Mrs. Catherine Fox of Roaring 
Spring, and Mrs. H. H. Brumbaugh of Defiance, Bedford county. Nine 
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Monday, January 28, 1929