He was born in January 1829, probably to John Ratzel and Susannah [unknown surname] (11, 12). He was 33 [?] years old when he enlisted (3, 8 [40 in 1870], 9 [49 in 1880], 10 [79 in 1910], 11 [19 in 1850], 12 [70 in 1900]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3, 8, 9, 10, 11).
In 1850, he was living in Spring Garden, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (11). He was probably living with his parents and siblings (11). He was a laborer (11).
Between 1851 and 1854, he married Lucy A [unknown surname] (10 [56 years in 1910], 12 [48 years in 1900]). According to the 1900 census, she had had nine children, seven of whom were alive; according to the 1910 census, she had had seven children, five of whom were alive (10, 12).
When he was enlisted, he was a plasterer [?] (3).
He was 5 feet 4 [?] 1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (3).
He also served in company H [?] of the 33rd Pennsylvania Mil Inf (6, 7).
He was drafted (1, 5). He was enlisted and mustered into service in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry on 18 July 1863 (1, 3, 5, 6). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3). His enlistment was credited to the 11th [?] congressional district (3). He served in company H of the 118th Pennsylvania (4, 5).
He was wounded at Wilderness, Virginia, on 7 May 1864 (5).
He was captured at Cold Harbor, Virginia, on 2 June 1864 (1, 5).
On 15 March 1865, he received $32 for his pay, at Annapolis, Maryland (3).
On 2 June 1865, he was transferred from the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry (1, 4, 5). He served as a private in company B (1).
He was "to be charged"--perhaps for lost equipment, when the regiment mustered out (2).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 6).
In 1870, he was living in the 24th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his wife Lucy, six children (presumably theirs), and John Ratzell (29 years old) (8). He was a plasterer, and owned $2,000 in real estate and $1,000 in personal property (8).
On 16 February 1880, and again on an illegible date, he successfully applied for a pension (6, 7).
In 1880, he was living in Sedgwick County, Kansas (9). He was living with his wife Lucy, three children (presumably theirs), and another person (9). He was a plasterer (9).
In 1900, he was living at 1757 Wesley Avenue, Wichita, Sedgewick County, Kansas (12). He was living with his wife Lucy, his daughter Rachel Thomas, and Rachel's daughter Lucy (12). He was a plasterer [?] (12).
In 1910, he was living in the Kansas State Soldiers Home, in Kansas (10). He was living with his wife Lucy (10). He was a pensioner (10).
He died on 6 March 1916, at Pindall, Arkansas (6).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Alfred Ratzell)
2 list of men who owed money [?], page 2, number 8 (A Ratzell)
3 company B, [third] descriptive roll, entry 110 (Alfred Ratzell)
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 23 June 2004 (Alfred Ratzell)
5 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'One hundred and eighteenth regiment', volume 3, page 1335. (In the roster) (Alfred Ratzell)
6 pension index, by regiment (Alfred Ratzell)
7 pension index, by name (Alfred Ratzell)
8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, 24th ward, microfilm series M593, film 1411, page 510 (Alfred Ratzell)
9 1880 US census, Kansas, Sedgwick County, [illegible] Township, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 220, microfilm series T9, film 396, page 349 D = 12 handwritten (Alfred Ratzell)
10 1910 US census, Kansas, [illegible; perhaps 'Ford'] County, Landrew [?] Township, ward Fort Dodge, Kansas State Soldiers Home, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 52, microfilm series T624, film 439, page 176 A = 4 handwritten (Alfred Ratzell)
11 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Spring Garden, ward 6, microfilm series M432, film 819, page 326 (Alfred Ratzle)
12 1900 US census, Kansas, Sedgewick County, Wichita, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district [blank], microfilm series T623, film 499, page 213 B = page 10 handwritten (Alfred Ratzel)
[I did not find an entry for him in the index on <www.ancestry.com> to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]
| line | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Dwellings visited | 878 | |||||
| Families visited | 1100 | |||||
| Name | John Ratzle | Susannah " | Alfred " | Francis " | Enos " | John " |
| Age | 49 | 45 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 9 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Labourer | Laborer | Confectionary | |||
| Real estate owned | ||||||
| Birthplace | ditto [sc. Pennsylvania] | ditto | ditto | ditto | ditto | ditto |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | (1) | |||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Dwelling-house number | 426 | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Family number | 330 | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Name | Ratzell Alfred | - Lucy | - Kate | - John F | - Mary | - Sally | - Emma | - Amanda | - John |
| Age | 40 | 39 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 2/12 | 29 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | F | F | F | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Plasterer | Keeping House | Plasterer | ||||||
| Real estate value | 2000 | ||||||||
| Personal estate value | 1000 | 2000 | |||||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| Father foreign born | |||||||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||||||
| Birth month if born within year | Apr | ||||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Can't read | |||||||||
| Can't write | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 |
| street name | ||||||
| house number | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 87 | |||||
| family visit # | 92 | |||||
| name | Ratzell Alfred | Lucy [illegible initial] | Emma L | Amanda | Rachel | [illegible; begins with 'F'] |
| color | " [sc. W] | " | " | " | " | " |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F | M |
| age | 49 | 48 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 26 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||
| relationship | ||||||
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||
| married during year | ||||||
| occupation | Plasterer | Lather | ||||
| months unemployed | ||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||
| idiotic | ||||||
| insane | ||||||
| disabled | ||||||
| school this year | 1 | |||||
| can't read | ||||||
| can't write | ||||||
| birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Kans | Pa |
| father's birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| mother's birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| line | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 |
| street | Wesley Avenue | |||
| house number | 1757 | " | " | |
| dwelling number | 709 | " | " | |
| family number | 220 | " | " | |
| name | Ratzel Alfred | - Lucy A | Thomas Rachel | - Lucy K |
| relationship | H | Wife | Daughter | G Daughter |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F |
| birth date | Jan 1829 | Aug 1831 | Dec 1873 | Sept 1894 |
| age | 70 | 68 | 27 | 5 |
| married? | M | M | M | S |
| # years married | 48 | 48 | 11 | |
| mother of how many children? | 9 | 2 | ||
| # of children living | 7 | 1 | ||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Kansas | Kansas |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Missouri |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Kansas |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Plasterer [?] | |||
| # months not employed | [illegible] | |||
| # months in school | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | |
| owned/rented | O | |||
| free or mortgaged | [blank] | |||
| farm/house | H | |||
| # of farm schedule | ||||
| line | 12 | 13 |
| street | ||
| house nr | ||
| dwelling nr | 6 | |
| family nr | 6 | |
| name | Ratzell Alfred | - Lucy A |
| relationship | Head | Wife |
| sex | M | F |
| color | W | W |
| age | 79 [?] | 77 [?] |
| marital status | M1 | M1 |
| #years present marriage | 56 | 56 |
| mother of # children | 7 | |
| mother of # living children | 5 | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||
| naturalized/alien | ||
| speaks English | English | English |
| occupation | Pensioner | None |
| nature of industry etc. | ||
| employer etc. | ||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | ||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | ||
| can read | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | ||
| owned/rented | R | |
| owned free or mortagaged | ||
| farm/house | M [?] | |
| nr on farm schedule | ||
| civil war vet | UA | |
| blind | ||
| deaf & dumb |