He was born on 19 December 1819, to Jacob Etter and Anna Catherina Huffman (8, 14; 3 (40 in 1861), 6 (40 in 1861), 10 [30 in 1850], 11 [40 in 1860], 12 [50 in 1870], 13 [60 in 1880], 14 [81 in 1900]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14).
He married Emeline Martin (8). They had ten children (8):
In 1850, he was living in New Market Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (10). He was living with his wife Emeline and son Robert (10). He was an innkeeper (10).
In 1860, he was living in the 1st ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11). He was living with his wife Emeline and children Robert, Laura, and Walter (11). He was a tailor, and owned $75 in personal property (11).
When he enlisted, he was a tailor (6).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (6).
He also served in company C of the 20th Pennsylvania Infantry (9, 18, 19).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 25 September 1861 or 21 September 1861 (1, 3, 6 [25 Sep], 7 [7 Oct]). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Dye (3, 6). He was mustered in as a private, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3). He was a private, in company D (1, 19, 20, 21).
He was transferred to company F on 31 October 1861 (1, 2, 3).
He was promoted to sergeant on 1 November 1861 (4).
He was reduced to the ranks on 5 August 1862 (4, 6).
He was accidentally injured (7). A wagon he had been loading was started unexpectedly while he was standing in the back, leaning against the tail-board (7). He fell to the ground, injuring his neck and shoulders (7).
He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, on 20 August 1862 on surgeon's certificate of disability (1, 3, 5, 6, 7). He was a private, in company F (20, 21).
According to Captain Henry Francis, he was a good, faithful, soldier (7).
In 1870, he was living in Washington, DC (12). He was living with his wife Emeline, children Robert, Laura, Walter, Eva, and Leon, his brother Rufus, and another person (12). He was a watchman, and owned $300 in personal property (12).
On 3 April 1876, he successfully applied for a pension (9, 18, 19).
In 1880, he was living at 502 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC (13). He was living with his daughter Laura (13). He was widowed or divorced (13). He was a laborer (13).
On 15 September 1880, he married Clara Six (8, 14). They had one child (8):
On 29 February 1884, the House Committee on Invalid Pensions submitted a report recommending approval of his request for an increased pension, given his age and disability (7).
In 1900, he was living at 2912 2nd Street NW, Washington, DC (14). He was living with his second wife Clara and their daughter Lola (14). He was a watchman (14).
He died on 25 January 1904, in Washington, DC (8).
On 16 February 1904, his widow, Clara E Etter, successfully applied from the District of Columbia for a pension (9, 18, 19).
In 1910, his widow, Clara E Etter, was living at 913 H Street, Washington DC (15). She was living with her daughter Lola and Lola's family (15).
In 1920, his widow, Clara E Etter, was living at 913 H Street, Washington DC (16). She was living with her daughter Lola and Lola's family (16).
In 1930, his widow, Clara E Etter, was living at 913 4th Street NE, Washington DC (17). She was living with her daughter Lola and Lola's family (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) (James M Etter)
2 company D, register of men transferred, entry 6 (James V Etter)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 8 August 2004 (James M Etter)
4 company F, list of non-commissioned officers (James M Etter)
5 company F, register of men discharged (JM Etter)
6 company F, descriptive roll, #5 (James M Etter)
7 James M. Etter. House Report 570. Serial Set volume 2254, session volume 2, 48th Congress, 1st Session. Ordered printed 29 February 1884. (James M Etter)
8 "Shoaf's and related families", a gedcom at Rootsweb.com, updated 3 June 2002, viewed 6 March 2006 (James Monroe Etter)
9 pension index, by name (James M Etter)
10 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New Market Ward, microfilm series M432, film 817, page 409 (James Etter)
11 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 4th precinct 1st ward, microfilm series M653, film 1151, page 239 (James Etter)
12 1870 US census, Washington, DC, microfilm series M593, film 123, page 40 = 79 handwritten (James Etter)
13 1880 US census, Washington DC, supervisor's district 17, enumeration district 51, microfilm series T9, film 123, page 174 C = 15 handwritten (James Etter)
14 1900 US census, Washington, District of Columbia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 23, microfilm series T623, film 159, page 21 A = 8 handwritten (James M Edder)
15 1910 US census, Washington, District of Columbia, supervisor's district [illegible], enumeration district 173 [?], microfilm series T624, film 154, page 130 (Clara E Etter)
16 1920 US census, Washington, District of Columbia, supervisor's district 40, enumeration district 227, microfilm series T625, film 208, page 47 B = 13 handwritten (Clara E Etter)
17 1930 US census, Washington, District of Columbia, precinct 9, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 245, microfilm series T626, film 298, page 238 = 7 A handwritten] (Clara E Etter)
18 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company D (James M Etter)
19 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (James M Etter)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James M Etter)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James U Etter)
| line | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Dwellings visited | 795 | ||
| Families visited | 996 | ||
| Name | James Etter | Emeline Do | Robert Do |
| Age | 30 | 23 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | M |
| Color | |||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Inn Keeper | ||
| Real estate owned | |||
| Birthplace | Penna | [check mark] | [check mark] |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | |||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Dwelling number | 466 | ||||
| Family number | 545 | ||||
| Name | James Etter | Emeline " | Robert " | Laura V " | Walter [?] K " |
| Age | 40 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 1 |
| Sex | m | f | m | f | m |
| Color | |||||
| Occupation | Tailor | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||
| Value of personal estate | 75 | ||||
| Place of birth | Penn | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||
| Cannot read & write | |||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Dwelling-house number | 592 | ||||||||
| Family number | 622 | ||||||||
| Name | Etter James | Emeline | Robert | Laura | Walter | Eva | Leon | Rufus | Lockler John |
| Age | 50 | 42 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 50 | 19 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | M | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Watchman | Keeping home | Car driver | At school | Tailor | Drives for Horses | |||
| Real estate value | |||||||||
| Personal estate value | 300 | ||||||||
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania | " | " | " | " | D.C. | " | Pennsylvania | DC |
| Father foreign born | 1 | ||||||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||||||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | ||||||||
| Can't read | |||||||||
| Can't write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
| street name | 22 Street NW | ||||||
| house number | 502 | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 130 | ||||||
| family visit # | 160 | 161 | |||||
| name | Etter James | - Laura A | - Rufus K | - Leon | - Walter | Hudson Jane | Austin Clara |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | F |
| age | 60 | 24 | 60 | 11 | 21 | 16 | 24 |
| month born if born in year | |||||||
| relationship | Daughter | Son | Son | Boarder | Boarder | ||
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| married | |||||||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| married during year | |||||||
| occupation | Laborer | Keeping house | Watchman in Dept | At school | Plumber | Dress maker | |
| months unemployed | 3 | ||||||
| currently ill? | |||||||
| blind | |||||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||||
| idiotic | |||||||
| insane | |||||||
| disabled | |||||||
| school this year | 1 | ||||||
| can't read | |||||||
| can't write | |||||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Dist Col | Pennsylvania | Dist Col | Dist Col |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | DC | DC |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | DC | DC |
| line | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| street | 2n [?] St N.W. | ||
| house number | 2912 | ||
| dwelling number | 115 | ||
| family number | 124 | ||
| name | Edder [sic] James M | - Clara E | - Lola |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F |
| birth date | Dec 1819 | Feb 1863 | Nov 1882 |
| age | 81 | 37 | 17 |
| married? | M | M | S |
| # years married | 19 | 19 | |
| mother of how many children? | 3 | ||
| # of children living | 1 | ||
| birthplace | Penn | Maryland | Dist of Col |
| father's birthplace | Penn | Maryland | Penn |
| mother's birthplace | Penn | Maryland | Maryland |
| immigration year | |||
| # years in USA | |||
| naturalized citizen? | |||
| occupation | Watchman | ||
| # 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 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 |
| street | H St | ||||
| house nr | 913 | ||||
| dwelling nr | 19 | ||||
| family nr | 19 | ||||
| name | Starke Augustus | - Lola C | - Helen E | - Elmer J | Etter Clara E |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Son | Mother in law |
| sex | M | F | F | M | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 23 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 47 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | Wd | ||
| #years present marriage | 7 | 7 | 25 | ||
| mother of # children | 2 | 3 | |||
| mother of # living children | 2 | 1 | |||
| birthplace | District Columbia | District Columbia | District Columbia | District Columbia | Maryland |
| father's birthplace | Ger German | Pennsylvania | District Columbia | District Columbia | Maryland |
| mother's birthplace | New York | Maryland | District Columbia | District Columbia | Maryland |
| immigrated | |||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | ||
| occupation | Machinist Helper | None | None | ||
| nature of industry etc. | Navy Yard | ||||
| employer etc. | W | ||||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | ||||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | ||
| can write | yes | yes | yes | ||
| school since 1 Sep 09 | yes | ||||
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| nr on farm schedule | |||||
| civil war vet | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf & dumb | |||||
| line | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 |
| street | H Street N.E. | ||||
| house number | 913 | ||||
| dwelling visit number | 227 | ||||
| family visit number | 298 | ||||
| name | Starke August O | - Charlotte L | - Helen E | - Elena [?] J | Etter Clara E |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter | Son | Mother in law |
| own/rent | R | ||||
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | |||||
| sex | M | F | F | M | F |
| race | W | W | W | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 43 | 35 | 16 | 12 | 52 |
| marital status | M | M | S | S | Wd |
| year of immigration | |||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| year of naturalization | |||||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | Yes | Yes | |||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| birth place | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia |
| native language | |||||
| father's birthplace | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia |
| father's native language | |||||
| mother's birthplace | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia |
| mother's native language | |||||
| can speak English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| occupation | Engineer | None | Clerk | None | None |
| industry, business | Navy Yard | [illegible] | |||
| employment status | W | W | |||
| number of farm schedule | |||||
| line | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| street | 4th Street NE | |||||
| house number | 913 | |||||
| dwelling visit # | 86 | |||||
| family visit # | 114 | |||||
| name | Starke, August O | - Lola | - Helen L | - Elmer J | - Dorothy L | Etter, Clara E |
| relation | Head | Wife | daughter | Son | daughter | gr mother [sic] |
| owned/rented | R | |||||
| value or rent | $30.00 | |||||
| radio | R | |||||
| farm | No | |||||
| sex | M | F | F | M | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 52 | 46 | 26 | 22 | 8 | 67 |
| married? | M | M | M | S | S | Wd |
| age 1st marriage | ||||||
| school/college since 9/29 | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| can read & write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| birthplace | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia |
| father's birthplace | Germany | Pennsylvania | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | Maryland |
| mother's birthplace | Germany | Pennsylvania | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | Maryland |
| native language | ||||||
| immigration year | ||||||
| naturalization | ||||||
| can speak English | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| occupation | Engineer | None | Draftsman | None | None | None |
| industry | U.S. Navy Yard | U.S. Govt | ||||
| worker class | W | W | ||||
| at work yesterday | Yes | Yes | ||||
| unemployment schedule # | ||||||
| veteran? | Yes | |||||
| war | Sp | |||||
| farm schedule # | ||||||
Mr. BAGLEY, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, submitted the following REPORT: [To accompany bill H. R. 4163.]
The Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4163), granting a pension to James M. Etter, having considered the same, beg leave to make the following report:
The petitioner enlisted in the service as a private on the 7th day of October, 1861, in Company D, Ninety-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, to serve for three years or during the war, and was discharged August 20, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
The claimant was disabled as follows, according to the testimony of Capt. H. Francis, who says: That the soldier having been engaged in loading a wagon, and while standing in back part of same leaning against the tail-board it was suddenly started and he fell to the ground and his neck and shoulders were injured.
The Pension Office admits the disability, and grants a pension of $4 a month, the injury having been received in the line of duty. The application for an increase was rejected on the ground that the disability is one-half.
The petitioner alleges that he is now sixty-three years of age, and broken down in health. That he has a large family to support, and is unable to perform much labor.
Numerous affidavits are presented showing the claimant's disabled condition, and his captain testifies to his having been a good, faithful soldier; that he knew him before his enlistment, and that he was a healthy, upright man.
Your committee are of the opinion that as this man is getting old, and is evidently in a disabled condition, that [sic] his pension should be increased to $8 a month, in accordance with the terms of the bill, and do so recommend.