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Obituary of Elias Etzweiler
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 9, 2019
The obituary of Elias Etzweiler appeared in the Elizabethville Echo, 15 April 1909:
Elias Etzweiler
At about 6 o’clock on Good Friday evening, April 9th, Elias Etzweiler, approaching the close of four score years, breathed his last. He had been making his home for some years with his sister, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fawber, in the West End of town [Elizabethville], and had been in declining health owing to his advanced years and a dropsical affliction for quite a long time, and when lately a rheumatic complication set in and finally drew to his heart, the end came not unexpectedly. Elias Etzweiler, a son of Daniel Etzweiler and Christiana [Smith] Etzweiler, and one of twelve children, was born in the double-house next to Jacob Warfel‘s, one of the remaining landmarks of Elizabethville, on September 15th 1829, and brought his age to 79 years, 6 months, 24 days. He was baptized and confirmed in the Reformed Church, by Rev. Bosler, in the Old Stone (Salem’s) Union Church near his home, and remained a consistent Christian all his life. He was for a number of years connected with the United Brethren Church, but at the time of his death was a member in good standing in Salem’s Reformed Church in town. He was a great reader and zealous student of the Bible, having in this way practically worn-out four copies of the Holy Book, and up to two years ago he was a regular attendant at communion unless sickness prevented.
At the time of the Civil War he enlisted October 18 1862 as a private in Captain G, 172nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers [172nd Pennsylvania Infantry] under Col. Kleckner and proceeded with the regiment to Washington and Newport News and in July 1863 joined Meade’s Army. Having served his enlistment he was discharged August 11th 1863 and on the 27th of the same month 1864 re-enlisted in Capt. T. W. Hoffman‘s Company A, 208th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry [208th Pennsylvania Infantry] under Col. McCalmont, participating at the Fall of Petersburg,and was honorably discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, June 1st 1865.
“The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat
The soldier’s last tattoo;
No more on Life’s parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few!
On Fame’s eternal camping ground, Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead”
He was married about the year 1858 to Eliza Riegel. They had no children and all of his immediate family preceded him to the grave except two sisters, Mrs. Fred Fawber [Mary Fauber] of town, and Mrs. Levi Ditty [Kate Ditty] of Harrisburg, and two brothers, Jonathan Etzweiler of Halifax and Peter Etzweiler of Paxton.
The funeral was held at 9:30 at the house on Tuesday forenoon and services were held in the Reformed Church conducted by the pastor, the Rev. C. P. Wehr. The interment was made in Maple Grove Cemetery, Funeral Director I. T. Buffington. The pall bearers weer comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, as follows: John Ritz, J. M. Koppenhaver, Jacob Zerby, and Jonas Row.
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News clipping and article transcription taken from Newspapers.com.
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