Phillip Ernst

He was born Philip Ernst (father Henry) and probably came to America with his mother and Alsatian step-father William Sulcer. In 1860 he was a 22 year old farm laborer living with parents and 3 younger siblings at Ross in Kalamazoo County, MI. He enlisted as Philip Seltzer/Sulcer at Galesburg on 8 August 1861 and mustered as a Private in Company I, Seventh Michigan Infantry on 22 August.

He was slightly wounded in the head in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862, where he

[w]as taken prisoner & escaped by feigning to be dying. Returned in a few days to the regiment for duty.

He was discharged on 5 November 1862.

In 1870 he was a farmer at Ross near his parents.

His service basics from the State of Michigan 1 with his wounding at Antietam and the quote above from a November 1862 letter home by Lieutenant Samuel C Hodgman; both have him as Philip Seltzer. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860 & 1870 (as Philip Selsor). His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Catharina Soheiderer (c. 1834-) in February 1867 and a daughter Lida.

c. 1838 in GERMANY

01/18/1873; Kalamazoo County, MI; burial in Howlandsburg Cemetery, Ross Township, MI