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Michael Etzweiler – Veteran from Carsonville was Justice of the Peace
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 28, 2018
Michael Etzweiler (also found in the records as Etswiller and Etsweiler), was born on 15 November 1831, at Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel Etzweiler (1800-1878) and Christina [Smith] Etzweiler (1802-1889). He married Catherine Bordner on 27 September 1855 in Jackson Township, Dauphin County. She was born 12 March 1838 in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, and died on 5 October 1899 at Carsonville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Michael Etzweiler died in December 1893 and is buried at the St. James Cemetery in Carsonville, Dauphin County. His grave marker is shown above and at his grave site there is a G.A.R. star and flag holder.
Not much is known about him prior to his Civil War service which occurred from 28 October 1862 through 31 July1863 in the 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private. In 1860, for the census, he had reported his occupation as blacksmith, which he again stated in the U.S. Civil War Draft of 1863. What also can be noted is that when Michael Etzweiler went of to war, he left three small children and a wife behind.
After the war, the family was located in the 1880 census in Carsonville where Michael still indicated that he was a blacksmith. However, area directories of 1882, 1884, and 1886, indicate that he had a dual occupation of blacksmith and “justice.” The 1890 census provides no help as to occupation, but confirms his residence as Carsonville as well as his military service.
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The Harrisburg Daily Independent of 2 December 1863, reported the following:
‘Squire Etzweiler Seriously Ill
Michael Etzweiler, of Carsonville, who has been sick for some time, is in a precarious condition and is not expected to recover. He is well known in the upper end of the county, having been ‘squire for many years, He was in the city hospital for several weeks about a month ago.
Note: A justice of the Peace was frequently referred to as “‘Squire,” an abbreviation of “Esquire.”
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On 16 December 1893, his death was reported in the Harrisburg Daily Independent:
Death of a Justice of the Peace
Michael Etzweiler, of Carsonville, this county, died yesterday. Mr. Etzweiler was a justice of the peace for many years and a prominent citizen of the upper end. The funeral will take place tomorrow.
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The Harrisburg Telegraph, 15 December 1888, told a brief story of the generosity of Michael Etzweiler:
The Carsonville brass band will erect a hall on the land of Michael Etzweiler, facing the public road, and the people in that section are contributing freely to the enterprise.
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In 22 May 1888, Michael Etzweiler applied for pension benefits based on his Civil War service as shown on the Pension Index Card, from Fold3, above. He received those benefits until his death, whereupon the widow Catherine Etzweiler applied and received benefits until her death.
Catherine and Michael had at least nine known children, the last of which was born in 1878 and died in 1969.
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News clippings are from Newspapers.com.
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