Henry (Carl) Ketzle was born in Stuttgart, Germany, October 6, 1834, a son of Carl August and Henrietta Bachmeir Ketzle. After high school he took a course in agriculture at Hohenheim University. He came to America in 1854, lived in New Jersey, three years working in the oyster beds. In 1858 he became a USA citizen. he homesteaded in Minnesota for three years--then moved to Preemption, Illinois. Answering Lincoln''s call for volunteers, he enlisted at Rock Island, IL August 14, 1861 in Company A 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry for three years. At the end of that time, he reenlisted, came home and recruited men from Preemption, Bowling, and Richland Grove townships in Mercer County. Among the recruits was Henry B. Clark who died at Carrolton, Mississippi, August 27, 1863. Company A was mustered out at Houston, Texas May 15, 1866. He bought an 80 acre farm in Perry township in 1866, was married Feb. 16, 1867 to May Elizabeth Clarke of Preemption, IL. A home was made for two sons, Paul C. and Henry Benjamin--five daughters, Henrietta, Augusta (Mrs. Marion Wait) Florence, Eleanor (Mrs. James A. Grimm) and Marguerite (Mrs. John Wesley Neaman) were born.

In 1869--Sterling Honeycutt, Lee Holiday and Hnery Ketzle, as building committee, a Methodist Church cost $2,100 was erected one mile east of Hamlet. Membership was 36. In 1870 the village of Reynolds (named in honor of Elisha P. Reynolds, railroad contractor) was laid out and a larger church built and dedicated October 14, 1877. June 7, 1914 the present Methodist Church was dedicated. The fourth generation of Ketzles still worship there. Henry Ketzle died February 18, 1917.

David A. Clark was President and Henry Ketzle Secretary of Hamlet Mutual Insurace Co. from its organization until shortly before his death.

Casimir served with my great grandfather Sgt Major Fayette Lacey, Capt Francis Asbury Jones and Pvt Moses S Jones in 37 B. They were all related to me through marriage to Fayette's sisters. Casimir died 11/26/1914 and is buried in Lafayette Cemetery, Lafayette, Stark, IL

Francis was married to my great grandfahter Fayette Lacey's sister Maria Aretus Lacey Jones. He died 2/26/1908 and is buried in Lafayette Cemetery, Lafayette, Stark, IL.

He served under his brother Capt Francis Asbury Jones. He was discharged as a SGT at Galvston, TX on Surgeons Certificate of Disability. He died 12/24/1865. He is buried in Lafayette Cemetery, Lafayette, Stark, IL.

Fayette Lacey is my great grandfather. He enlisted under the first call in Co. K, 10th IL, in April, 1861; re-enlisted August 19, 1861, in Co. B, 37th IL, and enlisted again for three years, February 19, 1863 in Co. I, 151st IL. In June 1861 he was detailed as Warden in hospital in Cairo, IL. He was appointed Sergeant Major of his regiment in Spring 1861; participated in the Battle of Pea Ridge, AR, 1862, the Battle of Prairie Grove, AR, 1862 and the Siege of Vicksburg, MS, 1863 and other engagements. He died January 10, 1899 in Tonowanda, Erie, NY. He is buried in City Cemetery, Tonawanda, Erie, NY. His name appears on a Civil War Monument in Plainsfield, IL - on the Illinois Memorial, Vicksburg National Military Park, IL - and on the Tonawanda Civil War Memorial in City Cemetery, Tonawanda, NY.

Benjamin Morgan was is an uncle of mine, the older brother of my grandfather. He died in 1862 in Springfield, MO.

SOURCE: Civil War Research and Genealogy Database - Soldier History. Historical Data Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 196, Kingston, MA 02364

Daniel died in the Civil War, at the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 12, 1862. Daniel and his son, John O. enlisted in Company E, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, September 18, 1861. They both mustered into service at Chicago, Illinois, August 20, 1861. Their residence was shown as Mendota, Illinois at the time of enlistment. Daniel''s grave may be located at the Federal Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The foregoing was also written to Mrs. Harriet Savage Keller of Benton, Pa., (George N. Savage''s sister) from Joseph Oliver Johnson (Daniel''s great grandson) in a letter dated July 30, 1949, from Wood River, Illinois. Mr. Johnson also wrote, in part, ''I am the genealogist of the Henry Savage family of Orange County, New York. Moses Savage was a son of Henry Savage.'' He stated in the letter that Daniel ''was killed in action at the battle of Prairie Grove Arkansas, December 7, 1862.''

Daniel lived in what was Sullivan County Pa. (according to above referenced letter) until 1857 when he moved with all his family to Illinois. They lived in DeKalb, Lee and LaSalle counties. They were living at Mendota Illinois when Daniel and his son John O. enlisted. They were mustered at Chicago, Illinois, September 18, 1861.

Nancy Ann (Hess) Savage, widow of Daniel, moved to Grant Township, Gage County, Nebraska in 1868 with her children and grandchildren. Joseph stated they took up homesteads in Gage County.

SOURCE: Civil War Research and Genealogy Database - Soldier History. Historical Data Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 196, Kingston, MA 02364

According to above source, John did not survive the war, but his death occurred at home in Mendota, Illinois. A date of death is not known. John O., along with his father Daniel enlisted in Company E, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, September 18, 1861. They both mustered into service at Chicago, Illinois August 20, 1861. Their residence at time of enlistment was shown as Mendota, Illinois.

His father, Simeon, served with him.

They were also members of the 97th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Company D.

Simeon A. Williams also served with the 97th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Company D.

His son, Albyno, was also a member of both 97th Ill Vol. Inf. Co. D and the 37th Ill. Vol. Inf. Co. E