Born November 24, 1836 in Richland Township, John was the son of Samuel S. Varner and Mary Ann Giffin. He was 24 years old, unmarried, and living with his family when the war broke out.
Just three months into the war — before the North had even fought at Bull Run — John was already dead.
On July 11, 1861, John was killed at the Battle of Rich Mountain in western Virginia, one of the first significant land battles of the Civil War. He was buried on the battlefield itself, at the Hart family farm — just 40 yards east of the Hart house, on the very ground where Union forces under General Rosecrans engaged Confederate defenders.
Six years later, in October 1869, John’s remains were removed from that lonely battlefield grave and reinterred at Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia — Section F, Range 10, Grave 1 — where he rests today.
His burial record contains a brief, haunting note: “Was Dutch” — Pennsylvania Dutch, a nod to his German ancestry rooted deep in Cambria County soil. His specific regiment has never been fully identified in official records — the federal government’s record-keeping was still in chaos in July 1861, and many early-war casualties simply fell through the bureaucratic cracks.
PVT. JACOB G. VARNER (1829-1906) — The Brother Who Witnessed the End
Jacob, John’s older brother, waited until 1864 to enlist — nearly three years after John’s death. He served as a Private in Company A of the 107th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from 1864 to June 6, 1865.
And here’s what makes Jacob’s story remarkable: The 107th Pennsylvania Volunteers was present at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 — the day General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War.
My 3rd great-grandfather stood witness to the surrender that saved the Union.
After the war, Jacob returned home to Cambria County. He married Lydia Strayer and raised seven children — and in a moving statement of loyalty and pride, he named two of his sons Samuel Lincoln Varner and U. S. Grant Varner — after the wartime President and General he had served under.
Jacob filed for an invalid pension in 1862 (Application #638060, Certificate #790480) and passed away on Christmas Day, 1906, in Adams Township. He was 77 years old.
THE FAMILY LINE
Jacob G. Varner is my 3rd great-grandfather through my mother’s Helsel line:
His grandson Lowell Varner Hammer later served as Past Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War — carrying Jacob’s legacy forward.
TWO BROTHERS. ONE WAR.
John never saw Gettysburg. He never saw Appomattox. He never saw the Union preserved. He simply answered the call, marched into the mountains of western Virginia, and died at 24 — before most of the war had even begun.
Jacob answered the call three years later, and he saw the war end at Appomattox.
Rest in peace, Uncle John. Thank you for your service, Grandpa Jacob. Your family remembers. 🇺🇸
📚 Sources:
- Jacob G. Varner’s Civil War Pension Card — Application
#638060, Certificate#790480. Filed January 30, 1862. Unit: 107th Pennsylvania Infantry. Service dates: 1864 – June 6, 1865. - Museum/family exhibit crediting Jacob G. Varner — Documents that the 107th PA Volunteers was present at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 when Lee surrendered to Grant.
- SUVCW biographical sketch of Lowell V. Hammer (Jacob’s great-grandson, Past Commander-in-Chief) — suvcw.org/node/198. Confirms Jacob served in Company A, 107th PA Infantry.
- SAR Patriot Application ACN 25637 (Lowell Varner Hammer) — sarpatriots.sar.org/application/display/727. Independent confirmation of Jacob’s service.
- Sylvester Varner Obituary (~1928) — Confirms Jacob’s Civil War service in the 107th Regiment PVI (Sylvester was Jacob’s son).
- 1850 U.S. Federal Census — Richland Township, Cambria County, PA. Confirms John Varner age 14 and family.
- Grafton National Cemetery Record Book of Interments — Record 631, J. Varner. Section F, Range 10, Grave 1. Reinterment October 18, 1869. Notes: “Removed from Rich Mountain Battle Ground on Jno Hart Farm, Randolph Co. 40 yds East of Hart House. Was Dutch.”
- VA Veterans Legacy Memorial — John Varner memorial, VLM ID 2C7F04C.
- FindAGrave — John Varner Memorial #1275651; Jacob G. Varner Memorial #67045484; Lydia Varner Memorial #67045429.
- 107th Pennsylvania Infantry regimental history — Documents unit presence at Appomattox April 9, 1865.
If anyone in the genealogy community has information about early Union casualties at Rich Mountain, particularly Pennsylvania volunteers, please reach out — I’m still trying to identify John’s regiment.
