He was born in Carlile [presumably Carlisle, Cumberland County], Pennsylvania, in 1839/40.
[sources:
date: 2 (22 in 1862), 4 (22 in 1862), 7 (22 in 1862).
place: 2]
When he enlisted, he was a farmer.
[source: 2]
Description
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.
[sources: 2, 4]
During the war
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 22 June 1862, 23 June 1862, or 24 June 1862, at Alexandria, Virginia (or possibly Washington, DC).
He was a private in company E.
[sources: 1 (22 Jun), 2 (23 Jun), 4 (23 Jun), 5, 7 (24 Jun, Washington DC), 8, 9]
He deserted at Alexandria Virginia on 7 August 1862.
He was a private, in company E.
[sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9]
Note on identification
I have assumed that Joseph and Thomas Allison are the same person.
The only evidence I have for that assumption is that the index to the compiled service records (entry 5 below) links them.
But since Thomas is not in the company E descriptive book, and (according to Bates) was not on the muster-out roll, this seems plausible.
Sources
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)
5index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(Joseph Allison)
6 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)
(Thomas Allison)
8index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(Thomas Allison)
Sources checked unsuccessfully
pension index by name
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index (accessed October 2006)
searched for Thomas Allison in Ancestry index (accessed October 2006)
Pennsylvania veterans burial cards
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index (accessed 2 April 2012)
searched for Thomas Allison in Ancestry index (accessed 2 April 2012)
1850 US census
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index and found several candidates (accessed 7 March 2014)
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2012)--too many candidates
1860 US census
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index and found several candidates (accessed 7 March 2014)
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 26 March 2012)--found 9 candidates, the two most plausible in Virginia:
(1) Thos Allison, Hancock, Virginia, 21 b. VA, laborer, (microfilm series M653, film 1349, page 181 handwritten = 949 handwritten), with Robt B Allison (47, farmer), Blanch (40) et al.
(2) Thos Allison, Hancock, Virginia, 21 b. VA, farmer, with Jackson (26, farmer) and Mary (24) Allison et al.
1870 US census
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2012)--too many candidates
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index and found several candidates (accessed 7 March 2014)
1880 US census
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index and found several candidates (accessed 7 March 2014)
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2012)--too many candidates
1890 US census, veterans' schedules
searched for Joseph or Thomas Allison in Ancestry index (accessed October 2006)
1900 US census
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2012)--too many candidates
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index and found several candidates (accessed 7 March 2014)
1910 US census
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2012)--too many candidates
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index and found several candidates (accessed 7 March 2014)
1920 US census
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 2 June 2012) found one candidate, living in Wayne Iowa, born in 1839 in West Virginia
searched for Joseph Allison in Ancestry index (accessed 7 March 2014)
a Joseph Allison, 75, born PA, not working, was living at 3610 [?] Locust Street, ward 27, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (microfilm series T625, film 1631, enumeration district 870, page 148 = 13 A handwritten)
1930 US census
searched for Joseph Allison born 1839 +/- 1 in Pennsylvania, in the FamilySearch index (accessed 7 March 2014)
searched for Thomas Allison in Ancestry index (accessed 2 June 2012) found no strong candidates
1940 US cenus
searched FamilySearch for Joseph or Thomas Allison, born 1838-1840 (accessed 7 March 2014)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
searched for Joseph Allison (metaphone) born PA 1839 +/- 1 year (accessed 7 March 2014)
eight gedcoms had Joseph Allison, born 2 Aug 1839 to David Allison and Lucetta Andrea McKibben, married Helena Kate Brady, died 16 May 1916 in Cedar Springs, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Records of headstones of deceased union veterans, 1879-1903
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 26 March 2012)
searched for Joseph Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 7 March 2014)
Applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941
searched for Thomas Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 26 March 2012)
searched for Joseph Allison in FamilySearch index (accessed 7 March 2014)
Display
Joseph Allison in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect
[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 4 Mar 2014, from Fold3]
Allison, Thomas.
Co. E, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
See also [blank]
GENERAL INDEX CARD.
[second card, transcribed 7 March 2014]
Allison, Joseph
Co. E, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Allison, Thomas.