As the legend goes, Peter Thorn was escorting his bride, Elizabeth Catharine Masser, on September 1, 1855, when all the bells in Gettysburg began to ring. Elizabeth asked Peter why all the ringing, and he explained that they were acknowledging the dedication of the Evergreen Cemetery. Of course, a short time later, Peter would be appointed the caretaker of the cemetery, and his family moved into the cemetery gatehouse. Eight years later, Elizabeth etched her name in history with her work among the dead and wounded after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Is the legend true? Maybe, sort of. The cemetery was actually established in November 1853. Opening ceremonies and a dedication were held a year later in November 1854. Then, in November 1855, the cemetery gatehouse was completed. If there were, indeed, bells tolling about the cemetery in September 1855, they may have been for the laying of the first stones of the gatehouse, which would make that story even better since the gatehouse would soon be the Thorn residence.

Peter Thorn is often remembered as the husband of Elizabeth Thorn, the woman who buried over 100 soldiers while pregnant after the Battle of Gettysburg. However, Peter’s own life was one of service, sacrifice, and dedication to both his country and his community. As the caretaker of Evergreen Cemetery, a Union Army soldier, and a devoted husband and father, he played a significant role in Gettysburg’s history.

Early Life and Immigration

Peter Thorn was born in Germany in 1823 and immigrated to the United States, where he settled in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The region had a strong German immigrant population.

Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved into the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse, where they lived while Peter maintained the cemetery. His job involved digging graves, maintaining burial plots, and overseeing cemetery operations. It was demanding physical labor, but it provided a stable life for his growing family. By the early 1860s, Peter and Elizabeth had three young children.

Military Service in the Civil War

In 1862, Peter enlisted in the 138th Pennsylvania Infantry, answering the call to defend the Union. Leaving behind his pregnant wife, children, and elderly in-laws, he joined the Army of the Potomac, enduring the hardships of military life.

The 138th Pennsylvania Infantry participated in key battles, including:

• The Battle of Cold Harbor (June 1864) – A devastating engagement where Union forces suffered massive casualties.
• The Shenandoah Valley Campaign (1864–1865) – A series of battles that helped weaken the Confederate war effort in Virginia.

During his service, Peter faced harsh conditions, long marches, and combat, all of which took a toll on his health. He was a lifelong sufferer of asthma, which was strained by his service. Meanwhile, his wife was left to care for their children and manage the cemetery in his absence.

The Battle of Gettysburg and Elizabeth’s Sacrifice

While Peter was away, the Battle of Gettysburg turned their home into part of the battlefield. Evergreen Cemetery sat on Cemetery Hill, a crucial defensive position for Union forces. Soldiers occupied the cemetery gatehouse, forcing Elizabeth, her children, and her elderly parents to flee.

After the battle, Elizabeth returned to find the cemetery in ruins, with hastily dug trenches, overturned graves, and bodies scattered across the grounds. With very few men left in town, the responsibility of burying the dead fell to her.

Despite being six months pregnant, Elizabeth took on the harrowing task of digging graves and burying over 100 soldiers in the sweltering July heat. This physically exhausting labor left lasting damage to her health, and she later stated: “I have never been well since that time.”

Though Peter was far from home, the aftermath of the battle had deeply affected his family and his workplace.

Return to Gettysburg and Life After the War

Peter returned home in 1865 after completing his military service. However, he came back in poor health, likely due to the physical toll of war. Despite his struggles, he resumed his duties as Evergreen Cemetery caretaker, continuing the work he had left behind.

The 1870, 1880, and 1900 census records show that Peter and Elizabeth remained in Gettysburg for the rest of their lives. They continued to live in the cemetery gatehouse until 1874 when Peter resigned from his position. The family bought a home and West Middle Street, and Peter opened a hotel.

One of their greatest personal tragedies was the death of their youngest daughter, Rose Meade Thorn, in 1877 at the age of 14. Born shortly after the battle, Rose was a sickly child, and Elizabeth believed that her physically demanding labor during pregnancy had contributed to her daughter’s frail health.

Despite hardships, Peter remained a devoted husband, father, and cemetery caretaker, working well into his later years.

Peter Thorn’s Death and Burial

Peter Thorn passed away in January 1907 at the age of 84 from complications of asthma. His death marked the end of a long life of service, both as a soldier and a civilian.

Elizabeth, now a widow, left Gettysburg sometime after his passing to live with her daughter in Harrisburg. She passed away on October 7, 1907, just nine months after Peter.

The Thorns were buried together in Evergreen Cemetery, the very ground they had spent their lives caring for.

Legacy

For many years, Peter Thorn was overshadowed by his wife’s remarkable story, but his contributions to Gettysburg’s history are undeniable. He was:

• A dedicated cemetery caretaker, ensuring that Gettysburg’s dead were properly honored.
• A Union soldier, who served in the 138th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War.
• A husband and father, whose absence during the war left his wife to bear an unimaginable burden.

Today, Evergreen Cemetery remains a testament to the Thorns’ dedication. In 2002, the Gettysburg Women’s Memorial was erected near the gatehouse, depicting a pregnant Elizabeth Thorn holding a shovel. While the statue honors Elizabeth’s civilian sacrifice, it also represents the hardships faced by the entire Thorn family.

Peter Thorn’s life was one of quiet service—whether caring for the cemetery, fighting for the Union, or providing for his family. Though history often remembers the soldiers on the battlefield, men like Peter played an equally important role in shaping the town and preserving the memory of those who came before them.