He was born in 1842/43, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Charles Beaver and Mary [unknown family name].
[sources:
date: 4 (21 in 1864), 5 (18 in 1861), 14 (38 in 1881), 15 (38 in 1881), 16 (25 in 1870).
place: 4, 15, 16.
parents: 14]
In 1850, his father Charles was probably a tailor, at 2 Elder, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[source: 17]
When he enlisted, he was a baker.
[source: 4]
Description
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.
[source: 4]
During the war
He was mustered into service as a private on 18 October 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He was a private in company F.
[sources: 1, 5, 18, 19]
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company D.
[sources: 1, 5, 8, 12, 18, 19]
In 1863, his (probable) father Charles was a tailor, at the northeast corner of 9th and Tasker, Philadelphia.
[source: 17]
He reenlisted and was mustered into service as a veteran volunteer on 27 January 1864, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Burk.
He served as a private in company A.
(Could he have wrongly been mustered in company A, like many men mustered in away from the regiment?)
[sources: 1, 4, 5]
On 28 September 1864, he was reported returned from absent sick.
[source: 10]
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company.
He was a private, in company A (or possibly D?).
[sources: 1, 4, 18, 19]
After the war
In the 1865 and 1866 city directories, he is listed as in the army, at 9th and Tasker Streets, Philadelphia, with his father Charles, a tailor, and with another Charles M Beaver in the army.
Perhaps the Charles M in the army is his brother.
[source: 17]
In the 1867 and 1868 city directories he is listed as a baker, at 839 Tasker and the corner of 9th and Tasker, respectively.
(Charles, the tailor, is listed at 839 Tasker in both.)
[source: 17]
In 1870, he was living in ward 26, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He was a baker.
He was living at 1249 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[sources: 16, 17]
He applied successfully for a pension on 29 January 1875.
[sources: 2, 9, 12]
In the 1875 city directory, he is listed as a baker, living at 1114 Pierce Street, Philadelphia.
[source: 17]
On 12 November 1881, he died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He died of chronic enteritis.
He was a baker.
He was married.
His body was initially placed in Machpelah Vault, and was then buried in Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He was buried from his late residence, 1606 Passayunk Avenue.
[sources: 13, 14, 15, 17]
Mary E Beaver, a minor dependent, applied unsuccessfully on 12 [?] May [?] 1888 from Pennsylvania for a pension.
[sources: 2, 9, 12]
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)
(John A Beaver)
14death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer Tuesday 15 November 1881, page 8
(John A Beaver)
15death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 12 November 1881
(John A Beaver)
161870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 26, district 84, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 205 verso = 107 handwritten (FamilySearch)
(John Beaver)
18index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(John A Beaver)
19index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(Henry A Beaver)
Sources checked unsuccessfully
Pennsylvania veterans' burial records
Ancestry index (accessed 7 April 2012)
a John Beaver who served in the Civil War was buried in Numidia Lutheran Cemetery, Locust Township, Schuylkill County (with no other identifying information)
1850 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
1860 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
1880 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
he is not listed at 1606 Passayunk Avenue, which is in enumeration district 546 (microfilm series T9, film 1185, page 436 = 2 B handwritten (FamilySearch))
the two candidates don't have the right occupation:
(1) John Beaver, 39, dealer, with wife Caroline (30), and children Emma (11), John (7), Robert (5), and Thomas (1) at 1134 E Norris Street, eumeration district 670, microfilm series T9, film 1190, page 353 = 12 D handwritten (FamilySearch)
(2) John A Beaver, 36, police officer, with wife Mary E (26), and children Elizabeth L (6) and Annie M (4), at 1012 Morris Street, enumeration district 19, microfilm series T9, film 1166, page 278 = 22 B (FamilySearch)
Note, however, than candidate (2)'s wife is Mary E--which matches the guardian who applied for a pension on behalf of his minor children. And I have not found
1890 US census, veterans' schedules
accessed October 2005
1900 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
1910 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
1920 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
1930 US census
Ancestry and FamilySearch indices (accessed 27 May 2013)
Find a grave
accessed 4 Oct 2010
searched for John Beaver died 1888, and for John Beaver buried in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (accessed 27 May 2013)
applications for headstones for military veterans, 1925-1941
FamilySearch index (accessed 27 May 13)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
searched for John Beaver died 1886 +/-2, and for John A Beaver born Pennsylvania 1842 +/-1 (accessed 27 May 2013)
Note
Bates has two John A Beaver's.
One served in companies F and D, from 1861 through 1863.
The other served in company A from 1864 through 1865.
Because the pension index has a John A Beaver in company A who also served in company D, and because Bates claims he is a veteran, I have assumed they are the same person.
[sources: 1, 2]
Display
John A Beaver in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect
[1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 26, district 84, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 205 verso = 107 handwritten (FamilySearch)]
[identification is uncertain, but note that his occupation matches his occupation at enlistment (see the company descriptive roll, entry 4 above) and at death (see the death certificate)]
[I did not transcribe the other five people in this household, headed by Chas Ravener, house painter, 53, born England]
line
25
Dwelling-house number
[119]
Family number
[137]
Name
Beaver John
Age
25
Sex
M
Color
W
Occupation
Baker
Real estate value
Personal estate value
Birthplace
Penn
Father foreign born
Mother foreign born
Birth month if born within year
Marriage month if married within year
Attended school past year
Can't read
Can't write
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.
Male US citizen at least 21 years old
1
Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...
[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 15 Mar 2014, from Fold3]
Beaver Henry A.
Co. F D, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
A
Pvt | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Beaver John A.
GENERAL INDEX CARD.
[card 2, transcribed 13 March 2014]
Beaver John A.
Co. F. D., 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
A ['A' seems to be another company in which he served, but it's below 'F. D.'] Pvt | Pvt
[the OCR-based index found:
Philip Drumel cordw 4 Elder;
James W Hines cordw 6 Elder;
Jas. Doyle lab. 8 Elder;
Elizabeth Hart 10 Elder;
Jesse Keeler painter 14 Elder;
Mrs N Mills 3 Elder;
John G Schwartz piano mr. 7 Elder;
Aaron Miller sug. ref. 9 Elder
James Farrady surg. inst. maker 11 Elder;
]
[Jesse Keeler 28 painter is in North Mulberry Ward, Philadelphia, PA, page 418 recto = 833 handwritten (FamilySearch)]
1858 Biddle's directory, page 36
Beaver Charles, grocer, 1032 Castle
[no other Charles Beaver(s); no John Beaver baker]
1859 Biddle's directory, page 39
Beaver Charles, grocer, 1032 Sergeant
[no other Charles Beaver(s); no John Beaver baker]
1860 Biddle's directory, page 50
[no John Beaver baker or Charles Beaver(s)]
1861 Biddle's directory, page 51
[no John or Charles Beaver(s)]
[note Patrick Carney, laborer, 812 Tasker--he is presumably the Patrick Carney laborer in ward 1, precinct 8, page 423 recto = 163 handwritten; note Benjamin Johnson dealer on the next page, who is presumably Benjamin Johnson, dealer, at 808 Tasker]
[I red through several pages before and after Patrick Carney in the 1860 census without finding Charles or John Beaver--but of course even if they are at 9th and Tasker, they might be listed on 9th street, and not on Tasker]
1862 Biddle's and McElroy's directory, page 36
[no John Beaver(s) baker; no Charles Beaver]
1863 Biddle's and McElroy's directory, page 69
Beavers Charles, tailor, N E 9th & Tasker
[no John Beaver(s)]
1864 Biddle's and McElroy's directory, page 39
[no Charles or John Beaver(s)]
1865 Sherman's directory, page 67
Beaver Charles, tailor, 9th & Tasker
Beaver Charles M., army, 9th & Tasker
Beaver John, army, 9th & Tasker
1866 McElroy's directory, page 68
Beaver Charles, tailor, 9th & Tasker
Beaver Charles M., army, 9th & Tasker
Beaver John, army, 9th & Tasker
1867 McElroy's directory, page 78
Beavers Charles, tailor, 839 Tasker
Beavers John, baker, 839 Tasker
1868 Gopsill's directory, page 203
Beaver John A., baker, h S 9th c Tasker
Beavers Charles, tailor, h 839 Tasker
1869 Gopsill's directory, page 197
[no John Beaver baker or policeman; no Charles Beaver(s) tailor; no Beaver at 9th and Tasker]
1870 Gopsill's directory, page 200
Beaver John W., baker, h 1249 S 13th
[no Charles Beaver(s)]
1871 Gopsill's directory, page 199
Beaver John W. [sic], baker, h 1249 S 13th
[that this is the correct entry is confirmed by the following entry on page 1172 (see the 1870 census:] Ravenor Charles, painter, h 1249 S 13th
1872 Gopsill's directory, page 192
[no John Beaver baker]
1873 Gopsill's directory, page 191
[no John Beaver, baker]
1874 Gopsill's directory, page 162
[no John Beaver, baker]
1875 Gopsill's directory, page 158
Beaver John W. [sic], baker, h 1114 Pierce
1876 Gopsill's directory, page 159
[no John Beaver baker]
1877 Gopsill's directory, pages 158-159
[no John Beaver, baker--note 'Beaver John W., police, h 1016 Mountain']
1878 Costa's directory, page 155
[no John Beaver, baker--note 'Beaver John W., police, h 1016 Mountain']
[Records of headstones of deceased Union veterans, 1879-1903]
[transcribed from FamilySearch 27 May 2013]
Beaver John A
Pvt Co. D, 91 Regt. Pa Infy
Cemetery Monument
at Phila Pa
Grave [blank]
Date of death -
Headstone supplied by
Sheldon & Sons
West Rutland, Vermont,
Contract dates Aug. 21, 1888 [?].
[death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer Tuesday 15 November 1881, page 8]
[transcribed 27 May 2013, from GenealogyBank]
BEAVER.--On the 12th inst., JOHN A., son of Charles and the late Mary Beaver, aged thirty eight years.
The relatives and friends of the family, Paradise Lodge, No. 127, I.O.O.F.;
Greble Post, No. 10, G.A.R.,
and survivors of the late Ninety-first P.V.,
are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 1606 Passayunk avenue.
To proceed to Machpelah Vault.
[death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 12 November 1881, John A Beaver]
[transcribed from FamilySearch, 27 May 2013]
[note that the death register (derived from the certificate) is also available on FamilySearch]
RETURN OF A DEATH
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, John A Beaver
2. Color, White
3. Sex, Male
4. Age, 38 years
5. Married
6. Date of Death, Nov 11th on the 12 Day [sic] 9.25 P.M. 81
7. Cause of Death, Chronic Enteritis
Wm H Hooper M.D.
Residence, 112 S 5th St
UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation, Baker
9. Place of Birth, Philada
10. When a Minor, [blank]
11. Ward, 26th
12. Street and Number No 1606 Passayunk Avenue
13. Date of Burial Nov 15th 1881
14. Place of Burial Machpelah Cemetery Vault
12/18/88 [illegible]
D H Bowen & Son Undertaker
Residence, 813 S 2d St