Although only 2 years old at the time of his passing, LutheranCare resident, Barbara Crane remembers her great-grandfather, Joseph Hoover as a quiet, gentle man…but the story doesn’t end there. After many years of investigating into their great-great-grandfather’s life through historic documents and his own diaries, Barbara’s family pieced together the story of Joseph Hoover who enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War in 1862. He served until his capture in 1864 when he was imprisoned in the notorious camp at Andersonville. Later, he was transferred to another camp in South Carolina where he and a friend escaped. They made it back to the Union lines aided by slaves and what is now known as the Underground Railroad. His diaries are considered important primary evidence that slaves helped Union soldiers.
More than a century later, Joseph Hoover’s story caught the attention of an independent film company which produced the movie, “Union Bound” based on his diaries. The film’s tag line reads “He went to war to free the slaves but was freed by them.” A private screening of “Union Bound” and a reception were recently held in the Community Room at LutheranCare for Barbara Crane, her family and friends. (The film is schduled to be in theatres starting April 22.)
For further information, contact Karen Ostinett, 315.235.7104 or kostinett@lutherancare.org.