US Headstone applications for veterans shows application for a stone for William Meyer (applied under name William Frederick Mier), Corporal, Co E, 82nd IL Inf, died 12 July 1903 [sic] and to be buried in the “Linker Church cemetery at Arenzville, IL.” (this is St. Peter’s Lutheran Church cemetery.) The consignee on the application was Bob Heirman. However, no burial which fits that death date is found at St. Peter’s cemetery. The cemetery and church records show a Fred William Meyer who died in 1892. It is presumed that the incorrect year of death was cited when the VA stone was requested – done in 1933. The stone was received in Arenzville but for unknown reasons was never placed at the grave site. (Perhaps because of the name difference, e.g. “William” vs. “Fred William,” or perhaps because the grave already had a stone placed by the family.
The National Archives pension index show a file for William Meyer who served in Co E, 82nd IL Inf. with a request filed on 24 Aug 1887 for an invalid pension and in 1895 for a widow’s pension by “Elizabeth Meyer – both filed from Illinois. This matches known information for Frederick William Meyer, the man buried at St. Peter’s cemetery.
The rolls of Co E, 82nd IL Inf. show a “William Mayer” who stated his residence was Bloomington, IL, when he entered service. He was single, a farmer, about age 28.
