He was born on 17 June 1835 [?], in Pennsylvania, to William Banfield Chaffee and Elizabeth ("Betsey") Ellis. [sources: date: 13, 14 (1835), 16 (1835), 17 (1835); 4 (28 in 1863), 5 (28 in 1863), 6 (28 in 1863), 19 (44 in 1880). place: 4, 5, 6, 19. parents: 13, 16]
On 1 January 1858, he married Sarah J McQuiston. She was born in 1840. They had ten children:
[9 (9 alive in 1900), 10 (6 alive in 1910), 13, 19]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer. [sources: 4, 5, 6]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 4, 5, 6]
He was drafted. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 10 or 16 July 1863 in the 62nd Pennsylvania. He served in company L. He enlisted for three years, in Butler County, Pennsylvania. His service was credited to the 22nd congressional district. [sources: 1, 4 (16 Jul), 5 (16 Jul), 6 (16 Jul), 12, 14]
He was transferred on 20 July 1864 from company L of the 62nd Pennsylvania to the 91st. On 21 July 1864, he, and the other members of companies L and M, were assigned to company G. On 22 July 1864, they were transferred to company K, following brigade orders to assign them to the smallest company. He was then present, as a private. He was a private in company K. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 14, 21]
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company. He was a private, in company K. [sources: 1, 21]
In 1880, he was living in Franklin Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Sarah, their eight children, and two others (whose relationship to him is not stated). He was a laborer. [source: 19]
In 1890, he was living in the second ward of Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. [source: 8]
On 30 July 1890, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 7, 11, 12]
In 1900, he was living on South Race Street, in Greenville Borough, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Sarah and daughter Flora. He was a stationary engineer. [source: 9]
On 3 March 1908, he died, in Greenville, [Mercer County,], Pennsylvania. He died of organic heart disease. On 5 March 1908, he was buried in the Shenango Valley Cemetery, Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 14, 15, 16, 17]
On 13 March 1908, his widow, Sarah J Chaffee, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 7, 12]
In 1910, his widow, Sarah Chafee, was living on Race Street, in Greenville Borough, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. [source: 10]
On 10 June 1916, his widow, Sarah J Chaffee, died, in Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. She was buried in the Shenango Valley Cemetery, Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 18, 20]
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)
2 special order 65, HQ 91st PA, 21 July 1864 (Reuben Chafee)
3 special order 66, HQ 91st PA, 22 July 1864 (Reuben Chafee)
4 company K, descriptive roll (Reuben Chafee)
5 company K, third descriptive roll (Reuben Chafee)
6 company K, fourth descriptive roll (Reuben Chafee)
7 pension index, by name (Reuben Chaffee)
8 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Mercer County, Greenville, ward 2, supervisor's district [10], enumeration district [56], page [4] (Reuben H Chafee)
9 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Mercer County, Greenville Borough, supervisor's district 19, enumeration district 139, microfilm series T623, film 1440, page 188 = 18 B handwritten (Reuben Chafee)
10 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Mercer County, Greenville Borough, ward 4, supervisor's district 19, enumeration district 150, microfilm series T624, film 1374, page 109 = 7 B handwritten (Sarah Chafee)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (Reuben Chafee)
12 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (Reuben Chaffee)
13 'Chaffee genealogy', a gedcom, available on RootsWeb WorldConnect, contact Andy, last updated 25 August 2001 (accessed 12 September 2010) (Reuben Harry Chaffee) [other, more recent, gedcoms on WorldConnect have information consistent with this]
14 Pennsylvania veterans burial records, available on Ancestry (transcribed 4 December 2010) (Reuben H Chaffee)
15 Pennsylvania death indices, 1908 ("Chaffee, Reuben H.; 26142; Greenville; March 3.")
16 death certificate, Pennsylvania, file number 26142 (Reuben Harry Chaffee)
17 Find a grave, memorial 94053692, created by Shirley McMunn, added 22 July 2012, accessed 11 April 2013 [identity is confirmed by reference to his service in the 91st in text quoted from 'Mercer County cemetery inscriptions book 9 page 110') (Reuben H Chaffee)
18 Find a grave, memorial 9405267, created by Shirley McMunn, added 22 July 2012, accessed 11 April 2013 (Sarah J Chaffee)
19 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Franklin Township, enumeration district 42, microfilm series T9, film 1109, page 260 = 20 D handwritten (FamilySearch) (Reuben [?] Chafy)
20 Pennsylvania death indices, 1916 ("Chaffe [sic], Sarah J.; 62352; Greenville; June 10.")
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Reuben Chafee)
| line | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 |
| street name | ||||||||||||
| house number | ||||||||||||
| dwelling visit # | 153 | |||||||||||
| family visit # | 160 | |||||||||||
| name | Chafy Reuben [?] | - Sarah | - Ella | - Agness | - Mary | - John | - Anna | - Lotty | - Bridie | - Cora | Ramsy Pearl | Chafy [?] Elly |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | F | F | M | F | F | M | F | F | F |
| age | 44 | 40 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9/12 |
| month born if born in year | Sep [??] | |||||||||||
| relationship | Wife | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Daughter | Son | Daughter | |||
| single | ||||||||||||
| married | ||||||||||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||||||||
| married during year | ||||||||||||
| occupation | Laborer | Keeping house | At home | At home | At home | At home | At home | |||||
| months unemployed | ||||||||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||||||||
| blind | ||||||||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||||||||
| idiotic | ||||||||||||
| insane | ||||||||||||
| disabled | ||||||||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| can't read | ||||||||||||
| can't write | ||||||||||||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| line | 63 | 64 | 65 |
| street | S Race Street | ||
| house number | |||
| dwelling number | 392 | ||
| family number | 444 | ||
| name | Chafee Reuben | - Sarah C [?] | - Flora |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F |
| birth date | Sept 1837 [??] | July 1849 [??] | Apr 1882 |
| age | [illegible] | 50 | 18 |
| married? | M | M | S |
| # years married | 42 | 42 | |
| mother of how many children? | 10 | ||
| # of children living | 9 | ||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | |||
| # years in USA | |||
| naturalized citizen? | |||
| occupation | Stationary Engineer | ||
| # months not employed | 0 | ||
| # months in school | |||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speaks English | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| owned/rented | R | ||
| free or mortgaged | |||
| farm/house | H | ||
| # of farm schedule | |||
| line | 93 | 94 | 95 |
| street | Race Street | ||
| house nr | - | ||
| dwelling nr | 171 | ||
| family nr | 179 | ||
| name | Shaw [??] Shelly | Chafee Sarah | Stertis [?] Herman |
| relationship | Head | Lodger | Grandson [?] |
| sex | M | F | M |
| color | W | W | W |
| age | 48 | 62 | 21 |
| marital status | Wd | Wd | S |
| #years present marriage | |||
| mother of # children | 8 | ||
| mother of # living children | 6 | ||
| birthplace | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Ger German | Ohio | Ohio |
| mother's birthplace | Ger German | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | |||
| naturalized/alien | |||
| speaks English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Laborer | None | Car Repair |
| nature of industry etc. | Railroad | Railroad | |
| employer etc. | W | W | |
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 0 | |
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |||
| owned/rented | R [??] | ||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||
| farm/house | H | ||
| nr on farm schedule | |||
| civil war vet | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf & dumb | |||
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Jan 1 1908 to March 3 1908 that I last saw him alive on March 2 1908 and that death occurred, on the date stated above, at 530 AM. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:
Organic heart disease (Duration) may Days