WILLIAM BIXLER

BIXLER

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 12:58:48

WILLIAM BIXLER, who resides on section 16, Quincy township, belongs to one of the pioneer families of Adams county. His father, Jacob Bixler, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and married to Miss Elizabeth Murry, who was born in the same county as her husband. The Bixler family are of German origin. Jacob Bixler continued to reside in Fayette county for a number of years after his marriage, when he removed with his family to Coshocton county, Ohio, where he settled on a farm and continued to reside until he came to Adams county in 1856. He located in Douglas township. His wife died in 1859, and the father then made his home with his children until his death in 1871. He was an honored and respected citizen. In his religious connection he was in early life a member of the Lutheran church, as was also his wife. On coming to Iowa he and his wife joined the Methodist church, there being no church of their denomination convenient. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and
three daughters, and all are now living but two of the daughters. Four sons are residents of Adams county, and one lives in Ohio. The eldest of the family is the surviving daughter, who lives in Owen county, Indiana.

William Bixler, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio, January 22, 1837, and was
but nineteen years old when he came to Iowa with his parents. The family arrived in Quincy July 4, 1856. In October, 1861, William Bixler enlisted in Company H, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served over four years, having been discharged July 7, 1865, by reason of wounds received in battles. He took part with his regiment in the expedition against the Rebel General
Price, in Missouri, in 1862. Pursuing Price to Arkansas, he took part in the battle of Pea Ridge. He went thence to the vicinity of Little Rock, Arkansas, thence to Helena, and was engaged in various enterprises, especially in scouting for the remainder of that season or until December, 1862. He then with his regiment joined General W. T. Sherman in his movements against Vicksburg, and took part in the charge at Chickasaw Bluffs, where, after taking one of the enemy’s works, they were compelled to retreat. His regiment lost in this charge 120 men killed and wounded. Mr. Bixler also took part in the battle of Arkansas Post in the early part of 1863, and in the siege of Vicksburg, under General Grant, and the battles and separations preceding and attending that siege. In September, 1863, he went to Memphis, and thence to Iuka, Mississippi; from there he was sent back to Memphis on account of sickness. He was soon after given a furlough and returned home, rejoining his regiment at Woodville, Alabama. There he re-enlisted and was severely wounded in the left arm and side at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864. He was soon after again furloughed and returned home, and at the expiration of his furlough he reported at the hospital at Keokuk, where he remained until his discharge. He was in active service from the time of his enlistment until he was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, except a period of about two months, when he was afflicted with small-pox in the spring of 1863. Mr. Bixler was a faithful soldier in the cause of the Union, and sacrificed his health in the service, which was permanently effected by the small-pox, one result of which was the loss of his right eye.

He was married in 1866, to Miss Lizzie J. Allen, a daughter of George W. Allen, of St. Louis,who died there December 22, 1844. Mrs. Bixler’s mother, who was born in Kentucky in 1818, is still living, residing with Mr. and Mrs. Bixler. Mr. and Mrs. Bixler have a son, Frank A., who was born on the homestead in 1867. They lost one son, Charles, in infancy.