He was born in 1839/40 (3 (21 in 1861), 8 (40 in 1880), 10 (41 at death in 1881)). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 8, 10). He was born to John M and Charlotte M Stetler (9).
In 1860, he was living with his family in the 13th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). He was an apprentice to a tinsmith (7).
When he enlisted, he was a roofer (3).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (3).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861 (1, 3, 6, 13). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr (3). He was a private in company A (1, 15-19).
He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1, 2, 11 [slightly wounded], 12 [slightly wounded], 13).
He was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability (1, 3, 13).
On 2 May 1864, the regiment reported that he was transferred to the Veterans' reserve corps (4). When transferred, he was a private, in company A (15-19). He served in K 9 of the VRC (5, 14). He was discharged on 20 August 1864 (6).
On 4 November 1864, he applied successfully for a pension (5, 14).
In 1880, he was living at 1809 Lambert Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his wife Emma (9). He was a tin roofer (8).
He died on 3 April 1881, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of dropsy of heart (5 [4 Sep], 9 [3 April], 10). He was married, and was a tinsmith (10). The funeral was held on 7 April, at 523 Callowhill Street (his mother-in-law's house) (9, 41). Members of ED Baker Post Number 8 GAR were invited to attend (9). He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery (10).
On 18 April 1881, his widow, Emma L Stetler, applied successfully for a pension (5, 14).
In 1890, his widow, Emma L Stetler, was living at 523 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (6). He had been shot through the right hand, and had suffered from rheumatism (6).
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 C Stettler)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Private Stettler)
3 company A descriptive roll, entry 54 (William C Stettler)
4 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 2 May 1864 (Pri Stetler)
5 pension index, by regiment (William C Stetler)
6 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district 213, page 1 (image 1332 on Ancestry) (William C Stetler)
7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 13th ward, series M653 roll 1163 page 539 = 119 handwritten (Wm C Stettler)
8 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 597, microfilm series T9, film 1187, page 410 = page 12D handwritten (William Stelter [sic])
9 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 7 April 1881, page 4 (William C Stetler)
10 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3 April 1881 (William Stetler)
11 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Wm Stetler)
12 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania at Chancellorville', Philadelphia Inquirer 13 May 1863, page 8 (William Stetler)
13 Civil War veterans' card file, Pennsylvania Archives, available on ARIAS, accessed 5 February 2015 (William C Stettler)
14 pension index, by name (William C Stetler)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William C Stutler)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William C Stetteller)
17 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William C Stetler)
18 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Willliam C Stettler)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William C Stuttler)
| line | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Dwelling number | 804 | ||||||
| Family number | 808 | ||||||
| Name | John M Stettler | Maria C " | Wm C " | Mary A " | Henry L " | Fanny H " | Ella N " |
| Age | 44 | 39 | 20 | 17 [?] | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| Sex | |||||||
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | Tin Smith | App to Tin Sm | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||
| Value of personal estate | |||||||
| Place of birth | Penna | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 9 | 10 |
| street name | Lambert Street | |
| house number | 1809 | " |
| dwelling visit # | 96 | " |
| family visit # | 108 | " |
| name | Stelter [sic] William | " Emma |
| color | W | W |
| sex | m | f |
| age | 40 | 35 |
| month born if born in year | ||
| relationship | Wife | |
| single | ||
| married | [blank] | [blank] |
| widowed/divorced | ||
| married during year | ||
| occupation | Tin Roofer | House Keeper |
| months unemployed | ||
| currently ill? | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf/dumb | ||
| idiotic | ||
| insane | ||
| disabled | ||
| school this year | ||
| can't read | ||
| can't write | ||
| birthplace | " [sc. Pa] | " |
| father's birthplace | Pa | Germany |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Germany |
The relatives and friends of the family, also E. D. Baker Post, No. 8, and the Ninety-first Regiment, Pa. Vols., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, from his mother-in-law's, Mrs. C. Roth, No. 523 Callowhill street, this afternoon, at 3 o'clock.