He was born in 1840/41, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, probably to [unknown] and Elisabeth [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 7, 8, 12 (33 in 1875), 13 (18 in 1860), 14 (28 in 1870). place: 7, 12, 13, 14. parents: 13]
In 1860, he was living in ward 17, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with Elisabeth Biddle (presumably his mother), and with Elisabeth Biddle (presumably his sister). He was a hatter. [source: 13]
When he enlisted, he was a hatter, and was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 7, 8]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 7, 8]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 23 August 1861 as a corporal in company A. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr. [sources: 1, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 21]
At some point, he was reduced to the ranks for disobedience of orders and unsoldierlike [conduct?] [source: 6]
On 12 June 1863, he was promoted to 3rd corporal of company A. [source: 6]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 11]
On 1 October 1863, he was promoted to second corporal, replacing Simeon Zane. [source: 3]
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia. [sources: 1, 8]
On 12 March 1864, he was reported under arrest. [source: 9]
On 4 July 1864, Colonel Gregory detailed him for duty at brigade headquarters. In September 1864 [?], he was a color bearer at Brigade Headquarters. [sources: 4, 5 (5 July)]
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company. He was a corporal, in company A. [sources: 1, 8, 19, 20, 21]
He married Catharine [unknown family name]. She was born in 1846/47, in Pennsylvania. They apparently had at least one child:
Perhaps their son is the William J Beidle who was born on 12 January 1869 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John and Kate Beidle. (But note that a John W H Biedel, son of John and Catherine M V Biedel, died in Philadelphia on 5 April 1868, and was buried on 7 April 1868.) [sources: 14, 16, 17]
In 1870, he was living in ward 20, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his (apparent) wife Catharine and their (apparent) son William. He was a laborer. [source: 14]
On 31 December 1875, he died. He died of dilatation of heart. He was a plasterer. He died at (or was buried from) 2020 Lawrence Street, ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 2 January 1876, he was buried at Richmond Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (This is apparently St Peter's German Redemptionist Fathers Cemetery, in Port Richmond, Philadelphia.) [source: 12]
Kate Biedel, his widow, applied unsuccessfully for a pension on 7 April 1879. [sources: 2, 10]
Perhaps their (apparent) son is the John Biddle who was living in the Educational Home for Boys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1880. [source: 15]
Margaret Crawford, guardian of his dependents, applied successfully on 19 March 1886 from the District of Columbia. [sources: 2, 10]
Perhaps she is the Margaret Crawford who in 1880 was living in Washington, DC, with (among others) her four-year-old niece Maggie C Beidell. If so, she was 35, born in Ireland, widowed or divorced, and keeping house, with five boarders living with her, along with a lodger and her daughter, and a servant. [source: 18]
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 pension index, by regiment (John Beidel)
3 special order 99, HQ 91st PA, 1 October 1863 (John Biddle)
4 special order 61, HQ 91st PA, 4 July 1864 (John Beidel)
5 [list of detailed men, probably from Sept 1864] (John Biedel)
6 register of non-commissioned officers, co.A (John Biedel) (several entries)
7 company A descriptive roll, entry 91 (John Biedel)
8 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (John Biedel; muster-in roll has Riedel)
9 consolidated morning report, 12 March 1864 (Biedel)
10 pension index, by name (John Beidel)
11 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John Beidell)
12 death certificate, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 31 December 1875 (John Biddle)
13 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 17, microfilm series M653, film 1167, page 896 recto = 110 handwritten (FamilySearch) (John Biddle)
14 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 20, district 67, microfilm series M593, film 1407, page 542 recto = 52 handwritten (FamilySearch) (John Biddle)
15 [not transcribed] 1880 US census, The Educational Home for Boys, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 27, electoral district 7, enumeration district 574, microfilm series T9, film 1186, page 101 = 9 D handwritten (FamilySearch) (John Biddle)
16 [not transcribed] birth record, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 January 1869, abstracted at FamilySearch (Wm J Beidle)
17 [not transcribed] Philadelphia Pennsylvania death certificate, 5 April 1868 (FamilySearch) (John W H Biedel son of John and Catherine M V Biedel)
18 [not transcribed] 1880 US census, Washington District of Columbia, enumeration district 38, microfilm series T9, film 122, page 322 = 14 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Margaret Crawford)
19 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Bidel)
20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Biedel)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Beidel)
line | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Dwelling number | [712] | ||
Family number | [803] | ||
Name | Elisabeth Biddle | John | Elisabeth |
Age | 42 | 18 | 15 |
Sex | f | m | f |
Color | |||
Occupation | Servant | Hatter | Tailor |
Value of real estate owned | |||
Value of personal estate | |||
Place of birth | Bavaria | Pa | " |
Married within year | |||
Attended school within year | |||
Cannot read & write | |||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
line | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Dwelling-house number | [348] | ||
Family number | 377 | ||
Name | Biddle John | - Catharine | - William |
Age | 28 | 23 | 1 |
Sex | M | F | M |
Color | W | W | W |
Occupation | Laborer | Keeping House | |
Real estate value | |||
Personal estate value | |||
Birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 ... |