behind AotW

William W Brewer was an oil producer and gas operator living in Norwich, PA when this family photograph was taken about 1905. That’s William, wife Orpha, daughter Nellie Brewer Means, and twin grandsons Wallace and Perry Means. It was contributed to his Findagrave memorial by Brenda Gordon.

The inset wartime photograph of William was published in Thomson & Rauch’s History of the “Bucktails”, Kane Rifle Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps (13th Pennsylvania Reserves, 42nd of the Line (1906). Private William Wallace Brewer enlisted in the “Bucktails” – the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves – in May 1861 at age 17, was wounded at Antietam in September 1862, and mustered out in June 1864.