Joseph and the Grand Army of the Republic

Through most of his life, Joseph K. Norcross, was a salesman - both in shops and traveling door to door. He sold military regalia and souvenirs, spices, and oil, and probably more. He lived most of his life in Philadelphia, but also spent time in the San Francisco area. The central theme of his life though was the fellowship and purpose that he found in fraternal organizations, particularly the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and the California Volunteer Veterans Association.

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Joseph was living in his home state of Pennsylvania. His father, the Reverend Isaac Norcross, had died young in 1850,¹ and his older brothers had headed west for California around the same period.

Daniel Norcross's emporium carried a wide range of military regalia.

By 1862, Joseph had joined his brothers in San Francisco. He worked briefly as a clerk in the military regalia shop of his eldest brother, Daniel.² Perhaps this was not the life he expected in California, or maybe the call of patriotic service was too strong - on June 8th, 1864 Joseph enlisted in the Second California Infantry.³

Over the course of the next two years, he served as a second lieutenant in Companies H & K, was temporarily in command of Company A,⁴ and was appointed post adjutant.⁵ This took Joseph down across California and into the Arizona Territory to Fort Goodwin. There's no indication that his company join in the Apache War that roiled around the fort in the 1860's. In 1866, he returned to the Presidio of San Francisco to muster out on June 30th.⁶

Joseph was temporarily in command of Company A of the 2nd
California Infantry.

After the war, Joseph returned to Philadelphia and joined his local G.A.R. Post 8. At some of their annual gatherings he was in charge of arranging the music. He also served at different points as the post commander (bef 1900),⁷ post historian (1910),⁸ chairman of the national encampment (1903),⁹ and delegate to the national convention (1907).¹⁰

What talent was on display in this elaborate program?

In 1912, the G.A.R. planned its forty-sixth National Encampment for Los Angeles. The Pennsylvania branch of the organization arranged for a special train to take Joseph and his fellow Pennsylvanian veterans across the country.¹¹ At the national meeting the veterans of the California companies planned for a week-long reunion where it became clear that none of the officers were actually Californians.¹²

The Los Angeles Times noted:¹³

These officers are Joseph K. Norcross of Glenside, Montgomery County, PA. He looks like only one man, but appearances are deceiving, for he is really a president, a corresponding secretary and a treasurer. The two comrades who were elected as secretaries at the last reunion died during the year.

Joseph died the following April. His obituary called on all of his friends and members of the local G.A.R. to attend his funeral services, along with members of the Damascus Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F).¹⁴

Joseph's obituary appeared in the April 17, 1913 edition of the
Philadelphia Inquirer.

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This is the second post in a set of family history profiles that I am calling #20in2020. I'll post the next one in a couple weeks.

Sources

1 "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915." Index. Ancestry.com Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2535&h=1828260 : download 4 February 2020) From originals housed at the Philadelphia City Archives. "Death Records.".

2 San Francisco Directory, 1862. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2469/41199_1220706242_3973-00365?pid=1473211672 : download 4 February 2020)

3 Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1555&h=3339109 : download 4 February 2020)

4 Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866 (https://www.fold3.com/image/21/314057695 : download 4 February 2020)

5 Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866 (https://www.fold3.com/image/21/314057700 : download 4 February 2020)

5 Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866 (https://www.fold3.com/image/21/314057707 : download 4 February 2020)

5 Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, compiled 1890 - 1912, documenting the period 1861 - 1866 (https://www.fold3.com/image/21/314057717 : download 4 February 2020)

7 "E.D. Baker Post, 8, will hold a public installation of officers", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 30 December 1900, 2nd Sec p. 9, col. 3; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

8 "The California Volunteer Association", The National Tribune, 8 December 1910, p. 6, col. 6; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

9 "The following committee of the E.D. Baker Post, No. 8", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 October 1903, 2nd Sec p. 14, col. 5; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

10 "Elected Officers", The Altoona Tribune, 7 June 1907, 1st Sec p. 1, col. 5; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

11 "Veterans to Travel on Special Train", The Allentown Democrat, 10 July 1912, 1st Sec p. 3, col. 2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

12 "California Veterans Mostly Elsewhere", The Los Angeles Times, 10 September 1912, 2nd Sec p. 9, col. 1-2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

13 "California Veterans Mostly Elsewhere", The Los Angeles Times, 10 September 1912, 2nd Sec p. 9, col. 1-2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).

14 Obituary of Joseph Kennard Norcross (d. 15 April 1913), The Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 April 1917, 1st Sec p. 14, col. 4; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : downloaded 4 February 2020).