"Beneath this granite slab lies a confederate rifle bullet, with which Elias Sechler member of the one hundred and thirty first regiment Pennsylvania volunteer infantry was wounded in the charge made on Marye's heights by General Humphreys division at the battle of Fredericksburg Virginia December thirteenth eighteen hundred and sixty two."
Although Sechler was wounded, he returned home and lived for 14 more years, dying at the age of 38. In 1870, a pension application lists his mother as beneficiary.
Elias Sechler was born in 1838 to John and Amariah Sechler, in Lycoming County Pa. In the 1860 census, he was listed as a carpenter, living at home with his parents.
Elias was the grandson of Michael Sechler, who served as a body guard for George Washington.
This impressive tombstone is located in the cemetery surrounded by the old TNT Bunkers.
The Washington Presbyterian Church was built sometime in the 1790s, and was torn down, along with the other churches in the area, after the government seized the property for TNT production.
The remains of the churches foundation can still be seen as you enter the cemetery, they are off to the right.
Find the Church Cemetery Records Online Here:
There is a bunker right outside of the Cemetery
The cemetery borders the prison grounds, clearly marked by a fence. Bunkers can be seen on the other side of the fence, on the present day prison grounds as well.
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 At The Game Lands |  There are frequently sunflower fields in the Game Lands, great places to take photos! Where exactly they are located changes from year to year. This was where to find them in 2020. |  |
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Elias Sechler is one of my ancestors, Wayland W Sechler was my great grand father and worked at the TNT plant in Alvira.
ReplyDeleteOur family used to take a lot of Sunday walks, several times we walked the paths and saw the bunkers, there was one that was open.
ReplyDelete