David G. Myers (1838-1864) was a Gettysburg resident and on the 1860 federal census was listed as a “painter.” He joined the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, which consisted of many individuals from Adams and York Counties. David Myers was captured at the Battle of the Wilderness in May, 1864, and died in Georgia’s Andersonville Prison on September 26, 1864. This image, courtesy of Deb Novotny, is hanging in the G.A.R. Hall in Gettysburg.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny is a retired American History Teacher from Gettysburg High School. She has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 1975 and serves on the board of the Evergreen Cemetery Association. She is our host for our series on Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg’s civilian cemetery.
See the previous parts to the Evergreen Cemetery tour here
In today’s post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny shows us the graves of David Myers, David Wills, and Catharine Wills.
This map shows the location of where our Evergreen Cemetery videos were produced. Videos #1- #24 were shown in our previous Evergreen Cemetery posts and are shown on other maps. Video #35 was taken at the memorial stone for David Myers. Video #36 was taken at the gravestones of David and Catherine Wills. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 30, 2010.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny is standing by the stone to Gettysburg resident, David Myers, a United States soldier that was captured and died in prison. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:45 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010.
In Video #35 (Videos #1-#34 were shown in our previous Evergreen Cemetery posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny is in Evergreen Cemetery at the memorial stone for David Myers. She presents how the stone was placed here. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:45 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny is standing by the headstone of David Wills (1831-1890). To the left of the David Wills headstone is the stone to his wife, Catharine Jane Smyser Wills (1834-1891). This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010.
In Video #36 Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny is in Evergreen Cemetery at the graves of David and Catharine Wills, who hosted President Lincoln during his Gettysburg visit. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010.
A closer view of David Wills’ headstone. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010.
David Wills was 33 years old at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, and according to the 1860 federal census, was the 46th richest person in the town of Gettysburg. This image is on display at the David Wills House.
David Wills and Catharine Wills had seven children. Here is a picture of the females. From left to right are Mary Wills (1859-), Catharine “Katie” Wills (1857-), Catharine Jane “Jennie” Smyser Wills (1834-1891), and Annie Wills (1861-). Two young sons, David Wills Jr. and James had died prior to the Cemetery dedication in November, 1863. This image is on display at the David Wills House.
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