He was born in July 1838, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jacob Brass and Jane Graham. [sources: date: 37, 30 [23 in 1861], 34 [10 in 1850], 35 [31 in 1870], 36 [41 in 1880], 37 [61 in 1900], 44 [70 at death in 1909]. place: 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 44. parents: 41, 44]
In 1850, he was living in the 5th ward of Kensington, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Jacob and Jane Brass. [source: 34]
When he enlisted, he was a moulder. [source: 30]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and dark hair. [source: 30]
He also served in company D of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry. [sources: 3, 33]
He enlisted and was mustered into service in the 91st Pennsylvania on 2 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr. He was a sergeant in company A. [sources: 1, 3, 29, 30, 31 (3 Oct), 51]
He was promoted to orderly sergeant on June 12th 1862. [sources: 29, 30 [perhaps 12 Jan?]]
On 8 October 1862, he testified at the trial of Franklin Clough. He testified for Clough, to mitigate his offence:
Accused was once a member of our Company Co. A. 91st Regt. Penna Vols. I detailed him for Guard on the 20th Day of July 1862. He never answered any Roll Call since. On the day before that we had been paid. It was usual for some of the men to be absent a day or two after they were paid. I never have known the Officer of the Company to maltreat him. He was reduced to the Ranks. The order reducing him to the ranks was read before the Company.
Although this testimony doesn't seem to help at all, the Court cited it as an explanation of their relatively light sentence. [source: 48]
He was promoted to second lieutenant on 10 [?] December 1862. [source: 28]
He married Mary Ferguson, in 1862/63. She was born on 15 September 1839, in Pennsylvania, to Samuel and Catharine Ferguson. She (and presumably they) had seven children, all of whom were alive in 1900: [sources: 36, 37 (1838), 41, 45, 46 (1839)]
He led details on picket duty on 20 August 1863 to 21 August 1863, on 1 September 1863, and on 15 September 1863. He was then in company C. [sources: 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24]
On 27 March 1863, he was promoted to first lieutenant, effective 18 January 1863, when Francis Gregory was promoted to captain. [sources: 1, 6, 19, 20, 30]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 39]
On 18 September 1863, he was relieved of command of company C, and ordered to report to Captain Gregory (A). [sources: 11, 25]
On 2 October 1863, the Army of the Potomac granted him a leave of absence. [sources: 21, 26]
On 17 February 1864, he was transferred from company A to command of company B. [source: 27]
He was acting adjutant beginning 22 February 1864. Oddly, an order relieving him of command of company B and making him adjutant was canceled. Perhaps that is connected to his not being acting adjutant by 1 March 1864. [sources: 12, 13, 14]
He was commissioned, but not mustered, captain on 1 March 1864. [source: 1]
A board of survey was appointed on 6 March 1864 to investigate a deficiency in items for which he and David Baker were responsible. [source: 15]
He was in command of company H, in March 1864. [source: 7]
On 8 June 1864, he was detailed as aide-de-camp for the colonel commanding the brigade (16). He was assigned to command company C on 26 June 1864, replacing John Donnell, who had been temporarily commanding it. [sources: 17, 18]
He mustered out on 4 October 1864 (2, 30, 38 [?]) or 13 October 1864 when his term expired. He was first lieutenant of company A. Thomas Simpson (A) gave him money to take to his mother. [sources: 1, 19, 30, 31 [3 Oct], 38, 49, 51]
On 15 December 1864, he testified that Edward Shinkle (C) received a pass to fall to the rear because he was ill, and was then taken prisoner and taken to Richmond, the regiment had heard from paroled prisoners that Shinkle was in prison at Richmond, and that Shinkle's appearance led him to believe that he couldn't survive very long (50). He was then living at Ball and Clairbourne Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (50).
In 1870, he was living in the 18th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder. He was living with his wife Mary, and their children Jacob, Catharine F, and Charles E. [source: 35]
At a meeting of the 91st's survivors after Edgar Gregory's death, he was appointed to a committee to draft resolutions about Gregory's death. At the first meeting of the Survivor's Association, on 4 December 1871, he was elected Corresponding Secretary. [sources: 42, 43]
In 1880, he was living at 1021 Artisan [?], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder. He was living with his wife Mary, and their children Catharine F, Jacob, Charles E, George W, Francis H G, and Howard M Brass. [source: 36]
He attended the 1884 meeting of the Survivors' Association. [source: 4]
In 1890, he was living at 956 Clairborn Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder. [sources: 31, 32]
In 1900, he was living at 2738 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a moulder, and had not been out of work in the previous year. He was living with his wife Mary, and their children Charles, Howard, and David. [source: 37]
He applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension on 7 July 1904 and 11 May 1907. [sources: 3, 33]
On 24 April 1908, his wife, Mary Brass, died, at 2215 E Firth Street, ward 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was buried in North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 45, 46, 47]
He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 12 December 1909. He lived at 2556 Cedar Street, but had been elsewhere (presumably in hospital) for 20 days when he died. He was a moulder. He was married. The funeral was held on Wednesday, at 2213 E Firth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the home of his son Jacob Brass). He is buried on 15 December 1909 in North Cedar Hill Cemetery. [sources: 3 (1911), 40, 41, 44, 47]
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)
3 pension index by regiment (John G Brass)
4 newspaper account of 1884 meeting
5 signed Officer's certificate of disability for Thomas Walter, 17 Dec 1873, in Philadelphia
6 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail volume 3 number 38 page 2 (two references).
7 Thomas Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail v.3 #44 p.2.
8 special order 58, HQ 91st PA, 20 August 1863
9 special order 68, HQ 91st PA, 1 September 1863
10 special order 80, HQ 91st PA, 15 September 1863
11 special order 83, HQ 91st PA, 18 September 1863
12 special order 9, HQ 91st PA, 22 February 1864
13 special order 11, HQ 91st PA, 25 February 1864
14 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864
15 special order 16, HQ 91st PA, 6 March 1864
16 special order 42, HQ 91st PA, 8 June 1864
17 special order 50, HQ 91st PA, 26 June 1864
18 special order 52, HQ 91st PA, 26 June 1864
19 regimental descriptive book
20 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 March 1863 (2nd Lt Brass)
21 special orders received, #46, received 3 October 1863 (John G Brass)
22 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 20 Aug 1863 (Lieut Brass)
23 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 21 Aug 1863 (Lt Brass)
24 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 15 September 1863 (Lieut Brass)
25 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 19 September 1863 (Lieut Brass)
26 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 4 October 1863 (Lieut Brass)
27 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 17 February 1864 (#1) (Lt Brass)
28 register of commissioned officers, company A (John G Brass)
29 register of non-commissioned officers, company A (John G Brass)
30 company A descriptive roll, entry 85 (John G Brass)
31 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district [1], enumeration district [355], page [3] (image 761 on Ancestry), line 30 (John Brass)
32 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory (John G Brass)
33 pension index, by name (John G Brass)
34 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 5th ward Kensington, page 302 = 603 handwritten, microfilm series M432, film 807 (John Brass)
35 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward 54th district, microfilm series M593, film 1403, page 294 = 99 handwritten (John G Brass)
36 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 355 [?], microfilm series T9, film 1177, page 252A = page 5 handwritten (John G Brass)
37 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th ward, microfilm series T623, film 1460, page 116, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 354 (John G Brass)
38 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 6 October 1864 (John G Brass)
39 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John G Brass)
40 [death notice], Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 December 1909, page 9 (John G Brass)
41 [death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 December 1909, page 7 (John G Brass)
42 'Ninety-first regiment', Philadelphia Inquirer 5 December 1871 page 3 (John G Brass)
43 'General Gregory'. Philadelphia Inquirer 11 November 1871 page 2. (Captain Brass)
44 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 December 1909 (John Brass)
45 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, 28 April 1908, page 7 (Mary Brass)
46 death certificate, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 24 April 1908, #10875 (Mary Ferguson Brass)
47 Find a Grave, memorial 35859256, created by margaret orthodox, added 14 April 2009, accessed 29 April 2011 (John G Brass)
48 court-martial record, Franklin L Clough, 8 October 1862 (John G Brass)
49 pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, RG 15, certificate 52,775, Susanna mother of Thomas W Simpson (Lieutenant Brass)
50 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate number WC 111,870, Barbara Beveridge widow of Edward Shinkel (John G Brass)
51 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John G Brass)
| line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Dwellings visited | 14 | |||||
| Families visited | 21 | |||||
| Name | Jacob Brass | Jane Brass | Elizabeth Brass | Thomas Brass | John Brass | George Brass |
| Age | 41 | 39 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | M | M |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Labourer | |||||
| Real estate owned | ||||||
| Birthplace | do [sc. Pa] | do | do | do | do | do |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | W [?] | W [?] | ||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Dwelling-house number | 693 | ||||
| Family number | 765 | ||||
| Name | Brass John G. | - Mary | - Jacob | - Catharine F | - Charles E |
| Age | 31 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 9/12 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Moulder | Keeping House | |||
| Real estate value | |||||
| Personal estate value | |||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| Father foreign born | |||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||
| Birth month if born within year | Aug | ||||
| 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 ... |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| street name | Artisan [??] | |||||||
| house number | 1021 | |||||||
| dwelling visit # | 39 | |||||||
| family visit # | 43 | |||||||
| name | Brass John G | - Mary | - Catharine F | - Jacob | - Charles E | - George W | - Francis H G | - Howard M |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | M | M | M | M |
| age | 41 | 41 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||||
| relationship | Wife | Daughter | Son | Son | Son | Son | Son | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||||
| married during year | ||||||||
| occupation | Moulder | Keeping house | Working in card Factory | Working in Card Factory | At School | At School | At School | |
| months unemployed | ||||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||||
| blind | ||||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||||
| idiotic | ||||||||
| insane | ||||||||
| disabled | ||||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| can't read | ||||||||
| can't write | ||||||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| line | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 |
| street | East Cumberland Street | ||||
| house number | 2738 | ||||
| dwelling number | 35 | ||||
| family number | 37 | ||||
| name | Brass John G | - Mary | - Charles S | - Howard M | - David M |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Son |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M |
| birth date | July 1838 | Sept 1838 | Aug 1869 | Mar 1878 | Aug 1881 |
| age | 61 | 61 | 30 | 20 | 18 |
| married? | M | M | M | S | S |
| # years married | 37 | 37 | 6 | ||
| mother of how many children? | 7 | ||||
| # of children living | 7 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | |||||
| # years in USA | |||||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||
| occupation | Moulder | Moulder | Machinist | Day Laborer | |
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| # months in school | |||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| free or mortgaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| # of farm schedule | |||||
BRASS.--On April 24, 1908, MARY, wife of John G. Brass and daughter of the late Samuel and Catharine Ferguson. Relatives and friends, also Edward D. Baker Circle, No. 89, Ladies of GAR; Seminole Council, No 127, D of P, and members of the Wesley M E Church, are invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday at 1 PM from her late residence, 2215 E. Firth st. Services in Wesley M E Church, at 2 PM. Interment private, at North Cedar Hill Cemetery.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Dec 1904 to April 24th, 1908, that I last saw her alive on Apr 24th 1908, and that death occurred, on the date stated above at 1130 AM. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:
Chief, Chronic Interstitial Nephritis DURATION [blank]BRASS.--On December 12, 1909, JOHN G. BRASS, son of the late Jacob and Jane Brass. Residence, 13 [sic East Firth st. Due notice of funeral will be given.
BRASS.--On December 12, 1909, JOHN G. husband of the late Mary Brass, and son of the late Jacob and Jane Brass. Relatives and friends, also Survivor's Association, 91st Regiment, P V., are invited to attend the funeral service, on Wednesday, at 2 P.M., at the residence of his son, Mr Jacob Brass, No 2213 E Firth st. Interment private at North Cedar Hill Cemetery.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from 11-22 1909 to 12-12 1909 that I last saw him alive on 12-12 1909 and that death occurred on the date stated above at 5:30 A.M. The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows: