5th Minnesota Battle Flag William Schilling

Name: William Schilling
Company: E
Veteran, promoted Corporal, Sergeant
Birth
  • Date: March 3, 1838
  • Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 Mustered In
  • Date: March 14, 1862
  • Rank: Private
  • Age: 24
  • Residence prior to military service: Pennsylvania; St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (1860)
  • Vocation prior to military service: Baker
Death
  • Date: Unknown
  • Place: Unknown
  • Burial: Unknown
Mustered Out
  • Date: September 6, 1865
  • Rank: Sergeant
  • Age: 27-28
  • Residence following military service: Hutchinson, McLeod County, Minnesota (1880); St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (1900)
  • Vocation following military service: Merchant (1880), Tinner (1900)

William Schilling Biography and Civil War Narrative

William Schilling was born March 3, 1838 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the fourth of eleven children born to Christian and Catherine (Meier) Schilling. Between 1853 and 1860, the Christian Schilling family moved to Waconia, Carver County, Minnesota, where Christian farmed. In 1860, 21-year-old William was living in St. Paul, Minnesota, and working as a Baker.

On March 14, 1862, at the age of 24, William enlisted in Company E of the 5th Minnesota Regiment. On the same day, his older brother, Charles G. Schilling, also enlisted. William served the entire length of the Regiment's involvement in the Civil War. Along the way he was veteranized and promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant. He was discharged with the Regiment on September 6, 1865.

About 1869, William was married to Mary (Adeline?) Lallier, born December 1848 in France. Mary came to America in 1852. William and Mary had thirteen children, all born in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota:
At the time of the 1870 U.S. Census, 31-year-old Wm. Schilling lived in Waconia, Carver County, Minnesota, with his 21-year-old wife, Mary, and his 1-year-old daughter, Caroline. He worked as a Tinsmith.

In 1880, "Wilhelm" Schilling and his family lived in Hutchinson, McLeod County, Minnesota. The seven children in the household at the time were Carrie (age 11), Emma (age 9), Wilhelm (age 7), Adeline (age 5), Oliver (age 4), Mary J. (age 2), and Clarence W. (age 3 months). William's occupation was "Merchant."

Twenty years later the William Schilling family (with eight children at home) lived in St. Paul, Minnesota. William worked as a Tinner, Oliver worked as a Clerk, Mary Jenneta was a Dress Maker, Clarence worked as a Farmer, and Louis was an apprentice.

NOTE: William's older sister, Sarah B. Schilling, was the wife of Major John C. Becht who also served as Captain of Company E before being promoted to Major.



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