His baptismal certificate lists his name as 'John E Clemens'. He never used a middle initial. [source: 4]
He was born on 10 March 1845, at Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to Peter and Susanna Clemens. They had ten other children: George, Peter, William, Katharine, Susan, Levi, David, Ruben, Rebecca, and Mary. [sources: date: 2 (19 in 1865), 4, 5 (15 in 1860), 6 (25 in 1870), 7 (34 in 1880), 8 (62 in 1910), 9 (73 in 1920), 10 (85 in 1930). place-: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. parents: 4.
In 1860, he was living in Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He was living with Peter and Susannah Clemens (presumably his parents), and with various others (presumably his siblings). He was a laborer, and had attended school within the year. [source: 5]
When he enlisted, he was a bar keep[er]. [source: 2]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 1-1/2 inches tall, and had a florid complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. [source: 2]
He was a substitute. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 27 March 1865. He was enlisted for one year, at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, by Captain Bowen. He was mustered in as a private in company H. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 13, 14]
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865. He was a private, in company H. [sources: 1, 3, 13, 14]
On 17 September 1868, he married Barbara Miller, at the Lutheran Parsonage, Pine Grove. They had two children.
[source: 4]
In 1870, he was living in the Borough of Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Barbery and their daughter Anna. He was a saddler, and owned $200 in personal property. [source: 7]
In 1874, his wife, Barbara (Miller) Clemens, died, at Minersville. [source: 4]
On 2 October 1875, he married Essie Dier, at the English Lutheran Church, Minersville. In 1910, she reported having had eight children, four of whom were alive. Her children include:
In 1880, he was living in Tremont Borough, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Esther and children Annie, Frederick, Lizzie, and Jennie. He was a harness maker. [source: 8]
In 1890, he was living in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. [source: 11]
On 8 December 1891, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. He was living in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 3, 4, 12]
In 1899, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a harness maker. He lived there for the rest of his life. [source: 4]
He again applied for a pension on 28 February 1907. [source: 3]
In 1910, he was living at 4632 Cambria Street, ward 21, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Essie, and children Herbert, Elizabeth, Frederick, and Lillian (perhaps a granddaughter?). He was a saddler. [source: 8]
In 1920, he was living at 4315 Dexter, 21st ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (in Manayunk). He was living with his wife Esther, and children Herbert and Elisabeth. He was an inspector, at an electric company. [source: 9]
In 1930, he was living at 4315 Dexter Street, 21st ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his son Herbert, daughter Elizabeth Westerlund, and grandchildren Joseph and Lillian. (The census record suggests Joseph and Lillian were married, about 1921/22.) He was not working. [source: 10]
On 9 March 1935, he died. He was buried at the Methodist Cemetery, in Minersville, [Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]. [source: 4]
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 Clemmence)
2 company H, descriptive roll, #166 (John Clemmence)
3 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (John Clemens)
4 information abstracted from his pension file, in e-mail to Harry A Ide, 7 January 2010 (file C2568 493, pension claim 798057) (John Clemens)
5 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, Pinegrove Township, post office Schuylkill Haven, microfilm series M653, film 1179, pages 651- = 99- handwritten (John Clemens)
6 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, Borough of Minersville, microfilm series M593, film 1447, page 69 = 6 handwritten (John Clemens)
7 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, Tremont Borough, supervisor's district 3, enumeration district 238, microfilm series T9, film 1174, page 171 C = 7 handwritten (John Clemens)
8 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 21, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 380, microfilm series T624, film 1395, page 35 A = 11 handwritten (John Clemmens)
9 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 21, Manayunk Town, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 504, microfilm series T625, film 1617, page 58 = 8 B handwritten (John Clemens)
10 1930 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 21, block 281, supervisor's district 29, enumeration district 51-597, microfilm series T626, film 2103, page 210 B = 32 handwritten (John Clemens)
11 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, Minersville, supervisor's district 4, enumeration district 205, page 5 (John Clemens)
12 pension index, by name (John Clemens)
13 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Clemmence)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Clemence)
| line | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Dwelling number | 716 | ||||||||||||
| Family number | 697 | ||||||||||||
| Name | Peter Clemens | Susannah " | William " | John " | Susannah Clemens | Rebecca " | Mary Ann " | Levi " | Michael " | David " | Reuben " | Sarah Ann " | Abraham " |
| Age | 48 | 43 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | F | F | F | M | M | M | M | F | M |
| Color | |||||||||||||
| Occupation | Laborer | Laborer | " | ||||||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 500 | ||||||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 100 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Pennsylvania] | " | " | " | Pennsylvania | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Dwelling-house number | 39 | ||
| Family number | 39 | ||
| Name | Clemons John | - Barbery | - Anna |
| Age | 25 | 19 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Saddler | House Keeping | |
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | 200 | ||
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| 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 ... |
| line | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
| street name | ||||||
| house number | ||||||
| dwelling visit # | 61 | |||||
| family visit # | 62 | |||||
| name | Clemens John | - Esther | - Annie | - Frederick | - Lizie [sic] | - Jennie |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | F | F |
| age | 34 | 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 7/12 |
| month born if born in year | Oct | |||||
| relationship | Wife | daughter | son | daughter | daughter | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||
| married during year | ||||||
| occupation | Harness Maker | Keeping House | At home | |||
| months unemployed | ||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||
| idiotic | ||||||
| insane | ||||||
| disabled | ||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | ||||
| can't read | ||||||
| can't write | ||||||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Canada | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| line | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| street | Cambria Street | |||||
| house nr | 4632 | |||||
| dwelling nr | 202 | |||||
| family nr | 225 | |||||
| name | Clemmens John | - Essie | - Herbert | - Elizabeth | - Frederick | - Lillian |
| relationship | head | mother [sic] | son | daughter | son | daughter [sic] |
| sex | M | F | M | F | M | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | |
| age | 62 | 67 | 29 | 32 | 38 | 9 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 40 | 40 | ||||
| mother of # children | 8 | |||||
| mother of # living children | 4 | |||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | ||||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | saddler | none | railroader | none | saddler | none |
| nature of industry etc. | shop | railroad | shop | |||
| employer etc. | OA | W | W | |||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | |||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | yes | |||||
| owned/rented | R | |||||
| owned free or mortagaged | ||||||
| farm/house | H | |||||
| nr on farm schedule | ||||||
| civil war vet | ||||||
| blind | ||||||
| deaf & dumb | ||||||
| line | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 |
| street | Dexter | |||
| house number | 4315 | |||
| dwelling visit number | 150 | |||
| family visit number | 161 | |||
| name | Clemens John | - Esther | - Herbert | - Elisabeth |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Daughter |
| own/rent | O | |||
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | F | |||
| sex | M | F | M | F |
| race | W | W | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 73 | 69 | 38 | 40 |
| marital status | M | M | S | S |
| year of immigration | ||||
| naturalized/alien | ||||
| year of naturalization | ||||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| birth place | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| native language | ||||
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's native language | ||||
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's native language | ||||
| can speak English | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| occupation | inspector | none | machinist | none |
| industry, business | electric Co | ship yard | ||
| employment status | W | W | ||
| number of farm schedule | ||||
| line | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 |
| street | Dexter Street | ||||
| [written in the 'street' column is:] [illegible]/02 See line 43 [??] | |||||
| house number | 4315 | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 182 | ||||
| family visit # | 420 | ||||
| name | Clemens John | - Herbert | Westerlund Elizabeth | Solt Joseph | - Lillian |
| relation | Head | Son | Daughter | GrandSon | GrandDaughter |
| owned/rented | O | ||||
| value or rent | 4000 | ||||
| radio | |||||
| farm | no farmand [?] in this district | ||||
| sex | M | M | F | M | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 85 | 48 | 52 | 39 | 30 |
| married? | Wd | S | Wd | M | M |
| age 1st marriage | 31 | 22 | |||
| school/college since 9/29 | no | no | no | no | no |
| can read & write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| native language | |||||
| immigration year | |||||
| naturalization | |||||
| can speak English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| occupation | none | Harness Maker | none | Candy maker | Saleslady |
| industry | Harness | Candies | Candies | ||
| worker class | O | W | W | ||
| at work yesterday | yes | yes | yes | ||
| unemployment schedule # | 7737 | ||||
| veteran? | yes | yes | yes | ||
| war | Civ | W.W | W.W | ||
| farm schedule # | |||||