He was born in July 1839, in Pennsylvania or England. [sources: date: 14; 5 (22 in 1862), 8 (71 in 1910), 9 (70 in 1910), 13 (70 in 1910), 15 (21 in 1860). place: 5, 8, 9 (PA), 13 (PA), 14 (PA), 15 (PA)]
If he was born in England, he immigrated to the United States in 1839. He was a naturalized citizen by 1910. [source: 8]
In 1860, he was living in Millersburg Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his (presumed) parents Joseph and Harriette Blanch, and with his (presumed) siblings Rosetta, George, Charles, and William Blanch. He was a boatman. [source: 15]
When he enlisted, he was a boatman. [source: 5]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 2-3/4 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. [source: 5]
In 1910, he was 5 feet 2 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, gray eyes, and gray hair. [source: 13]
He also served as a private in company F of the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted on 20 April 1861, at Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He served for three months. He was discharged on 24 July 1861, at Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 6, 9, 12, 13]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 15 January 1862. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Sellers. He was a private in company G. [sources: 1, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 16]
He seems to be the "Private Blanke" of company G who was returned to duty from being absent (probably absent sick) on 12 March 1863. [source: 2]
He was initially listed on the plaque recording men who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, but his name was later deleted. [source: 10]
On 28 July 1863, he was reported as having been dropped because he was missing in the campaign (probably after 11 June 1863). [source: 3]
He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, on 7 January 1864 on surgeon's certificate of disability. He had served for twenty-four months. He was a private, in company G. [sources: 1 (7 Jan 63), 4 (7 (?) Jan 64), 5 (7 Jan 63), 6 (Jan 64), 9 (24 months service), 13, 16]
On 14 September 1889, he applied successfully from Indiana for a pension. [sources: 6, 11]
He received a pension of $12 per month, retroactive to 13 August 1890, under the Act of 27 June 1890. (The pension certificate was dated 19 December 1890.) [source: 12]
In 1900, he was living in Jonesville, Bartholomew County, Indiana. He was a boarder, with Hugh S Quick. He was a painter and paperhanger. He was single. [source: 14]
On 1 September 1909, he again applied for a pension, under the Act of 6 February 1907. The pension was approved, and he received a pension of $15 per month, retroactive to 1 September 1909. (The pension certificate was dated 5 Ocober 1909.) [sources: 6, 12]
On 10 March 1910, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He had mitral insufficiency, prostatic hypertrophy, and an old injury to the skull. He could read and write, was a painter, was a Protestant, and was single. He had lived in Jonesville, Indiana. [sources: 9, 13]
In 1910, he was living in the Marion Branch of the National Soldiers Home, in Grant County, Indiana. [source: 8]
He died on 17 August 1910, in the Marion Branch Hospital, at 9.15 PM. He died of cerebral embolism and chronic endocarditis. He was buried in the Marion National Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. His personal effects were sold on 11 July 1911, at public auction; they were appraised at $12.05, and sold for $3.35. [sources: 6 (1910), 7, 9 (18 Aug 1910), 12 (17 Aug 1910), 13]
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) (Edward J Blanche)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 12 March 1863 (Private Blanke) (note that this is after he was discharged, according to Bates)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 28 July 1863 (Private Blanche)
4 company G, register of men discharged, #36 (Ed J Blanche)
5 company G, descriptive roll, entry 30 (Edward J [?] Blance)
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company G (Edward J Blanche)
7 Find a grave, memorial 2860431 (imported from US Veteran's Affairs) (accessed 4 December 2009) (Edward J Blanche)
8 1910 US census, Indiana, Grant County, Center Township, Marion Branch Home for Disabled Vol. Soldiers, supervisor's district 11, enumeration district 47, microfilm series T624, film 351, page 46 = 16 B handwritten (Edward J Blanche)
9 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1911. Serial Set volume 6303, Session volume 121, 62nd Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 163. Page 275 (Edward J Blanche)
10 card, with the original version of the 91st PA plaque on the Pennsylvania memorial at Gettysburg (from the papers of William C Reiff; thanks to Susan Stickles!) (Edw J Blanche)
11 pension index, by name (Edward J Blanche)
12 Veterans administration, pension payment cards 1907-1933, Edward J Blanche (FamilySearch) (Edward J Blanche)
13 Registers of National homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, 1866-1938, Marion, Indiana (Edward J Blanche)
14 1900 US census, Indiana, Bartholomew County, Wayne Township, Jonesville town, enumeration district 22, microfilm series T623, film 359, page 260 = 11 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Edward J Blanche)
15 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County, Millersburg Borough, microfilm series M653, film 1103, page 586 = 47 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Edward J Blanch)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Edward J Blanche)
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Dwelling number | 335 | ||||||
| Family number | 337 | ||||||
| Name | Joseph Blanch | Harriette " | Edward J Blanch | Rosetta M " | George W " | Charles W " | William H " |
| Age | 41 | 30 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | M | M |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | Engineer | Boatman | |||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||
| Value of personal estate | 500 | ||||||
| Place of birth | England | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 93 |
| street | Walnut |
| house number | |
| dwelling number | [206] |
| family number | [206] |
| name | Blanche Edward J |
| relationship | Border [sic] |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| birth date | July 1839 |
| age | 60 |
| married? | S |
| # years married | |
| mother of how many children? | |
| # of children living | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Germany [sic] |
| mother's birthplace | Germany [sic] |
| immigration year | |
| # years in USA | |
| naturalized citizen? | |
| occupation | Painter - Paper Hanger |
| # months not employed | |
| # months in school | |
| can read | Yes |
| can write | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes |
| owned/rented | |
| free or mortgaged | |
| farm/house | [H] |
| # of farm schedule |
| line | 77 |
| street | |
| house nr | |
| dwelling nr | |
| family nr | |
| name | Blanche Edward J. |
| relationship | |
| sex | M |
| color | W |
| age | 71 |
| marital status | S |
| [I'm pretty confident this is 'S', but it could be 'D'] | |
| #years present marriage | |
| mother of # children | |
| mother of # living children | |
| birthplace | England |
| father's birthplace | England |
| mother's birthplace | England |
| immigrated | 1839 |
| naturalized/alien | Na |
| speaks English | English |
| occupation | |
| nature of industry etc. | |
| employer etc. | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |
| owned/rented | |
| owned free or mortagaged | |
| farm/house | |
| nr on farm schedule | |
| civil war vet | UA |
| blind | |
| deaf & dumb | |
| CLASS. | RATE. | DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. | DATE OF CERTIFICATE. |
| 12 | 13 Aug 90 | 19 Dec 90 | |
| Reis | 15 | 1 Sept 09 | 5 Oct 09 |
| Time and Place of Each Enlistment. | April 20 1861 Harrisburg Pa. | Jan'y 15 1862 Philadelphia Pa |
| Rank. | Pri. | " |
| Company and Regiment. | F 5th Pa. Inf. | G 91 Pa. Inf. |
| Time and Place of Discharge. | July 24 1861 Harrisburg Pa | Jan'y 7 1864 Alexander [sic] Va |
| Cause of Discharge. | Ex. service | Disability |
| Disabilities when admitted to the Home. | Mitral insufficiency Prost. hypertrophy. Old injury to Skull. | |
| Where Born. | Pennsylvania |
| Age. | 70 |
| Height. | 5 2" |
| Complexion. | Dk |
| Color of Eyes. | Grey |
| Color of Hair. | Grey |
| Read and Write. | Yes |
| Religion | Prot. |
| Occupation. | Painter |
| Residence Subsequent to Discharge. | Jonesville Ind |
| Married or Single. | Single |
| Name and Address of Nearest Relative. | Friend: W. S. Bedgood Jonesville Ind. |
| Rate of Pension. | $15 00 |
| Date of Admission, Re-Admission and Transfer. | Ad. M. B. Mch 10 -1910 |
| Conditions of Re-Admission. | |
| Date of Discharge and Transfer. | |
| Cause of Discharge. | |
| Date of Death. | Aug 17 1910 Died M. B. Hosp. 9.15 PM |
| Cause of Death. | Cerebral Embolism and Ch Endocarditis |