Westfall, Elias

Knox during the Civil War

Birth

Elias Westfall was born in 1839 in Knox, Albany County, NY to John Westfall and Elizabeth Gray. His siblings were:

• John S. Westfall, of Danville, Ill.
• James M. Westfall, of Albany,
• Mrs. James Merselis

Occupation

Before he entered the Civil War, Elias worked as a clerk. and later he was a mason.

Marriage & Children

Elias married Cathaline Crounse (1837-1922), a daughter of Nicholas Crounse and Elizabeth Severson.

Catharine Crounse married first Isaac Stafford, the son of Aaaron Stafford. Their children (probably adopted by Elias Westfall) were:

• Mary L. Stafford married Levi R. Williams of Stuyvesant
• Annette Stafford married Willie C. Furman of Delmar

Military Service

Residence:	Knox
Enlistment Date:	9 Aug 1862
Enlistment Place:	Albany, New York
Enlistment Rank:	Private
State Served:	New York
Regiment:	7th Regiment NY Heavy Artillery
Company:	Company E
Promotion Date:	1 May 1865
Promotion Rank:	Full Sergeant
Muster Out Date:	16 Jun 1865
Muster Out Place:	Baltimore, MD

Additional Remarks: Enlisted at the age of 23.

Sources Used: Ancestry.com, American Civil War Soldiers; Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of NY for the year 1898; Keating, Robert, Carnival of Blood: The Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery, Published by Butternut and Blue, Baltimore, Md 1998

Death

Elias died July 4, 1917 at Stuyvesant, N.Y. at 73 years of age. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Guilderland, N.Y.

Obituary

CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIES
Elas Westfall, former resident of Settle's Hill, a veteran of the Civil war, and a well known mason by trade, died at Stuyvesant on July 4th, after a brief illness. The funeral will take place at the residence of his son-in-law, Levi R. Williams, to-day, July 6. Burial at Fairview cemetery. Peter J. Ogsbury, Charles W. Wright, John T. Stafford and Newton Ketcham, comrades in the army, will set as bearers at the cemetery. Mr. Westfall was 73 years of age and is survived by his wife. Mr. Westfall was a member of M. H. Barckley Post, G.A.R., and of St. John's Lutheran church of Altamont.

Altamont Enterprise (Altamont, NY), July 6, 1917

Additional Research Notes

New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900

Knox - Elias Westfall - Muster Roll

New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900 about Elias Westfall
Name: Elias Westfall
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1839
Birth Place: Knox, New York
Enlistment Year: 1862
Enlistment Location: Albany, New York
Muster Year: 1862
Separation Details: Muster Out of Service
Separation Date:16 Jun 1865

Civil War Record Summaries

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles about Elias Westfall
Name: Elias Westfall
Occupation: Clerk
Age at enlistment: 23
Enlistment Date: 8 Sep 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Albany, NY
State Served: New York
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, New York 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment on 18 Aug 1862.
Promoted to Full Sergeant on 01 May 1865.
Mustered out on 16 Jun 1865 at Baltimore, MD.
Birth Date: abt 1839
Sources: New York: Report of the Adjutant-General
Carnival of Blood: Civil War Ordeal of 7th NY Heavy Artillery

American Civil War Soldiers about Elias Westfall
Name: Elias Westfall
Enlistment Date: 9 Aug 1862
Enlistment Place: Albany, New York
Side Served: Union
State Served: New York
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 9 August 1862 at the age of 23.
Enlisted in Company E, 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment New York on 18 Aug 1862.
Promoted to Full Sergeant on 1 May 1865.
Mustered Out Company E, 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment New York on 16 Jun 1865 at Baltimore, MD.
Sources: 14

1890 Veterans Schedules for Knox

1890 Veterans Schedules about Elias Westfall
Veteran's Name: Elias Westfall
Home in 1890 (Township, County, State): Guilderland, Albany, New York
Year enlisted: 1862
Year discharged: 1865
Rank: Private

Carnival of Blood

WESTFALL, ELIAS - Born: Knox, NY. Age: 23. Occupation: clerk. Enlisted, August 9, 1862, as private in Co, E; promoted sergeant, May 1, 1865; mustered out, June 16. 1865.

Census Records

1850 United States Federal Census about Elias Westfall
Name: Elias Westfall
Age: 12
Birth Year: abt 1838
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1850: Knox, Albany, New York
Gender: Male
Family Number: 161
Household Members:
Name Age
James Merselis 30
Susan Maria Merselis 26
Elias Westfall 12
Eve Westfall 72

1900 United States Federal Census about Elias Westfall
Name: Elias Westfall
[Eliza Westfall]
Age: 60
Birth Date: Nov 1839
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1900: Guilderland, Albany, New York
[Albany]
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Cathaline Westfall
Marriage Year: 1882
Years Married: 18
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Household Members:
Name Age
Elias Westfall 60
Cathaline Westfall 64

1910 United States Federal Census about Elias Westfall
Name: Elias Westfall
[Elvis Westfall]
Age in 1910: 70
Birth Year: abt 1840
[1840]
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1910: Guilderland, Albany, New York
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
[Head]
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Cathaline Westfall
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Elias Westfall 70
Cathaline Westfall 73

Additional Media

Married, at the home of Mr, Elias Westfall, Settle's Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 80, by Kev. E. A. Ottman, Mr. Willie C. Furman and Miss Annetta Stafford.

Altamont Enterprise - February 2, 1884

—Mr. James M. Westfall, of Albany, visited his brother, Mr. Elias Westfall and sister, Mrs. James Merselis, during the week.

Altamont Enterprise - September 14, 1889

Mrs W C. Furman and daughter, of Elsmere, were recently the guests of Mrs. Furman's parents, Mr and Mrs. Elias Westfall. While here Mr. and Mrs. Westfall had a very pleasant gathering in honor of the seventh birthday of their little granddaughter, Elizabeth C. Furman, Invitations being sent to a number of her young friends whom she had met while visiting here.

Altamont Enterprise - November 29, 1901

—Mr. and Mr. Elias Westfall, of Settle's Hill, are expecting to leave ibis week to spend the winter with their daughter, Mrs. William Furman, in Albany. Mr. Westfall's rheumatism does not admit of his getting out but little in the winter while in the country and be hopes to have more freedom in in the city. Through his intense suffering from this aggravating disease, Elias stilt retains his happy good nature.

Altamont Enterprise - November 19, 1909

—Mrs. Levi Williams of Stuyvesant, returned home Wednesday after spending several days with her mother, Mrs. Elias Westfall on Settle's Hill and with her sister, Mrs. Wm. Furman, at Delmar.

Altamont Enterprise - May 15, 1908

John Westfall, of Chicago, an old soldier of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery, who is visiting his brother, Mr. Elias Westfall, on Settle's Hill, called on friends in the village this week. This is his first visit in the East in thirty-five years.

Altamont Enterprise - August 7, 1908

—Mr. John S. Westfall, of Danville, Ill., who has been visiting his brother, Mr. Elias Westfall, on Settle's Hill, for the past month, left for home on Monday the 17th inst.

Altamont Enterprise - August 28, 1908

Mrs. Levi R. Williams and daughter Annette, of Stuyvesant, are here visiting Mrs. W's mother, Mrs. Elias Westfall; on Settle's Hill.

Altamont Enterprise - September 8, 1905

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  Obituary
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  Fairview Cemetery, 2006, photo by Thomas Dunne

Sources