William Botten 1907 Philadelphia veteran obit
Obituary: Friday, March 22, 1907, "The Germantown Independent Gazette"
Taps Sound for Sergt. Wm. Botten.
Well-known Civil War veteran and Ex-Police Officer Answers Last Roll Call:
Sergeant William Botten, the well-known ex-reserve police officer and Civil War
veteran, died last Saturday night after a short illness, aged 64 years. He was
the son of Joseph Botten, an old-time Germantowner, and, like his father before
him, enjoyed a wide popularity. For many years he was one of the most familiar
figures in Germantown, and was known, if not personally- at least by sight to
nearly every man, woman and child in the Twenty-second ward.
At the breaking out of the Rebellion young Botten, then in his nineteenth year,
joined Captain A. S. Tourison's company, which was a part of the Twentieth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, for a term of three months. At the expiration of his
term of enlistment he joined Company P of Colonel John W. Geary's command, the
Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
At the battle of Antietam Sergeant Botten was one of five color-bearers shot
down during the fray. He received a dangerous wound, and was sent to the
Germantown Army Hospital for treatment He subsequently was transferred to the
Veteran Reserve Corps. and served in that organization until the expiration of
his term of service.
In 1894 Sergeant Botten was commissioned a delegate by General Heth, of the
Antietam Battlefield Board, to assist in locating correctly the positions of the
organizations from Pennsylvania that participated in that memorable battle.
In consideration of his army service, Sergeant Botten was appointed on the
police force by Mayor Henry, and for the greater part of his twenty-two years of
service filled the position of reserve officer marked with distinction.
Sergeant Botten was a member of Ellis Post, No 6, G. A. R.; Washington Council,
No 1, Jr. O. U. A. M.; Germantown Lodge, No. 78, A. P. A.; Survivors'
Association of the 28th and 147th Infantry and Knapp's Battery, Pa. Vet. Vols.,
and encampment No. 3, U. V. L.
The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon from his late residence 59 Church
Lane, and was very largely attended. The services were conducted by the Rev.
Herbert Hazlep, pastor of Market Square Presbyterian Church and interment was
made at Ivy Hill Cemetery.