He was born in 1836/37 (6 (24 in 1861), 7 (24 in 1861), 8 [60 in 1901], 10 [60 in 1900], 11 [60 yrs 9 mos]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 10).
When he enlisted, he was a farmer, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6, 7).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and light hair (6, 7).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 23 October 1861 (1, 6, 7, 9). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Charles L Burr (?) (6, 7). He was mustered in as a private in company H, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 7, 13).
He was initially listed on the plaque recording men who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, but his name was later deleted (12).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer at 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 7; see also 9).
He deserted on 23 or 28 February 1865, while on furlough (1 [23 Feb], 5 [28 Feb], 7). He was a private, in company H (13).
According to a list of enlisted men's furloughs, he began a furlough on 26 February 1865 (4). The list does not report him as returning (4). His desertion probably consisted in his not returning from the furlough.
In 1868/69, he married Mary [unknown family name] (8, 10). In 1900, she had had 8 children, 6 of whom were alive (10).
He applied unsuccessfully on 17 July 1891 from Pennsylvania for a pension (3, 9).
In 1900, he was living at 5549 Baynton Street, 22nd ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (10). He was living with his wife Mary and daughter Mary (10). He was a laborer, and had been out of work for seven months in the previous year (10).
He died on 10 June 1901, of chronic Bright's disease, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2, 8, 11 [10 May 1901]). The funeral was held at 5549 Baynton Street, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (his residence) (8). He is buried in plot 298, Philadelphia National Cemetery (2, 11).
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 Philadelphia National Cemetery interment records (searched 2 November 2000)
3 Veterans' administration. Pension index, by name. (Searched 12 Jan 2001, at Ancestry) (Charles Harmer)
4 enlisted men's furloughs (Chas Harmer)
5 company H, register of deserters, #23 (Charles Harmer)
6 company H, descriptive roll, #47 (Chas Harmer)
7 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 7 March 2005 (Charles Harmer)
8 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 June 1901, page 16 (Charles Harmer)
9 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (Charles Harmer)
10 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 22nd ward, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 488, microfilm series T623, film 1463, page 277 = 14 B handwritten (Charles Harmer)
11 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 10 May [sic] 1901, #26318 (Charles Harmer)
12 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!) (Charles Harmer)
13 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Charles Harmer)
| line | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| street | Baynton | ||
| house number | 5549 | ||
| dwelling number | 273 | ||
| family number | 280 | ||
| name | Harmer, Charles | - Mary | - Mary Jr |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Daughter |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F |
| birth date | not known | Oct 1848 | Aug 1870 |
| age | 60 | 51 | 29 |
| married? | M | M | S |
| # years married | 31 | 31 | |
| mother of how many children? | 8 | ||
| # of children living | 6 | ||
| birthplace | Penna | Ireland | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Ireland | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Ireland | Ireland |
| immigration year | 1866 | ||
| # years in USA | 60 | 34 | 29 |
| naturalized citizen? | |||
| occupation | Laborer | Housewife | Housework |
| # months not employed | 7 | ||
| # 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 | |||
HARMER.--On Monday, June 10, 1901, Charles, husband of Mary Harmer, aged 60 years. Funeral services on Wednesday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, at his late residence, No 5549 Baynton street, Germantown. Interment private.