He was born in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on 27 July 1844, to Adam J Sanders and Susanna Topper (4) He was 20 years old when he enlisted in 1865 (2, 6 [17 in 1860], 7 [35 in 1880], 8 [65 in 1910], 10 [73 at death]). He was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania (2, 6, 7, 8).
In 1860, he was living in Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (6). He was living with his parents Adam and Susanna, along with some (presumed) siblings (6).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (2).
He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (2).
He also served in company C of the 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (3). The regiment was mustered in on 11 November 1862 (4). The regiment went through Washington DC to Newport News, Virginia, and Suffolk, Virginia (4). He was mustered out with the regiment on 28 July 1863 (4).
He was drafted from Liberty Township (1, 2, 4). He enlisted and was mustered into service on 28 February 1865 (1, 2, 4). He was enlisted for one year, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, by Captain Eyster (2). His enlistment was credited to the sixteenth congressional district (2). He was a private in company A (1, 11).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1). He was a private, in company A (11).
He was married to Lizzie Smith, by John Hoffman, either after the war or between his service in the 165th and 91st Pennsylvania (4). She died in the spring of 1866 (4). They had no children (4).
He next married Margaret Elizabeth Topper, in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania (4), in 1867/68 (8). They had these children (4):
On 30 December 1879, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 5). He claimed that he had been so sick while in Suffolk that he had to be nursed back to health by his messmates, Ezak McGlaughlin and David Gopper (4).
In 1880, he was living in Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (7). He was living with his wife Margaret, and children Mary, Agnes, Clara, Annie, Joseph, Rosy (7). He was a farmer (7).
He again applied for a pension on 26 July 1890, because of rheumatism, liver disease, and "pains in the head", etc. (4).
In 1910, he was living in Freedom Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his wife Margaret and daughters Agnes and Clara (8). He was a farmer, on a general farm (8).
And he again applied for a pension on 1 June 1912 (4).
He moved to Edgegrove about 1913 (10).
He died on 10 April 1915, at Edgegrove, Adams County, Pennsylvania, of pneumonia (3 [18 Apr], 4 [10 Apr], 10 [Saturday before 24 Apr]]). He was buried in Conewago Church Cemetery, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on 13 April 1915 (4, 10 [Centennial]). He was a carpenter (4). He was Roman Catholic (4).
His widow, Margaret E Sanders, applied for a pension ten days after his death (4). On 21 or 22 May 1915 [?], she again applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 4, 5).
In 1920, his widow, Margaret Sanders, was living in Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (9). She was living with her daughter Clara (9).
Margaret Elizabeth Sanders died on 27 October 1928, in Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (4). She was buried in the family plot on 30 October 1928, in Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (4).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (William Sanders)
2 company A descriptive roll, entry 162 (William Sanders)
3 pension index by regiment (William Sanders)
4 Sanders Family, fourth generation (Continued) (cached on Google as retrieved 27 Feb 2004; searched 21 February 2005) (cites military and pension records; 1850 PA census Adams County Liberty Township page 49; 1860 PA census Adams County Hamiltonban Township page 369; 1880 PA census Adams County Hamiltonban Township page 207; 1910 PA census Adams County Freedom Township ED 9 page 96A family 59; and his son Mervin) (William Aloysious Sanders; military and pension records have middle name 'Augustus')
5 pension index, by name (William Sanders)
6 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Liberty Township, microfilm series M653, film 1057, page 369 = 9 [?] handwritten (William Sanders)
7 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Hamiltonban Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 54, microfilm series T9, film 1085, page 207 A = 5 handwritten (Wm Sanders)
8 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Freedom Township, supervisor's district 15, enumeration district 9, microfilm series T624, film 1292, page 96 B = 3 handwritten (William Sanders)
9 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Conowago Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 7, microfilm series T625, film 1507, page 82 B = 10 handwritten (Margaret C Sanders)
10 William Sanders [death notice]. The Star and Sentinel (Gettysburg PA), 24 April 1915, page 3 (William Sanders)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William Sanders)
| line | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Dwelling number | 328 | |||||
| Family number | 356 | |||||
| Name | Adam Sanders | Susanna " | Edmund " | Catharine " | Jeremiah " | William " |
| Age | 59 | 57 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 17 |
| Sex | m | f | m | f | m | m |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation | Farmer | Laborer | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | 250 | |||||
| Value of personal estate | 115 | |||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||
| Cannot read & write | 1 | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| street name | ||||||||
| house number | ||||||||
| dwelling visit # | 1 | |||||||
| family visit # | 1 | |||||||
| name | Sanders Wm | " " Margart [sic] | " " Mary | " " Agness | " " Clara | " " Annie | " " Joseph | " " Rosy |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F | F | M | F |
| age | 35 | 33 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||||
| relationship | Wife | Daught | Daught | Daught | Daught | Son | Daught | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||||
| married during year | ||||||||
| occupation | Farmer | House keeper | At home | " " | " " | |||
| months unemployed | ||||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||||
| blind | ||||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||||
| idiotic | ||||||||
| insane | ||||||||
| disabled | ||||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| can't read | ||||||||
| can't write | ||||||||
| birthplace | Penna | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " |
| father's birthplace | Penna | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " | " " |
| line | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 |
| street | Leading from Emmitsburg + Gettysburg Road to Haynesburg [?] Pike | |||
| house nr | ||||
| dwelling nr | 57 | |||
| family nr | 59 | |||
| name | Sanders William | - Margaret | - Agnes | - Clara |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Daughter |
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| age | 65 | 64 | 40 | 38 |
| marital status | M2 | M1 | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 42 | 42 | ||
| mother of # children | 7 | |||
| mother of # living children | 5 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Maryland | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Farmer | None | None | None |
| nature of industry etc. | General farm | |||
| employer etc. | OA | |||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | ||||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | ||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||||
| owned/rented | O | |||
| owned free or mortagaged | F | |||
| farm/house | F | |||
| nr on farm schedule | 51 | |||
| civil war vet | UA | |||
| blind | ||||
| deaf & dumb | ||||
| line | 98 | 99 |
| street | [illegible] grove road | |
| house number | X | |
| dwelling visit number | 213 | |
| family visit number | 216 | |
| name | Sanders Margaret C | - Clara |
| relationship | Head | Daughter |
| own/rent | O | |
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | F | |
| sex | F | F |
| race | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 73 | 48 |
| marital status | Wd | S |
| year of immigration | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| year of naturalization | ||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||
| can read | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| native language | ||
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's native language | ||
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's native language | ||
| can speak English | Yes | Yes |
| occupation | None | None |
| industry, business | ||
| employment status | ||
| number of farm schedule | ||
William Sanders died at his home at Edgegrove, Saturday evening about 5 o'clock after a short sickness from pneumonia. He was 73 years old. Mr. Sanders was a former resident of near Fairfield and moved to Edgegrove about two years ago. He leaves a wife and four children. A brother resides at Centennial and three sisters are living, one in Illinois and two in York. The funeral was held Tuesday morning from his home. Interment at Centennial.