William Steinmeyer was born at Holzmuenden, Germany, on the 13th of May, 1841, and came to Milwaukee with his parents when but three years of age. He received his education at the German and English Academy, and upon the completion of his school days learned the gunsmith’s trade. Even in early manhood, he showed the characteristic of strong conviction, and when rebellion attacked the nation, he was intense and unwavering in his patriotism. In August, 1862, when the 26th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers was to be raised, mainly from German circles, he was one of a number of young men, most of whom had been connected with the German and English Academy, who became the nucleus of Company B, and recruited the Company. He himself enlisted as a private on the 19th of August, 1862. Upon the organization of the Company, he became second sergeant. In March, 1863, he was promoted to a second lieutenancy; in November of the same year, to a first lieutenancy, and on the 3d of May, 1864, he became a captain in the same regiment. He accompanied his regiment throughout its campaigns, fought at Chancellorsville and at Gettysburg in the east, and, after the regiment had been, in the fall of 1863, transferred with General Hooker’s forces to the Tennessee River, participated in the campaign which opened communications to Chattanooga, took part in the battle of three days which resulted in the captured of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, and closed the year in the strenuous march into East Tennessee for the relief of Knoxville. In the spring of 1864 his regiment became part of the moving column under General Sherman which, through four months of march and skirmish and battle, forced its way from Chattanooga to Atlanta. He marched to the sea. He marched north through the Carolinas with this regiment, taking active part in the last two hot engagements – Averysboro and Bentonville. The contest won, he had the satisfaction to march with his regiment over the scene of its first battle – the bloody and disastrous field of Chancellorsville – on the way to Washington. On the 28th of Jun, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of service at Milwaukee. Captain Steinmeyer’s service had been constant, it had been brave, able and efficient. He had been wounded twice; on the first day at Gettysburg and again at Peach Tree Creek, 20th of July, 1864, but fortunately both wounds proved slight and did not prevent his immediate resumption of duty.Captain Steinmeyer was industrious, both by training and instinct. Idleness was not so much distasteful; it was impossible to him. Four days after his discharge from the army found him established in business. From that time for the day of his death his business career was one of the leading and successful ones in the city of Milwaukee.
He was man of plain and simple habits, of rigid integrity, of forcible energy. He strongly believed in his country and its free institutions. He was a true friend of the old solder, ready to help where help was needed, but rationally insisting on industrious self help where there was ability to work. He was a member of Robert Chivas Post of the G. A. R., and commander of that post in 1885 and 1886. William was also a founding member and first treasurer of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment Association.
During the last few years of his life an affection of the heart, to which he finally succumbed, gave him much trouble, and latterly caused him much pain and suffering. He died at his home in this city (Milwaukee) on the 10th of May, 1892.
During the last few years of his life an affection of the heart, to which he finally succumbed, gave him much trouble, and latterly caused him much pain and suffering. He died at his home in this city (Milwaukee) on the 10th of May, 1892.
Captain Steinmeyer was married to Margaret Maschauer on the 13th day of May, 1866. His widow and three children survive him. He was faithful and true in all his relations of life, and his career throughout affords a conspicuous example of high manly virtue.
From William Steinmeyer’s Memoriam at his funeral