He was born about 1812, in Armagh or Donegal, Ireland. [sources: date: 2 (43 in 1861), 9, 10 (45), 11 (45), 14 (50 in 1862). place: 9, 10 (Donegal, Ireland), 15 (Ireland)]
On 5 February 1857, he married Margaret Moore, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born in 1833/35, in Ireland. They were married by Thomas Dallas, who was an Alderman. They had two children:
[sources: 14, 15, 16]
When he enlisted, he was a weaver, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [9 (weaver), 10 (laborer), 11 (weaver)]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 9, 10 (5'9-3/4", dark complexion, gray eyes, dark hair), 11 (dark complexion, dark eyes, dark hair), 14 (5'7", dark complexion, dark eyes, grey hair, laborer, possibly in 1862)]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 9 October 1861 or 19 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Sinex. He was mustered in as a private, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith. He was a private in company F. [sources: 1, 2 (9 Nov), 9 (19 Sep), 10, 11 (19 Sep), 12 (19 Sep), 14 (8 Sep), 19-21 and 23 (co.D), 22 (co. F)]
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company D. [sources: 1, 2, 3]
He was discharged on 10 April 1862 on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was discharged because of 'old age + general nervous condition that unfits him for duty'; he had been unfit for duty 60 days in the previous two months. [1, 2, 14 (14 May 1862)]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863 . He was enlisted for three years, at Bealton, Virginia, by Lieutenant Swan. [sources: 1, 10, 11 (24 Dec), 12 (mustered out 25 Dec), 14]
He was wounded while on picket duty on the night of 6 May 1864 at Wilderness, Virginia He was sent to the Division Hospital (1st division, 5th corps) that night. He died of those wounds on 7 May 1864. He was a private, in company D. [sources: 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19-23]
The regiment had received no report about him on 26 September 1864. They reported his death on 31 October 1864. [sources: 7, 12]
On 1 August 1865, his widow applied successfully for a pension. She was living at rear 1342 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her application was approved on 4 April 1866, and the certificate was dated 13 April 1866. Her pension was initially $8.00 per month. [sources: 9, 11, 14 (26 May 1865)]
On 30 April 1867, his widow applied for an increased pension, under the Act of 25 July 1866. She was still living at 1342 South Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Her application was approved on 22 July 1867, and the certificate was issued 3 August 1867. She received an additional $2 per month for each child less than sixteen years old. [source: 14]
In 1870, Margaret was living in ward 4, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with their children Peter and Richard. She worked in a cotton mill. [source: 15]
In 1880, Margaret was living at rear 1342 South Street, ward 4, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was living with her son Richard. She worked in a woolen mill. [source: 16]
On 19 March 1886, his widow's pension certificate was reissued, because the rate had increased to $12 per month. [source: 14]
In 1890, his widow, Margaret McGeehan, was living at rear 1342 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 4]
On 11 October 1890, a new pension certificate was issued, because the old one had worn out. [source: 14]
On 19 April 1897, his son Richard died. The funeral was held from his mother's residence at rear 1342 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was buried at New Cathedral Cemetery. [source: 18]
On 31 March 1907, his widow, Margaret McGehan, died. She had last been paid her pension, at a rate of $12 per month, through 4 February 1907. High mass was celebrated at St Teresa's Church, Philadelphia. She was buried at New Cathedral Cemetery. [sources: 14, 17]
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) (John McGahagan)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (John McGahagan)
3 company F, register of men transferred (John McGahagan)
4 1890 US census, veterans schedule, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district [97], page [blank] (image 389 on Ancestry), line 16 (John McGeehan)
5 pension index, by name (John McGehan [sic])
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (John McGehan)
7 letter, Sellers to Breck, 26 September 1864 (John McGeehan)
8 company D, register of deaths (John McGeehan)
9 company D, descriptive roll, entry 15 (John McGeehen)
10 company D, second descriptive roll, entry 44 (John McGeehan)
11 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 4 August 2004 (John McGeehan)
12 'The Ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Inquirer 8 June 1864 page 3 (John W Gehen [sic])
13 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 31 October 1864 (McGeehan)
14 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, certificate WC 69627 (Margaret McGehan)
15 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 4, district 13, microfilm series M593, film 1390, page 218 verso = 74 handwritten (Margt McGeeham [sic])
16 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 4, microfilm series T9, film 1169, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 86, page 186 = 6 B handwritten (Margrt Geegan [sic])
17 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 2 April 1907, page 7 (Margaret McGeehan)
18 death notice, Philadelphia inquirer 22 April 1897, page 10 (Richard McGeehan)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Mageehan)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John McGeehan)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John McGeehen)
22 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John McGahagan)
23 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John McGahagan)
I have combined John McGeehan and John McGahagan, who appear to be two different people in Bates. According to Bates, John McGahagan enlisted on 9 October 1861, and was discharged on 10 April 1862 on surgeon's certificate, while John McGeehan enlisted on 19 September 1861, reenlisted as a veteran on 25 December 1863, and died on 7 May 1864. The pension certificate file (abstracted below) suggests that they are the same person, since it includes a discharge on surgeon's certificate dated 10 April 1862, and evidence of enlistment as a veteran on 26 December 1863 and death on 7 May 1864. Note, however, that according to the pension file, McGehan was discharged not on 10 April but on 14 May. And the index cards to the compiled service records treat them as two distinct people, one who served in company F and was transferred to company D, and the other who simply served in company D. But note that card 5 indicates that John McGeehen also was reported in the regimental records as 'John McGahagan'.
| line | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Dwelling-house number | 451 | ||
| Family number | 601 | ||
| Name | McGeeham [sic] Margt | - Peter | - Richard |
| Age | 37 | 12 | 11 |
| Sex | F | M | M |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Works in Cotton Mill | ||
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | Ireland | Pa | Pa |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | |
| Can't read | 1 | ||
| Can't write | 1 | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 2 | 3 |
| street name | South Street | |
| house number | Rear 1342 | |
| dwelling visit # | 50 | |
| family visit # | 61 | |
| name | Geegan [sic] Margrt | - Richard |
| color | W | W |
| sex | F | M |
| age | 45 | 21 |
| month born if born in year | ||
| relationship | Son | |
| single | 1 | |
| married | ||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | |
| married during year | ||
| occupation | Woolen Mill | Baker |
| months unemployed | ||
| currently ill? | ||
| blind | ||
| deaf/dumb | ||
| idiotic | ||
| insane | ||
| disabled | ||
| school this year | ||
| can't read | ||
| can't write | ||
| birthplace | Ireland | Penn |
| father's birthplace | Irld | Irld |
| mother's birthplace | Irld | Irld |
McGeehan.--March 31. MARGARET McGEEHAN, widow of late John McGeehan. Relatives and friends, members BVM Sodality, Sacred Heart League and Rosary Society St Teresa's Church, invited to attend funeral, Wednesday, 8.30 A.M. from nephew's residence, William J W Moore, 1617 Christian St. High mass of requiem St Teresa's Church. Interment New Cathedral.
McGEEHAN.--On April 19, 1897, Richard, son of Margaret and the late John McGeehan, aged 36 years. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Friday, April 23, at 8.30 o clock, from the residence of his mother, rear 1342 South street. High mass at St. Teresa's Church. Interment at New Cathedral.