WILLIAM H. KESLER, son of Michael and Eliza A. (Shoppell) Kesler, was born 21 Jul 1843 at Pickaway Co., Ohio. He died on 24 Oct 1890 and was buried in Bethel Cemetery, Mahomet Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois, next to his parents. On 13 Jun 1867 Will and Sarah Frances Peters were married by who Rev. S.G. Miller at Scott Twp. Champaign Co., Illinois. Picture. Sarah Frances, "Fannie", daughter of Francis John and Sarah (Runyan) Peters, was born at Kentucky probably Shelby Co. on 21 Feb 1850. Fannie's grandfather Francis Peters was born in Holland about the year 1775. Fannie died on 17 Oct 1921 in Urbana, Illinois. Her funeral was conducted from the Methodist Church in Bondville. She was interred next to her sister, Louise Barber, in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Urbana. In 1857, at the age of 13 or 14 Will moved with his parents to Champaign Co., Illinois. Four years later the Civil War began and while Will was celebrating his 18th birthday, the first major battle of that war was taking place 800 miles away: The battle of First Bull Run. Two months later, Will went into town, Champaign, and enlisted in Co. D, 3rd Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He served with this company in Missouri and Arkansas for the next three years. In July 1864 when he reenlisted, he was given a Veteran Volunteer Furlough and a $100 reenlistment bonus. He went to Champaign on his furlough. In his furlough papers, dated 25 Jul 1864, he is described as 20 years old, 5 ft. 7 in tall, dark complected, with black eyes, and dark hair. He had just turned 21, four days earlier. After returning from his 30 day furlough, Will spent the rest of the war in Arkansas and Louisiana. He was fairly successful as a soldier. He was promoted to corporal three times. He was honorably discharged on 27 Jul 1865 in New Orleans. Picture of Will in his uniform. His great granddaughter Mrs. William (Ellen) Hoover has a lithograph of his company that gives a history of the company from its organization on September 24, 1861, until the date of the lithograph October 15, 1862. Will carried a small bible with him during the war. The title page has "The New Testament, New York: American Bible Society, 1862," written in the bible is a poem and "Mr. Will H. Kesler, Mahomet, Champaign Co., Ill., Feb. 22 1865." This bible is owned by Will's great-grandson Clyde E. Kesler who carried it during World War II. (Clyde was an army engineer with Patton's Third Army, and his name is also found in the bible "Lt. Clyde E. Kesler, Champaign, Ill., 1944.") A tintype of Will in his uniform is owned by Mary Charles Hull of Azle, Texas, (6 Jan 2001). After his marriage to Fannie in 1867, Will worked as a farmer and carpenter. In the Champaign County Directory for 1885, he is listed as a carpenter. It was while he was a carpenter he contracted cancer of the under lip and jaw. He applied for and received an invalid pension in 1890. He died later that year leaving a widow and eight children. George the oldest had just turned 22 and John the youngest was nine . The administration of Will's estate is found in the probate records of Champaign Co., Illinois, Case #1663. A week after Will's death, Fannie applied for a widow's pension on 1 Nov 1890. She stated she had no means of support, except for her husband, and she had four children under 16. She was awarded the pension and received it until her death. She was a widow for 31 years. The record of her estate is also found in the probate records of Champaign County, Case #6010.∼Aged 47 yrs, 3 mos, 3 days.