Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Asad Betzer

107^th ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1862 Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered In: 9/4/62 Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered Out: 6/21/65 Salisbury, NC

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
 

The 107^th, a three year western theater regiment, was organized during the summer months of 1862. Mustered into Federal Service at Camp Butler Springfield, IL on 9/4/62 it was composed of six companies from De Witt and four from Piatt counties.
 

On 9/30/62 the regiment departed Springfield and moved to Jeffersonville, IN. Arriving there on 10/1/62 it soon became involved in a minor skirmish with the Confederate forces of Gen. John Hunt Morgan at Elizabethtown, KY. Several of Morgan's men were captured, while the 107^th suffered no casualties.
 

The regiment's next action came during November, 1863 near Loudon, TN. There the unit lost 1 killed and several wounded. It then engaged the enemy at Campbell's Station and at Danbridge.
 

During the spring of 1864 the 107^th joined the forces of Union Gen. William T. Sherman as they moved to capture Atlanta, GA. The first engagement of the campaign occurred at Rocky Face Ridge (5/7-13/64). It was next active at Resaca (5/13 - 15/64).
 

It participated in all the engagements around Kennesaw Mtn. (6/27/64) and the subsequent fighting around Atlanta (7/22/64). It then moved back into Tennessee where it engaged the enemy at Spring Hill (11/29/64).
 

At Franklin, TN (11/30/64) it captured two stands of Rebel colors. Then came the battle of Nashville (12/15 - 16/64).
 

When 1865 dawned the 107^th moved into North Carolina where it assisted in the capture of Ft. Anderson Cravens Co. NC (3/13-15). It then moved to Raleigh where it remained until the surrender of Confederate forces under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (4/26/65). After that it moved to Salisbury, NC where it performed guard duty until mustered out on 6/21/65.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES: 

Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 3; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:0 ; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 27; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:122.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Clinton DeWitt Co., IL   Age:
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/5/62 Clinton DeWitt Co., IL   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/4/62 Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered Out: 6/21/65 Salisbury, NC
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY: 

 

Asad "Asa" Thompson Betzer was reportedly born 3/23/42 in Ross County, Ohio. His parents were William Irvin (b. 3/18/11 Ross Co., OH - d. 4/10/57 Dewitt Co., IL) and Frances (nee Beeler b. 11/17/08 Mt. Carmel Fleming Co., KY) Betzer. The Betzers were farmers.

 

Within the Betzer household Asa was the fourth of eight children. Older than he were James H. (b. 1/24/36) and Enoch (b. 2/3/38), Margretta (b.1840).   Younger than he were Isaac Newton (b. 1844), Anna Maria (b. 1/1/47), Alexander H. (b. 1850) and America Masai (b. unk.) All of the Betzer children were born in Ross County, OH. Their birthdates are subject to error.

 

In 1850 the William Betzer family was residing in or near the community of Twin located in Ross Co., OH. In the fall months of 1856 they removed from Ohio to Clinton DeWitt Co., IL. William died there the following year.

 

1860 found the Betzers still farming in Clinton. Assisting his mother as patriarch of the family was married son, James. "Grandma" Betzer lived a long life. She died on 7/7/92 and was/is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery Seward, NE.

 

Early August, 1862 saw Asa and younger brother Isaac depart the family farm and enlist in the U.S. Army. During the American Civil War - then called The Rebellion or the War of The Rebellion - both served in Company "B" of the 107^th Illinois Infantry. Asa would survive the conflict. Isaac would not. Likely captured during the fighting around Atlanta, GA he was incarcerated at the infamous Camp Sumter located in Andersonville, GA. He died there on 8/17/64 and was/is buried in the Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, GA.

 

With our Private Betzer's entrance into the military we gain a view of him as a physical man. His height was 5'11" (above average for that era), had red hair, hazel eyes and a light complexion. Unmarried, he noted his occupation to be "farmer."

 

Not having access to Asa's military service file it is difficult to say what, if any sufferings he may have experienced while in the army. As earlier noted, however, he did survive the ordeal and returned to civilian life.

 

Post Civil War there are big gaps in Asa time line. Exactly "where" he returned to civilian life is not known. After 1860 he is not found in any U.S. Census until 1900. Even so, we can maybe piece together a possible chronology for his life moves.

 

If, post-war Asa returned to the family farm in DeWitt Co., IL he may have remained there until the fall of 1869 then moved with his mother removed to Pella Marion Co., IA. It may have been in Iowa that Asa married.

 

Asa's bride was Elizabeth Sarah Allender (b. 8/7/48 or '50 CT). Where and when they met and married is not documented.

 

The couple would produce seven children of which only three are identified. One of them was birthed in Iowa. The named Betzer children were: Aelie (b. 4/80 IA), Edward A. (b. 10/8/82 IN or IL) and Marvin A. (b. 6/19/84 or '86 IL).

 

Looking at the birth states of the Betzer children, it would appear - putting aside the possibility of Edward having been born in Indiana in favor of Illinois - post war Asa returned to Illinois. Then, for a time lived in Iowa before returning to Illinois.

 

According to Frances Betzer's 1892 obituary printed in the Seward, NE Blue Valley Blade - the newspaper of  which her son James was the editor - at the time of his mother's passing Asa  was residing in Lincoln, NE. Asa was also noted in 1893 and 1899 city directory for Lincoln, NE.

 

As of 1900 Asa and family were still residing in Nebraska, but with the taking of that year's census their place of residence was noted as Garfield located in Lancaster Co. There, Asa was employed as a "printer."

 

Another decade. By 1910 Asa, Elizabeth and son Edward were in Seattle King County, WA. What had drawn them there and when they arrived in the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest is not known. Asa was noted in Seattle King Co., WA 1913 city directory along with sons Edward and Marvin and was proprietor of the New Hudson Hotel.  

 

Elizabeth Sarah Allender Betzer died in Seattle King County, WA on 1/11/11. Details of her passing are not known. She was/is buried in that city's Mt. Pleasant Cemetery one of the oldest Seattle Cemeteries located at 700 West Raye St. Seattle WA.  (Address).

 

Although his pension files are not at hand, during the late 1880s former Private Betzer applied for and was granted as U.S. Government disability pension based on debilitating physical conditions which traced back to his days of Civil War soldiering. In Asa's case those include chronic diarrhea and resulting piles (hemorrhoids), liver disease, rheumatism and resulting disease of the heart. (check). The pension onset was retroactively to 12/21/87 in the amount of $17. The stipend was $30 per month at the time of Asa's death.

 

After Elizabeth's passing Asa remained in Seattle. He died there on 5/4/16. His burial was/is not beside Elizabeth, but amongst former Civil War comrades laid to rest in Seattle's Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery located near the north end of Capitol Hill.

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Seattle

Denise Ottoson
Seattle, WA