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OSWALD A. AMIES,* deceased, whose name is enshrined as one of the heroes of
the great Civil War, laid down his life on the field of Gettysburg, on that
memorable July 3, 1863. Then only thirty years of age, prosperous in
business, with a loving wife and devoted children to make life worth the
living, nothing but pure patriotism could have influenced him and caused him
to turn his back on the promises of a happy future and take up a burden by
which his very life was almost hourly to be in jeopardy. He was born in the
city of Philadelphia in 1833. His ancestors beyond his parents had been
natives of France, but his father was born in Delaware. For many years the
latter was engaged in the manufacture of paper at Brandywine, a suburb of
Wilmington, but he later retired to Philadelphia and resided there until his
death at the age of eighty-eight years.
     Oswald A. was the eldest son. After leaving school he became the owner
of the paper manufacturing business in which his father had been interested
at Brandywine and he continued in that industry until 1861, when he offered
his services as a soldier in answer to President Lincoln's first call for
troops. He served for three months as a member of Co. D, 68th Pa. Reserves.
By that time the sad fact was generally recognized that the war would be of
long continuance and among those who reenlisted for the preservation of the
Union, for three years, was Oswald A. Amies. His gallant career was cut short
as noted above. Pilgrims will long visit the old battle field of Gettysburg.
On Cemetery Ridge stand many monuments and the names inscribed on their
shafts are truly honored ones, but the real cost of patriotism is known only
to those in whose hearts are enshrined the memories of the loved ones who
were its victims.
     Oswald A. Amies was married in early manhood to Miss Elizabeth C.
Mather, who survived him many years, dying at Philadelphia, her native city,
in 1882. One son, Edwin M. Amies, has long been a very prominent citizen of
Altoona, Pa., where he is engaged in the practice of law.