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The Mystery of Josiah Ellinger
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 12, 2018
The Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card shown above from the Pennsylvania Archives notes that a Josiah Ellinger, about 19 years old, enrolled at Philadelphia in Company I of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry as a Private on 25 February 1862. However, he was not on the roll of the company at muster out.
Another card (not shown) from the Pennsylvania Archives notes that a Josiah Ellinger enrolled in the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E, as a Private, on 3 February 1864. He was declared missing in action as of 12 May 1864, at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia.
Was this Josiah Ellinger a native of the Lykens Valley area? Previously, this individual was not included in the Project Veterans List. In an e-mail exchange about 5 years ago, it was suggested this was the same person who was the brother of Elizabeth Ellinger who married Joseph R. Ritzman (1836-1899) who was previously, briefly profiled here:
Joseph Ritzman (1836-1899). Served in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private, from 7 September 1864 through 30 May 1865. He married Elizabeth Ellinger. Joseph appears in the 1870 Census for Washington Township as a shoemaker and in a later census as a laborer living in Wiconisco.
Not much has been discovered since that last e-mail exchange.
The Pension Index Card shown above from Ancestry.com, notes that the mother of Josiah Ellinger, Lydia Ellinger, applied for pension benefits on 10 November 1873, based on the service of her son in the 183rd Pennsylvania Infantry. She did receive the benefits. That application, available at the National Archives, was not consulted for this blog post, but should include more information on the circumstances of his death – including verification that his status was changed from missing to dead.
What more is known about Josiah Ellinger?
He was born about 1845, probably somewhere in the Lykens Valley area.
In 1850, as a 5-year-old, he was living in the household of his parents, William Ellinger and Lydia Ellinger, in Mifflin Township, Dauphin County. William was a tobacconist.
In 1860, as a 15-year old, he was still living with his parents in Mifflin Township. Although he would have been old enough to work, no occupation was given. The father’s occupation was cigar maker.
An explanation for Josiah not appearing on the muster out roll of the cavalry could be that he was underage and was discharged, but that information was not placed in the official record. It should also be noted that the cavalry service, if there was any, was not reported by the mother when she applied for benefits in 1873.
Where is Josiah Ellinger buried? No grave site has been found. It is possible that his remains were never located and/or identified.
Any additional information about Josiah Ellinger would be greatly appreciated, including copies of the mother’s pension application. Information can be added this post as “comments” or sent via e-mail.
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