Corp. Jacob Bittner, Co. C

Jacob Bittner was born on July 3, 1834 in Milford Twp, Somerset County, PA. He and his wife Matilda continued to live there throughout their lives. According to census records, Jacob was a wagon maker by trade.

He enlisted in Co. C on Aug 25, 1862 and was mustered out with his company on May 29, 1865.

Jacob returned home and continued in the wagon making business. He died on Feb 24, 1915 and rests next to his wife in the Rockwood IOOF Cemetery, Rockwood, PA.

Pvt. John Beyers, Co. C

Pvt. John Beyers was mustered into Co. C of the 142nd PVI on Aug 25, 1862 at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA. Regimental records show that Pvt. Beyers died on Oct 24, 1862. He is buried in Antietam National Cemetery, Section 26, Lot C, grave 234.

Pvt Elijah Berkey, Co. C

Elijah Berkey was born around 1837 in Pennsylvania. On Aug 25, 1862, he was mustered into Co. C 142nd PA Infantry. According to the Historical Data Systems of Provo, UT, Pvt. Berkey "Died from wounds...on 15 Jan 1863 at Washington, DC."

He was buried in Military Asylum Cemetery in DC, which is now known as "Soldiers and Airmen National Cemetery."

Pvt. Michael Ansell, Co. C

Michael Ansell was born on March 10, 1838 in Somerset County, PA to John and Martha (King) Ansell. Census records show that he grew up in Upper Turkeyfoot Twp, along with his brothers and sisters.

Michael was mustered into Co. C 142nd PA Infantry on Aug 25, 1862 at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA. He was mustered out with his company on May 29, 1865.

After the war, Michael moved back to Somerset County to work on the farm, and married Barbara Henry in 1865. The couple would go on to have seven children. In March 1896, Barbara passed away and Jacob was re-married to his second wife, Ellen Zigler two years later.

Above is the Pension Index Card for Michael Ansell, with his 2nd wife listed.

Michael passed away on Jan 9, 1912 and is buried with his first wife, Barbara, in the Scullton Brethern Cemetery in Upper Turkeyfoot Twp, Somerset County, PA.

 

Source:

History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 362/3

Capt. Jacob R. Walter, Co. C

Capt. Jacob R Walter of Co. C was born on Aug 20, 1835 in Somerset County, PA. The 1850 census lists Jacob as living in Milford Twp, and by 1860, he had moved to the county seat, Somerset, where he was listed as being married to Elizabeth and having two children.

Jacob was mustered into service on Aug 27, 1863 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain on Feb 22, 1863, and although he was wounded at Gettysburg, mustered out with his unit on May 29, 1865.

Capt Walter died on Jan 15, 1905 and is buried in the Somerset Union Cemetery in Somerset, PA.

Pvt. Peter Rowen, Co. B

Peter Rowen was born on April 13, 1835 in Westmoreland County, PA to John and Phoebe (Eicher) Rowen. The 1850 Federal Census lists his occupation as "Farmer". Peter married Barbara Livingood on Nov. 17, 1859 in Pennsville, Fayette County, PA.

Peter was mustered into service as a private in Co. B of the 142nd PA Infantry on Aug 26, 1862 in Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA.

Peter was among the wounded of the July 1, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. According to his pension record seen below, Peter received "a shell wound of right leg and right foot."

The record below shows the location of his wounds:

Peter was mustered out the 142nd with the rest of his company on May 29, 1865.

He died on March 24, 1895 in Stauffer, Westmoreland County, PA. There are two headstones in two separate cemeteries that bear his name. One is with his wife and the other is not.

This grave is in Pennsville Mennonite Cemetery

This grave, with his wife, is in Oak Lawn Cemetery in South Union Twp, PA.

1st Sgt Jacob J. Zorn, Co. F

Jacob J. Zorn, son of Michael and Louisa (Domm) Zorn, was born on April 30, 1838 in Berlin, Somerset County, PA. His father died when Jacob was very young, and he assumed the financial support of his mother at the age of 14.

When it was time for a company to be formed in his hometown, Jacob took part in the responsibility of helping to recruit soldiers. This unit would become Co. F 142nd PA Infantry.  Enlisting was not a decision that Jacob came to lightly. He only enlisted after he received the consent of his mother. He was enrolled in the 142nd on Aug 8, 1862 and was mustered in on Aug 25, 1862 at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA.

Sgt. Zorn was with his company during their first engagement at Fredericksburg, VA in December of 1862. About one moment of the battle, he wrote:  

"The balls or bullets come thick and fast I had no Idea I would ever get over that fence alive. but I had no time to consider I threw myself across the fence and walked about twenty or likely forty Steps then I lay down in the open field..."  

Sgt Zorn made it out of the Battle of Fredericksburg unscathed and even kept records of his company's dead, wounded, and missing. Six months later, at Gettysburg, PA, Sgt Zorn would be counted among those missing.

(The 142nd was part of Magilton's Brigade, and was in line of battle on the far right of that brigade. The black arrow is pointing to their position.The top picture was taken from the spot of the red "You Are Here" star on the map below, looking toward that position)

The 142nd took part in the July 1, 1863 battle on Seminary Ridge in Gettysburg. After the death of Col. Cummins, their commanding officer, the 142nd, along with the rest of their Division, were driven back from Seminary Ridge and retreated through town.

"C.P. HEFFLEY and I Scurried up Main St to the upper end of town where we were cut off and had to Surrender and taken down the Street and to the Rebels Rear. as prisoners of war. where we found many traveling the Same direction who were captured."

 Sgt Zorn was exchanged a month later and stayed with his unit for the remainder of the war. The 142nd was present at Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse and Jacob wrote:

"We can hardly realize the fact of the Surrender. after fighting LEEs army for nearly three Years, and now finished, it makes us feel Glad."

After the war, Jacob married Jenny D. Statler on Dec 31, 1867 in Philadelphia, and the two lived in Berlin, where Jacob was a plasterer, contractor, and owned an insurance company.

1st Sgt. Jacob J. Zorn now rests, along with sixteen of his comrades, in the Berlin IOOF Cemetery in Berlin, PA.

Information on Jacob Zorn courtesy of A Sergeant's Story, edited by Barbara M. Croner. Copies of this fantastic work can be purchased from the good folks at the Berlin Area Historical Society.

Pvt. Levi Queer, Co. F

Private Levi Queer was born on March 31, 1840 in Brothersvalley Twp, Somerset County, PA to Jacob and Eve (Hoffman) Queer. He enlisted in Co. F of the 142nd PVI on Aug 21, 1862 in Berlin, PA and was mustered in four days later in Harrisburg, PA.

According to Co. F's 1st Sergeant, Jacob Zorn, "Levi QUEER was in Battles wounded at Fredericksburg and returned Aug 1863. was in Battle of Wilderness, Laurel Ridge, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Petersburg, on Detached Duty as a Div Sharp Shooter and in engagements, Poplar Grove Church Peebles Raide to Bell field, Hatches Run, Dabneys Mill, Boydtown Plank road, five forks & Lees Surrender." 

Pvt. Queer wrote out a General Affidavit in 1886 for his pension, and stated that his wound on Dec 13, 1862 in Fredericksburg was a gunshot wound in the right thigh, although a 1907 Surgeon's Certificate states that the wound was to his left hip.

Levi was mustered out the service of his country on May 29, 1865 with the remainder of his company.

Levi was married twice during his life. He was married to his first wife, Lydia Lape, from 1861 until her death on Sept 21, 1873.   His second wife was Catharine Hoffman, whom he married on Jan 6, 1876. Levi also had ten children, two with Lydia and eight with Catharine.

Levi Queer passed away at his home on March 20, 1915 after a long illness that had kept him bedridden for the last six months of his life. He is buried with his wife Catharine in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Berlin, Somerset County, PA.

Information from 1st Sgt. Jacob Zorn' s Civil War Diary was taken from "A Sergeant's Story", edited by Barbara M. Croner.