He was born on 14 September 1822, in Pennsylvania, perhaps to John William Heller and Ellenore Lamison [date: 12, 2 (43 in 1865), 6 (38 in 1860), 9 (42 yrs, 9 ms, 10 dys at death). place: 6, 16. parents: 15 (relying on his proximity to William in the 1860 census, and possible entries in the 1830 and 1840 censuses).]
In 1850, he may have been living in Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia. If so, he was a founder, living with James and Mary Heller and three others (apparently their children). [source: 16]
He married Susan Lohr, on 3 July 1851. She was born about 1830, in Pennsylvania They had nine children:
[sources: 6, 7, 15, 17]
In 1860, he was living in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer, and owned $1000 in real estate, and $425 in personal property. He was living with his wife Susan, and (presumably their children) Mary, Samuel, Calvin, Margaret, Jane, and Belle. [source: 6]
He was drafted. He was mustered into service as a private on 28 February 1865 at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was a private, in company F. [sources: 1, 2, 3 (24 Feb), 17, 18, 19]
He died on 24 June 1865, at the Division Hospital, in or near Washington, DC, of typhoid fever. He was a private, in company F. He was buried at the National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, or in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Bendersville, Adams County, Pennsylvania, or in Bendersville Cemetery, Bendersville, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19. burial: Arlingon (1, 5), Bethlehem Lutheran (11, 12), Bendersville (14)]
On 30 September 1865, his widow, Susan Heller, applied successfully for a pension. She initially received $8 per month. [sources: 4, 10, 17]
She started receiving an additional $2 per month for each child under sixteen, beginning 25 July 1866. [source: 17]
In 1870, his widow, Susan Heller, was living in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was living with their children Samuel, Mary, Belle, Sigel, William and Ida. She owned $2,500 in real estate and $700 in personal property. [source: 7]
In 1880, his widow, Susan Heller, was living in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was living with their children Calvin, Sigel, William, and Ida, along with a boarder. [source: 8]
In 1890, his widow, Susan Heller, was living in Wenk, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [source: 3]
On 25 December 1898, his widow, Susan, died. She was buried in the Bendersville Cemetery, Bendersville, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [source: 13]
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 N Heller)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 19 January 2005 (William N Heller)
3 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Menallen Township and Bendersville Borough, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 17, page 1 (William N Heller)
4 pension index, by name (William N Heller)
5 'Deaths of Pennsylvania Soldiers'. Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 July 1865, page 4 (Wm M Heller)
6 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Menallen Township, microfilm series M653, film 1057, page 412 = 66 handwritten (William N Heller)
7 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Menallen Township (post office Wenksvile), microfilm series M593, film 1289, page 270 = 39 handwritten (Susan Heller)
8 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Adams County, Menallen Twp, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 43, microfilm series T9, film 1085, page 29 = 4 D handwritten (Susan Heller)
9 'Died'. The Adams Sentinel, 15 August 1865, page 3 (Wm N Heller)
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (William N Heller)
11 e-mail, Dennis W Brandt to Harry A Ide, 12 August 2009 (William N Heller)
12 e-mail, Dennis W Brandt to Harry A Ide, 1 November 2009 (William N Heller)
13 Find a grave, memorial 27662733, added 18 June 2008, Pat Callahan [identification is probable, given the cemetery; the memorial says she was the "wife of Civil War veteran William"] (Susan Heller)
14 Find a grave, memorial 18527943, added 20 March 2007, Pat Callahan (William H Heller)
15 Tice/Garbisch Family Tree, a gedcom, available on RootsWeb WorldConnect, contact David, updated 12 April 2011, accessed 3 July 2011 (William N Heller)
16 1850 US census, Virginia, Jefferson County, Shepherdstown, microfilm series M432, film 953, page 311 recto = 623 [??] handwritten (William Heller)
17 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, Susan Heller widow of William N Heller
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William H Heller)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William N Heller)
| line | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Dwellings visited | 268 | |||||
| Families visited | 270 | |||||
| Name | James Heller | Mary " | Adelaide " | Hiram " | Mary " | William " |
| Age | 29 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 10/12 | 27 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | F | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Founder | Founder | ||||
| Real estate owned | ||||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Md | Penna | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Dwelling number | 459 | |||||||
| Family number | 473 | |||||||
| Name | William N. Heller | Susan " | Mary M " | Samuel D " | Calvin R " | Margaret " | Jane A " | Belle I " |
| Age | 38 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Sex | m | f | f | m | m | f | f | f |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation | Farmer | |||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 1000 | |||||||
| Value of personal estate | 425 | |||||||
| Place of birth | Pennsylvania | Do | Virginia | Do | Pennsylvania | Do | Do | Do |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | |||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Dwelling-house number | 282 | ||||||
| Family number | 315 | ||||||
| Name | Heller Susan | - Samuel | - Mary | - Belle | - Sigel | - William | - Ida |
| Age | 41 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Sex | f | m | f | f | m | m | f |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Keeping House | Farm Laborer | |||||
| Real estate value | 2500 | ||||||
| Personal estate value | 700 | ||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Penna] | West Virginia | " | Penna | " | " | " |
| Father foreign born | |||||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Can't read | |||||||
| Can't write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| street name | ||||||
| house number | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 33 | |||||
| family visit # | 35 | |||||
| name | Heller Susan | - Calvin R | - Sigel E | - William B | - Ida | Soha [?] George |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | F | M | M | M | F | M |
| age | 53 | 29 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 49 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||
| relationship | Son | Son | Son | Daughter | Boarder | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| married | ||||||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | |||||
| married during year | ||||||
| occupation | Keeping Home | Farmer | Laborer | Laborer | At Home | |
| months unemployed | ||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||
| idiotic | ||||||
| insane | ||||||
| disabled | ||||||
| school this year | ||||||
| can't read | ||||||
| can't write | 1 | 1 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Md | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Md |
| mother's birthplace | Md | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Md |
On the 24th of June, in Hospital near Alexandria, Va., WM. N. HELLER, of Co. F, 91st Regt. P.V., aged 42 years 9 months and 10 days. He leaves a wife and nine children.--Farewell, dear brother, until we meet again.
Admitted April 25, 1866, to a Pension of $8.00 per month, commencing June 24th, 1865.
Appd. L. Holtzlander, Examining Clerk.Be it known that on this 18th day of September 1865, before me the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County, having custody of the seal of said Court, personally came Mrs Susan Heller of Bendersville in said County aged twenty seven years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the first section of the Act of Congress approved July 14 1862. The she is the widow of William N Heller who was a private in Company F. commanded by Captain Wm E Michaels, in the 91st Regiment of Penna V Vols, in the war of 1861, who died on the 24th day of June 1865 at Hospital in the field near Washington D.C. of disease - to wit, Diarrhoea and Typhoid Fever, (as she is informed and believes) contracted in the service in the line of his duty.
She further declares that she was married to the said William N Heller in Washington County Maryland on the 3rd day of July 1851, by Rev Franklin Dyson, a minister of the Gospel. that her maiden name was Susan Lohr. that there is no public record of her said marriage that she knows
of. that her husband, the said William N Heller, left him surviving nine children under the age of sixteen years at the time of his death and all living with this declarant at Adams County aforesaid, viz;
| Mary Virginia | born | February 19. 1852. |
| Samuel D Heller | " | January 25. 1854. |
| Calvin R | " | October 3. 1855. |
| Ellen M | " | October 3. 1855. |
| Jane E | " | July 5. 1857. |
| Belle J | " | Jan. 16. 1859. |
| Sigel Ellsworth | " | Nov 8. 1862. |
| William Byron | " | June 8. 1864 |
| Ida Francis | " | June 8. 1864. |
That her husband, the said William N Heller, died on the day above mentioned, and that she has remained his widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by the proofs hereto annexed.
Se also declares that she has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States.
Susan Heller X her markAlso personally appeared William W Blocker and Wm S. Cart, residents of said County of Adams State of Pennsylvania, persons whom I certify
to be respectable and entitled to credit, who being by me duly sworn, say they were present, and saw Mrs Susan Heller make her mark to the foregoing declaration, and they further swear [?] that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said declarant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest whatever in the prosecution of this claim, and the said William W. Blocker further states that he is well acquainted with said Susan Heller and her family, and that the names and ages of the children are correctly stated by said Susan in her foregoing declaration to the best of his knowledge and belief. and that said Susan is still the widow of said William N Heller.
W. W. BlockerSworn and subscribed before me this 18th day of September 1865, and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing declaration were fully known to said Susan Heller before subscribing the same, and that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. Witness the seal of said Court at Gettysburg this 18th day of September 1865.
[seal]The Post Office address of the applicant is Bendersville Adams Co Penna.
Susan Heller X her markI Susan Heller of Adams County Penna hereby constitute Robert G McCrerrey [??] of Gettysburg my attorney to attend to my claim for pension and receive any certificate that may be generated for the same Witness my hand and seal [sic] September 18. 1845.
Susan Heller X her mark Seal ['seal' is surrounded by a squiggly line]Personally appeared the above named Susan Heller and acknowledged the above power of Attorney to be her act and deed. Witness my hand and seal September 18 1865.
A J Cover J.P.I Jacob Bushey Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid, hereby certify that A. J. Cover, Esq. whose genuine signature is affixed to the foregoing acknowledgement, is and was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace, duly elected, commissioned and qualified as such, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as a Justice of the Peace Given under my hand and seal of said Court at Gettysburg, Penna, this 28th day of September A.D. 1865
Jacob Bushey, ProthyI have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 111.017 [?], and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office that William N Heller was Drafted and mustered into service as a Prvt. on the 28th day of Feby 1865, at Chambersburg, in Co. "F", 91st Regiment of Pa. Volunteers, to serve One years [sic], or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. "F" of that Regiment, for the months of May and June 1865, he is reported "Died June 24th 1865. of Typhoid Fever" at Div Hosp"
I, K. S. Taylor Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County and State aforesaid, do certify, that W. W. Payton esq. before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, was, at the date thereof, and still is an associate judge duly commissioned and authorized by Law to administer Oaths, take Acknowledgements &c.; that the foregoing Signature, purporting to be his, is genuine, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, at Chambersburg, this 25 day of September, A.D., 1865.
K. S. TaylorThis is to certify, that William N. Heller of Adams County state of Pennsylvania and Susan Lohr of Jefferson County State of Virginia were joined together in Holy Matrimony by me on the Third day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty One
Franklin DysonPersonally came before me the Subscribed Associate Judge of the Courts of Said County Pa [?] Franklin Dyson, who being duly sworn saith that the facts stated in the above certificate are true to the best of his Knowledge + belief.
Franklin DysonSworn and subscribed before [sic] this 25th day Sept AD 1865
Personally appeared before the undersigned justice of the peace in and for Adams County aforesaid Mary Heller, a citizen of said County, who being duly sworn according to law saith that she was present at the birth of Mary Virginia Heller and Samuel Dyson Heller, children of the late Wm N Heller and Susan Heller: that said Mary Virginia Heller was born the nineteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and fifty-two and said Samuel Dyson Heller was born January 25th Eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and that she the said deponent has no interest whatever in this claim for pension and allowance
Mary hellerSworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of March Eighteen hundred and sixty-seven and I hereby certify that I have no interest whatever in this claim or in the prosecution thereof: that said deponent is a credible and respectable witness and that the foregoing deposition was carefully read to her before she signed it. Witness my hand and seal.
I Jacob A Kitzmiller Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County hereby certify that John Hames Esq is and was at the date of the within certificate a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and qualified and that his signature within written is genuine
[seal]Witness the seal of said Court this 28" day of March 1867
J A Kitzmiller ProI hereby certify that I attended professionally Mrs Susan Heller the wife, (now the widow) of Wm N Heller, at the time of the births of the following named children, and that they were born as here stated, viz.
Calvin R Heller Oct. 3. 1855Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for Adams County aforesaid E W. Mumma [?] whom I certify to be a respectable practicing physician of the neighborhood who being duly sworn saith the facts set forth in the above certificate are true and that he has no interest in this claim
E W Mumma [?]Sworn and subscribed before me Feb 1867
Saml Mealy J.P.I, Jacob A Kitzmiller Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County aforesaid hereby certify that Samuel Meals Esq is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that her signature within written is genuine
[seal]Witness the seal of said Court at Gettysburg this 23rd day of February AD 1867
J A Kitzmiller ProPersonally appeared Samuel McCauslen [??] a respectable citizen of Adams County who being duly sworn saith the above is a true copy of the record of births of the children of the record of births of the children of William N Heller decd and Susan Heller, as taken from the family Bible of the same Wm N Heller decd. that the original entries in said record are in the handwriting of said Wm N Heller dec'd except the last two entries which are in the hand writing of James Heller a brother of said deceased. that deponent knows the hand writing of said persons [??] and that all the said children except Alice L Heller who is decd
and that deponent has no interest in this matter and is not related to said Susan Heller
Samuel McCauslenSworn and subscribed before me this 12" day of September 1866
D Ziegler JudgeI, Jacob A Kitzmiller Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County hereby certify that Hon David Zeigler is a Judge of said Court duly [illegible word] and qualified, that his commission is dated December 1 1861 and will expire December 1 1866 and that his signature above written is genuine
[seal]Witness the seal of said Court this 12" day of September 1866
J Kitzmiller ProI hereby report that the name of Susan Heller wid. of William N. Pvt. F. 91. Pa. who was a pensioner on the rolls of this Agency, under Certificate No. 71975, and who was last paid at $12, to 4 Oct., 1897, has been dropped because of death: Date 26 Dec. 1897.
Very respectfully,On this 12th day of September A.D. 1866, personally appeared before me the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County aforesaid Susan Heller a resident of Menallen in the County of Adams State of Penna aged 38 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the second section of the Act of Congress increasing the pensions of widows and orphans, approved July 25, 1866. That she is the widow of William N Heller who was a private in Company F. commanded by [blank] in the 91st Regiment of Penna vols in the war of 1861, and that by reason of his death [blank] in the service aforesaid she has been granted a pension of eight dollars per month in accordance with certificate numbered 71.975 bearing day May 3. 1866 She further swears that she has the following named children of her deceased husband and herself, under sixteen years of age, who are now living, the dates of whose birth were given as below, to wit: Mary Virginia born February 19. 1852. Samuel D. born January 25. 1854. Calvin R and Ellen M. twins born October 3. 1855. June E. born July 5. 1857. Belle J. born June 16th 1859. Sigel E born November 8. 1862. and William B and Ida F. twins born June 8. 1863. She further declares that she has not re married since the death of her said husband, nor has she abandoned the support of any one of the children above named, nor permitted any one of the same to be adopted by any other person or persons as his, her, or their child.
My Post-office address is as follows: Bendersville Adams Co Penna and I hereby constitute R. G. McCREARY, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, my Attorney to prosecute my claim for increased pension and receive any certificate that may be granted for the same.
Susan Heller X her markAlso personally appeared Samuel McCauslen and Susan McCauslen residents of Adams County State of Penna persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn say that they were present and saw Susan Heller maker her mark to the foregoing declaration; and they further swear that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of the applicant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. And they further swear that they are well acquainted with the said Susan Heller and her family, and that the number, names and ages of the children of the said Susan Heller and of her husband the said Wm N Heller deceased, are as follows, viz.: Mary V aged about 14 years. Samuel D aged about 12 years. Calvin R and Ellen M twins aged about 11 years. June E aged about 9 years. Belle J aged about 7 years. Sigel E aged about 4 years. and William B and Ida F. twins aged about 3 years. that the said children are now living and the said Susan Heller is still a widow.
Samuel McCauslenSworn to and subscribed and acknowledged before me, this 12th day of September A.D. 1866 and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. Witness the seal of said Court this date last above written.
[seal] A Kitzmiller Pro| Non Abandonment or adoption. | Shown by averment. | |||||||||
| Date of Marriage of Parents. | July 3" 1851 | |||||||||
| Names and dates of birth of children. | Mary V. Heller | " [sc. born] February 19" 1852 | " " [sc. who will be 16 years old] | February 18", 1868. | ||||||
| Samuel D. " | " January 25" 1854 | " " | January 24", 1870. | |||||||
| Calvin R. " | " October 3" 1855 | " " | October 2", 1871. | |||||||
| Ellen M. " | " October 3" 1855 | " " | October 2", 1871. | |||||||
| Jane E. " | " July 5" 1857 | " " | July 4", 1873. | |||||||
| Belle J. " | " June 16" 1859 | " " | June 15", 1875 | |||||||
| Sigel E. " | " November 8" 1862 | " " | November 7", 1878 | |||||||
| William B. " | " June 8" 1864 | " " | June 7", 1880 | |||||||
| Ida F. " | " June 8" 1864 | " " | June 7" 1880 | |||||||
| Proof of ages. | The first two shown by affidavit for credible eye witness the others shown by affidavit of the attending physician | |||||||||
| Only children. | Shown | |||||||||
| Agent and his P.O. address. | R. G. McCreary Esq. Gettysburg Penna. | |||||||||
Issue certificate for Eight dollars per month, commencing June 24", 1865, and two dollars per month additional for each of the above-named children, commencing Twenty-fifth day of July, 1866, deducting former payments.
L. Holtzlander, Examiner.