Etters, William

Oregon City Enterprise, Friday, March 24, 1922
William Etters Dies After Brief Illness
The funeral of the late William Etters, born April 19, 1838, in Lemont, Pa., and who died at his home near Parkplace on the Clackamas river Saturday night at 11:45 o’clock after a three days’ illness from pneumonia, was held at the Holman & Pace chapel Monday afternoon, with Rev. H. G. Edgard, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiating. As Mr. Etters was a member of Meade Post No. 2, G. A. R., having fought in the Civil War, this organization was largely represented as was the Women’s Relief Corps. At the grave in Mountain View cemetery the Post had charge of the impressive burial service. The remains were laid to rest beside those of his wife, who died March 28, 1918.
Etters on May 31st, 1870, married Sarah C. Heise, in Center county, Pa.
Mr. Etters came to Oregon City with his family many years ago, and later moved to his place near Parkplace, where he had since resided.
Deceased is survived by three childrren: Mrs. M. M. Cross, of Oregon City; Mrs. W. A. Cross, of Parkplace; Mrs. Frank Lambert, of Jennings Lodge. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Miss Ella Cross, of this city; two brothers, Andrew Etters, of State College, Pa.; a sister, Mrs. George Boyer, of Boyne City, Michigan.

The Banner-Courier, March 30, 1922
William Etters, died at his home near Parkplace on the Clackamas River, Saturday night, of pneumonia. Mr. Etters was born April 19th, 1843 (1838) in Lemont Penn., and moved here many years ago with his parents. The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Holman & Pace chapel, Oregon City with H. G. Edgar, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiating. Mr. Etters was a Civil War veteran and was an honored member of the Meade Post No. 2 of Oregon City. This organization was largely represented at the funeral services, as was also the Woman’s Relief Corps. The deceased is survived by three children: Mrs. M. M. Cross of Oregon City; Mrs. W. A. Cross of Oregon City; Mrs. W. A. Cross of Parkplace, and Mrs. Frank Lambert of Jennings Lodge. He is also survived by a granddaughter of Oregon City, two brothers, Andrew Etters of Skamania, Wash., David Etters of State College, Pa., and a sister Mrs. George Boyer of Boyne City, Michigan. The remains were interred in Mountain View Cemetery beside those of his wife who passed away March 18th, 1918.

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MILITARY:

Name: William Etters
Enlistment Date: 23 Dec 1863
Rank at enlistment: Corporal
State Served: Pennsylvania
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Pennsylvania 34th Infantry Regiment on 23 Dec 1863. Mustered out on 06 Jun 1864. Transferred to Company D, Pennsylvania 191st Infantry Regiment on 06 Jun 1864. Promoted to Full Sergeant on 01 Jun 1865. Mustered out on 28 Jun 1865 at Washington, DC.

Death Date: 18 Mar 1922
Death Place: Oregon City, Oregon
Sources: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865
Death notices listed in National Tribune issues
Confirmed by Oregon Death Index

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The Etters family in the Civil War – thank you to Kevin Buchanan, great-grand nephew of William Etters who provided the clues for this history.

Several of the sons of Johann Peter Etters (or Edris) and Elizabeth Mann of Pennsylvania served their country in the Civil War, but only two survived.

William Etters, born 1838, the subject of this blog served in Co E, 34th Pennsylvania Infantry, enlisting December 23, 1863.

Ellis Warren Etters, born 1848,  served in Co. G, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry (117th Volunteers). Mustered in March 12, 1864. Mustered out on July 14, 1865 at Raleigh, NC.

Three other brothers, born between William and Ellis, did not survive the Civil War:

John Etters, born 1839, enlisted in Co E, 34th Pennsylvania Infantry (5th Pennsylvania Reserve Company) on June 21, 1861. Per a regimental history, he was wounded at New Market Crossroads, Virginia on June 20, 1862 and died July 3, 1862. No information has been found as to the location of his death and burial, as the regiment was in route to Richmond and was involved in the closing battles of the Peninsula Campaign.

Henry Etters, born 1843, enlisted in Co E, Pennsylvania McKeage’s Infantry Battalion on July 3, 1863. Mustered out on July 24, 1863. Transferred on July 24, 1863. Records of Co B, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry show he mustered into that company on August 1, 1863. He was captured at Sulphur Springs, Virginia on October 12, 1863 and held at Andersonville. On April 18, 1864 he was admitted to the hospital at Andersonville with diarrhea. He died May 9, 1864 and is buried in the cemetery at the Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon, Georgia. From handwritten military records, his names appears at Etters, Eters and Eiters. He was buried as Henry Eiters.

Benjamin Etters, born 1845, enlisted in Co G, 51st Pennsylvania Infantry on February 26, 1864. He died at the Campbell General Hospital in Washington D. C. on May 24, 1864. Military records show that his right leg was amputated at the thigh. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In May 1864 his regiment was part of the Overland Campaign, approximately 40 days of battles between the Rapidan and James Rivers in Virginia.

Campbell Hospital, Washington, D. C.